Edwards looks to improve on runner(s)-up standing

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Carl Edwards and second place are not a good fit.

"The only thing about second is it's better than third. That's really all you can say," the runner-up in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series championships said, reflecting on torrid finishes that came up short in the point standings on each circuit.

"We all go out here to win, and the feeling of victory and achievement is so huge that second is not [pleasurable]," Edwards said during Champions' Week media day at Disney World. "It's satisfying that we performed so well, but getting second really doesn't mean a lot."

Clint Bowyer held off Edwards for the Nationwide driver championship by 21 points, and Jimmie Johnson prevailed in the Sprint Cup Series, even though Edwards won a series-best nine races and three of the final four.

Most years, the 2007 Nationwide Series champion would have repeated with the kind of comeback he staged after trailing by 204 points with eight races to go. But Bowyer's season-long consistency was too much to overcome.

Edwards won three of the last four Nationwide Series events and seven overall to make it interesting down the stretch.

Still, Edwards and crew chiefs Drew Bickensderfer (Nationwide) and Bob Osborne (Cup) were left with an empty feeling last weekend after winning both series' season-ending races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I know we won those last two races, but I've never seen two guys -- not dejected, but more focused than that," Edwards said of his crew chiefs.

In addition to not catching Bowyer, Edwards fell 69 points short of stopping Johnson from taking his record-tying third consecutive Cup championship.

Despite his disappointment in falling short this year, Edwards said he has nothing but respect for the champion.

"Jimmie, what he's done, I think not only is good for him, it's good for the sport to have a guy who can do that and have those kinds of results. As much as I can be, I'm happy for him. He's a good guy, he deserves it," Edwards said.

"We didn't mess up. Jimmie just was perfect. ... By most measures [our year] was great, but we set out this season to win two championships and we came up a little bit short. ... At least we can rest well knowing that we had these guys nervous a little bit at the end."

Edwards is looking forward to 2009, too.

"Standing there in Victory Lane at Homestead, you look across the racetrack and see those guys celebrating and you say, 'Oh man, that could have been us if we had just done a couple of things differently.' That's motivating."

But first, the offseason.

He plans to travel to London in December for the Race of Champions and is getting married in January. Later comes his first trip to Thailand for a week or two of sightseeing, rest and relaxation.

"I know nothing about Thailand. I know nothing about Bangkok. That's going to be fun," Edwards said.