Jeff Burton (left) is congratulated by car owner Richard Childress in victory lane at Lowe's Motor Speedway. DAVIE HINSHAW/The Charlotte Observer
Posted on Wed, Nov. 07, 2007
Edwards locks up driver title, but owner race still undecided
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Carl Edwards wrapped up his first NASCAR Busch Series championship last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
That was only half the battle.
The series’ car owner championship is still up for grabs and Edwards’ No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing team is quickly falling out of contention.
Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 team, using drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer, leads the owner’s standings by 113 points over Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 team. Edwards’ No. 60 is third, 259 points behind the No. 29.
“The Childress organization did a great job putting great drivers in the Busch cars and they had good fortune to go with that. They’ve just done a great job,” said team owner Jack Roush. “And Carl’s done a great job.”
Only two races remain this season, including Saturday’s Arizona.Travel 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. (4:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2).
The split title has happened only once before – in 2003, when Brian Vickers won the driver’s title but RCR won the owner’s title with drivers Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter.
Wimmer will drive the No. 29 this weekend, making his final start of the season. Burton will close out the year driving in the season finale at Homestead, Fla.
“I was fortunate in 2002 to win the Busch Series race at Phoenix and have had some pretty good runs there,” Wimmer said.
“I’m excited to see what we can do this weekend and, hopefully, we can pick up some more ground in the owner’s championship.”
The No. 29 can clinch the title of it leaves Phoenix with at least a 196-point lead over the No. 20 JGR team, which will use Cup driver Denny Hamlin this weekend.
Notes
Brad Coleman, the 19-year-old Houston native, makes his final start for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend. He’ll move to Brewco Motorsports and a full-time ride in 2008. He earned his first career pole at Talladega in addition to three top-five and five top-10 finishes.
Front Row Motorsports, which has competed in the Cup series for the past three years, will field a full-time Busch entry next season with driver Eric McClure.
Roush Fenway Racing officials confirmed that driver Todd Kluever will not return to the organization next season. He competed in 16 races this season with one top-10 finish.
owner championship is still up for grabs
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