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Carl Edwards' average finsih in the second half of the season is triple that of the first half.By the Numbers: Memphis
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The scenarios are there for Carl Edwards. What could have been locked up two weeks ago at Charlotte is even easier this week at Memphis.
To clinch the Busch Series championship, all Edwards has to do is be his normal self. But that normal self is quite a contrast to the Edwards that started the season. In the first half, Edwards' average finish was 5.1. In the second half, it's been 17.5. He earned all four of his victories in the first 15 races. In the last 16 races, he's earned just six top-10 finishes.
And in terms of points, Edwards has experienced a significant drop. He averaged 164 points per race during the first half of the season and just 113 in the second half, a dip of 51 points. That gives him two points to play with -- if he loses 53 or more points on Saturday to David Reutimann, he will not clinch.
Carl Edwards Scenarios
Carl Edwards will clinch the Busch Series championship if ...
53He does not lose more than 53 points on second-place David Reutimann.
8He finishes eighth or better and does not lead a lap.
9He finishes ninth or better and leads a lap.
10He finishes 10th or better and leads the most laps.
Interesting Fact
4.0Average finish of Carl Edwards in his two races at Memphis. He needs only to finish eighth or better to clinch the Busch Series championship, or lead David Reutimann by at least 585 points. His current lead is 638 points.
Fun Fact
16Cars that will race on Saturday carrying the paint scheme that was designed by the children of St. Jude Children's Hospital.
All the Facts
1Driver on the entry list with an average running position inside the top 10 in the last two races at Memphis: J.J. Yeley (8.022). He ranks eighth overall, but the seven drivers ahead of him on the list are not racing Saturday.
2Drivers who have led laps in the last two Memphis races and are entered in Saturday's event: Carl Edwards (13 laps led) and Jason Keller (4 laps led).
2Former Memphis winners who are entered in Saturday's race: Scott Wimmer (2002) and Bobby Hamilton Jr. (2003).
3Drivers attempting to make their Busch Series debut on Saturday at Memphis: Dario Franchitti, Chase Austin and Colin Braun.
5Drivers who will be commuting from Atlanta to Memphis for double-duty racing this weekend: Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, David Reutimann and J.J. Yeley.
5Teenagers who are entered in Saturday's race: 18-year-olds Chase Austin, Bryan Clauson and Landon Cassill, along with 19-year-olds Colin Braun and Brad Coleman.
5Top-10 finishes for Scott Wimmer this season in the five short-track races.
8.38Average number of lead changes at Memphis among an average of 5.13 leaders. Memphis races average 11.4 cautions.
8.75Average starting position for Memphis winners.
12Finish of David Reutimann in his only Busch Series start at Memphis, 2002.
14Drivers entered in Saturday's race who are age 23 or younger.
36Laps in which Carl Edwards had the fastest car in the last two Memphis races (506 total laps), ranking him third on the list and first among drivers entered in Saturday's race.
43.35Percent of passes made on the frontstretch in the last two Memphis races.
93Laps led by Scott Wimmer at Memphis, the most among drivers entered in Saturday's race. All of Wimmers laps led came in his victory in 2002.
94Green-flag passes made by Carl Edwards in the last two Memphis races, third on the list and first among drivers entered in Saturday's race.
118.7Driver Rating for J.J. Yeley at Memphis, the highest among drivers entered in Saturday's race.
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Busch Series
Official Standings
| Pos. | Driver | Points | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Carl Edwards | 4276 | Leader |
| 2. | David Reutimann | 3638 | -638 |
| 3. | Kevin Harvick | 3523 | -753 |
| 4. | Jason Leffler | 3451 | -825 |
| 5. | David Ragan | 3299 | -977 |
| 6. | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | 3264 | -1012 |
| 7. | Greg Biffle | 3136 | -1140 |
| 8. | Stephen Leicht | 3046 | -1230 |
| 9. | Marcos Ambrose | 2987 | -1289 |
| 10. | Matt Kenseth | 2981 | -1295 |
• Complete Standings click here
Memphis Motorsports Park
Former Winners
| Year | Winner | Start | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jeff Green | 1 | Chevrolet |
| 2000 | Kevin Harvick | 2 | Chevrolet |
| 2001 | Randy LaJoie | 16 | Chevrolet |
| 2002 | Scott Wimmer | 6 | Pontiac |
| 2003 | Bobby Hamilton Jr. | 4 | Ford |
| 2004 | Martin Truex Jr. | 1 | Chevrolet |
| 2005 | Clint Bowyer | 35 | Chevrolet |
| 2006 | Kevin Harvick | 5 | Chevrolet |
Nationwide News
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- Scott eager to end offseason, get back to racing
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