Edwards rolls to easy win in All-Star Race

The race was billed as a throwback to the Wild West, and track officials practically promised scores would be settled in the $1 million Sprint All-Star Race.Only the knock ‘em down action never came, and the only fireworks were those in Saturday night’s post-race show at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The only drama came after Carl Edwards took the checkered flag during his celebratory slide through the grass.Although he appeared to hit either a manhole cover or a drainage device, his car instead seemed only to dip hard into the grass—contact that crumpled the front of his No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.After his trademark celebratory backflip, Edwards needed a tow truck to take him to Victory Lane. He left behind a deep rut in Charlotte’s infield grass.

Edwards had a sheepish grin as he climbed out his window for his customary celebratory backflip, and he apologized to crew chief Bob Osborne for wrecking the car.He won three of the four segments in the 100-lap race, but still had one last pit stop and a 10-lap sprint to the finish before he could claim his first All-Star victory. NASCAR brought the field in for a 10-minute break following the third segment, then sent the cars back to the track for parade laps before they were required to return to pit road for a four-tire stop.The stop is where the pit crews have their chance to shine in this event, and Edwards’ team delivered. He came in as the leader and left as the leader, beating Busch back onto the track.Edwards then got a terrific jump on the restart and easily pulled away.“The restart was good, and man, that thing, it really runs,” Edwards said