Edwards chased Kasey Kahne to the finish at Phoenix, but had to settle for the runner-up spot in the Kobalt Tools 500. Edwards remained on top in the Sprint Cup point standings and will take a three-point lead over Tony Stewart to Homestead.
With NASCAR traveling to the ‘Valley of the Sun’ for the next to the last race of the season, it was no surprise that the reconfigured race track was soaked instead with liquid sunshine.
Welcome to Homestead, Florida, and the championship edition of NASCAR's American Gladiators. With a slim three point advantage going into the final round we have from Columbia, Missouri 32-year old Carl Edwards.
Despite all the mind games being played by Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards was able to stay even with Stewart by virtue of finishing one place in front of the former champion, even if he did lead the most laps.
Realistically Jimmie Johnson’s run at a sixth straight championship ended before Phoenix but he was officially eliminated from contention on Sunday afternoon.
Kasey Kahne claimed his first victory of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season while Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart spent the afternoon in such close proximity at Phoenix International Raceway that they maintained the same three-point margin of their thrilling battle in the tightest Chase in history.
For Sam Hornish Jr. there’s just something about Phoenix. The former open wheel driver scored his first career IndyCar win at the jewel in the desert and on Saturday afternoon he did the same in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
We knew Sam Hornish Jr. had a good car all day long, but for the three years he was racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, it seemed like he couldn't find any luck.
