It took a little longer than most thought, but with with 36 laps to go in the O’Reilly Challenge and things falling just right on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, Carl Edwards officially clinched the 2007 Busch Series championship.
“It feels great, ” Edwards said. “This year, especially the first half of the year was really, really good for us. It just feels great to be a champion. “
Edwards, who had been in the top 10 all day long, secured the title on lap 164 with six drivers out of the race and another 37 laps down.
“Carl has done a great job, ” team owner Jack Roush said. RUSS GOODALL, Houston Chronicle
Missouri driver Carl Edwards clinched the NASCAR Busch Series championship Saturday by placing 11th in the O’Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.
His finish allowed him to win the championship even though there are two races remaining on the schedule.
Kevin Harvick won the race and Kyle Busch was second.
But it was Edwards’ day at Texas because a quick start to the season allowed him to build a huge lead in the point standings and then survive a string of poor finishes in recent weeks. JIM PEDLEY, The Kansas City Star
Edwards, who finished 11th in the 200-lap event, took the points lead for the first time at Mexico City — the third race of the season — and extended his advantage to 852 points following the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in July with a fourth-place finish. But in the last 11 events, Edwards scored just two top 10s and crashed out twice in the final four races — a streak that allowed second-place runner David Reutimann to cut the margin to 531 points heading into the Texas weekend. To finally lock down the title in his third year on the tour was a relief for the Roush Fenway Racing driver.
“This year, especially the first half of the year, was just so spectacular. P.K. (crew chief Pierre Kuettel) and all the guys did a great job and we had luck on our side, ” Edwards said. “It just feels great to be the champion. I’ve won championships at our local dirt track — I won two. I won the Baby Grand Stock Car Racing Association championship in 2002. So it feels great. “
Edwards, 28, is the second Ford driver to win the Busch title. Teammate Greg Biffle won for Roush Racing in 2002. The Columbia, Mo. -native remembers his humble racing beginnings. Lee Spencer, FOXSports.com
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