Carl Edwards' mangled Ford sits in the garage at Bristol. Credit: Autostock

Edwards to the rear after qualifying crash

Roush driver scored truck win from shotgun start in 2004

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Carl Edwards learned first-hand Friday just how cold the Nextel Cup Series can be.

Edwards entered the Food City 500 weekend on top of the world, having prevailed in an epic duel with Jimmie Johnson the last time the Nextel Cup Series graced the racetrack.

Carl Edwards Credit: Autostock

But as he went out to make his qualifying lap at Bristol Motor Speedway, he lost control of the No. 99 Ford and slammed the inside wall exiting Turn 2 before ever even taking the green flag.

"I was thinking about the lap, not thinking about warming up my tires," Edwards said. "I don't think there was anything on the track. I think I was just too aggressive. Unbelievable. It's not good."

Edwards' Ford sustained significant damage to the left front fender, relegating him to a backup car.

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"That's what you get for not having your head completely in the game," Edwards said. "I was just thinking about the lap. The backup car, they say, is better. Bob (Osborne, crew chief) says it's better.

"I'm not excited about starting in the back but I'll be alright."

Rusty Wallace, a nine-time Bristol winner who has seen it all at the half-mile bullring and qualified third Friday, agrees Edwards will overcome the adversity.

"He's a good driver and he's got a good team," Wallace said. "The bad thing about that is you get a bad pit selection. That's the real bad thing about that.

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"Starting in the back, if you have a real good pit selection, is not that big a deal. He's a quality driver and he's been doing a real well all year long. I think with the persistence he has, he'll be fine."

Elliott Sadler, Friday's pole-winner, won this race from the 38th starting position in 2001. He understands the task facing Edwards Sunday.

"You have to race the racetrack here," Sadler said. "You can't get yourself in situations at the beginning of the race that's going to take you out.

"You've got to race the racetrack, then go for it at the end. What we did in 2001, we just had track position. We stayed out, stayed out and track positioned it."

Edwards was in a similar position last August. In Craftsman Truck Series qualifying for the O'Reilly 200, Edwards spun, damaging his Ford. His crew elected to make unapproved changes, sending him to the rear of the field to start the race.

He methodically surged through the field and edged Shane Hmiel to earn his third win of the season.