Edwards fights back to claim top-10 finish at Fontana
The Roush Fenway Racing driver battled with a loose handling race car after starting the day from the ninth spot.
Photo by: Action Sports Photography
FONTANA, Calif. - Carl Edwards came to Auto Club Speedway with hopes of securing back-to-back wins after capturing the checkered in Bristol last weekend. The Roush Fenway Racing driver battled with a loose handling race car after starting the day from the ninth spot but remained solidly inside the top 20 until a blown left rear tire set him back to the 37th position at lap 117 of the 200 lap race.
The No.99 team fought back to gradually make gains on the track and pit road as they rounded out the top 10 after a green-white-checkered finish ended the day.The No. 99 Subway Ford Fusion rolled off in the ninth position when the green flag waved of the Auto Club 400. Edwards’ last win at the two-mile track came in 2008 when he began from this same spot. The car was loose on exit throughout the beginning of the day and the No.99 crew was successful in making the necessary adjustments to get up to speed and back into the top ten before a flat left rear at lap 117 sent Edwards into the grass.
The two-time NASCAR champion restarted in the 37th position, one lap back, and fought hard to move up the field to secure the lucky dog when the yellow came out on lap 140. The team continued to improve their race car and got it to a place that was very close to where it needed to be as they began to make strides against the rest of the field.
Edwards continued to wheel his No. 99 Ford Fusion up the track, and his efforts, combined with gains on pit road, placed him in the 11th spot when a caution came out just short of the finish on lap 198. After another speedy pit stop he would restart in ninth and end up in 10th, making the No. 99 team the new point’s leader.
Next up for Edwards and the No. 99 team is the Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 30. Race coverage begins at 12:30p.m.on FOX. Coverage can also be heard on PRN and SIRIUS radio channel 90.
Roush Fenway Racing
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments