MB Motorsports’ Driver Carl
Edwards Returns to IRP Looking for More Success
Unlike the other tracks Carl Edwards has raced on in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series, Indianapolis Raceway Park is a known quantity to him.
While working his way through the racing ranks, Carl has driven on the track
before in the Baby Grand Stock Car Series and in the USAR Silver Crown Series
… although he hasn’t always had a ride home.
IRP is the place where Carl first met the MB Motorsports’ team back in 1999.
He had run the USAC Silver Crown race at IRP on Thursday night. The team
he drove for decided to leave after the race, but Carl wanted to stay another
day and watch the Truck Series race. He had no ride home so he met team
owner Mike Mittler and asked if he could have a ride home. Mike said,
“sure”, but they were not leaving until Saturday and Carl needed to be back
sooner.
So he hitchhiked home to Columbia, Missouri from IRP!
"As I was standing outside the gate, holding a cardboard sign that said 'St.
Louis' a thousand cars must have passed me by," says Carl. "Some people
yelled and laughed. A few even threw beer cans at me. I told myself that
night that I would get the last laugh because I was going to make it in racing
and would be back at IRP driving in NASCAR."
Even though it took three years for that dream to come true, Carl will return
to IRP this week as a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver.
In addition, he will again run the USAC race on Thursday evening and he has
a good ride lined up.
"I'll be driving Robby Flock's car Thursday night. It's a good ride and
I look forward to the experience of being out on the track the night before
the truck race," stated Carl.
"I also look forward to
getting back behind the wheel of #63 Ford. We've taken a couple weeks
off while looking for sponsorship and getting ready for some fall races.
We've got a lot of momentum in the truck series and I want to continue that.
We would like to run well the rest of this year, attract a sponsor, and go full-time
next season," stated Carl.
MB Motorsports owner and
crew chief Mike Mittler is understandably looking forward to the race.
“Carl is an amazing
talent. We knew he could be a success in the sport, but he’s surprised
even us. This team is running with renewed enthusiasm since Carl joined
us. We’ve had great success on tracks that are new to Carl. We really
look forward to seeing what we can do on a track he’s familiar with,” said Mittler.
The Powerstroke 200 will
be televised live on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. Central on Friday, August 2nd.
MRN will have live radio coverage.
Keep up-to-date with MB
Motorsports and Carl Edwards by visiting their website at
http://www.mbracing.net
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