Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Edwards Looking To Represent Ford Well This Weekend at Michigan

Carl Edwards on racing at Michigan International Speedway: "Michigan has been a great track for me. My first Cup start was there, and to go up to the Detroit area and race in front of all the folks who work so hard at Ford and support us every week is pretty special. There is a lot of pride on the line to do well up there. We’d like to get Ford their first win of the season and I can’t think of a better place to do it. I broke a 52-race winless streak there in 2007 so this would be a good time to do that as well."

Crew chief Bob Osborne on racing at Michigan International Speedway: "Michigan is a fun race track. It is fairly smooth and has a low banking angle, so we can be very aggressive with our setup. Michigan has always been a great track for the Aflac team and we’re excited to return to a place where we’ve had so much success. For the 99 team, Michigan is extra special for several reasons – it’s the site of Carl's first Cup start, where he made his 100th start and where we’ve won a couple of times. I know to win there this weekend would mean a lot to Jack too, since his hometown is just up the road. It would also be a great boost for all of our friends at Ford."

CARL EDWARDS enters Michigan ninth in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings. Edwards is 334 markers behind the leader, Kevin Harvick. In 2010, Edwards has achieved one top-five and six top-10 finishes.

FOR THE RECORD…Edwards will make his 12th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Michigan International Speedway Sunday. In his previous 11 starts, Edwards has two wins, seven top-fives, and 10 top-10 finishes.

Edwards’ average start at Michigan is 20.5, his average finish is 6.1. He has completed 100% of the laps he has attempted at the two-mile track. Only once in his previous 11 starts has Edwards finished outside the top 10.

IN THE LOOP… According to NASCAR’s Loop Statistics compiled over the last 11 races at MIS, Edwards has turned 143 of the track’s fastest laps which is second highest, spent 1,702 laps (88%) in the top 15 (best of all active drivers) and led a total of 244 laps (second highest). Edwards’ driver rating (112.5) is the best among active drivers.

SO YOU KNOW… Edwards made his Cup Series debut at Michigan in August 2004. He started that race 23rd and finished 10th. Edwards also made his 100th Cup start at MIS in June of 2007. He went on to win that race.

ON THE TRACK… The No. 99 Aflac crew will be unloading chassis 565. Edwards last raced this car at Texas in April where he finished 33rd after a late-race accident.

REWIND, MICHIGAN – June 2009… The Aflac team worked throughout the 200-lap event to get Edwards to the front, with consistent pit stops, proper adjustments and in the end smart fuel-saving driving, Edwards was able to make the most of his day and bring home a fourth-place finish, while several drivers ran out of gas in the final laps.

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