Fri, 18 Sep 2009, 10:52 PM With New Focus, Edwards Start Title Chase

Courtesy of Mike Edwards Motorsports

CONCORD, N.C. -- For nearly eight months and 18 events, every NHRA Pro team has been working to be part of the Countdown to One NHRA playoff style event that kicks off with the NHRA Carolinas Nationals. For Mike Edwards, his spot in the playoffs was secured a few events back, giving the team a chance to make sure all focus is on the big prize, the NHRA Pro Stock championship.

"Things have not gone perfect for us as a team since we clinched our spot; meaning we haven't picked up any more Wallys," Edwards admitted. "Most of that has fallen to one area, and now that one area, me, has to pick up his game to make this happen."

The Young Life/A.R.T. Pontiac has been basically flawless on the quarter-mile, grapping the pole at the last three events, but come eliminations, the usually solid Edwards has not been himself on the starting line. "I've been up there thinking too much. I just need to drive the car and the rest will take care of itself."

With his focus corrected, Edwards believes the only thing standing in his way for the championship might be himself. "I know what I need to do and a few of my friends have helped clean up some of the areas I was struggling with. This minor correction will be a positive for us the next six races."

With the points adjusted for the Countdown to One, Edwards sits in the third spot, trailing points leader Jeg Coughlin by 30 points and Jason Line by a mere 10 points.

"If we can come out these next six races and just improve slightly on what we did the same six races in 2008, I know we can reach that ultimate goal," said Edwards, who last season, garnered the second most points during the stretch and captured the Memphis title. "The entire team is focused and ready to go out and do all we can to win the championship."

Contemporary Corvette Continues Partnership With Edwards
Contemporary Corvette will continue its relationship with Mike Edwards' Pontiac for this weekends event, the NHRA Carolina Nationals at ZMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. The partnership, which started in Reading, has been extended to the first race in the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoff, in an effort by owner Ron DeSmedt to help further the team's chance at a championship.

"What a group to be with," Edwards said. "They joined us in Reading and the relationship has really blossomed and has been beneficial to both sides. It just adds to everything we already have with this team."

The company's name and website will adorn the front hood of the red Pontiac GXP of Edwards, while the 1-800-FOR-VETTE-PARTS will be on the hood scoop this weekend.

Located in Bristol, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia, Contemporary Corvette opened its doors for business in 1990 with three Corvettes and a half-acre called "the Field of Broken Dreams." Now, after tremendous success, the company has expanded to four acres to house the nearly 450 Corvettes that occupy the grounds. The company features an all-inclusive website contemporarycorvette.com, where customers can find nearly any part for a Corvette, or 1-800-FOR-VETTE-PARTS to speak with them over the phone.

Reaching Out To Young Life Kids, Edwards Real Priority
NHRA.com carried a story last weekend on Mike Edwards and his efforts with Young Life. Below is the text of the story. If you would like to see it on NHRA.com, follow this link http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/9/12/reaching-out-to-young-life-kids-not-championship -chase-edwards-biggest-priority/.

On Thursday nights at many NHRA events you will catch the professional teams out seeing the city, handling corporate commitments, relaxing before the stress of the race weekend, or traveling to the event. Those are the furthest things from what Mike Edwards and his Young Life/A.R.T. are thinking about doing. Every event, Edwards and his team start the weekend in a bit different manner.

For the last nine years, Edwards has hosted the "Giving Kids Hope" program at the track urban Young Life kids. These kids come from socially and economically challenged backgrounds, and Edwards and his team try to bring some hope for the future to these kids.

"This is what this team is all about, reaching out to these kids and hopefully making a difference," Edwards said. "To me, all the awards and accolades we receive on the race track the rest of the weekend, pale in comparison to what we are trying to accomplish through this program. If we can turn the life of just one kid who sees us on a given weekend, we have done what we set out to do nearly a decade ago.

The kids from Young Life come to the track and Edwards pit area, where they enjoy some food, tours of the trailer and car, along with several activities with a racing theme. Edwards closes the evening by telling the kids how God has changed his life and how he can make a change to them. He also shares the role God has played in his racing career and lets each kid know that many people care about them and God will always be there for them.

"It is a great feeling when you stand in front of these kids and see the future in their eyes," Edwards said. "You hope what you will say to them will help them in some regards realize there is a better way in life if you only allow God to be part of it."

Since the programs inception in 2000, Edwards has hosted close to a 100,000 kids, many who have returned to see Edwards and allow him to see the fruits of his labor.

"The best part is when years later a kid comes out to the track and comes over and tells you that they were out here a few years back and you really touched me and made me feel wanted," Edwards reflected. "When we designed this race team with Young Life, the goal was not to just win events on the track but it was to capture the hearts of the kids and help them find God and to have a better future.

"To us, Thursday night means more to us than what happens on Sunday," he continued. "In the big picture, what happens on race day will come and go, but an impact you can make on the life of a kid will last forever. That is why we do it."

Edwards Help CompetitionPlus.com Celebrate 10th Anniversary Of Racing Coverage
For the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Mike Edwards will carry the competitionplus.com decal on the front fender of his Pontiac to help the website celebrate its 10th year of covering the quarter-mile.
"Bobby Bennett and his entire group at Competitionplus.com have been a huge supporter of what we are trying to accomplish with this race team and we thought this would be a great way of showing that respect," Edwards said.
The website, which focuses on all angles of drag racing, has become one of the major online players in the quarter-mile arena with its hard-hitting reporting, event coverage, and a one stop source for everything drag racing.
Quick Notes
Has advanced to the final at nine events in 2009, the most in Pro Stock.

In 2009, has captured 10 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 five positions in all 18 NHRA events in 2009, with four times earning the No. 2 spot, and three times in the No. 4 position to go with his 10 poles and a single No. 5 qualifying effort.

Recorded his 18th career victory in Seattle.

Currently third in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings, only trailing points leader Jeg Coughlin and Jason Line, to start the NHRA playoffs.

Mike Edwards has grabbed either low e.t. or top speed at 15 of the 18 events in 2009. He scored both the low e.t. and top speed of the event at seven races (Gainesville, Bristol, Topeka, Chicago, Englishtown, Denver, Seattle, Brainerd, and Indianapolis), and has left with low e.t. two other events (Phoenix and Las Vegas), while garnering top speed at four others (Houston, Atlanta, Norwalk, and Reading).