Edwards looking forward to '09, and so should we (cont'd)

But when you listen to Edwards, there's no mistaking how serious he'll be about doubling up next season, when he again competes for Cup and Nationwide titles. And while at this point -- it appears they're the only ones who plan to do it -- more than anyone else in recent history, he and his Roush Fenway Racing organization appear to be best equipped to accomplish it.

"Right now, [crew chief] Drew Blickensderfer already told me -- he looked me square in the eye and he said, 'Man, we are going to be better next year. We are going out to win every single race,' so I know he's got the killer mind-set right now," Edwards said before he left Homestead. "I'm sure [Cup crew chief] Bob [Osborne] feels the exact same way and I do, too.

Carl Edwards

2008 Series Results

	Cup	Nationwide
Starts	36	35
Wins	9	7
Top-5s	19	19
Top-10s	27	22
Avg. Finish	9.5	9.5
Points Rank	2	2

"So, yeah -- it's a good year. Second in both [series] is an accomplishment. It's great, but we hope we can do a little better next season."

With the Nationwide Series in a real state of flux, it's quite possible Edwards is the odds-on favorite to take his second title, to go with the one he scored in 2007. And more than likely, if he does, he'll break the two-year string in which there have been different organizations scoring the drivers' and owners' titles.

But for sure, pointing the favorite's arrow at Edwards isn't meant to downplay what Johnson or Nationwide champ Clint Bowyer achieved this season.

Huge kudos to Bowyer for doing what he needed to at Homestead, to win his first Nationwide Series crown; and even more significantly, Richard Childress Racing's fifth title including two drivers' and three owners' crowns in the past six years, better than any other organization in the same stretch.

When I proclaimed Edwards was gonna win a title this season, I honestly thought Bowyer was the most at risk, considering his season was in about a four-week tailspin coming into the finale, in which Edwards had sliced a huge chunk off Bowyer's previously sizeable lead.

In the end, fifth place in the Ford 300 locked-up what certainly was a well-deserved championship for Bowyer and RCR.

But despite the deserved credit for winning titles, you've just gotta like a group that never lost sight of its goal, despite being in two big holes. And Edwards acknowledged that.

"It's one of the toughest things to do is to just keep your head up, do the best you can and take what you get," Edwards said. "And that's why I'm so excited about the years to come because I feel like this team can do it, regardless of the odds, or whatever.

"It would've been real easy for all of the guys to get lax and not pay attention to all of the detail they do at the shop, for Bob not to take the gambles or spend the time that he spends on the racecar. So, yeah, it's cool to be with a group of guys like that. These two guys [Osborne and team owner Jack Roush], they're as tough and determined as anyone. It's just cool to be a part of it."

And it's not hard to predict it's going to be cool to watch how it unfolds in 2009.

"I guess Jimmie has a chance to make some real history next season," Edwards said. "I would be glad to be the guy to deny him that chance."

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.