Category Archives: Mike Edwards Racing

Edwards All Charged Up After Scoring First Win Of 2013

Edwards All Charged Up After Scoring First Win Of 2013
 
Today was all about being first for Mike Edwards and the Interstate Batteries/I Am Second/K&N team in Charlotte during the Dollar General Four-Wide Nationals.
 
Edwards wheeled his Chevy Camaro through the unique four-wide format, to earn his 35th career victory and first in 2013. Edwards did everything from the first position. Minus Friday’s qualifying were Edwards did not make a lap in the rain shortened session, he was the fastest every time down the race track.
 
Saturday, carrying the new look of Interstate Batteries, Edwards eclipsed his own national record with a 6.471, a number he backed up in the second session, to reset the NHRA Pro Stock e.t. record. With that, he earned his fifth straight No. 1 qualifying effort, the second longest streak to start a Pro Stock season since 2006 when Greg Anderson opened with six straight poles. It was Edwards 46th of his career.
 
“I knew having the pole was key come Sunday, because we knew from past experience that having lane choice is a major part in pulling off the victory,” Edwards said.
 
In the four-wide format, the first two rounds of eliminations, the top two drivers advance, while the final is a winner-take-all battle between the top four drivers to advance.
 
Edwards opened eliminations with a 6.493, low e.t. of the first round, to easily when his foursome. Then backed it up in the semifinals with yet another low of the round, 6.482, to earn lane choice in the final.
 
Also to advance to the title bout was Erica Enders-Stevens, Anderson, and Shane Gray. The title bout was all Edwards as he used a .009 light and 6.495 to earn his first NHRA Pro Stock Wally of the season, the first win with Interstate Batteries and I Am Second on the side of the car, first trophy for General Motors and the Chevy Camaro in 2013, and take over first place in the NHRA Pro Stock points.
 
“It feels really good to come away with a win today,” Edwards said. “We stuck with our game plan from start to finish and that was to not be too aggressive on race day, go down the track on every run and not beat ourselves. And we just did that today.
 
“It is really special to put this Interstate Batteries Camaro in the winner’s circle Chairman of the Board and I Am Second founder Norm Miller,” he continued. “Norm has blessed our team so much by giving us the opportunity to be associated with such a fine company as Interstate Batteries and to be able to carry the I Am Second message to the drag racing community has been incredible.
 
“As a whole, it is just an awesome feeling to have great partners, like the Interstate group, K&N, General Motors, Contemporary Corvette, and Young Life, all around us and be able to share a victory and the new NHRA Pro Stock e.t. record. This win is for all of them being behind us and making this dream of racing a reality.”
 
 
After five of 24 events, Edwards holds an 84 points lead over Allen Johnson.

Mike Edwards Racing– Pomona Winternationals

 Pomona Post-race Notes
 
Mike Edwards and the Interstate Batteries/I Am Second/K&N Chevy team weekend came to an early end on Sunday in the first round of eliminations against Chris McGaha.
 
At the hit of the throttle, the Camaro had parts failure in the clutch, leaving Edwards only to watch McGaha advance.
 
“Though we didn’t have the results we hoped for today, in the big picture we are excited about the 2013 season,” Edwards said. “We were on the pole of the first race of the season, which is a great way to start the season. This Chevy Camaro has some great potential and we know if we didn’t have parts failure this weekend could have been much different.
 
“I am glad we only have a few days between races, because we feel great heading into Phoenix next weekend.”