Home Sweet Kansas: Edwards, Bowyer Long For Backyard Victory
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet) both count Kansas Speedway as their home track since both hail from towns only several hours’ drive away.
Both also hope to count on a win in Sunday’s Price Chopper 400.
It would be a first for either driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, plus, ease what’s been a frustrating season to date for both.
Edwards, last year’s series runner-up, has yet to win after posting a series-high nine wins in 2008. He’s in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but on the fringes, for now.
The Columbia, Mo., native ranks 11th heading into his home-track weekend. He trails leader Mark Martin by 153 points. He’s also winless in 2008, and has been competing with a broken right foot since suffering the injury during a Frisbee game with friends on Sept. 2.
Last year at Kansas, Edwards’ daring, last-lap attempt to pass leader and eventual winner Jimmie Johnson was the talk of the race.
“If I can win at Kansas, that would be the biggest win on the schedule for me,” Edwards said. “The Daytona 500 would be great. The Brickyard 400 would be great. But Kansas, I don’t know if you could top that just because it’s so close to home.
“Last year was such an amazing race and I thought we were going to get it. It was so close.”
Bowyer, a native of Emporia, Kan., knows similar frustration. He missed this year’s Chase after participating in the ‘07 and ‘08 versions and heads to Kansas 15th in the standings.
Like Edwards, a Bowyer win at Kansas would be more than restorative.
“Growing up, racing at Lakeside Speedway five miles down the road, driving by the place as it was being built, I dreamed about how cool it would be to race there,” Bowyer said. “To get to do that now, in the premier division of racing, is pretty cool. To think that you have a chance at winning there makes it even more incredible.
“It would be pretty big on my list of accomplishments if we were able to win there.”
As the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, Bowyer also will participate in Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300.
He won last week’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway — his second win of 2009 in nine starts — and has three consecutive top-five finishes at Kansas.
“Everybody wants a little piece of you whether it be family, friends or sponsors that have helped me through the years,” Bowyer said. “It’s a fun and exciting weekend. It’s a long weekend, too. When the weekend is over, I’m worn out, but we’ve always had a good time.”
NSCS Etc.
Chevrolet Close To Manufacturers’ Title
Depending on the outcome of Sunday’s Price Chopper 400, Chevrolet could clinch the 2009 manufacturers’ title this weekend at Kansas Speedway.
If so, it would be the 33rd such title for Chevrolet and the seventh consecutive one. The manufacturers’ championship debuted in 1950.
What’s necessary for Chevrolet to clinch: Chevy’s top-finishing driver on Sunday must finish ahead of Toyota’s top-finishing driver.
Office Depot, Stewart Team Up For Charity
Office Depot and Tony Stewart are joining the Office Depot Foundation on Wednesday to donate more than 2,200 backpacks to Kansas City-area nonprofit organizations and schools.
“Back-To-School Backpack Celebration,” happens at 4 p.m. CT at the Office Depot store at 4851 North Oak Traffic Way in Kansas City. Guests include Kansas City mayor Mark Funkhouser and Shawna Searcy, Clay County Field Representative for Congressman Sam Graves.
Up Next: Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club Speedway hosts the fourth race in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup — the Pepsi 500 — next Sunday, Oct. 11 (3:15 p.m. start on ABC).
Jimmie Johnson is the defending winner and polesitter.
Johnson is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for most wins at Auto Club (three). Kurt Busch leads all drivers with three poles there.
Gordon and Johnson share another track mark — the most top fives (eight). But Roush Fenway Racing’s Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) has the most top 10s there, with 10.
Fast Facts
The Race: Price Chopper 400
The Place: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
The Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 267 laps / 400 miles
2008 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 Polesitter: Jimmie Johnson
Schedule: Friday—Practice, Noon-1:30 p.m.; Qualifying, 3:40 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:50-1:50 p.m.
2009 Top 12 Drivers
Driver Points
1 Mark Martin 5,400
2 Jimmie Johnson 5,390
3 Juan Pablo Montoya 5,335
4 Kurt Busch 5,325
5 Tony Stewart 5,294
6 Denny Hamlin 5,292
7 Ryan Newman 5,290
8 Jeff Gordon 5,278
9 Greg Biffle 5,262
10 Brian Vickers 5,249
11 Carl Edwards 5,247
12 Kasey Kahne 5,211
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