• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Edwards captures Carfax 250

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:48 AM BROOKLYN, Michigan (Ticker) -- Carl Edwards' weekend just got a lot better.

One day after celebrating his 29th birthday, Edwards posted his third win of the season on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit Saturday by capturing the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

Edwards also was victorious at Milwaukee and Gateway this year.

The pole-sitter, Edwards closed within 113 points of Clint Bowyer for first place in the standings with the victory. Bowyer finished 10th, marking the 20th time this season he has placed in the top 10.

"We just didn't race very smart today," Bowyer said.

With an average speed of 106.876 miles per hour on the two-mile oval, Edwards held the lead for 71 of the race's 125 laps in a Ford. He became just the second driver to win from the pole here, joining Jeff Burton, who accomplished the feat in 1998.

"We ran great today," Edwards said. "There were a couple of cars that were really fast. Tony (Stewart) was real fast and Brian Vickers was extremely fast, and my pit crew just did a great job there at the end."

It was the first career Nationwide triumph at Michigan for the reigning series champion.

"I'm just so happy that we won this thing," Edwards said. "We've been close here before. It's unbelievable."

Vickers finished second in a Toyota, while Tony Stewart's Chevrolet placed third. Mark Martin was fourth in a Chevy and Greg Biffle rounded out the top five in a Ford, notching his third top-five of the season.

Vickers, who remains in search of his first series win since 2003, credited Edwards for his victory.

"Carl had a better car on the short run," Vickers said. "We just ran out of time - and laps. ... I'm getting sick and tired of not winning one of these races. I feel like every race that we've been in, we've led. We just haven't led at the right time."

Martin was pleased with the performance of his car during the latter portion of the race.

"The team did a great job on the pit stops at getting the car better," he said. "The car was spectacular at the end. It was a great run. I'd like to have been able to contend for a win, but we were a little short."

Bobby Hamilton Jr., who finished 18th, posted the fastest lap at 132.499 mph.

Denny Hamlin, last year's champion, did not participate.