Edwards starts in 42nd position, but prevails in duel against Busch
NATE ULRICH - nate.ulrich@nwi.com, (219) 933-3374 | Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009 12:00 am
CLERMONT | Just like in the NASCAR Nationwide Series' points standings, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch battled at the top of the pack Saturday night.
During an intense, back-and-forth battle in the Kroger 200, Busch slowed down a bit after making some contact with Edwards and hitting the wall at O'Reilly Raceway Park, and Edwards capitalized by pulling away and cruising to his second victory of the season in the final 15 laps.
Edwards started the race from the 42nd position in the 43-car field. After crossing the finish line, Edwards exited his car, pumped his fist and landed one of his perfect, trademark backflips.
"We started in the back," Edwards said. "It was a lot of fun coming up through the field. I knew Kyle (Busch) was going to be really fast, and man I don't know what it looked like on TV, but that was one of the most fun races I've been a part of."
With his runner-up performance, Busch maintained his lead in the points standings over Edwards. Perhaps even more impressive, it was the eighth consecutive race in which Busch finished either first or second. He now needs to either win or become runner-up again to tie Jack Ingram's series record for nine consecutive finishes of either first or second.
"Short-track racing at its finest right there," Busch said. "We just didn't have a good car today. We fought it in practice. We just didn't have it today. I feel like I know a couple of lanes that we missed on."
Matt Kenseth finished third, posting his fourth top-10 finish in four races at ORP.
LaPorte graduate Tony Raines finished 15th after starting the race from the 21st position. The former Slicers three-sport athlete expected a feisty race, and he got it.
"The trick is it's a short track, and it's a short race -- 200 laps," Raines said. "You've got to be aggressive every lap, every corner, and the other guys are going to be aggressive. So there's definitely going to be some contact.
"You've gotta keep your head cool and keep the fenders on the best you can."
There were six cautions for 34 laps. Scott Lagasse Jr.'s race ended during his 21st lap after he was involved in an accident with Mike Bliss and eventual fourth-place finisher Brad Keselowski.
AUTO RACING | NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES | KROGER 200