Carl Edwards has not won yet this season. Credit: Autostock

Edwards, motorcoach driver craving a victory

Meeting on Roush's crew chief lineup expected this week

LOUDON, N.H. -- Tom Giacchi was watching the replay of a Nextel Cup race on television this week when the announcer began mentioned a driver that hadn't won in more than 200 races.

	Credit: Autostock
	Happy Hour Speeds Lenox Industrial Tools 300 Pos. Driver Time Speed 1. M. Truex Jr. 29.614 128.615 2. B. Vickers 29.629 128.550 3. Ky. Busch 29.674 128.355 4. D. Stremme 29.685 128.307 5. C. Edwards 29.705 128.221 • Complete speeds, click here

"He looked at me with the most fearful look I've ever seen him have,'' Carl Edwards said of his motorcoach driver, who before the November Nextel Cup race at Texas vowed not to shave until Edwards won again.

"He was like, 'That could happen.' ''

Giacchi is beginning to look a bit like "Forest Gump'' during his cross-country jog across the United States. The beard is more than four inches long, putting a damper on his social life.

"I think he's really worried,'' said Edwards, who was fifth fastest in Saturday's final practice for Sunday's race at New Hampshire International Speedway. "He pulls the hair out and [looks at the length and] ... goes, 'Yep, December of Christmas time, didn't have a date then. February, didn't have a date then.'

"He can go through the whole timeline with the hairs.''

Edwards wants to get a win as much as Giacchi wants a shave. He's 193 points behind the 10th and final spot guaranteed a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup with eight races left in NASCAR's so-called regular season.

"I know our team is good,'' said Edwards, whose Happy Hour speed was topped only by Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch and David Stremme. "We're fast every week. We just need to have a little bit of luck and put it all together and we'll win a bunch of races.''

The question is whether Edwards will continue with crew chief Wally Brown or return to Bob Osborne.

Team owner Jack Roush moved Osborne to Jamie McMurray's car after the seventh race and promoted Brown, the team engineer, to crew chief for what was termed a 90-day trial run.

A decision on whether to maintain the status quo or move Osborne back to Edwards is expected this week when all parties involved meet with Roush, who says everybody has a vote in the outcome.

"I don't know what I'm going to do yet,'' said Edwards, who has been supportive of both crew chiefs.

Edwards was 22nd in points and McMurray was 21st at the time of the change. They enter Sunday's race 14th and 17th, respectfully.

Edwards climbed as high as 13th after top six finishes at Sonoma and Michigan. He slipped the past two weeks, finishing 39th at Daytona after having late problems that spoiled a top 10 run and 20th last week at Chicago after brushing the wall twice.

"Chicago really tore me up,'' Edwards said. "I was really upset with myself.''

Roush said he'll listen to everybody before casting his vote, although indications are there may be a switch.

"I don't think there's any losers in what we did,'' he said. "Everybody is doing better than they were. It's worked. But what Carl feels about it and what Bob feels about it, those are the things that weigh very heavily for me.''

The only real loser this season has been Giacchi, who may trip over his beard if it gets much longer.

"We'll win soon enough,'' Edwards said.