NASCAR Sprint Cup: Notes from a Pseudo Qualification at Martinsville

Fate, perhaps the racing gods and more than a pinch of good luck have smiled upon current points leader Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing. Due to bad weather and a tight window through which to work, NASCAR was forced to cancel driver qualification for the seventh race of the Chase at Martinsville Speedway.

The field was determined by points standing alone; therefore, as the current points leader, Carl Edwards is also the current pole sitter, by default. Even better for team owner Jack Roush is the fact that another one his stable of drivers, Matt Kenseth, will sit second due to his points standing. Thus, Roush Fenway Racing has swept the pole at the "paperclip" without burning a tire or an ounce of fuel.

Carl Edwards should, and most likely does, feel thankful and lucky. He does not have a particularly good resume at Martinsville. Nor, for that matter, does Matt Kenseth.

Apparently, Carl Edwards is so bad there that he has earned a nickname in the garage specifically when at this track: "Curby." This refers to the four-inch high curb on the inside of the track. It also refers to Edwards' ability, or lack thereof, to run over it and constantly slow himself down.

On that note, the inside curb has been painted pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as opposed to its customary yellow.

Speed TV Reporter Hermie Sadler, covering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, will have to make a quick turnaround because he has been slated to replace Andy Lally. Look for him in the No. 71 Home Smart Ford. He did this once before during the season and finished a respectable 33rd place after essentially no real preparation at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The skies appear to be clearing both literally in the context of the weather and figuratively for Carl Edwards' hopes to win his first Sprint Cup championship...