Edwards says Cup championship is not impossible

BROOKYLN, Mich. -- Carl Edwards could have lot to celebrate if things go well for him this weekend.

Sunday's race at Michigan will mark the Roush Fenway driver's six year anniversary in the Cup Series -- and it's his birthday, too. On top of that, a trip to Victory Lane would put him on the elite list of drivers with 50 wins in NASCAR's top three series.

Any added pressure?

"I wouldn't say there's any pressure, but it has the potential to be a different day and a really good day," Edwards said.

Now is the time -- four races until the Chase cutoff -- for Edwards to take his season to the next level. His No. 99 team is still winless on the season; however, since Daytona, it has not finished outside of the top 10. The team was on the pole last weekend at Watkins Glen, and Edwards' average finishing position in the past five races is 4.6.

"It's wild how much things have changed in a short amount of time. I don't want to jinx it, but it feels like it's headed in the right direction. We're fast and if we can perform at the level we've performed the last four races, we can make the Chase," Edwards said. "And if we can get any better, we can win the championship."

In the spring, it was unclear if Edwards would make the Chase. Championship contender and Edwards hadn't been used in the same sentence until now.

"Two or three months ago, I was hopeful we'd be in this position, but I did not think we would be, so it feels good. It's been a fun ride the [past] month or so."

Michigan is the best place to continue the ride, as the two-mile track is near Roush Fenway's home base and in Ford's backyard. Edwards has two wins at MIS, seven top-fives and 10 top-10s.

"There's extra incentive to win here," Edwards said. "It's right up the road from Ford for us, so we work really hard at this race and I think that's why we run well here. And it's a great race track. It's just fun to drive on. For me, it suits my style a lot."

Still, winning at the track requires an almost perfect day, and Edwards will roll off 24th.

"I feel like this track takes every part of your team and taxes you," Edwards said. "You have to have really good strategy. You have to have a great car and a big engine. The aero package has got to be spot on and I feel like at Roush Fenway we've done a good job of having that whole package a lot of times."

A win on Sunday could be what Edwards -- who is ninth in the points -- needs to make a championship run a reality.

"If you start ninth, 10th, 11th or somewhere in there and you could definitely win the championship. I don't know what the average finish is for everyone the [past] five races, but I'm assuming if you could run like that for 10 races in the Chase, you could probably win the championship," Edwards said. "Things happen so quickly in this sport and advantages are gained and lost, but someone could definitely win the championship that's not up there in front right now."

Edwards still remembers the details surrounding his first start in the Cup Series.

The year was 2004 and Edwards was piloting the Green Lantern Ford for Jack Roush. He started 23rd and finished 10th -- a sign of more success to come at the Midwest track.

"When they said, 'Gentlemen, start your engines,' that was a really, really big deal to me," Edwards said. "To be sitting in that race car knowing I'm getting to race in the Cup Series, that was a huge day. It's a very special weekend for that and I'll think about that when I'm in the car, but it would be a cool win to win on my birthday."

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