Edwards win at Richmond not without controversy

September 8, 2013 Greg Engle 2013 Chase, Main Page, NASCAR News Top Story, Top Stories 0

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 07: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Kellogg's / Cheez-It Ford, leads the field to a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 56th Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 7, 2013 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 07: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Kellogg's / Cheez-It Ford, leads the field to a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 56th Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 7, 2013 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 07: Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Kellogg’s / Cheez-It Ford, leads the field to a restart during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 56th Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 7, 2013 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Carl Edwards win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night was his second of the season but didn’t come without a bit of controversy.

Edwards first took the lead during a round of green flag pit stops on lap 342. As the leaders pitted in front of him, a caution came out for debris from the blown tire of Jimmie Johnson.  Edwards was among those still on track when the caution came out trapping most of the leaders down a lap. Edwards would take the lead off pit road during the round of pit stops.  Ryan Newman, needing a win to secure a spot in the Chase passed Edwards with 10 to go. But a caution flag for a spin set up a final round of stops and a three lap dash to the finish.

Paul Menard won the race off pit road by virtue of taking only two tires while most of those behind, including Edwards took four.  Menard lined up on the inside with Edwards to the outside for the restart. As the field got the green flag, Menard appeared to slow as Edwards moved ahead of him at the start-finish line.  Edwards would go onto win while Menard finished fifth. Edwards later said that Menard had spun his tires and Edwards had no choice but to continue speeding forward. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
Latest posts by Greg Engle (see all)

Subscribe to our daily NASCAR headlines, CLICK HERE!

About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.