Edwards, Busch finish first and second in Nationwide race in Milwaukee

Not even a hurried cross-country flight from Sonoma, Calif., to Milwaukee could keep Sprint Cup stars Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch from finishing 1-2 in Saturday night’s Northern Tools Nationwide Series 250 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Edwards and Busch didn’t arrive in time to qualify, so they started at the rear of the field. No worries: they methodically beat the series regulars in the 250-lap race at the 1-mile track in West Allis, Wis.

Edwards got his first victory of ’09 and the 21st in his Nationwide career by leading twice for 46 laps, including the final 45. He had little trouble passing Busch and pulling away after Busch had led the previous 80 laps.

“I won’t lie to you,” said Edwards, driving a Roush Fenway Racing Ford, “it felt really good (to get his first victory). It seems almost too good to be true.”

Busch was his usual cryptic self: “This is what we do, come to finish second,” said the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota star. “It wasn’t any battle; Carl just drove right by me. We were good, but not good enough.”

Edwards and Busch spent half of Saturday with their Sprint Cup team at Infineon Raceway in California, scene of Sunday afternoon’s Toyota 350. They used two helicopters and private jets to reach West Allis in time to start from the rear of the 43-car grid. Colin Braun practiced and qualified Edwards’s car; Johnny Sauter did the prep and qualifying in Busch’s car.

Pole-winner Erik Darnell (19 laps), Brad Coleman (35 laps), Keselowski (23 laps), Ricky Stenhouse (46 laps), Stephen Leicht (1 lap) and Edwards (1

lap) shared the lead until Busch took over at lap 126. He led the next 80 laps, but Edwards led the last 45, winning by almost two seconds. Busch, the points leader by 127 over Edwards, finished second, with Keselowski, Darnell and Stenhouse completing the top five.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

1. Carl Edwards, Ford

2. Kyle Busch, Toyota

3. Brad Keselowski, Chevrolet

4. Erik Darnell, Ford

5. Ricky Stenhouse, Ford

6. Steven Wallace, Chevrolet

7. Mike Bliss, Chevrolet

8. Stephen Leicht, Chevrolet

9. Ron Hornaday, Chevrolet

10. Jason Leffler, Toyota

POINTS STANDINGS

1. Kyle Busch 2391

2. Carl Edwards -127

3. Brad Keselowski – 218

4. Jason Leffler -264

5. Joey Logano -531

6. Mike Bliss -646

7. Brendan Gaughan -647

8. Justin Allgaier -651

9. Jason Keller -675

10. Steven Wallace -698

Next race: June 27, Loudon, N.H.

via: www.autoweek.com