Sunoco Pit Move: Pocono

The key to winning a NASCAR championship isn't always having a good day as much as it is limiting your bad ones.

That was the case for Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Ford team at Pocono Raceway in Sunday's Pennsylvania 500.

Saddled with a flat tire early in the race, Edwards made an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 20 to replace both left-side tires. NASCAR officials then penalized the No. 99 team for a refueling violation during that stop, which forced Edwards to make a slow pass-through of pit road on his next lap.

In last place, one lap down, Edwards spent the rest of the race trying to salvage as much as he could. Edwards made six pit stops over the next 100 laps in an effort to maximize the handling of his car, but couldn't get his lap back until a caution on Lap 137.

"[Sunday] was just really disappointing," Edwards said. "We just struggled all day with the handling. I'm really proud of my guys though. They never gave up and did a great job. We just didn't have a car capable of winning."

From that point, Edwards moved steadily back up through the field and was running inside the top 25. However, things went from bad to worse when he was involved in a multi-car accident with 20 laps to go and suffered minor damage.

The repairs -- and four fresh tires -- seemed to help, as Edwards went from 27th to 21st over the last 16 laps, turning what could have been a disastrous day into a mediocre one.

Since his victory in his Pocono debut two seasons ago, Edwards has finished outside of the top 20 three of the last four races at the track.

The good news? Edwards remained solidly in sixth place in the standings, his Chase hopes undeterred.

"I'm just really glad this weekend is over and I'm looking forward to moving on to Watkins Glen," he said.