Carl Edwards won the NorthernTool.com 300 at The Milwaukee Mile. He won from an “official” 11th-place starting position, but actually started 43rd after dropping to the rear under penalty for a driver change. (His car was qualified by Colin Braun since Edwards was absent for qualifying.) Edwards led twice for 46 laps, including the final 45. This marked the third time Edwards has won when he dropped to the rear and second straight at Milwaukee. He also won from the rear at Memphis in October 2008.
Edwards scored his first series win in 15 starts this season. His win at Milwaukee one year ago was also his first win of that season.
Edwards is the 10th different series winner in 2009. He scored his 21st career series victory in his 156th race.
Edwards posted his second victory at Milwaukee in his fifth race and became the second repeat race winner in 19 races. He scored his third straight top-10 finish at Milwaukee.
Edward’s last win came at Homestead last November.
It was Roush Fenway Racing’s 103rd series victory and fifth in 2009.
Edwards posted his 100th career top-10 finish in 156 starts in the series.
This was Roush’s fourth win at Milwaukee, the most by any car owner.
Kyle Busch, the points leader entering by 137 over Edwards, finished second. Busch now leads the points by 127 over Edwards.
Busch has led the most laps in the last eight series races, extending a streak that began at Talladega in April. He led once for 80 laps at Milwaukee.
Busch has led 1,486 laps this season, the most by any driver. He has led at least one lap in the last 12 races, extending a streak that began at Bristol. The record is 19 set by Sam Ard in 1984.
Brad Keselowski (third) extended a streak of 12 consecutive top-15 finishes that began at Bristol. Keselowski finished 22nd, 27th and 27th in the first three races of the season before posting his first top-15 finish of the season at Bristol (12th). It marked his seventh top-3 finish in his last 11 races. Keselowski has scored top-10 finishes in the last five races, a streak that began at Lowe’s. He has been running at the finish in the last 47 series races, the longest current streak.
Erik Darnell (fourth) tied his career-best finish. He was the highest finishing Rookie of the Year contender.
Ricky Stenhouse (fifth) posted his career-best finish.
Jason Leffler (10th) has finished in the top 10 in the last 10 series races, extending a streak that began at Nashville in April. This is the longest current streak. He has scored 14 straight top-15 finishes, extending a streak that began at race No. 2 in California in February. Leffler has scored four straight top-10 finishes at Milwaukee.
Mike Bliss (seventh) climbed from ninth to sixth in the points standings, the biggest gain in the race among the top 20 drivers.
Ford posted its fifth win in 15 races in 2009. Toyota has six wins and Chevy has four while Dodge has none.
The top 10 consisted of five Chevys, three Fords and two Toyotas. (ESPN.com)(6-22-2009)
