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Edwards has finished in the top five the last two Homestead races, including a runner-up finish in 2006. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, he has a Driver Rating of 103.2, an Average Running Position of 8.2, 23 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 87.3%. Those numbers would be even better if not for his 19th-place finish in 2005 where he scored a Driver Rating of 88.6.
Bowyer is solid at Homestead, just not as strong as Edwards. In the last three races there, he has a Driver Rating of 92.3, an Average Running Position of 13.3, two Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 67.0%.
But Bowyer needs only to look at his lead to feel a bit more comfortable. This season, Edwards has beaten Bowyer by 56 points only twice. He bettered Bowyer by 61 at Michigan and by 80 at Memphis. Edwards won and led the most laps in both those races.
But Bowyer is simultaneously being chased and chasing. His No. 2 Chevrolet is second in the owner championship battle, 28 points behind the No. 20 Toyota.
Bowyer has beaten Joey Logano who will drive the No. 20 this weekend by more than 28 points four times this season (Nashville-2, Bristol-2, Kansas and Lowe’s Motor Speedway-2).
Do The Math: Scenarios For NASCAR Nationwide Driver And Owner Championships
What will it take for those involved to claim the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and owner championships at Homestead?
The following are the clinch scenarios for the final chance at title chases:
Driver Championship
* Bowyer needs to finish eighth or better without leading a lap regardless of what Carl Edwards does.
* Bowyer can finish ninth with one lap led and clinch regardless of what Edwards does.
* Bowyer can finish 11th and lead the most laps and clinch regardless of what Edwards does.
* Edwards needs to finish 24th or better in order to stay in contention until the end of the race assuming Bowyer starts.
Owner Championship
* The No. 20 can finish second with no laps led and clinch regardless of what the No. 2 does.
* The No. 20 can finish third with one lap led and clinch regardless of what the No. 2 does.
* The No. 20 can finish fourth and lead the most laps and clinch regardless of what the No. 2 does.
* The No. 2 needs to finish 33rd or better in order to stay in contention until the end of the race assuming the No. 20 starts.
NNS Etc.
* Last Chance For Busch
Saturday’s race is the final chance for Kyle Busch (No. 18 Line Designs Toyota) to pass Sam Ard for most series wins in a season.
Busch tied Ard’s mark of 10 wins three weeks ago with his victory at Texas Motor Speedway.
Ard set the standard in 35 races in 1983.
* Back Where He Belongs
This weekend at Homestead, David Green, the 1994 series champion, makes his first appearance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since June 2007.
Green will drive for Johnny Davis and must qualify the No. 0 Chevrolet on time in order to compete in his 387th career start. Green is fourth on the all-time start list and is one of four former series champions entered.
* Burton Back To Defend
Clint Bowyer may feel like the cavalry has arrived.
Jeff Burton (No. 21 Prilosec OTC Chevrolet), last year’s race winner, will drive a third Richard Childress Racing entry at Homestead.
Burton won the 2007 event in the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet; Scott Wimmer will be making his final start for RCR in the No. 29 this weekend. Both drivers shared the stage with owner Richard Childress last year as NASCAR Nationwide Series owner champion.
* Catch 22 At Homestead
Michael Annett (No. 03 Germain Racing Toyota) will attempt to make his series debut for Germain Racing at Homestead. Annett, 22, has eight starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with one top five and two top 10s.
Patrick Sheltra (No. Briggs & Case Construction Equipment/Quality Turf Dodge), 22, is also entered. A native of Indiantown, Fla., he made his series debut at Phoenix last week improving to 29th at the finish after starting 36th.
Fast Facts
The Race: Ford 300
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
The Distance: 300 miles / 200 laps
Track Size: 1.5-mile oval
2007 Winner: Jeff Burton
2007 Pole: David Ragan
2008 Standings
1 Clint Bowyer 4,977
2 Carl Edwards 4,921
3 Brad Keselowski 4,624
4 David Ragan 4,431
5 Mike Bliss 4,397
6 Kyle Busch 4,281
7 David Reutimann 4,264
8 Mike Wallace 4,019
9 Jason Leffler 3,926
10 Marcos Ambrose 3,921
