 | | Carl Edwards led 94 laps Sunday at Homestead. Credit: Autostock |
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
November 21, 2005
03:32 PM EST (20:32 GMT)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Carl Edwards didn't want the season to end. Not now. Not after he ended Homestead a scant 35 points from the Nextel Cup title. Not after dominating at Homestead. Certainly not after a late-race caution cost him a shot at his fifth victory.  |  | | Credit: Autostock |
| |
| Inside the Chase |
| Final point standings |
| Rank |
Driver |
Pts. |
Behind |
| 1. |
T. Stewart |
6,533 |
-- |
| 2. |
G. Biffle |
6,498 |
-35 |
| 3. |
C. Edwards |
6,498 |
-35 |
| 4. |
M. Martin |
6,428 |
-105 |
| 5. |
J. Johnson |
6,406 |
-127 |
| 6. |
R. Newman |
6,359 |
-174 |
| 7. |
M. Kenseth |
6,352 |
-181 |
| 8. |
R. Wallace |
6,140 |
-393 |
| 9. |
J. Mayfield |
6,073 |
-460 |
| 10. |
Ku. Busch |
5,974 |
-559 |
|
|
 |
The three hours that made up the Ford 400 summed up Edwards' season well. He led 94 laps on a high-speed 1.5-miler, and only a late decision to mount four tires kept him from matching Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle with a series-high five wins. Edwards won at Texas two weeks ago by taking four tires on the final stop. He repeated that strategy at Homestead only to see Greg Biffle win by taking just two with just 14 laps to go. "[Biffle] is an unbelievable driver," Edwards said. "I am really proud to share that second spot with him." Biffle's win allowed him to match Edwards with 6,498 points, and Edwards took the blame for the costly pit call. "We went in this thing and we pitted with four and I thought we could make it back up there," said Edwards, who drove from 12th to fourth during the last green-flag run. "It's still fun. The last 11 laps were great." Edwards started the race from the pole and eventually opened up a lead of five seconds, but his car got tight as the race wore on and he didn't want to see that last caution. "Awesome season. Four wins, I feel if things would have gone a little differently it would be five wins and we'd be second in points," Edwards said. Edwards had a couple of close calls, the most significant being a late-race scrape with Joe Nemechek. "[He] got loose into me. He did a good job saving it. I got lucky a couple times, almost dumped it," Edwards said. Edwards says team will work on weaknesses Three of Edwards' four wins came on 1.5-mile tracks like Homestead, so it was no surprise that he came out and led the most laps on Sunday. As the year progressed, Edwards got stronger and stronger, but his showings on short tracks and road courses hurt his title chances, and he knew it. "I need to learn Martinsville a little better," said Edwards, who finished 26th at Martinsville in October and lost a lot of ground to Stewart. Edwards became more comfortable on the restrictor-plate events as the season wore on, and his 10th-place finish at Talladega helped dismiss concerns that Edwards would make a quick exit in the Chase. "I learned how to run on the superspeedways and we will be better on the road courses," Edwards said. "Just ready to go home and get ready for next season. "Our team is going to be even better next year. Hopefully 36 points better." Edwards finished third in points in two series After a fast start in 2005, Edwards had a slim chance to win the title in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series. Edwards again will run both series in 2006. "Winning is the real deal. Third in both series my first full year, nine total wins in both series, I am one of the most fortunate guys in the world," he said. | 
