NASCAR Sprint Cup at Homestead: Notes from Qualification

Carl Edwards made one small step towards winning his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship during the qualifying run at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He grabbed his third pole of the season for the final race.

As an added bonus, Edwards wins $100,000 for winning the most poles in 2011. After clearing more than $8,000,000 in 2011, this is probably the furthest award from his mind right now.

His final opponent for the championship, Tony Stewart, did not perform as well. "Smoke" was only able to run 15th. Interestingly, Edwards' three other Roush Fenway Racing teammates all qualified ahead of Stewart.

Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle finished sixth and eighth, respectively. David Ragan qualified 13th and will begin the day with Tony Stewart right on his bumper.

Having three Fords ahead of him during the early parts of the race could prove a very difficult task for Stewart to overcome if they so choose to try to block or hinder Stewart from gaining ground on Edwards.

Side Notes:

As a "go-or-go-homer," Joe Nemechek qualified in every race in which he has attempted. He is the only driver in that status to do so in the Sprint Cup Series.

This is the first season during five-time champion Jimmie Johnson's entire career in which he failed to win a pole. He qualified ninth and will be starting next to Denny Hamlin when the green flag drops.

The Penske Dodge drivers, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski, qualified quite close at fourth and fifth. Busch is actually driving the same car that Brad Keselowski steered to a victory on a broken ankle at Pocono earlier this year.

In more random notes, A.J. Allmendinger has officially become an ordained minister (unknown denomination) and is slated to perform a wedding for a friend in the ensuing weeks following season's end.

Well, the field is set. The last men standing are poised. "The Cavalcade in Miami-Dade" is scheduled for 400 miles to be fought for the title. Let's get it on!