This was something many followers knew to be coming with their lasted posting record. It was certain that the owner of the team Jack Roush and Carl Edwards would triumph in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Edwards also won in different races on similar tracks; a sign of his success.
Carl Edwards came first and won the race of 500-mile this past February at Fontana, which was very similar to the Texas Motor Speedway. Edwards classified in fourth place and ran really good in Atlanta last March, also a similar track to TMS. More likely in 7 of Edwards 10 career victories, counting the one in Texas, get nearer to 1.5-mile or 2-mile tracks in which the drivers stabilize the raw horsepower and delicate managing. In addition, the Fords of Jack Roush usually ran really good on those types of tracks.
"But I don't have any sense that I do anything or direct anybody to do anything special for here," Roush said after Edwards led 123 laps (including the final 107) to beat Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin. "Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle have done well at these big, fast tracks, so there's a notebook to go from, a process that works better here than at most places. If I understood it, I'd apply it to Loudon and Martinsville, some of the places we struggle."
There was no fight here. Carl Edwards and Kenseth were position eighth in the top 10, having David Regan in 13th place and Jamie McMurray in 14th place. However; Greg Briffle was in the top 10, before having engine problems. Furthermore, Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kenseth, Johnson and Pole winner Dale Earnhart Jr collectively join the lead until Edward got it at 215. Excluded for three laps as the pit slowed him down.
"That was a really good car," he said in the understatement of the week. "There were a lot of cars virtually the same speed, so it was difficult getting track position. Once we got it, though, it was good in clean air."
Busch who was the winner of the race last March in Atlanta commented on Carl Edwards plaything with the field the entire day and complained regarding the jittery Car of Tomorrow. The last fall's TMS champion, Johnson was stunned at how disappointingly his car ran in the traffic. "These cars shouldn't be so aero-dependent," he said. "They're safer, but they need to make changes so we have more down force, more grip."
Such chat pleased Edwards. "I've heard people say the races are boring, but people always want something to complain about," he said. "These cars have 900 hp, go 200 mph, the track is slippery, and the tires are slippery. That's a spectacle and that's what it's supposed to be. There will be people who are faster, and somebody's going to win. It's the same for everyone, but it makes it more exciting to win. It's my opinion.... If I was running 15th, I might have a different opinion. Other people have the right to say whatever they want. It's okay if we disagree."
Commonly, Roush had the last word about his winning driver. "He's extremely good, and he's brave beyond reason at fast racetracks like this."
