When you’re on top there’s only one place to go and defending NHRA Pro Stock world champion Mike Edwards knows that all too well.
Driving the Penhall-sponsored Pontiac GXP, Edwards stands on the cusp of his eleventh consecutive No. 1 qualifying effort with a 6.609 elapsed time at 209.46 during the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix.
Edwards has now led 24 consecutive qualifying sessions dating back to July 2009 in Denver.
“I want to get every inch of the race track that I can get and that first sixty feet is just as important as the last sixty feet,” said Edwards, when asked if his qualifying philosophy began with an aggressive launch.
“We are always, at every point, trying to get every ounce of performance we can. That’s the mindset we have. There are times when you can do that and times when you can’t. That just comes from making a lot of laps.”
An aggressive nature is something that will come in handy for Edwards, who qualified on the pole at this event last year yet lost in the quarter-finals to teammate Ron Krisher.
“I have never got that perfect knowledge of Firebird,” he said. “It always throws me some curve ball that I wasn't planning for. It is one of those tracks that you cannot let anything go unnoticed and you better do your homework because it will be something little that will derail your chances.”
Qualifying No. 1 provisionally gives Edwards the feeling his program has matured in the last year.
“Our main objective all of last year was just to be consistent,” said Edwards. “We wanted to just race the track, race the conditions … no matter what everyone else was doing … whether we were behind or ahead. We just really wanted to focus on the conditions and be consistent. I think we’ve done that. We just have to maintain.”
Edwards prepares for the conditions at hand, but when faced with the prospect Saturday could be impacted by rain, he decided to turn up the wick for insurance.
“We stepped up a little bit tonight hoping that we could run a little better,” Edwards admitted. “The conditions were not as favorable as the first run. We ran good, just couldn’t improve on the first run. We expect tomorrow to be a different day because of the conditions we expect to get. We’ll see what the challenges are.”
And after tomorrow, if Friday’s efforts hold, he’ll be celebrating yet another unbelievable feat. He still finds it hard to fathom for the last seventh months, no other Pro Stock driver has led the class into final eliminations from the No. 1 seed.
“That to me is pretty awesome … that’s Greg Anderson stats … and that’s hard to do,” Edwards said. “We've been able to go from one extreme to the other, one end of the country to the other, from 4000 feet to sea level at Richmond. There are a lot of changes that have to be make to make those cars work in those kinds of conditions. I’m proud of my team to make the adjustments and set-up on the cars to make it all work. “
Edwards is confident that what got him to the dance was more than just a fast car.
My whole team makes it happen … they are outrageously dependable like my sponsor Interstate Batteries,” Edwards said. “I’m so happy I just give the Lord all of the praise and glory.”
Fresh Off Victory, Edwards Hopes To Continue Trend In Phoenix
Mike Edwards could not have asked for a better way to open the 2010 season and the defense of his Pro Stock championship, than what he did in Pomona. He not only captured his 21st NHRA Wally, but did it in such dominant fashion. Edwards was low e.t. of all eight runs in Pomona and if all goes according to script, plans to continue that streak even further this weekend at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix.
"What a way to start the year," Edwards admitted. "We hoped we could come out and still be one of the stronger cars, but to do what we did, only shows how dedicated every single person around me was in the off-season. It proves they all put in those extra hours to make sure we stayed in the same position."
Edwards hopes they help him get over a major hump at Firebird Int'l Raceway. Though he has qualified in the No. 1 spot on two occasions (2001 and 2009), he has never had his Penhall/Interstate Batteries/K&N Pontiac in the final round in the desert. Edwards has reached the semifinals only twice in the 13 appearances, and neither of those were when he was the top qualifier.
"I have never got that perfect knowledge of Firebird," he said. "It always throws me some curve ball that I wasn't planning for. It is one of those tracks that you cannot let anything go unnoticed and you better do your homework because it will be something little that will derail your chances."
Edwards has another streak he will try to keep intact, that of consecutive No. 1 qualifying efforts. He has started eliminations from the top spot at 10 straight events, dating back to 2009, which is the fifth longest streak in Pro Stock.
"That all comes down to having a car that we know," he said. "We have thousands of pages of notes on this Pontiac and are at a point that it doesn't matter what the conditions we probably have some really good notes to help us get the car set correct for that run. That is a huge advantage being able to lean on the past and know the car will react a certain way."
THE SAME OLD SONG FOR EDWARDS
IN POMONA: DOMINATION
Written by Bobby Bennett, Photo by Roger Richards Monday, 15 February 2010 09:00
The field can shuffle.
New cars and drivers can come into the mix.
But for the Pro Stock class, the more change that comes, the more the end result remains the same.
Defending champion Mike Edwards, dominated qualifying and eliminations, to the point he captured every possible point available short of setting a world record en route to winning the 50th NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Ca.
For eight consecutive rounds of qualifying and eliminations, Edwards returned to his pit area as the quickest 500-inch Pro Stocker on the property.
“This is a major win,” said Edwards, who last won the NHRA Winternationals title in 1981 as a sportsman racer. “What a way to start the season. My team is like Interstate Batteries slogan, Outrageously Dependable. That is what my team is, they are outrageously dependable. They make this car go up and down the track. It's a pleasure to be a part of this team, these guys are so good. We're just real fortunate to have what we have and I just want to give God all the glory and praise because without him this team is nothing.”
Today the competition needed a measure of divine intervention as Edwards flat dominated every time he covered the quarter-mile. And in the final, when Greg Anderson strapped a .03 light on him out of the gate, Edwards speed by just in time to score his 21st career victory.
“I need every bit of that last round,” admitted Edwards. “Greg, he walloped me there on the starting line. “I was hoping that track was a little bit longer. I saw a lot of Summit for a long ways, but it's was a great time to make a great run.”
Many believed the competition would bridge the monstrous gap Edwards held much of last year, but the increased competition only made Edwards dig deeper.
“You have to be ready every time you pull up there,” he said. “There's a big bulls-eye now and I'm not use to that. I got a little use to that last year when I got beat on several hole shots. Hopefully I can turn that around this year and get some of those back.”
At the end of the day, although he scored the victory, Edwards reflected on the tough off-season his final round opponent has experienced including a house fire and medical issues with team owner Ken Black.
My hats off to Greg and Jason and all those guys, the tough winter they've had,” Edwards said. “Ken, hope he gets well soon. We miss him. We love the challenge they give us.”
Edwards Writes Perfect Season-opening Script
Grabs Victory And Pole
Enroute To Dominating Performance
Twenty-nine years after winning his first Winternationals title in Modified Eliminator, Edwards, frustrated twice by Summit teammates Greg Anderson (2006) and Jason Line (2009), scored his first Winternationals Pro Stock title by besting Anderson, 6.57, 210.47 to 6.61, 209.62. Anderson got the holeshot, .031 to .069, but Edwards ran him down to win his 21st Pro Stock Wally by just .003-second.
Prior to beating Anderson, Edwards' Penhall/Interstate/K&N Pontiac was the quickest car in all four qualifying sessions and had low e.t. of every preliminary round as he motored past Justin Humphreys, Greg Stanfield, and Allen Johnson with blasts of 6.604, 6.610, and 6.615 to reach the final, his 40th in the class. It's the second time that Edwards has racked up the maximum points available at a race; the first was in Richmond, Va., late last year.
"It feels good to come out here and win a race right off the bat," said Edwards. "It's a major win. I was telling Lisa last night before we got to go to bed I won this race 30 years ago in Modified; it's been a long time. What a way to start the season. Interstate Batteries' is outrageously dependable, and that's what my team is. They just make this car go up and down the track. It's just a pleasure to be a part of this team. These guys are just that good. We're just fortunate to have what we have."
"I needed every bit of that last run there. Greg, man, he walloped me on the starting line. It was a great race in the final there in Pro Stock. My hats off to Greg, Jason, and all those guys with the tough winter there. Ken Black, we all want to see him back out here because we all miss him. Those guys are an awesome team, and we love the challenge they give us because they're the best - they've got a lot of championships."
"You have to be ready every time you pull up there," he said. "There's a big bulls-eye now and I'm not use to that. I got a little use to that last year when I got beat on several hole shots. Hopefully I can turn that around this year and get some of those back."
Pomona Preview Race 1 It's A Numbers Game 2 In 2009, Mike Edwards lost in the first round only twice, the best record of any Pro Stock driver. Other round finishes - 2 (first round), 6 (second), 6 (semifinals).
5 Mike Edwards clicked off a career best five victories in 2009 to vault him toward his first championship. It pushed his career win total to 20. 6.509 At the stop in Richmond, Mike Edwards grabbed all the headlines in the first round of Pro Stock when he became the first driver to clock a 6.50 run when he ousted V. Gaines in the opening round with a 6.509. The 6.509 e.t., currently stands as the quickest run in NHRA Pro Stock history. 9 (14) Though speed does not win races, it does prove how dominant one team can be during the season. Mike Edwards carried off nine track speed records during the course of the season. At the same time earned a total of 14 top speeds of the event honors. From the Topeka event at end of May, through the Dallas stop in October, Edwards garnered 11 of the 12 speed marks during that stretch.
9 Mike Edwards closed out the 2009 season with a nine-race No. 1 qualifying streak, which started at the NHRA stop in Brainerd. During the Countdown to One, the streak became a benefit to Edwards in the championship race as he earned the low qualifier bonus at all six events, a total of 48 points.
12/16 At half of the events in 2009, Mike Edwards left the facility with a track e.t. record to his credit. To put that into perspective, he ran faster than any driver in Pro Stock history has ever done at 12 of the stops, while only one other driver broke a track record during the 2009 campaign. To add to the accomplishment, Edwards earned the low e.t. mark for the event at 16 stops. At the last 16 races, Edwards earned the low e.t. honor at 13 of those events.
16
When Mike Edwards grabbed the pole at the season-ending Auto Club Finals in Pomona, he tied a record many thought would never be touched again when he equaled Greg Anderson's mark of 16 No. 1 qualifying efforts in one season. Edwards earned the top spot at two-thirds of the NHRA events in 2009, with the next best being Anderson's four poles, while four other drivers earned a single top qualifier.
53
Mike Edwards compiled the most round wins in 2009 with a total of 53. To put it into perspective for Mike's career, prior to the 2009 season he had compiled 221 round wins since he first got behind the wheel at the end of the 1995 season. The 53 round wins more than doubles his previous best of 26 in 2008 and 25 in 2006 and 1996. 212.03 During the semifinals in Houston, Mike Edwards achieved a mark few thought would ever happen when he blasted through the 212 mph barrier and becoming the first Pro Stock driver in that window when he lit up the scoreboard with a 212.03 mph speed
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Carrying Big No. 1 Will Be A Bulls-eye Edwards Will Enjoy Coming into the Kragen NHRA Winternationals, Mike Edwards knows all eyes are on his team and what they can do for an encore performance to the 2009 season. When he walked off with the NHRA Championship Wally at the end of the year, Edwards knew the off-season would be one of the more stressful because they could not sit back and just plan on being as dominant. "We know we set a target on us when we clinched the championship," he said. "That gave us the motivation in the winter months to work those extra long hours in the engine shop or check everything on the car a third or fourth time; because we knew everyone else was working that much harder. It is nice to have everyone gunning for you, but if we show up in Pomona for the Winternationals and fall on our face, nobody will remember what we did in 2009." To start the year, Edwards will stay in the trusty Pontiac GXP that carried him to the 2009 championship. The car that has more than 650 runs on it might be close to retirement, but Edwards is having a problem of parking that ride. "I know that car is getting tired and might not have a whole many more runs in it," he admitted. "We just wanted to make sure we came out the start of the season with not changing too many variables and get the momentum going again. We do have a new car sitting in the wings, but haven't had the chance to really test it much over the winter because as everyone knows, the weather hasn't been that cooperative to do so. Our plan is to stick with the old reliable GXP for as long as we can and start testing the new car and when the time is right we will make the change." For the Winternationals, Edwards looks forward to representing the Pro Stock class as its reigning champion. "It will be a weird feeling that first time they announce my name as the reigning champion; I still don't think it sunk in," he said. "Pomona will be one of those races I will remember for a long time because of what we did in 2009, but it also is the place to start new memories for 2010 that I hope build to the same finish nine months later at the same facility." Big off season in sponsorship arena for Mike Edwards Motorsports After capturing his first NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship, Mike Edwards and his team did not just sit back and relax with the championship Wally in the Oklahoma shop. Instead, they were out pounding the pavement trying to come up with addition support for the team to allow them the opportunity to defend their title. Through the hard work, Edwards was able to develop marketing partnerships with Penhall Company, Interstate Batteries, and K&N Filters to strengthen his cause in 2010. "We have worked so hard to gain the additional backing needed to stay at the top of the Pro Stock class," Edwards said. "These three companies fit with what we are trying to accomplish with Mike Edwards Motorsports and allow us to continue to carry the message this team has been founded on from the beginning of giving back. "The great part is it only adds to the sponsors that have stood by us and are back in 2010," he continued. "With companies like A.R.T., Young Life, Contemporary Corvette, KME, and Marengo, they have helped us lay a solid foundation over the years and have helped us develop a marketing model that other groups are seeing the positive strengths it can bring to them as well." Edwards starts 10th year with Young Life "Giving Kids Hope"
Before every event, Mike Edwards hosts an event, "Giving Kids Hope," a group where local chapters of Young Life bring kids to the track to allow them to get a glimpse of the drag racing world and interact with Edwards' team, take pictures, play games, and enjoy some food. At the end of the evening, Edwards sits down with the kids and talks about drag racing and how his relationship with God has shaped his life and given him direction and let these kids know that people do care about them and want them to succeed in life. The 2010 season will mark the 10th year that Edwards and his team have hosted this event that more than 20,000 kids have participated in over the decade. "I can honestly say that this is the one part of the weekend I always look forward to," Edwards said. "How can you not love being around kids and feel the energy they bring for life; it just lifts your spirits and makes you realize what truly is important in life. Win lights are great come Sunday, but what we do before the race weekend even starts makes a bigger impact for the future. "That we have done this for nearly a decade, we have kids who are now adults coming back and talking to us and thanking us for this program because it has helped them on their journey," Edwards continued. "From the beginning, we wanted to race to help kids, and by getting those conformations is truly a blessing." If your Young Life group would like to take part in the pre-race evening events during an NHRA stop in your area, contact Marilyn with Mike Edwards Motorsports at mrobinson@mikeedwardsmotorsports.com.
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K&N Joins Forces With Reigning Champ
Edwards For A Second Title Run In 2010
The identifiable K&N Filters logo will return to the ranks of NHRA Full Throttle racing when the orange, red, and black colors will grace the reigning Pro Stock world champion Pontiac of Mike Edwards for the 2010 season.
"K&N has been a sponsor of many in the series and is the title sponsor for the K&N Pro Stock Challenge and we are excited to be able to join forces with such a company," Edwards said.
"It is a really honor for them to continue to expand their motorsports efforts with Mike Edwards Motorsports. This partnership will help our team to continue to move our operation in a certain direction and allow us to gain even more knowledge using the company's expertise in engine airflow."
K&N will be found prominently on the scoop of Edwards car, as well as have a presence on the side of the vehicle. "We have some special projects in the works with the group at K&N and these marketing strategies will be noticed throughout the course of the season," Edwards added.
"We have been working on this partnership for quite some time and to join efforts with somebody like Mike Edwards will only benefit our company even more," said Bob Harris, K&N Corporate Race Account Manager. "As a company, we are thrilled to start a deeper relationship with the reigning world champ than we have had in the past in many areas including support with technology.
"Another huge asset of becoming a marketing partner with Mike and his team is the association with the Young Life program," Harris continued. "The things Mike has done with Young Life in helping send kids to camp goes to show what kind of person he is away from the track and that is something that drew us to him."
The reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock champion opens his 2010 defense this weekend at the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals in Pomona.
Edwards To Again Fly Penhall Colors In 2010
The reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock champion Mike Edwards has been busy in the off-season in the sponsorship front as he will again fly the Penhall Company logo during the 2010 season. The distinctive Penhall Company logo and colors are part of a multi-year partnership.
"At Mike Edwards Motorsports we are excited to have the Penhall Company back as part of our team and to be able to compete under their brand name during the 2010 season and beyond," said Edwards, who also championed the Penhall name in 2007 and 2008.
"The Penhall Company has played a major role in my team's mission of reaching kids around the country," Edwards continued. "We are honored to represent the Penhall Company and again be part of that groups marketing strategy in the drag-racing arena."
Since 1957, Penhall Company has set the industry standard for safety, quality and value. Penhall Company encompasses 39 strategic US locations and employs more than 1,200 professionals, with current and ongoing expansion into Canada. The company has dedicated the last 50 years to honing its specialized concrete cutting, drilling, grinding and demolition services.
Penhall Company has been instrumental in the evolution of premier motorsports facilities across the US, Canada and even overseas. Penhall is responsible for developing techniques to improve the ride and surface texture of the quarter-mile tracks. Specialty items such as the Track Vac that removes water from the racing surface and the rubber applying machine used by NHRA were designed and built by Penhall; all of which have contributed to safer, more consistent and faster racing.
"We are excited and honored to be part of Mike Edwards Motorsports and their passion to give kids hope" added George Bush, Penhall Company President and COO.
The reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock champion opens his 2010 defense this weekend at the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals in Pomona
EDWARDS FEELS FORTUNATE TO BE BACK
Written by Stan Creekmore; Photo by Roger Richards Sunday, 07 February 2010 11:40
Mike Edwards is a humble man, a humble champion and a dedicated racer.
The 2009 NHRA Pro Stock Champion refused to count his chickens before they hatched last year, but now, with the 2010 season just around the corner, Edwards faces beams with joy when someone says, 'hey champ'.
“That sounds good doesn't it?” he says in response to the accolade.
Good enough to sustain him over the winter as the team faced the daily possibility of not being able to defend their title.
“It feels good,” admitted Edwards, when asked how it felt to be in Las Vegas at the Pro Stock Showdown. “These things, it take a lot of money to get them out here and make them run the way we try to run. We were real fortunate over the winter to have some great companies step up to help us.”
Over the winter, Penhall and Interstate Batteries both stepped up, giving the team a big boost. Contemporary Corvette stepped up their involvement with the team after joining the team late in the year last year. Additionally, A. R. T., a company that has a long history with Edwards, continues to provide support.
Winning the championship is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Edwards. Defending it, means the dream continues.
“It's awesome,” said Edwards. “To win in this class, with this competition we have today, makes me have to take a double take when I look at that car and it has the number 1 on it. It still feels awful good. It is just real humbling and I am thankful to get a chance to do it again.”
Edwards is sincere when he speaks of being humbled. This is a guy who doesn't even put his name on the car. His is a team, with no I in it. The team won a championship, not just the driver.
“It was a tremendous effort by all these guys. They just worked as hard as me. Harder sometimes. They just put the effort out to make it happen. We were fortunate. We had some breaks. We ran so good. I mean, 16 number one qualifiers, that's pretty good.”
Can the team repeat in 2010?
“We'll go to Pomona and see where we stack up,” said Edwards. “Whatever happens there, we'll try to get better after that. It's a long season. We'd like to get off to a good start and see what happens.”
Full Throttle Champ Edwards
Tops Qualifying in Las Vegas
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"It remains to be seen where we stand compared to the rest of the field but it's good to get back in the car and make a few runs," said Edwards. "This winter, we did a little R&D but for the most part, everything is basically the same as the last time we ran it in Pomona. Most of the runs we made today, including that 6.68, were pretty good so I'm happy."
Edwards' Pontiac GXP arrived in Las Vegas sporting a new paint scheme that prominently features a variety of sponsors including Penhall, A.R.T. Interstate Batteries and K&N Filters. "For a while, we were a little uncertain about our future, but it was a big blessing to have everything come together with Penhall and Interstate Batteries joining us."
MIKE EDWARD WILL RACE 2010 WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM INTERSTATE BATTERIES
Mike Edwards Motorsports has established a new partnership with Interstate Batteries for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock season. Interstate Batteries will serve as a predominant sponsor for the 24 race season on the 2009 NHRA Pro Stock world champion Mike Edwards Pontiac.
The partnership with Mike Edwards Motorsports marks Interstate Batteries return to NHRA competition.
"Our racing organization shares Interstate Batteries core values ... and with that alliance behind our team, we believe this is will be a winning combination in 2010," Edwards said.
The distinctive Interstate Batteries logo will grace the front hood of Edwards' car. The partnership will also carry outside the NHRA circle as Edwards will be part of Interstate Batteries marketing approach in other arenas in 2010.
"Interstate Batteries has been a familiar brand in motorsports for almost 20 years and we're pleased to return to NHRA to be a part of Mike Edwards Motorsports continued success this season," said Interstate Batteries Chairman Norm Miller. "Mike's outrageous dependability as a competitor fits Interstate Batteries' promise to consumers. This sponsorship is also a great opportunity to build upon the excitement of the I Am Second campaign that continues to spread virally."
After finishing fourth in the NHRA Pro Stock championship standings in 2008, Edwards rewrote the record book in 2009, not only did he earn five victories, he become the first Pro Stock driver to eclipse the 212 mph barrier, set the national e.t. record at 6.509, and qualified on the pole at 16 events, including the last 9 of the season. With the additional support, expect Edwards and the entire team to be in contention for the 2010 championship.
Edwards and the team plan to begin preseason testing in preparation for the defense of the NHRA title during this weekends Pro Stock Shootout at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including additional days following the event, before heading to the NHRA Kragen O'Reilly Winternationals the following weekend in Pomona
EDWARDS CONFIRMS HE WILL RACE IN 2010
Defending Champion Returning With Same Game Plan – Win The Title
NHRA Pro Stock world champion Mike Edwards left the NHRA AAA Finals in Pomona, Ca, last November, uncertain of what the future held for his race team. Today he sees the horizon a lot clearer.
Edwards confirmed with Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com that he will race a 23-race schedule in 2010.
“We’re coming out with the same car, same crew, same everything that got us to the dance last season,” admitted Edwards on Monday afternoon.
Edwards confirmed that he’s lined up several new associate sponsorships, that he is not ready to name at this time.
The defending champion harbors no thoughts that his championship defense will be easy by any stretch of the imagination.
“It’s gonna be tougher,” he said. “It’s going to be just as hard this year as it was last year. We are just going to have to keep at it constantly, whittling away at it. Nothing’s changed. (We're) trying to find every bit of power we can find. Just because you are at the top doesn’t give you a free pass to relax.”
Edwards will continue his lease engine program with Ron Krisher in 2010.
As for the paint scheme this season, Edwards said it will be similar to last year's with a few changes.
“We don’t know who will be on the door right now,” Edwards said.
Edwards plans to begin his preseason testing next week in Bradenton, Fla.
Every year since Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com began publication in 1999, this Internet magazine has offered race fans the chance to choose the best driver/individual suited for awards based off their performances on and off the track. The following are the results of our reader ballots offered during the Christmas holidays. Each year's competition grows in size as Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com continues to expand its readership. For the fourth consecutive year, the vote totals have exceeded the previous years totals
MIKE AIELLO PERSON OF THE YEAR
Mike Edwards
Few can argue the worthiness of this individual’s appointment to our most prestigious award.
Mike Edwards has exemplified both on and off the track that he’s a champion. Whether it’s generating funds for the Young Life organization or entertaining inner-city youth at various national events, Edward doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk.
On the track, he graciously accepted defeat, in the few times it came.
And, in beating the competition, he was a gracious winner.
Edwards did what he needed to win, and when it came to his one engine lease customer, the champion saw to it that his customer won too.
Edwards was also presented the Mike Aiello Spirit of Drag Racing award, an honor founded by 1320tv.com and now presented by Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com.
This reader-generated vote confirms what we knew all along.
Mike Edwards is our Mike Aiello Person of the Year winner.
PROFESSIONAL RACER OF THE YEAR
Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards was the quintessential “win when it counts” professional racer during the 2009 season. There were times when he was “owned” in the regular season but when it came to the Countdown to 1, he was the “owner” of the competition.
Edwards dominated qualifying so much that his 16 No. 1 qualifying efforts tied a five year mark established by fellow Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson. And for Edwards, that domination parlayed into a gaggle of bonus points towards a championship. The bonus points renewed a confidence that was shaken at times during the regular season, and had it not have been for a crucial loss here and there, Edwards could have clinched the title earlier than the Pomona finale, way earlier.
It’s no surprise that Edwards was voted the Professional Driver of the Year award by our readers. This was his year and his actions confirmed it.
