NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Carl Edwards and the entire Roush Fenway organization have been behind the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams for a year and half. Roush Fenway cars aero package has been off and their new engine the FR-9 Ford has been a major disappointment since it's introduction.
Carl Edwards Voiced his Frustration at Press Conference & Showed it On Track
Carl Edwards attempted to remain positive when addressing Roush Fenway's problems at a recent press conference but his tone and body language told the real story. Edwards is a driver that needs to be in victory lane in NASCAR Sprint Cup to feel complete and his recent on track confrontations have shown he is not a happy camper.
Edwards frustration has boiled over twice on the track. His controversial turning of Brad Keselowski in Atlanta, where Keselowski flipped into the catch fence and landed on his roof at 180 mile per hour was his most blatant act. Then his most recent act of turning Kurt Busch at the finish of the Daytona Coke Zero 400 after a fierce battle for sixth place which Busch crashed three times and finished seventh.
Edwards Best Finish In NASCAR Sprint Cup has Been 5th Place
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season has been Carl Edwards worse season in his career as we reach the halfway point. Although Edwards went winless in 2009 and only scored one second place finish, he did maintain a position in the top five in points most of the season. This season it is a struggle for Edwards to be competitive.
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, when Edwards won nine races and dominated NASCAR Sprint Cup must feel like a distant memory to Edwards and his crew chief Bob Osborne. The two were the team every NASCAR Cup team in the garage would watch to see if they could get any clue as to what they were doing to be so dominant.
The Ford teams are hopelessly behind Toyota, Chevy and even the Penske Dodges. There does appear to be progress with the aerodynamics of the car but if Roush Yates fails to iron out the kinks on the FR-9 engine, Roush Fenway and all their drivers will be mediocre at best for the rest of the season.
Carl Edwards Mid Season Report Card Grade: D
One top five and seven top tens is below the high standards of Carl Edwards and Bob Osborne. They both know they have limitations with their equipment but at the short tracks that should not be as much of a problem. Edwards NASCAR Sprint Cup season is dependent on the Ford FR-9 engine but he must show up better at Bristol and Richmond.
Todd Jacobs - Todd Jacobs is a freelance writer with publishing credits including USA Today, Orange County Register and Speed TV.
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