Carl Edwards was a top-10 fixture at Michigan -- and moved to ninth in the point standings. Credit: Autostock

Edwards upbeat despite looming short tracks

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- If history is to be believed, Carl Edwards is going to make things very interesting for Richmond.

Team owner Jack Roush doesn't believe Edwards will stagger through the short tracks like he did in the spring. Edwards has been spectacular on the speedways this season, but when he gets onto a road course or a short track, he has looked like a raw rookie.

	Carl Edwards
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With two of the next three races at short tracks, Edwards knows that is an issue, but his fourth-place run at Michigan on Sunday sent him from 10th to ninth in the Nextel Cup standings.

"That is exactly what we need," said Edwards, who spent 191 of the 200 laps in the top 10. "Now we can go to Bristol and breathe a little bit easier."

Edwards won the Truck race at Bristol in 2004, but he bounced around in his first two tries in a Cup car at the .533-mile track.

There is evidence that Edwards is getting better on these types of tracks. He was 19th last week at Watkins Glen, and in the most recent short track event (at Richmond in May), he finished 21st.

"Carl does everything he can every lap to learn and anticipate problems, learn from the problems we've had," Roush said. "Carl is a quick study."

"It's just going to take more days like this," Edwards said Sunday. "The tough ones are going to be Bristol and Richmond. So many things you can't control. If we can't do it, we don't deserve to be in the Chase."

Edwards narrowly missed his third career victory on Sunday. He was leading when he has to come in for gas with eight laps to go, but Edwards says trying to make it all the way simply wasn't an option.

Not with a Chase spot on the line.

"Points racing is completely different," Edwards said. "I am not good at it, but I am learning."