Carl Edwards talks with Max Jones, Busch Series program manager for Roush Racing. Credit: Don Bok/Motorsports Images and Archives

Edwards smiling despite time constraints

Busch schedule just another addition to Cup and IROC events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Carl Edwards might have already experienced the pressures of simultaneously competing in two of NASCAR's national tours full time, but he hasn't let it affect his bubbling mood.

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It didn't matter that Edwards had just spent three days at Daytona International Speedway earlier in the week in the final Nextel Cup session of Preseason Thunder, working out his No. 99 Roush Racing Ford Fusion.

In fact, it gave Edwards one of the comparisons he revels in -- and better yet, he was able to share it with his Nextel Cup crew chief, Bob Osborne, and his former Cup car chief, Pierre Kuettel.

Kuettel was named Edwards' crew chief on the No. 60 Busch Series Fusion right before 46 Busch teams arrived at Daytona for their three-day Preseason Thunder session on Friday.

And Edwards, as usual, was enjoying the moment.

"The best way for me to approach racing is just to take it every day, and with every opportunity, to make the most of it," Edwards said. "I don't think too much about what happened yesterday.

"That's kind of my MO, and every time I get into a racecar I'm excited to go racing and I feel like I have just as good of a chance to win -- I don't ever give up hope.

Credit: Autostock

Carl Edwards 2005 Busch Series results Race Start Finish Daytona 29 10 California 16 6 Mexico City 9 3 Las Vegas 1 7 Atlanta 1 1 Nashville 3 4 Bristol 1 7 Texas 3 4 Phoenix 5 8 Talladega 17 33 Darlington 9 11 Richmond 5 1 Lowe's 3 35 Dover 1 31 Nashville NA NA Kentucky 1 1 Milwaukee 10 14 Daytona 11 36 Chicago 9 4 New Hampshire 21 2 Pikes Peak 42 34 Gateway 4 3 IRP 31 20 Watkins Glen 8 11 Michigan 3 3 Bristol 7 29 California 4 1 Richmond 2 28 Dover 17 9 Kansas 21 27 Lowe's 18 4 Memphis 38 5 Texas 18 3 Phoenix 1 1 Homestead 4 19 Average 11.0 12.2

"I've seen a lot things happen in racing, and you can't ever give up hope."

What's happened in Edwards' life in the last year is a great example, not that hope was ever in short supply in his camp. Edwards has an airplane, a new house and new dirt and road bikes, so life is, indeed, good.

Even the prospect of racing nearly 75 times in Nextel Cup and the Busch Series doesn't daunt him in the least. Edwards has added the Crown Royal IROC Series to his plate, but moving on from his Busch rookie-of-the-year season has high value for him.

"I love running the Busch Series full time," said Edwards, who'll start the season as one of eight drivers running both Cup and Busch schedules. "I think it's a huge opportunity.

"My whole mission right now, in this portion in my life, is to be the best racecar driver I can be [so] I don't see any downside to running as many races as I can."

It doesn't even matter that 2005 was Edwards' first full year in either Busch or Nextel Cup. His success makes him a target for his younger Roush Racing teammates, and that just makes Edwards smile even wider.

"It's different, and I think every driver goes through that," Edwards said. "It's even a little strange. Danny O'Quinn [Roush Busch rookie] asked me for advice the other day.

"I was like, 'that's crazy.' I never thought I'd be standing in the Busch Series garage after one year giving advice."

To a degree, the Busch test has had Edwards and his men scratching their heads. His cars have not been quick by themselves, with Edwards never appearing in the top 20 in any of the single-car speed charts.

His best car, however, drafts very well, as it was fifth on the second day's morning draft sheet, when 51 cars participated in preparation for the Hershey's Kissables 300, the Busch Series' opening race on Feb. 18.

"Honestly, since it's an impound race, we're just trying to make our car the best it can be in race trim," Edwards said. "Plus, race trim is a lot more fun to practice.

"It's been tough to get out there and do single-car runs because the line is so long on pit road, but we're trying to be smart with the changes we're making and maximize the time that we do have on the track."

While Chevrolets have dominated the single-car sheets, Edwards is comfortable with his car's race attitude.

"I think that the Fusion was awesome in the Cup Series, and ours isn't quite as good as our Cup car was, relative to the Busch field," Edwards said. "We'll work on it, though -- and I think this rules package over here, even if you don't have a good car by itself, I think the blade on the roof allows you to draft better and gives the guys in back a bigger advantage.

"I think that a slower car has a better chance in the Busch Series race here come February."

The three weeks until Speedweeks will give Edwards more time to adjust to Kuettel calling the shots on his Busch program.

Brad Parrott called the shots last year, when Edwards won four Bud Poles and five races and finished third in the championship despite missing a race at Nashville. But Parrott had an apparent philosophical difference at Roush that led to their separation.

Edwards took it, as he does everything, in stride.

"It was really sad to see Brad go," Edwards said. "He's a great friend and I think an unbelievable crew chief. We've never had one cross word, and I enjoyed working with him.

"It was just a simple matter of different ways of doing things at the shop -- it wasn't at-track performance or anything between me and Brad. It wasn't my decision, and it was just the way the shop structure was -- it wasn't working out.

"The downside is that I might have to race against Brad now, but PK [Kuettel] is awesome. He's deserved to be a crew chief for years, and I think it's neat to see a guy get that opportunity."