Catchfence

2010 NSCS Carl Edwards - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Carl Edwards – NSCS ADVANCE

Team:           No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion
Crew Chief:   Bob Osborne
Chassis:       RK-677    Brand new chassis

QUOTES
Carl Edwards on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“Our No. 99 Aflac team has been working really hard in the off-season.  We have put together a great pit crew.  The racing will be more competitive than ever.  We were really competitive in 2008, but like a lot of other people we just couldn’t catch Jimmie Johnson last year, so I hope this is the year we can knock them off the top.  I had fun in the Shootout last Saturday and think we’ll be good for the 500.

“The Duels are short races, they are a lot of fun and I have yet to win at Daytona other than the truck race in 2004.  For me I’m still chasing that win and it would be a great way to start off Speedweeks at Daytona.  It’s like a heat race, you just go out there and race as hard as you can and with the new rules there will be a lot of aggression and a lot of people trying to prove themselves.”

Crew chief Bob Osborne on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“The Duels on Thursday will be a test for the 500.  We will try to get the best starting position possible for the 500 and go from there.  Daytona has not been the bumper-to-bumper racing as we have seen in the past so I am not sure if the new rules will impact the race a great deal.  If the cars stay bunched up, the new rules will most likely end in a wreck.  We’re taking a brand new car to Daytona that should run well based on the wind tunnel and k-rig data we have. ”

FAST FACTS

• CARL EDWARDS returns to Daytona International Speedway for his sixth Daytona 500, and his 11^th overall start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
• 2009 STATS…Last season Edwards accumulated seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He led 164 laps of competition to finish 11^th in the Sprint Cup point standings.
• FOR THE RECORD…Edwards’ average start at Daytona International Speedway is 17.2, his average finish is 19.7.  Edwards’ best finish at Daytona is second place, captured in July 2008.  His best finish in the Daytona 500 is 12^th in his first start in 2005.
• SHOOTOUT RECAP…Starting from the pole, Edwards led 42 of 76 laps Saturday night in the Budweiser Shootout.  He was seventh for the final restart, but was caught in a multi-car accident coming to the white flag to finish 17^th.
• AFLAC STORK?…Edwards is used to having the Aflac duck around, but soon the stork will be arriving as well.  He and wife Kate are expecting their first child this month.
• ON THE TRACK…The No. 99 will carry the Aflac colors Sunday for the Daytona 500. The No. 99 crew will unload RK-677 for the weekend, a brand new Ford Fusion.
• REWIND, DAYTONA 500, 2009…Edwards started the Daytona 500 16^th and ran as high as second place. On lap 125 Edwards was caught up in a multi-car accident and the No. 99 Aflac Ford suffered damage to the splitter. Though the team was able to keep Edwards on the lead lap through a series of pit stops to repair the damages, valuable track position was lost. Shortly after Edwards’ Ford was mended the race was red flagged and ultimately called due to rain. Edwards finished the race in 18^th place. Roush Fenway Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth was the winner.

2010 No. 99 Aflac Racing Team

Name Duties Hometown

Kevin Brucher                            Engineer                                      Callicoon, N.Y.

John Carroll                              Pit support                                    Miami, Fla.

Dave Collins                             Backup tire changer                       Riverside, Calif.

Jerel Dawson                            Fuel runner                                   Danielsville, Ga.

Steve Dietrich                           Mechanic                                     Nipomo, Calif.

Jeremy Dyer                             Front tire carrier                            Palmdale, Calif.

Jody Fortson                            Rear tire carrier                             China Grove, N.C.

Thomas Hall                              Pit support                                   San Bernardino, Calif.

Jason Hedlesky                         Spotter                                        Clinton, Mich.

Noah Hein                                 Truck driver                                  Portage, Mich.

Doug Impsen                            Engine/8^th man                             Pequannock, N.J.

Adam Jordan                            Tire specialist                               Timberville, Va.

Joe Karasinski                           Gas man                                     Spotswood, N.J.

Dennis Killian                            Jack man                                     Wentzville, Mo.

Pierre Kuettel                            Car chief                                      Phoenix, Ariz.

Kyle Lewis                                Suspension                                  Huntsville, Ala.

Norm Lowe                               Catch can                                    Webster, Mass.

Dwayne Ogles                           Rear tire changer                          Hoover, Ala.

Bob Osborne                            Crew chief                                    Chester, Penn.

Jeremy Pooler                           Co-truck driver                              Logan, Utah

Caleb Sparks                            Pit support                                   Greensboro, N.C.

Dave Stillman                            Shock specialist                           Appleton, Wisc.

Kale Uphoff                               Front tire changer                         McFarland, Wisc.

- Roush Fenway Racing, Press Release