After being on the road for three weeks straight, many would look at the end of the trip as just an event to go through the motions and head home and get ready for the push toward the "Countdown to 1" championship playoff, but not for Mike Edwards and the Young Life/A.R.T.-backed team. The trip to Sonoma and the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway is a chance to grab a spot in Pro Stock the longtime campaigner has never held, the NHRA Pro Stock points lead.

"When you start the season, you just hope you come out and make a good showing for your fans and those who support you and only imagine having a chance to sit on top of the class," Edwards said. "That is something that is now within our reach. We are working flawless as a team and I feel real good after winning Seattle, so we are heading to the bay area with hopes of leaving with not only the NHRA Wally, but the points lead."

Edwards currently sits 20 points behind Jeg Coughlin for the lead, which translates into one round of competition. Thus, if Edwards qualifies better than Coughlin and goes a round further in competition, he will leave California with the lead.

Sonoma has been a solid stop for Edwards and the gang. They have reached the final in years past (2001), and great showing in qualifying runs including the No. 1 spot in 2008, so they know they can challenge for that goal.

"We are not going into Sonoma thinking, the we got one victory out west and that will be good enough to take back to Oklahoma, instead that has made us that much more hungry to get back in the winner's circle, and I cannot think of a better place than Sonoma."

Rewind: A Look Back To Edwards' Seattle Triumph
When Mike Edwards turned on the win light in the found round, downing Jason Line, who had got the best of the Young Life/Penhall team in the Pomona and Norwalk final, Mike knew he had another good day at the track.

"We've had three really good days all year," Edwards said of day which produced his eighth final round for 2009. "Anytime you win a race it's good. My guys have just prepared this car. Every time we came up to run the car was just flawless."

With the win, it was Edwards' 18th career NHRA Pro Stock national event title, and probably more importantly was done in a convincing fashion where he had the field cover by a couple hundredths each round, which in the world of Pro Stock is a mile

"This car is just a joy to drive and it does everything right," Edwards explained. "It's all because of those guys preparing it right. I feel like in the last four or five races I've let them down a bit."

Edwards is talking about not getting wins, but for the record, his term of not carrying the weight includes four final-round losses and a second round setback in Denver.

With the victory it moved Edwards to within 20 points of leader Jeg Coughlin Jr. for the Full Throttle Pro Stock points, which carries a bonus in the "Countdown to 1" that starts after the U.S. Nationals.

Quick Notes
Has advanced to the final at seven of the last nine events.

In 2009, has captured seven No. 1 Qualifier awards, the most in Pro Stock.

Captured three wins thus far in 2009 in Atlanta, Bristol and the latest in Seattle.

Has qualified in the top four positions in all 14 NHRA events in 2009, with four times earning the No. 2 spot, and three times in the No. 4 position to go with his seven poles.

Recorded his 18th career victory in Seattle.

Currently second in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings, only 20 points behind leader Jeg Coughlin.

Mike Edwards has grabbed either low e.t. or top speed at 12 of the first 14 events. He scored both the low e.t. and top speed of the event at seven races (Gainesville, Bristol, Topeka, Chicago, Englishtown, Denver, and Seattle), and has left with low e.t. two other events (Phoenix and Las Vegas), while garnering top speed at three others (Houston, Atlanta, and Norwalk).

The 4,600 miles the team will travel from the Coweta, Okla., shop and to NHRA stops in Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma, and returning home is basically the same distance as driving from Los Angeles to New York City and then back to Denver.

Television Schedule
Fram Autlite NHRA Nationals
ESPN2
Saturday, July 25
Qualifying
6:30 - 8 p.m. (ET)

Sunday, July 26
NHRA Race Day Show
11 - 11:30 a.m. (ET)

Sunday, July 26
Eliminations
9 p.m. - midnight (ET)

Wednesday, July 29
Repeat Eliminations
3 - 5 a.m. (ET)

Courtesy of Mike Edwards Motorsports