Edwards In Spoiler Role As Dismal Season Ends

Disappointing might not be a strong enough word to describe Carl Edwards’ 2012 season.

A year ago, Edwards went to the Ford EcoBoost400 finale leading the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. He didn’t win the championship, losing to Tony Stewart on a most-wins tiebreaker, but the season obviously ranked the best of the Missouri native’s NASCAR Sprint Cup career.

What a difference a season makes. Instead of building on the “near-miss” title and a Coors Light Pole for February’s Daytona 500, Edwards’ No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford became ensnared in a season-long down draft. Edwards goes to Sunday’s season finale without a win and outside the Chase.

Ranked 15th in points with just three top fives and 13 top 10s, the 2012 season statistically is Edwards’ worst in his eight years as a full-time series competitor.

Homestead-Miami Speedway, however, is a good place to kick-start 2013 and end the year on a positive note – for Edwards and RFR. A victory, and the bonus points that go with it, could make Edwards a spoiler and perhaps have an impact on who ultimately claims this year’s championship.

Edwards has been superlative at the 1.5-mile Homestead layout, fashioning a pair of victories (2008, 2010) and finishing eighth or better in seven consecutive races. The Columbia, Mo., veteran has an average finish of 5.2 and a series-leading Driver Rating of 120.9. Since 2005, Edwards has dominated virtually every Loop Scoring Data category and led 26.2% of the eight races.

Roush Fenway Racing has won seven of 13 Homestead races – including five in a row between 2004 and 2008. Current drivers and Chase qualifiers Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth have combined for four victories.

Posted by ard2012 on November 14, 2012. Filed under NASCAR. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry