Carl Edwards Will Shake off Last Year's Disappointment and Win Daytona 500

Carl Edwards has the makings of a superstar. He is great at making public appearances, and with his patented back flip, has the attitude needed to be a great champion. 

There is just one thing that's kept Edwards from that level. Both in terms of winning the Sprint Cup Championship and the series' biggest event, the Daytona 500, he hasn't crossed that threshold. We know he's been close. Last year, Edwards was second in points, and at Daytona. 

Paddock Talk quoted Edwards saying the following about his 2011 experience: 

"

We were really close to getting the victory at last year’s Daytona 500. I hope we have the same shot to win it on the last lap this year and if we do I won’t hold back. I’ll give 100 percent and if we win it would be amazing. Finishing second last year made me realize that if we do things right, if we prepare correctly the whole week and race smart that we can be in a position to win that race. Starting on the front row with Greg (Biffle) is also pretty exciting so it should be a great race

"

This year, he's going to pull through with a points championship, and it's going to start with a win at Daytona. 

He has been a remarkably consistent since becoming a full time Sprint Cup Racer. Basically, Edwards has done everything there is to do, except win the championship and Daytona 500.

	Sprint Cup Finish	Daytona 500 Finish	Wins
2005	3rd	12th	4
2006	12th	43rd	0
2007	9th	23rd	3
2008	2nd	19th	9
2009	11th	18th	0
2010	4th	9th	2
2011	2nd	2nd	1

What that tells me is that Edwards has nothing left to lose. We know that he can produce strong finishes; so does he. But what hasn't been proven yet is an ability to be the elite, championship-level racer. That is going to change this year.

Reading what Edwards said above, look for him to come out with a new-found aggressiveness this year, both at Daytona and in the overall series. There is no way that the double runner-up finish isn't going to inspire him to greater things.

This is the year where all of that will come through. One of the most consistent racers of the last decade will get his championship.

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