JIM UTTER
jutter@charlotteobserver.com

Carl Edwards is running away with the NASCAR Busch Series driver's championship this season.
But once again, Richard Childress Racing is looking to steal some of the thunder.

Edwards maintains a dominating 766-point lead over David Reutimann entering Saturday's Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. (3 p.m., ESPN2). However, RCR's No. 29 team -- co-driven by Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer -- trails Edwards' No. 60 team by just 41 points in the owner standings.

The No. 29 trailed by a season-high 302 points after the second Nashville race in June, but has made up 227 points during the past five races.

RCR's No. 21 team won the owner title in 2003 with drivers Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter. Brian Vickers won the driver's title that season.

In addition to the No. 29 chasing the owner's title, RCR is also making noise with Harvick, who won the second Busch title a year ago. He's won two straight races and four of his past five. Harvick can become the seventh driver in series history to win three straight races with a victory Saturday. Ryan Newman (2005) was the last to do so.

Harvick's win last weekend at Watkins Glen, N.Y., was the 31st of his career and moved him into a tie with Jack Ingram for second on the series' all-time win list. Mark Martin holds the record with 47 wins.

A win at Michigan also would give Harvick four wins in the past four races he's entered (but not consecutive events). Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2001-03) and Newman ('05) hold the record with wins in five straight starts (not in consecutive races).

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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I read this yesterday and laughed. I thought about posting it, but I thought it was a complete joke. Harvick did it last year and now Eddie Haskel. It's really had to enjoy the Busch series with 1/2 of the cup regulars running in it. I guess if you can't win in cup you might as well do it in Busch. They need to put a limit on how many races a cup driver can run and filter up the younger talent.