Underlying theme at Busch banquet simple: Thanks

ORLANDO, Fla. -- "Thanks" is a common theme at any NASCAR awards ceremony, but the phrase took on new meaning Friday night for the Busch Series' final champions, driver Carl Edwards and owner Richard Childress.

Around 650 people packed the Tuscan Ballroom of the Portofino Bay Hotel to honor Edwards, his owner Jack Roush, crew chief Pierre Kuettel and their Roush Fenway Racing team as well as Childress, his drivers Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer, crew chief Pat Smith and their Richard Childress Racing crew.

NASCAR president Mike Helton had high praise for Edwards in his introduction.

King Carl

Carl Edwards earned more than $2 million for winning the Busch Series championship.

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"Every sport has winners, and all winners are represented by the champion," Helton said. "The season you had proves to the world you're going to be one to contend with for a long time."

Edwards, taking note of remarks made earlier by sixth-place driver Bobby Hamilton Jr., stepped to the podium and made a short video of the crowd greeting him with his camera phone.

"My first pavement race was the 2001 Copper World Classic [at Phoenix]," Edwards said. "Six years later, to be here, I can't tell you how unbelievable that is. I'm the proof for anyone who has a dream, to keep on trying and you can make it happen."

He praised Kuettel, whom he said "didn't ask for this job."

"Jack [Roush] walked into the shop, like he often does, when I wasn't there and told him he had the job," Edwards said, before looking straight at the man called PK. "We'll follow you wherever you want to go."

Through a raucous evening, only Edwards, whose bonus check of $1,218,597 bumped his winnings for the season to a fourth-best all-time $2,485,582, received a standing ovation from nearly the entire crowd.

While the money paled in contrast to what was awarded a week ago at the Nextel Cup ceremony in New York, it was significant that under Anheuser-Busch's guidance the series' point fund grew from $50,000 in its inaugural 1982 season to $4.5 million this season. However, the cavity that exists between NASCAR's top two series is borne out by Cup champion Jimmie Johnson carrying off more than $16 million this season alone, while Anheuser-Busch's point fund contributions over the 26-year lifespan of its involvement is just more than $18.4 million.

But as Edwards celebrated his first NASCAR national touring championship, incredibly, the seat at the head table was Burton's first since he made his national touring debut, in the Busch Series, in 1988.

Post-banquet, at Childress' after party, Burton gestured to his team owner, whose career as an owner/driver began in the 1960s, and paid Childress a huge compliment.

"I haven't been doing this as long as him, but this is my first championship, and it means a lot," Burton said. "I appreciate the effort by everyone so much. RCR Busch racing is the pinnacle of Busch racing, in my opinion."

Edwards presented a unique "thank you" to his mother, Nancy Sterling, by having her accompany him at the head table -- a similar position to the one she often holds on his pit box at Nextel Cup and Busch Series events. (Continued)