Edwards edges Busch for second straight win

The runner-up led for 415 consecutive laps.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Carl Edwards isn’t giving up anything to Kyle Busch and his domination of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, especially when it counts the most.

Edwards saw Busch lead 415 consecutive laps Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, then used his bumper to nudge Busch in the first turn on lap 470.

That move caused Busch’s car to wiggle just enough so that Edwards could drive by on his way to his second consecutive victory.

The triumph was also the sixth of the season for the Roush Fenway Racing driver, allowing him to close the gap of bonus points he’s likely to face when the 12-race Chase for the championship begins.

Busch has eight wins, and each is worth 10 Chase bonus points.

After taking the checkered flag, Edwards was making his cool down lap around the track when Busch drove up and bumped his car. Edwards clearly wasn’t amused, and when he responded by driving the nose of his car into the right side of Busch’s, the fans cheered wildly.

Busch finished second, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon, three drivers needing good nights to bolster their playoff prospects.

Ryan Newman was sixth and was the only car not in Chase contention in the top 10. Clint Bowyer was seventh, followed by Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and David Ragan.

New home

Casey Mears has a new home for the 2009 season.

As expected, Mears was introduced Saturday as the fourth driver for Richard Childress Racing, joining Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer in RCR’s Chevrolet stable.

“I’ve watched Casey’s career from the time he first came in and he’s always impressed me,” Childress said at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Recalling watching a race at Michigan with Mears in contention, Childress said, “I think I was pulling for you about as hard as I was for our cars.”

Mears, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this season, will drive the No. 07 car with Jack Daniels as its primary sponsor, Childress said. Clint Bowyer, who is driving the 07 and has it close to making it into the top 12, and thus the 10-race Chase for the championship, will move to the new No. 33 with sponsorship from Cheerios and Hamburger Helper.

The points earned by Bowyer will stay with the 07, Childress said, but he added that he is not ready to make any announcement about whether Bowyer will have a cushion in the No. 33.

Teams that carry over points from the previous year can use them for the first five races of the following season, at least to avoid having to race their way into each event.

Teams without points have to qualify in the top 35 or risk not making the race.