Edwards trims points lead by dominating at Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis Motorsports Park is quickly becoming known for providing unique races. Last year there were 25 caution flags, just one shy of the record 26, and this year, the Nationwide Series race saw only seven cars on the lead lap at the end of the Kroger 250.

That left little competition for Carl Edwards as he claimed his fifth win of the season and cut 80 points off of Clint Bowyer's lead in the championship standings (watch video). He now trails by 116 with three races remaining.

Kroger 250

Official Results

Pos.	Driver	Make
1.	Carl Edwards	Ford
2.	David Reutimann	Toyota
3.	Kenny Wallace	Chevrolet
4.	Austin Dillon	Chevrolet
5.	Joey Logano	Toyota
6.	Chase Miller	Dodge
7.	Mike Bliss	Chevrolet
8.	David Ragan	Ford
9.	Steve Wallace	Chevrolet
10.	David Stremme	Chevrolet

• Results | Video Highlights

Neither Edwards nor Bowyer had turned a single lap at Memphis prior to the start of the 250-lap race, having flown in from Sprint Cup Series competition in Atlanta.

The difference between the two was the handling on their machines. Bowyer struggled with a tight condition all race long while Edwards owed thanks to Bobby East for a spot-on setup in his No. 60 Ford. East practiced and qualified in place of Edwards.

Bowyer got into the rear of Marcos Ambrose to bring out the second caution flag of the afternoon. That caution changed the face of the race. Edwards was one of few lead lap cars to pit under the yellow, on Lap 29.

The race had an extended green-flag run with Edwards clicking off positions with his fresher tires. On Lap 69, he took the lead in Turn 3.

Just more than 30 laps later, the field took part in a green-flag round of pit stops. After stops cycled through, Edwards had a 10-second lead over Joey Logano.

As Edwards set sail, Bowyer's troubles continued. On Lap 124, the sour handling on the No. 2 Chevrolet lingered and Bowyer lost control of his machine, spinning in Turn 2.

The time of the caution, just after the cycle of green-flag pit stops, left only five cars on the lead lap and not much competition for Edwards. That was, until the closing laps and one last restart.

Last year's race winner, David Reutimann regained his lost lap under a caution flag on Lap 213. He challenged Edwards after a green-white-checkered restart on Lap 251. For the final two laps, Reutimann stayed locked onto Edwards' bumper but was unable to make the move.

Reutimann finished second while Kenny Wallace was third. Austin Dillon, in only his second Nationwide race, was fourth, and Logano was fifth.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. spun in Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag. Hamilton blamed Landon Cassill for the incident and after climbing from his car on pit road, approached Cassill's machine, leaned into the driver's side window and appeared to throw a punch at the young driver.

"I couldn't tell what he said," said Cassill, who finished 13th. "He had his shield down. He was nodding and shaking and nodding and shaking. What happened on the last lap was just short track beating and banging It was just hard racing."

Hamilton may have run his last race of the season. Team Rensi Motorsports president Ronnie Russell said the team would cease operations if they do not sign a sponsor by Monday.