Carl Edwards got his second Bud Pole of the season Saturday at Homestead. Credit: Autostock

Edwards sends strong message with HMS pole

With championship scenarios already fixed and all that's left to do is race, Carl Edwards certainly made a statement about what he figures his chances are in Sunday's Ford 400.

Edwards knocked fellow Chaser Ryan Newman off the pole for the season-ending Ford 400 by a scant .002 seconds on Saturday. Edwards' lap at 30.673 seconds, 176.051 miles per hour was good enough for his second pole of the season and gives him a slight advantage over his championship rivals.

Credit: Autostock

Lineup Ford 400 Pos. Driver Speed Time 1. C. Edwards 176.051 30.673 2. R. Newman 176.039 30.675 3. K. Kahne 175.896 30.700 4. K. Busch 175.558 30.759 5. M. Martin 175.273 30.809 Complete lineup, click here Bud pole winnerCarl Edwards sits on the pole for the Ford 400 Middle of the packTony Stewart will start the Ford 400 in 20th position Need to improveJimmie Johnson struggles and qualifies 32nd Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Edwards has just one race under his belt at Homestead -- coming last year --and he started 22nd and finished 14th in that one.

The point leader, Tony Stewart, wound up 20th in qualifying, clicking off a lap at 31.061 seconds, 173.851 mph in the No. 20 Chevrolet. A two-time winner at Homestead -- albeit on a different track -- Stewart averages 11.500 per start there and a Chase-best 8.333 in six starts.

All Stewart has to do to clinch the title is finish ninth or better, and he has four top-10 finishes in those six starts.

Jimmie Johnson, who trails Stewart by 52 points, wasn't as fortunate. His lap at 31.264 seconds, 172.723 mph put his 32nd in the lineup. Of course, he started 39th last year and finished second, so maybe it isn't as big an impediment as it might seem. Johnson owns the ninth-best starting average (23.750) among Chasers, but his finishing average of 9.500 is second only to Stewart.

Greg Biffle, the fourth driver mathematically eligible for the title, put his Ford in seventh with a lap at 30.859 seconds, 174.989 mph. Biffle has started better than he's finished here overall, averaging a third-best 10.666 per start and an eighth-best 20.333 per finish. He is the defending race champion.

Newman will start on the outside of the front row with a lap at 30.675 seconds, 176.039 mph. As usual, his starting average is the best among Chase drivers at 7.333 in three starts, but his finishing average of 24.333 is ninth.

Mark Martin, who will be eliminated from championship contention when Stewart takes the green flag on Sunday, was fifth-fastest in his Ford, putting down a lap at 30.809 seconds, 175.273 mph. Martin averages 20.166 per Homestead start (seventh) and his finishing average of 13.166 is third-best behind Stewart and Johnson.

Jeremy Mayfield, who will finish ninth in the Chase, reeled off a lap at 30.939 seconds, 174.537 mph for 13th place in the lineup. That's five spots higher than his average start (18.000, sixth). His finishing average is a seventh-best 17.800.

Matt Kenseth played a numbers game, qualifying 17th in the No. 17 Ford. His lap at 30.988 seconds, 174.261 mph will no doubt improve his average start of 27.800 (last) and give him a better shot at improving on his Chase-worst finishing average of 30.000.

Rusty Wallace, making the final start of his long and legendary career, was hoping for better than 37th, but he's in the race. Wallace's lap 31.348 seconds, 172.260 mph will drop his fifth-best starting average of 12.666, and his finishing average will hopefully grow to better than 14.000 (tied for fourth).

In terms of manufacturers, Fords were first, fifth, seventh and 17th. The Dodges wound up second, 13th and 37th, while the Chevrolets of the two point leaders were 18th and 32nd.

Kurt Busch, the 10th Chase driver and defending series titlist, did not qualify for the race as he was suspended for the final two races by Roush Racing. Kenny Wallace qualified the car 36th.