NASCAR Nationwide Series: Drive4COPD 300

Topics:  Drive4COPD 300

James Buescher
Carl Edwards
February 13, 2010

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

KERRY THARP: We'll roll into the post race. Certainly pleased to be joined in the media center by James Buescher, our top Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year finishing eighth today in the field.
Certainly for the first time running in the Nationwide Series here at Daytona, you got to be pleased with that performance.
JAMES BUESCHER: I'm definitely pleased with our performance. The 1 car was pretty good. At the start of the race, we started 11th on points. I mean, everything was going smooth. Green flag stops, I went in, pit stop went pretty smooth for right-side tires. Came out of the pits. Next time we pitted, I don't know what it was, eight or 10 laps later under caution for four tires, going into the pits, I didn't have first or second gear. Leaving the pits, I burned the clutch up. So I was left with just third and fourth gear. The next pit stop, I burned third gear up trying to get out of the pit. Luckily we didn't have to pit anymore. The last third of the race, we only had fourth gear.
So definitely really pleased with everybody at Phoenix Racing. It's a good start to the year to come home eighth and actually finish the race with the problem that we had, with the drivetrain and everything. Avoided a lot of big wrecks. I'm pretty pleased.
KERRY THARP: Finishing second in today's race, Carl Edwards, drivers of the No. 60 Fastenal Ford.
Carl, certainly excitement towards the end. Your thoughts about how things unfolded the last few laps.
CARL EDWARDS: Pretty fun race there at the end. Tony's car was just unbelievable all day. I think the broadcast crew called it in practice. That thing was a rocket. I was really proud of my guys, really happy with our luck that we were able to finish second to him. I'm not certain, but I think it was the same last year as well. Going to have to work on that.
A great start to the season for the points. We're here to win a championship. My guys did a really good job with the car. It was a lot of fun.
KERRY THARP: We'll take questions for either Carl or James.

Q. Carl, when you're in a wreck like that at the end of the race, how hard is it to regroup and move back up through the field like you did? James, how far can you go this season with sponsorship?
CARL EDWARDS: For that wreck, I still haven't seen a replay, but I was doing my best to squeeze back in behind the 22 car. I didn't even know it was the 22 car at the time. I just have to see the replay.
I felt like at the last minute he might have moved over just a little bit to the left. That took any amount of extra room I had away. I have to see the replay. I definitely could have given him a little more room and we probably wouldn't have had that problem.
Man, it's hard racing. When something like that happens, when I saw Dale's car go upside down, it does make your heart stop a little bit. I was really glad to hear he was okay.
JAMES BUESCHER: On the sponsorship situation, Miccosukee is gone. So the Nationwide Series is still full speed ahead. James Finch has committed that for me. We're still searching for sponsorship, but we'll be at every race, trying to win this Rookie-of-the-Year, finish in the top five, top 10 in points.

Q. Carl, could you not put anything together with Justin at the end to make a run on Tony, maybe get a second?
CARL EDWARDS: Yeah, I was watching Justin. Man, that guy can drive. He was loose big-time. I'd look up the line of car the last 15, 20 laps, it was easy to see him because he was sideways. He just did a great job.
But I knew going into turn three, he was going to be really loose. We had a ton of steam built up. I kind of just preyed on him a little bit, moved him outside, went around him, just hoping that maybe I would maintain some momentum and be able to get to Tony and do something with him.
But I was really trying to get that last spot. If I'd have slowed down and stayed behind him, we would have been going so slow, someone would have capitalized off of turn four and we both would have been behind someone else. That was my thinking.

Q. Any update, Carl?
CARL EDWARDS: Haven't talked to my wife yet, no. No news is good news, I guess. I should be hoping for a childbirth, but...
Monday would be great. She's got her legs crossed and I've got my fingers crossed (smiling).
Please don't print that.
KERRY THARP: Thank you, Carl. Thank you, James.
CARL EDWARDS: All right.
JAMES BUESCHER: Thank you.