Edwards earns more than $2M in '07 Busch winnings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Carl Edwards, the 2007 Busch Series driver champion, received a payout of $2,485,582, an amount that ranks fourth all-time among series title winners.

Edwards collected more than $1.2 million in both race winnings ($1,241,985) and his share of the series point fund ($1,218,597).

"I felt like it was a pretty good year overall," Edwards said. "Actually, a really good year."

The series' $8.4 million point fund this season included a record $4.5 million contribution from outgoing sponsor Anheuser-Busch. In its 26 years as series sponsor A-B contributed more than $18.4 million to the Busch Series point fund, growing from $50,000 in its inaugural season in 1982.

The 2007 season marked the second consecutive year that every race purse exceeded $1 million. Fifteen drivers earned $1 million or more in total winnings including series regulars Jason Leffler, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Stephen Leicht, Marcos Ambrose and Mike Wallace.

In 105 career starts, Edwards -- the 19th and final champion under the Busch brand sponsor banner -- has totaled $6,139,648. His 2007 total marks the first time he has surpassed $2 million in series earnings.

A struggling racer before owner Jack Roush plucked him from obscurity, Edwards had spent time substitute teaching to make ends meet and help fund his career. But with close to $24 million in NASCAR winnings, he's comfortable now.

It's taken some adjusting because Edwards has found it hard to shake the mentality of the struggling racer.

"I've never been middle class -- I'd either been bottom of the barrel, and now I am rich," he said. "I never took out a loan. I just didn't own anything. I just lived at my mom's and drove a car my buddy gave me. I still feel like I live the same way.

"It is nice to know that I paid for the house I live in and I don't have to worry about money. That's a big stressor in a racer's life. There's a lot of racers out there that look at every damn thing and say, 'How many tires could I buy with that? If I just don't go out to dinner or save $20 bucks here or there, now I can buy a new tire.' That's the way we went for a long time and now I don't have to. I am very fortunate."

Edwards garnered $25,000 in contingency money by claiming the Sunoco Diamond Performance award. He was also named the series' most popular driver for the first time.

Other contingency award winners were David Ragan (Raybestos Rookie of the Year), Denny Hamlin (Busch Pole), David Reutimann (Mobil One Command Performance), Bobby Hamilton Jr. (Featherlite Most Improved Driver), Scott Wimmer (Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge) and Mike Wallace (WIX Filters Lap Leader).

The Associated Press contributed to this story.