Sunoco Pit Move: California

Carl Edwards is carrying as much momentum into the Chase for the Nextel Cup as any driver in the series. And he wasn't about to let a little thing like an early-race collision on pit road slow him down.

Dropped as far back as 38th-place after hitting Juan Montoya's Dodge on pit road 10 laps into the race, Edwards and the No. 99 Ford crew rallied for a second-place finish in the Sharp Aquos 500 at California Speedway (Press Pass).

"We fought back from that all day and I was really proud of my guys," Edwards said. "The pit stops were awesome."

Immediately following Joe Nemechek's engine problem on Lap 9, Edwards -- who started the race 19th -- headed for his pit stall for routine service. But as he was preparing to head back to the track, Juan Montoya was aiming for the box directly in front of Edwards.

It's crew chief Bob Osborne's call when to let Edwards know he's clear to leave the pit box safely -- and 99 times out of 100, there's no problem. However, this turned out to be that 100th time.

"On the first pit stop when they dropped the jack, [Montoya] was coming in the pit stall in front of me and we pulled right out in front of him," Edwards said.

The incident damaged the right-front corner of Edwards' No. 99 Ford, but not severely enough to precipitate major repairs. Montoya would not be so lucky, as he wound up 33rd.

Edwards said the glare from the setting sun may have contributed to the confusion.

"It's Bob Osborne's fault, you know what I mean?" Edwards said. "He apologized to all of us after the race and it was just a mistake.

"[Spotter] Bobby Hudson said to watch the 42. I was looking in my mirror and the way the sun was kind of setting, I don't think Bob could see which one was the 42. I know I couldn't."

Edwards said he heard Osborne give a command over the radio and followed those instructions.

"He said, 'Just go on the jack,' and they dropped the jack and it was just at the worst time," Edwards said. "Bob is such an awesome guy and I know he's beating himself up over it, but I know we all make mistakes and he doesn't make hardly any.

"I'm behind him 100 percent and it's just a fluke deal. I don't think it will ever happen again as far as Bob making a mistake like that."

Several things played to Edwards' advantage at that point: The car was relatively unscathed, there were still 240 laps left to make up ground, and possibly most important, he had clinched a berth in the Chase with his win the previous week at Bristol.

During a series of cautions that followed, Osborne and Edwards worked together to gain track position. By Lap 60, he was solidly back in the top 15, and back in the top 10 again by Lap 105.

But it was during a long green-flag run that the No. 99 crew shined brightest. Running sixth at the time, Edwards pitted on Lap 153 -- and his stop was good enough to vault him into fourth when the stops cycled around. From that point, Edwards was able to pick off Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch in the closing laps.

"At the end, it was really fun racing with Kyle," Edwards said. "We were running on the fence. One time I looked up and he looked like a dirt Late Model, he had the right-rear sparking off the fence and standing on the gas."

Edwards appeared to be gaining on eventual winner Jimmie Johnson at the end, but Johnson was able to maintain his 1.5-second advantage.

"I thought he was gonna be a sitting duck," Edwards said. "I even said to Bob on the radio. I said, 'I feel like it's me and Kyle racing for the win here.'

"You know Jimmie better than I do, but I don't think on the last green-flag run you're gonna lay back. He goes pretty hard."

Edwards finished fourth in this race last year but was eliminated from Chase consideration, as only 10 positions were in play.

Currently fourth in the standings and guaranteed a chance at the championship, Edwards said it's amazing how, as a driver, that changes your outlook on the season.

"This year is definitely different," he said. "I'm sure this week last year I didn't have a smile on my face right now, and now I do.

"That's all you can ask for is to enjoy it, but any of the drivers can tell you that you live and die by this stuff. It's tough. One week you can be a hero and the next week you're nothing."