Carl Edwards

Birthday: Aug. 15, 1979
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2008 -- Finished second in series points. ... Won a series-high nine races. ... Won three races, with a total of eight top-10 finishes, during the Chase. ... Led seven year-end Loop Data statistical categories -- Driver Rating (108.6), Average Finish (9.5), Percentage of Laps in the Top 15 (78.6), Laps in the Top 15 (8, 426), Fastest Laps (1,091), Green Times Passed (1,818) and Average Mid-Race Position (10.3).

2007 -- Finished ninth in series points. ... Won three races, ending 52-race winless streak. Wins came at Michigan (June), Bristol (August) and Dover (September). ... Win at Bristol secured second career appearance in Chase. Started as fourth seed in Chase. ... Led 12 races for a total of 515 laps. ... Was in the top 10 in points for the final 26 weeks of the season.

2006 -- Finished 12th in series points. ... Experienced second-year slump, going winless after winning four races in rookie campaign. ... Finished the season with 10 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. ... Spent the final seven weeks of the season in 12th place, his highest position in the standings all year. ... Best finish was second at Michigan (August) and Dover (September).

2005 -- Finished third in series points. ... Finished with 13 top-fives and 18 top-10s. ... Entered the Chase in eighth place. ... Won four races, including a sweep of the races at Atlanta in March (his first series career win) and October. Also won at Pocono in June and Texas in November. ... Captured his first career pole at Fontana in September.

2004 -- Finished 37th in series points. ... Finished with one top-five, five top-10s and two DNFs in 13 starts. ... Followed Jeff Burton in the No. 99 after Burton moved to Richard Childress Racing in August. ... Started 13 of the final 14 races, the exception being the October event at Charlotte; that day, Edwards finished ninth in the Truck Series event at Texas. ... Finished 10th in his first series start in August at Michigan, becoming one of only five active drivers to post a top-10 finish in their first series race.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Finished second in the 2008 Nationwide Series with seven wins, a series-high 19 top-fives, plus 22 top-10s. ... Won 2007 Busch Series championship. Finished season with four wins, 15 top-fives and 21 top-10s. ... Has 13 Nationwide Series wins in 106 career starts. ... Finished second in 2006 Busch Series standings with four wins and 25 top-10 finishes. ... Was third in 2005 Busch Series standings. ... Finished fourth in the 2004 Truck Series points with six wins, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. ... Won 2003 Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. ... Won the Baby Grand Stock Car Association national championship in 2002. ... Won two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships at Capital Speedway near Jefferson City, Mo., in modifieds in 1999 and pro modifieds in 2000.

NOTEWORTHY

Was college student at the University of Missouri and a part-time substitute teacher prior to signing with Roush Racing. ... Father, Mike, won more than 200 feature races driving modified stock cars and midgets at several Midwestern tracks. ... Works with children's charities at home and on the road.