NASCAR Cup Series

Edwards gives fans a new experience

Published Nov. 6, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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As Brad Keselowski celebrated his first Nationwide Series title, race winner Carl Edwards took his victory party up into the stands.

First came the traditional backflip. Next, Edwards made a beeline for the flagstand to grab the checkers. Then, in an unscripted moment of victory splendor, an open gate in the fence offered an invitation for Edwards to scamper into the stands and share the moment with the crowd.

"It felt good to stand up there with all the people," said Edwards, who scored his third NNS win in 2010. "I really enjoyed it. I almost didn't get back to the race car but that would have been ok too, That was a good group of people up there."

While Edwards connected with the fans, Keselowski, who finished third in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge, put on a burnout display on pit road. It was well-deserved. Not only did Keselowski deliver Dodge its first Nationwide championship, he ended a 27-year title drought for Roger Penske in NASCAR.

On Saturday, Keselowski humbly answered the question: what do you give the billionaire who has everything? A championship.

"It's pretty awesome," Keselowski said. "He's the Captain. I'm not sure how many (overall) wins that he has, I can't think of anybody that has more. This one was awesome and it's incredible that we were able to get him a championship.

"There's a respect factor that I have (for Roger) to get to see him carry that trophy and see him do something that he's never done. It's hard to give a billionaire something."

As the Penske party continued on pit road, Edwards' owner Jack Roush feted his favorite driver in the media center. It was a milestone win for the owner and driver who have shared eight successful years together.

"It was Carl's 50th NASCAR victory," Roush said. "I was glad to be with his first and I was glad to be there with his 50th. I hope I can there for his 100th as well — and maybe more than that — his first championship and his next championship and the championship after that."

No doubt that Roush has taken a shine to Edwards. He's different from the typical Roush racer from the standpoint that Edwards understands his brand and knows how to market it to the fullest. On Saturday, Edwards reinvented the fan experience. And it was an experience that those in the stands won't soon forget.

"I feel like we talk a lot about television ratings, we talk a lot about empty seats, but the fans that are here at these races they love this sport and are seeing some of the best racing that we've ever had — at least as long as I've been here," Edwards said. "It was pretty neat to go up there with the folks. I saw a couple of Aflac jackets and I really enjoyed it. It felt good. It was pretty neat. If I win tomorrow, I'll do it again. It was pretty fun."

GAME CHANGER

Keep an eye on pit road in Sunday's Lone Star 500. While Jimmie Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus selected pit stall No. 22 — one stall towards Turn 1 from the start-finish line — Denny Hamlin's crew chief Mike Ford chose pit stall No. 21 directly in front of the No. 48 team.

Certainly, after qualifying 30th Ford's choices are slim. But one crew chief remarked, "Mike Ford must have a pair to play mind games like that with Knaus."

SAY WHAT?

As the Nationwide race set up for a green-white-checkered flag finish, Kyle Busch was far from satisfied with the restart:

"Carl Edwards jumped the restart by about three car lengths before the double red lines," Busch said. When asked if he questioned the restart, Busch replied, "Does it (freakin') matter. The race is over. The guy is in victory lane. It doesn't matter."

Edwards response, "I don't expect him to be happy. I just did what I had to do to win the race. It just really doesn't matter what he says."

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