Carl Edwards, the only driver with a chance to catch Johnson in Sprint Cup, is very much in contention for a second consecutive Nationwide Series title. Winning his third consecutive race in that series last Saturday, he sliced Clint Bowyer’s lead from 91 to 56 points heading into Saturday’s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“We couldn’t be going to a better race track,” Edwards said. “I like the idea of being able to run at the very bottom or the top (at Homestead-Miami). I’m sure Drew (crew chief Blickensderfer) will bring the best car that we can possibly bring. I just hope it’s fast enough.”
Bowyer conceded before last week’s race that he could figuratively see Edwards’ Roush Fenway Ford “creeping up” in his rearview mirror, but still likes his chances.
“If someone had come to me and said (at the start of the year) you would have a 56-point lead going in (to the last race), I would say I’m pumped. I’m excited about it,” said Bowyer, looking to claim his first title for Richard Childress Racing.
Bowyer can claim the title if he finishes eighth or higher at Homestead-Miami, no matter what Edwards does.
“We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing. We’re not in a panic situation,” Bowyer said. “We’ve got a 56-point lead, but—don’t get me wrong—we still have to protect that lead. This is a very good race team, and I feel like the only ones who can beat us out of this championship is ourselves.
“We crashed last weekend [on pit road] in Phoenix, and I thought our championship was over, but no one panicked. Dan [Deeringhoff, the team’s crew chief] and the guys got the car fixed, and we stayed on the lead lap and finished fourth. He even made a gutsy call to come and get tires for the green-white-checker, and we went from seventh to fourth in two laps. That’s what wins championships.
“We’re going to do everything the same way we’ve done it all season, and as long as we do that, we’ll be just fine and the championship will take care of itself.”
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