Edwards ready to defend Darlington title

Before Darlington Raceway went to its throwback weekend, Carl Edwards had his own vintage moment at the track.

In 2008, Edwards spent a day with NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson at the track’s media day. Edwards, who was driving for Roush Fenway at the time, picked up the Spartanburg native in his airplane and the two flew together to NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway.

At the track, Edwards and Pearson took a few laps together, with Pearson driving a restored version of the No. 21 Purolator Mercury he drove for the Wood Brothers in the 1970s.

“I remember taking a mental picture, ‘Don’t ever forget this moment,’” Edwards said last week. “Driving through Turns 1 and 2, just kind of goofing off slow. I look over and here’s Pearson in the 21 Wood Brothers with his arm out the window beside me, just smiling. ‘Man, I’m at Darlington with Pearson in that car.’ That’s like being a part of history for a moment. That was really cool.”

Pearson gave Edwards a few pointers on getting around Darlington, a place he won a record 10 times. Those pointers paid off for Edwards last year when he got his first win at the Lady in Black after two runner-up finishes.

Edwards said his Darlington win, and his win in the Coca-Cola 600, rank as his two best victories in his 11-year career.

“For me, that race was really a hard-fought battle. At one point, we were, I believe, two laps down. We fought back. We didn’t quit and we made it back to the front. So it wasn’t an easy win. It was a really special win,” Edwards said. “I really like the place and it is a special event. I like how it races. It’s a really mentally and physically exhausting track, so I like the challenge. I think I can speak for all the drivers in saying yeah, it’s one of the biggest events of the year.”

Now, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is back to defend his crown and can afford to be aggressive with his spot secure in the Chase after winning two times this season. Edwards will be driving a paint scheme honoring three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, who won two titles at JGR.

Stewart is making his final Darlington start and has yet to win at the famed track.

Edwards said the plan for his paint scheme began six or seven months ago, and that the drivers are trying to outdo each other.

“It will be cool to do that for Tony’s last year. I’ve got my helmet ready to throw and everything,” Edwards joked of Stewart’s temper.