Race Reaction: Speculation On Gas Fuels Edwards Win

In a move that no doubt would have made Gordon “Greed is Good” Gecko
proud, speculation on fuel paved the way for a Carl Edwards at Texas to
at least make the final two races a little more interesting. While not
one to trash the announcing crew covering the race at ABC/ESPN, I had
to snicker a bit when Edwards and crew chief Bob Osborne proved Former
championship crew chief Andy Petree (he of Dale Earnhardt and Harry
Gant fame) and former NASCAR champion driver Dale Jarrett wrong.

Edwards’ win tightens up the race between he and front-runner Jimmie
Johnson to 106 points. Considering a perfect race is 160 points,
according to SPEED/FOX commentator Larry Mc Reynolds, it is not
completely impossible for Edwards to spoil Johnson’s bid for a third
straight championship. Today’s race was a gift to Edwards. He did
everything he needed to do, and the only thing that could have been
better concerning Johnson for Edwards is if the “48″ would have rang up
a DNF.

Edwards wouldn’t be denied. Evidence of his determination was the gutsy
fuel call. The “99″ had everybody wondering why Edwards languished in
5th after taking four tires. When word surfaced that Edwards and
Osborne were conserving fuel, Petree said it would be a huge gamble. It
was a lot fun for an otherwise non-descript race to listen to the
banter on fuel strategy. First the Roush team thought they were a quarter
lap short, then they were 4 laps short, and then they decided they
might make it. What the boys in the booth forgot was Edwards’ secret
weapon- none other than the “Cat In The Hat”- Jack Roush. Himself an
engineer, you know Roush was nervously calculating the fuel mileage.
With a championship on the line, Roush wasn’t about to gamble away
Edwards faint hopes. They must have been on to something as Hendrick
Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. tried the same
thing. For Gordon, it bought him a second place finish, not bad for a
guy who’s never won at Texas. Junior was not so lucky. He was forced to
pit with about 6 laps left and then stalled on pit road exit. Junebug
ended up at 20th, but what the heck? The guy had nothing to lose.

Props go out to Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann for running good races
today. “Beak” really looked like a winner before his car went away
late. Reutimann registered his 3rd top 10 of the season. Bowyer joined
Greg Biffle and Jamie Mc Murray in terms of providing Edwards a
spirited challenge. Mc Murray finished third, but played it smart
enough to be in a position to win.

Jeers go out to David Gilliland. I’m not sure what’s up with the “38″,
but his get together with Juan Pablo Montoya is by my count the third
such incident he’s had this year: there was his melee with Matt Kenseth
early this year, and the multi-car mess with Michael Mc Dowell at
Watkins- Glen. For a driver trying to prove he belongs, this doesn’t
help his case, especially when Doug Yates can find eager free agents
who would take better care of his cars. This is not a way to score
points with an owner on a budget.

A third straight Sprint Cup for Jimmie Johnson may still be a forgone
conclusion. In spite of all his problems- Johnson pulled off a 17th
place finish. Oh, if only Kyle Busch could have been that kind of bad
for Joe Gibbs Racing. Johnson expects to do well at NASCAR’s last two
stops on the 2008 tour.

But don’t count out Edwards- who could draw inspiration from another
long shot Missourian. You students of presidential politics may remember
earing about some guy named Harry Truman- an upset winner back in 1948.

At least he’s providing a little bit of drama for Phoenix.