Edwards Attempting Texas 3-Step, After Last Season’s Sweep

Call it a Texas three-step. Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford) won both of last season’s NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Texas Motor Speedway, part of his series-leading total of nine victories that fueled his runner-up finish in the series standings. Edwards also won at Texas in the 2005 fall race. His three TMS wins are a series high.

Edwards comes to Texas eighth in the series points but has nonetheless been perceived to be in an early-season slump — much like three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson was prior to his win this past Sunday at Martinsville.

Edwards has yet to win this season. Compare that with 2008’s late-season rush when he won three of the 10 events in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Maybe he is in a slump. Nonetheless, he’s also solidly in Chase contention and remains a favorite to be in championship contention later on this season.

Clearly, Edwards has taken to Texas since joining the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2004. He has an average TMS finish of 13.9 and a Driver Rating of 102.3 there — third-best in the series.

Edwards has continued Roush Fenway Racing’s TMS dominance that started with victories in the track’s first two NASCAR Sprint Cup events in 1997 and ‘98. Jack Roush leads all owners in TMS wins with seven.