FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Carl Edwards got the victory he desperately needed to earn a championship-contending spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, winning at Texas on Sunday night in a race shorted by 41 laps because of rain after the start was delayed nearly six hours.
With his fourth career win at Texas, Edwards joined Jimmie Johnson as drivers locked into the championship-contending spots in Homestead.
That leaves two spots up for grabs next Sunday at Phoenix.
Edwards entered the second-to-last race before the Nov. 22 season finale eighth in points among the drivers still eligible for the championship.
“This is huge. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. That’s all we said was needed, just a shot,” Edwards said. “Now we’re going to go to Homestead, we’re going to do what we need to do. This was a great test. We came here and did what we needed to do, we performed, and I really believe we can do that at Homestead.”