If the predictions hold true, there will be no qualifying for Sunday’s 500-mile Cup race, and a 312-mile Nationwide event will be washed out.
Loss of qualifying means little because cars can swap position easily with help of the aerodynamic draft. Postponement of the Nationwide race just delays that chance of the violent wrecks that are the product of cars running packed together.
Sunday will mark the one-year anniversary of one of the most violent rides in Talladega history. Carl Edwards was the pilot in the flight when he went from leading to sailing into the grandstand catch fence in an unsuccessful effort to hold off Brad Keselowski.
Edwards escaped unharmed, but seven people were injured when they were struck by debris from the fence and Edwards’ car, which went out of control when Edwards tried to block Keselowski for a second time. Edwards’ Ford lifted when it spun and then was punted by Ryan Newman.
Edwards looks forward to having the opportunity to be pushed to the lead in the final laps as he was by Keselwoski as they went past Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“The best I can hope for is to be in the exact same situation again,” Edwards said. “Whether it’s Brad or somebody else to be pushing me, for us to be separated and just have a battle between me and one other guy. I don’t know how I would feel in that same situation. Nothing teaches you like a little pain, and that wreck was painful for a number of reasons, so I’d say that it’ll be in my mind to make sure that I defend my car the best I can so that I have the best chance of winning.”
Edwards initially blocked Keselowski’s move to the right, but by the time Edwards tried to counter to the left, Kesleowski’s nose was beside Edwards’ fender.
“Maybe if I wouldn’t have blocked the first way and let him go on the outside, maybe we could have had a different race to the end, but those are split-second decisions,” Edwards said. “You’re looking at the checkered flag. I hoped for the best and I got the worst.
“I’ve replayed that race a lot and thought, ‘How could I have done a better job?’ But I think we showed right there – Brad and I – that if you work with someone and you work together, you can put yourself in a position to win. So I’m hoping I can find somebody to work with like that and we can make something happen.”
gsmith@hpe.com | 888-3519
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