Backstretch Motorsports

BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 16, 2008)—If there’s such a thing as home cooking at a NASCAR race track, Michigan International Speedway served as Jack Roush’s kitchen for Saturday’s Carfax 250.

In a race that ended under caution because of Danny Efland’s wreck on the white-flag lap, polesitter Carl Edwards gave Roush Fenway Racing its first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at the two-mile track since 1998. It was Ford’s first Michigan win in the series since Ryan Newman took the checkered flag in 2001.

“I’m so happy we won this thing,” said Edwards, who won his third Nationwide race of the season, all since Drew Blickensderfer replaced Pierre Kuettel as crew chief in late June. “We’ve been so close before. It feels good to put a Ford here in Victory Lane.”

“We always enjoy racing here in front of the home crowd,” said Roush, whose Michigan headquarters are in nearby Livonia. “It’s a race track that suits our cars and our driving style.”

Edwards, the defending series champion, had a lead of more than three seconds when Efland crashed with less than a lap remaining. Brian Vickers finished second, followed by Tony Stewart, who ran his last Nationwide event for Joe Gibbs Racing. Mark Martin was fourth, and Greg Biffle came home fifth.

Stewart made his ninth and final start in Gibbs’ No. 20 Toyota. Five of those starts have ended in Victory Lane.

“It’s not like I won’t ever get to see those guys (the No. 20 crew) again, but I know it’s the last time I’m going to drive that car for those guys,” Stewart said. “When you’re that successful, you hate to see it end.”

Vickers gave up time to Edwards on short runs but gained as his tires began to wear. Though the race went green for the final 25 laps, Vickers wasn’t able to make a substantial dent in Edwards’ advantage.

“On old tires, when handling was more important, we could run the top (of the track) and keep our engine wound up,” said Vickers, who will start from the pole for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at MIS. “I felt like we had something for ‘em, but, unfortunately, we just ran out of time.”

Vickers also thought a recent NASCAR rule change that diminished the size of holes in the tapered spacer on Toyota engines made a difference.

“I think we had a better car (than Edwards did),” Vickers said, “but with the new Toyota restrictor plate NASCAR put on us, he definitely had us beat on power. There’s not a lot we can do about that.”

Edwards had a different view of the engine rule change.

“Well, it kept them from having a giant advantage the whole day, like they’ve had for the first half of the year,” he said. “To me, I like the change they made.”

Notes: In winning his 16th Nationwide Series race, Edwards trimmed Clint Bowyer’s points lead to 113. After contact with David Reutimann’s Toyota on Lap 91, Bowyer lost ground and finished 10th … With Stewart in the No. 20 car, Joey Logano took the wheel of the No. 18 JGR Toyota and finished seventh.

NASCAR Race Number 25
Unofficial Race Results for the Carfax “250″ - Saturday, August 16, 2008
Michigan International Speedway - Brooklyn, MI - 2 Mile Paved
Total Race Length - 125 Laps - 250 Miles - Purse: $1,237,221

Leader
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Winnings Status Times Laps
1 1 60 Carl Edwards Planters Ford 125 195 10 $55,895 Running 5 71
2 3 32 Brian Vickers ABF Freight Toyota 125 175 5 $37,350 Running 2 17
3 7 20 Tony Stewart Old Spice/Give Kids The World Toyota 125 170 5 $25,900 Running 3 36
4 10 5 Mark Martin Go Daddy Chevrolet 125 160 $21,575 Running
5 8 16 Greg Biffle CitiFinancial Ford 125 155 $20,950 Running
6 20 1 Mike Bliss Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet 125 155 5 $31,418 Running 1 1
7 6 18 Joey Logano Z-Line Designs Toyota 125 146 $25,453 Running
8 17 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Toyota 125 142 $25,288 Running
9 12 47 Kelly Bires Clorox Ford 125 138 $25,093 Running
10 14 2 Clint Bowyer Camping World Chevrolet 125 134 $19,850 Running
11 22 88 Brad Keselowski U.S. NAVY Chevrolet 125 130 $24,693 Running
12 21 59 Marcos Ambrose Kingsford with Hickory Ford 125 127 $24,893 Running
13 19 40 Dario Franchitti # Fastenal Dodge 125 124 $25,693 Running
14 16 22 Josh Wise Supercuts Toyota 125 121 $24,168 Running
15 23 7 Mike Wallace GEICO Toyota 125 118 $24,793 Running
16 4 64 David Stremme Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet 125 115 $24,268 Running
17 26 11 Jason Keller CARFAX/America’s Incredible Pizza Company 125 112 $26,168 Running
18 24 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Eckrich Ford 125 109 $23,818 Running
19 2 33 Cale Gale # Camping World Chevrolet 124 106 $24,468 Running
20 9 27 David Gilliland Ford Drive One Ford 124 103 $18,250 Running
21 25 30 Stanton Barrett Interush.net Chevrolet 124 100 $23,643 Running
22 13 29 Scott Wimmer Holiday Inn Chevrolet 124 97 $23,593 Running
23 18 70 Mark Green ForeTravel/BIOMET Chevrolet 124 94 $17,475 Running
24 34 92 Brian Keselowski # Dodge 124 91 $17,025 Running
25 39 4 Derrike Cope JVC Chevrolet 122 88 $23,618 Running
26 43 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory In Jesus Dodge 122 85 $23,368 Running
27 41 24 Eric McClure Hefty Chevrolet 122 82 $23,318 Running
28 42 01 Danny Efland sponsordavis.com Chevrolet 121 79 $23,268 Running
29 33 81 D.J. Kennington Mahindra Tractor Dodge 121 76 $23,218 Running
30 37 28 Kenny Wallace U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet 121 73 $23,418 Running
31 40 52 Donnie Neuenberger Quaker City Castings Chevrolet 120 70 $23,113 Running
32 36 61 Brandon Whitt Ford 117 67 $23,053 Running
33 15 9 Patrick Carpentier Hellmann’s Dodge 98 64 $23,018 Engine
34 5 99 David Reutimann Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota 98 61 $16,780 Running
35 38 23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet 57 58 $16,515 Accident
36 11 6 David Ragan Discount Tire Ford 51 55 $16,495 Accident
37 32 05 Burney Lamar 31-W Insulation/CertainTeed Ford 40 52 $16,475 Electrical
38 27 66 Steve Wallace Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Chevrolet 40 49 $22,903 Running
39 29 90 Johnny Chapman MSRP Motorsports Chevrolet 19 46 $16,380 Transmission
40 31 91 Justin Hobgood MSRP Motorsports Chevrolet 15 43 $16,355 Electrical
41 28 73 Kevin Lepage Dodge 14 40 $16,335 Brakes
42 35 98 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 11 0 $16,290 Ignition
43 30 31 Kenny Hendrick Interush.net Chevrolet 1 34 $16,247 Ignition
Race Comments: Before an estimated crowd of 55,000, Carl Edwards won the CARFAX 250, his 16th NASCAR Nationwide Series victory. No one dropped to the rear.
Failed to Qualify: (4) 0 Larry Gunselman, 49 Kertus Davis, 57 Michael Guerity, 50 Jeremy Clements.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 49 Mins, 50 Secs. Average Speed: 136.571 MPH Margin of Victory: Caution
Caution Flags: 6 for 21 laps: Laps: 2-7 (#66,70 accident backstretch); 54-57 (#6 spun turn 2); 61-63 (#23 accident turn 2); 92-95 (#99 accident turn 2); 98-100 (#9 accident backstretch); 125-125 (#01 spun turn 2).
Lead Changes: 10 among 4 drivers: C. Edwards 1-32; B. Vickers 33-41; C. Edwards 42; T. Stewart 43-44; M. Bliss 45; B. Vickers 46-53; C. Edwards 54-57; T. Stewart 58; C. Edwards 59; T. Stewart 60-92; C. Edwards 93-125.
Top 10 Driver Points: (1) C. Bowyer 3,582;(2) C. Edwards 3,469;(3) B. Keselowski 3,450;(4) M. Bliss 3,223;(5) D. Reutimann 3,219;(6) D. Ragan 3,202;(7) K. Busch 3,003;(8) M. Wallace 2,963;(9) J. Leffler 2,926;(10) M. Ambrose 2,903.
Coors Light Pole Award : Carl Edwards, #60 (186.104 mph) Featherlite “Most Improved Driver” : Jason Keller, #11 (11 Places)
Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race : Carl Edwards, #60 Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance : Mike Bliss, #1
Raybestos “Rookie of the Race” : Dario Franchitti, #40 Sunoco Diamond Performance : Carl Edwards, #60
WIX Filters “Lap Leader” : Mike Bliss, #1 (1 Lap)
Next Race: Aug. 22, 2008 - Bristol Motor Speedway