BUSCH

• Edwards scores another win for Roush at Michigan

  
  

  Brooklyn, MI (Sports Network) - Carl Edwards continued his march towards a second-straight NASCAR Nationwide Series title by winning Saturday's Carfax 250 at the Michigan International Speedway. The No.60 Roush Fenway Racing driver led a race-high 71 laps and held off Brian Vickers in the final laps before the race ended under caution.

  Edwards, who celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday, recorded his third Nationwide victory of the season and the 16th of his career. He also gave car owner Jack Roush his 18th overall victory at Michigan in NASCAR's national- touring series. Roush has scored 10 wins in the Sprint Cup Series, as well as four wins in both the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series at the two-mile track.

  "I'm just so happy that we won this thing," Edwards said. "We've been close here before.

  I can't thank Ford Motor Company enough. Ford's making a comeback, and I'm glad to be a part of it." Edwards led the field to the green flag after winning the pole earlier in the day. But the first caution flag was quickly displayed when Mark Green and Steve Wallace spun on the first lap.

  Tony Stewart started seventh, but moved up to third by lap 16.

  Stewart continued his pursuit to the front as he passed Brian Vickers for the second spot on Lap 25. But Vickers quickly moved back into the runner-up position on Lap 30. Vickers then passed Edwards for the lead three laps later.

  Jason Leffler began the first round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 40. Vickers led nine laps before he came in for his stop.

  After the cycle of stops had completed on lap 48, Vickers was back out in front. He held a 4.4-second lead over Edwards.

  Vickers margin evaporated on Lap 53 when David Ragan spun and smacked the wall on the backstretch, forcing the second caution. Vickers and David Reutimann were among the top-five who opted to pit under the caution. Edwards reclaimed the lead, while Vickers rejoined the field in 10th-place. Reutimann fell out of the top-10.

  When the race resumed on Lap 58, Stewart pulled even with Edwards as the two battled for the lead. Stewart pulled ahead when the caution came after Robert Richardson spun.

  Stewart jumped ahead of Edwards on the restart on Lap 64. He maintained the lead for the next 12 circuits until Edwards reeled him in. Stewart and Edwards ran side-by-side once again for the lead, but Stewart was able to fend off the challenge.

  Scott Wimmer began the next round of green-flag pit stops on Lap 87. Cale Gale also pitted under green. However on Lap 91, the fourth caution came when Reutimann made contact with Clint Bowyer. Reutimann cut a tire as he scraped the wall. His No.99 Toyota sustained cosmetic damage in the process.

  The remaining leaders came in for their final stops as Edwards was the quickest out of the pits, followed by Vickers and Stewart. Edwards led the field for the restart on Lap 96, but Patrick Carpentier spun two laps later to bring the caution flag out for the fifth time.

  Edwards pulled ahead on the restart and built a half-second lead over Vickers with 25 laps remaining. His margin increased to 2.5-seconds with 15 laps to go.

  Vickers grabbed the second spot from Stewart with five laps remaining, and then made every effort from there to catch Edwards.

  Just as Edwards crossed the line to take the white flag on the final lap, Danny Efland spun, ending the race under caution.

  "If the caution would have come out about three hundred yards sooner, we would have a chance," Vickers said. "We were running him down there at the end." Stewart, Mark Martin and Greg Biffle completed the top-five.

  Stewart competed in his final Nationwide race for Joe Gibbs Racing.

  "(Crew chief) Dave Rogers and all these guys on this Old Spice team have done such a great job," Stewart said. "They're in a record-setting year, and it's just been an honor to drive the car for them and a lot of fun." He recorded five victories in nine starts this season, driving the No.20 Toyota for JGR.

  With the victory, Edwards moved to within 113 points of leader Bowyer, who finished 10th.

  Brad Keselowski is 132 markers behind after posting an 11th- place finish.

  The next race is set for Friday, August 22nd, at Bristol Motor Speedway.

  08/16 19:18:13 ET