By MIKE HARRIS
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Carl Edwards won the season-ending Ford 300 on Saturday night, but came up 21 points short in his attempt to overtake Clint Bowyer for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.
All Bowyer had to do to keep Edwards from winning a second straight title in the second-tier series was finish in the top eight. He did that easily, taking fifth to stay on top of the standings, right where he has been most of the year despite winning only one of 35 races.
"We've been consistent," Bowyer said after climbing out of his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. "We did the things it takes to win championships. I want to thank Richard for giving me the opportunity."
Edwards wrested the lead from Kyle Busch late in the race and stayed out front to the end of the 200-lap event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He earned his seventh Nationwide victory and kept Busch from recording a record 11th series win.
Edwards wins race; Bowyer takes title....
Sporting News staff reports
NASCAR will not return to Mexico next season, The Charlotte Observer reports.
For four years, the Nationwide Series has run a race at the Hermanos Rodriguez Autodrome road course in Mexico City. Officials confirmed Sunday that the series will not be back there in 2009, but they have not announced where the replacement race will be. However, sources told the Observer the likely replacement venue is the new Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
Several factors, including a growing and stable touring series in Mexico and lower attendance at the Nationwide event, contributed to the decision not to return to Mexico City in 2009, the Observer reports.
NASCAR won't visit Mexico City in 2009....
From Times Wire Reports
Carl Edwards was desperate to get back into Victory Lane in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and he wasn't about to let Clint Bowyer stand in his way at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday night.
Edwards shoved his fellow Sprint Cup Series driver sideways with 25 laps to go, then held off Joey Logano for his first Nationwide victory of the season after dominating the series last year.
Carl Edwards wins Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee....
