Edwards keeps running as NBS back to basics at NHIS

Finally, a breather.

After three consecutive weeks of flying from Nashville, Tenn., to the Poconos, then from Sparta, Ky., to Brooklyn, Mich., then from Sonoma, Calif., to Milwaukee, the double-duty drivers get to rest this weekend. Both the Busch and Cup series races are at New Hampshire.

In the past three weeks, drivers who have competed in both series' races have flown a total of 3,291 miles just between tracks -- that doesn't include travel from race shops. They've driven 700 miles on the racetrack. And they've probably looked at their watches more times in 21 days than they have all season.

By the Numbers

RCR drivers have led the most laps at New Hampshire, but it's been Roush wheelmen who have celebrated in Victory Lane.

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"It'll be great to have the Cup and Busch races in the same location for the first time in three weeks," said points leader Carl Edwards, who cut it so short on his travel arrangements at Nashville and Milwaukee that he literally got off a chopper, sprinted to his racecar and jumped in at the last possible second to qualify at both tracks.

Three weeks ago, Edwards held a 472-point lead on second-place Kevin Harvick in the standings and was coming off a victory at Dover.

Now he sits 776 points ahead of second-place David Reutimann. And he's still not completely satisfied with his performances as of late.

"My No. 60 team has been doing such a great job, but we haven't had the finishes to benefit the hard work," said Edwards, who won at Nashville.

But after his back-to-back victories, he led the most laps at Kentucky before crashing with Steve Wallace on a restart with less than 50 laps to go and finishing 33rd. At Milwaukee, Edwards led a race-high 123 laps but got a flat tire with less than 70 laps remaining and had to pit. He rallied to finish eighth.

"We've had a couple of frustrating finishes over the past two weeks after leading the majority of those races," said Edwards' crew chief Pierre Kuettel.

But Kuettel and Edwards think they have the answer: New Hampshire International Speedway, site of Saturday's Camping World 200 (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

"We're taking our car from last week and I feel confident that we'll have a very dominating Ford," Kuettel said.

"We feel like Loudon's a great place to turn this around and go for a win," Edwards said. "We won last year and our strong performance at Milwaukee gives us a lot of momentum."

To say Edwards needs to "turn things around" is a stretch.

His lead on second place in the points is equivalent to four races. Even drivers who theoretically would be in the hunt have all but conceded.

"My goal has always been to win the championship, but at this mid-season point being in the top three in the standings would be an accomplishment for us," said second-place David Reutimann.

Added fourth-place Dave Blaney, who is 853 behind: "Even though the championship is probably out of reach, we are still points racing to pick up anything we can. It would still mean a lot to this team to finish second at the end of the year."

If Kuettel and Edwards have their way this weekend at New Hampshire and for the rest of the season, the distance between first and second will be even greater.

"We won the race last year and we're hungry for another win," Kuettel said. "We have the driver, the team and the car. Now all we need to do is make it happen."