Bristol II: Carl Edwards pre-event notes

EDWARDS COULD CLINCH CHASE BERTH AT BRISTOL

(CONCORD, N.C.) -- Carl Edwards was 12th in points when he left New Hampshire Motor Speedway at the end of June, and the Aflac team was concerned about their chances of making the Chase. Now, six races later, Edwards sits sixth in points and can clinch a spot in the Chase this Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In the past six races Edwards has not finished outside the top seven. He has four top-five and six top-10 finishes during that span. Previously he had only finished in the top five once this season. His average finish in the past six races is 4.3, a remarkable improvement from 15.2 in the first 17 races. Edwards has gained six positions in the points and has gained more points than any other driver in the past six races. He has gained 55 more points overall than the leader, Kevin Harvick.

Edwards and the No. 99 Aflac team need to gain another 125 points on 13th place at Bristol to clinch a spot in the 2010 Chase. They currently have a 266-point cushion over 13th, but need a 391-point gap to clinch a spot.

"We are going into Bristol with a good points cushion so we can be more aggressive there," Edwards said. "We still have to race smart and get as many points as we can to clinch a spot. Bristol is the battle, but the war is the Chase. We need to be in the Chase."

-source: rfr