Edwards keeps mind on his recovering spotter

FONTANA, Calif. -- In many ways, Carl Edwards is closer to his spotter than he is to his own father.

It has nothing to do with the fact that Edwards speaks to Bobby Hudson for four hours in the racecar every Sunday. He talks to Hudson seven days a week, but on Sunday, he will be without Hudson for the first time in awhile.

Hudson suffered a heart attack on Thursday evening and was hospitalized near his home in North Carolina. It is unknown when he will return to the racetrack. Jason Hedlesky will be Edwards' interim spotter starting Sunday in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

"We won't be without him," Edwards said of Hudson. "If we win that race [Sunday], that would be the best thing we could do. I hope he makes it through this."

Edwards was busy with four on-track sessions on Saturday, but he spent what little free time he had on the phone, calling Hudson's family for updates.

"Spotting is the smallest thing Bobby does," Edwards said. "He is a good friend. I hang out at the shop and go over there and talk to Bobby. I sit in his office for two hours. He has seen everything, and he can drive a racecar better than half the guys out here, me included."

Hudson's high-decibel, auctioneer-style method of spotting is well-known and respected in the garage, and he is credited with helping calm the excitable Edwards.

"He is unbelievable. He can build anything, and he is a family man and a friend," Edwards said. "I have been thinking about it a lot."

Hudson's plight made Edwards think of his own father, who is also named Carl.

"I think about my dad all the time; he is a hard-living son of a gun," Edwards said. "Right now, really, I am thinking about [Hudson's] family."

Edwards qualified a lowly 21st for Sunday's 500-miler, but he jumped to fifth-quickest in the Saturday morning practice session, which was run in sunny, slippery conditions.

Edwards has been winless in the Nextel Cup Series for 18 months, but Roush Racing has traditionally been outstanding at high-speed, 2-mile tracks like California Speedway. Edwards is 5-for-5 in scoring top-10s here, including two top-fives last year. He finished third here last spring after qualifying 22nd.

"Car is pretty good," Edwards said. "The hot weather is great here, it is real slick and it feels like a great big dirt track. You just slide through 1 and 2. It is so much fun."