Daytona 500 2012: Carl Edwards Will Turn Pole Position into Opening Race Win

Carl Edwards seems like a man on a mission in 2012. After losing to Tony Stewart in last year’s NASCAR championship, Edwards decided to come out and make a stand in the first race of the season by winning the pole position for the 2012 Daytona 500.

Edwards will use his pole position to garner victory at one of the most prestigious race tracks in the sport.

He breezed through the lap with one of the fastest times since Jeff Gordon in 1999. Edwards and his team are focused on racing well while forgetting what happened last season, according to Nate Ryan of USA TODAY.

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"It seems like every media question is, 'How great would it have been to have one more point and how did you deal with that this offseason?' “said Edwards, who lost the 2011 title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker. "This is nice to come here and show everyone that it isn't just talk. Everybody at Roush Fenway kept their heads down and dug for the best race cars we've had for a long time."

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It’s important for Edwards to start the 2012 campaign on a high note. He is coming off one of the best seasons of his career—19 top-five finishes, 26 top-10 finishes and an average starting position of 9.4.

Edwards must keep his performances as consistent as possible this season. I think he will, and it starts at the Daytona 500.

A victory at this prestigious event could really set him up well for the rest of the season. What better way to bounce back from a narrow, tie-breaking defeat than to win NASCAR’s most illustrious race?

Edwards will use his pole position to grab a victory in the first race of the season, setting him up perfectly for a great run in 2012.