Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011
CONCORD, N.C. — Carl Edwards won the $1 million and then he wrecked.
Edwards led all 10 laps of the final segment in Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to win the $1 million top prize, then promptly tore up his No. 99 Ford as he tried a celebratory burnout on the frontstretch.
It appeared Edwards' car hit a manhole cover as he drove through the grass along the frontstretch. He got out, sprinted to the flag stand, grabbed the checkered flag and headed into the stands to celebrate with fans.
"When you end up with grass on the windshield after the race, that isn't good," Edwards said. "I had no clue that drain culvert was there.
"There was all the pressure of the world on the final pit stop. I feel so bad about tearing up the car, but Bob (Osborne, his crew chief) said he had a faster one for next week."
The win is Edwards' first in the nonpoints race.
Kyle Busch finished second, with Zephyrhills' David Reutimann third.
"For what we had, it was a really good night," Busch said. "I thought we had a winning car. We got beat tonight on speed and, unfortunately, we were second-best."
Busch started from the pole but was soon overtaken by Greg Biffle, who took command of the first 50-lap segment.
Four-tire stops were mandated on Lap 25 and when that cycle ended, Biffle continued to lead and held on to the end of the 50-lap segment.
Most teams exercised the option to pit, but strategies varied. Edwards led at the start of the second 20-lap segment, followed by Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Biffle and Regan Smith.
While racing closely with Biffle on Lap 57, Kahne hit the wall off Turn 2, bringing an early end to his night. At end of segment No. 2, Edwards held the lead.
Busch passed Edwards for the lead immediately after the restart for the third segment. After a side-by-side battle, Edwards passed Busch for the lead on Lap 86 and held it to the end of the 20-lap segment.
Edwards stayed on top after a mandatory four-tire pit stop and held the lead throughout the final 10-lap segment.
In the Sprint Showdown to determine which drivers would race into the main event, David Ragan passed Brad Keselowski late in the 50-lap event to win. Both advanced as did Dale Earnhardt Jr., who got the final spot in the fan vote. A record 2.4 million votes were cast.
Also, Earnhardt's team owner, Rick Hendrick, said he was close to re-signing the sport's popular driver to a new contract. Earnhardt's current deal expires at the end of the 2012 season.