Analysis

NASCAR Cup

Justice served in Edwards win at Bristol

Carl Edwards had the win, and justice was served.

Published: Mar 17, 2014, 7:12 PM

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Carl Edwards celebrates

The right guy won the race—suggesting once again that there really is a sense of cosmic balance in the universe.

Carl Edwards was three laps away from a hard-earned victory in Sunday night's rain-delayed Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, but caution lights that appeared to have a mind of their own had other ideas.

After Edwards crossed the start/finish line to begin Lap 498, the bank of caution lights illuminated for no apparent reason. NASCAR officials said after the race that the flagman had brushed against an override switch in the closing laps.

Carl Edwards celebrates

Photo by: Getty Images

What quickly became a full-course caution set up a potential green-white-checkered-flag finish. But Mother Nature intervened, soaking the track with a downpour that began before the race could be restarted, and Edwards took the checkered flag under yellow.

Mercifully, Edwards didn't have to sweat out a two-lap dash against two hungry drivers, each seeking his first career win. Ultimately, both race runner-up Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Edwards' teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, and third-place finisher Aric Almirola posted career-best results, though neither got a final shot at a breakthrough victory.

But that's as it should be. Gambling he could keep the lead on old tires, Edwards had driven away to a lead of more than two seconds over Stenhouse (also on old rubber) before the mysterious caution slowed the race.

Moments later, a deluge determined there would be no attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Edwards had the win, and justice was served.

Reid Spencer - NASCAR Wire Service

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