Carl Edwards: "You Can't Lose if You Give it 100 Percent"

In the final race at Homestead Miami Speedway, Carl Edwards gave it his all. 

He drove his car hard, knowing that he had to win the race in order to even have a breath of hope of snatching the Sprint Cup trophy from the clutches of Jimmie Johnson.

And win the race he did, ending the race with no fuel and barely coasting across the finish line. And once again, for the ninth time in the 2008 season, Carl backflipped off his window across the finish line.

As Edwards accepted the checkered flag from the NASCAR official, he had to make a brief, but important stop. He hopped out ever so briefly to run up to the No. 48 car of Jimmie Johnson to congratulate him on winning his third consecutive championship in a row.

Carl then coasted his car into Victory Lane to celebrate his own race win. He had done everything that he possibly could have done to have had the opportunity to win the championship, and yet come up just short.

It was not meant to be for Edwards this year. But as he greeted reporters and his team in Victory Lane, he was most gracious even in defeat, clutching his "courage" necklace around his neck.

Edwards thanked all who had been involved in his effort, especially Office Depot, his sponsor for the very last time. He said he and his team could hold their heads high, urging everyone who ever strives for something “to give it all you've got," as he had done today.

And to quote a very successful race car driver, even one who was ultimately defeated for the final prize, "you can't lose if you give it 100 percent."

Congratulations, Carl Edwards, on your race win.

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