Daytona 500 Pole Positions: Carl Edwards' Top-Dog Status Means Little
Carl Edwards was riding high for most of the week with a stirring qualifying time and a hold of the pole position. That all ends now.
The Sprint Cup runner-up in 2011 delivered a remarkably fast time last Sunday when he finished at 194.738 mph to earn his first pole in 14 starts at Daytona.
It was a day of great celebration for a driver that saw the greatest prize in the sport go to another despite his first-place finish last season.
Instead, the tiebreak for the Sprint Cup went to Tony Stewart, and that will be the man breathing down Edwards' neck on Sunday.
Sunday may have been Edwards' time to shine ahead of the Daytona 500, but Thursday was Stewart's to show that he can still deliver some amazing performances himself.
Stewart staved of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a Gatorade Duel qualifying race on Thursday, earning a second row starting spot.
There was a bit of excitement as the race finished under caution as Danica Patrick crashed on the final lap. One of the most polarizing driers was fine and will be there on Sunday with the rest of the biggest names in the sport.
One of the more intriguing storylines will be what plays out with Tony Stewart, last year's Sprint Cup champion that proved on Thursday is still very much in fine form.
He is winless in 13 Daytona 500 starts, but this is as good a time as any to steal one away from the fastest car out there in Edwards' No. 99 Roush-Fenway Ford.
Edwards will share the pole positions with teammate Greg Biffle which may be the only comforting fact. He has a rival driver that will be looking to get over him yet again in Tony Stewart.
It's almost cruel and unjust if that is to happen.
Edwards is driving very well right now and had all the momentum out of last Sunday, landing top-dog status entering the Daytona 500.
Like the finish to last season, Stewart is inching forward to steal all the glory. I can hardly wait until Sunday to see if Edwards can finally thwart the stubborn brilliance of Stewart.
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