Edwards, Benson share the spotlight in Cup's absence

By NASCAR.COM
July 21, 2008
11:39 AM EDT

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A recap of the weekend Nationwide and Craftsman Truck races:

Figuratively speaking

8.4 -- Average finish for Joey Logano in his five career Nationwide Series starts, which also includes a 31st-place finish at Nashville. It was his only finish outside the top 10. Without it, his average finish would be 2.75.

Nationwide Series

Pit Crew of the Week

No. 31 Chevrolet: Jeff Burton's crew flirted with pit strategy at Charlotte all night. When it came time for the money stop, the crew gave their driver fuel only to keep him out front in clean air and help propel him to his second victory of the season.

Tip of the Week

Radiators are often ignored. Yet keeping engines cool and running in the right temperature range is critical to taking the heat off your engine.

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Race
Lineup | Results | Standings | Central

• It took three days for Carl Edwards to get to Gateway International Raceway from his home in Columbia, Mo. -- on a bicycle. Once at the track, however, Edwards picked up his pace considerably for Saturday night's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Nationwide Series race. In the final 55-lap green-flag run, Edwards' No. 60 Ford streaked away from the No. 20 Toyota of Joey Logano, taking the checkered flag 6.877 seconds ahead of the 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing phenom. "That was unbelievable," said Edwards, who picked up his second win of the season and the 15th of his career to the delight of a strong contingent of supporters in the grandstands. "It's unreal. There won't be a guy tomorrow who has a better day than me. Thank you everybody up in the grandstands. Thanks a lot."
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Qualifying
• Jamie McMurray put his No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford on the top starting spot at Gateway with a lap of 133.101 mph to edge out Reed Sorenson (133.089) for the pole. McMurray's teammate Carl Edwards qualified third in a Ford, while Joey Logano and points leader Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five starters in a Toyota and Chevrolet, respectively.

Truck Series

Race
Lineup | Results | Standings | Central

• Johnny Benson made a daring four-wide pass to take the lead with 32 laps remaining and cruised on to victory Saturday night in the Built Ford Tough 225 Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. In the bigger picture, Benson took control of the points, leaping over Ron Hornaday and Matt Crafton.
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Qualifying

• Mike Skinner earned the 43rd pole of his Truck Series career with a lap of 171.499 mph at Kentucky Speedway. Kyle Busch made it an all-Toyota front row with his lap of 171.217. Rookie Colin Braun qualified third just ahead of veterans Johnny Benson and Jack Sprague.

Survey says ...

Following Saturday's race at Kentucky, NASCAR.COM asked: With five points separating the top three in the Truck Series, who will win the championship?