Cup chase tightens
Edwards edges Busch for victory
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BROOKLYN, Mich. - Carl Edwards sent a not-so-subtle message to Kyle Busch yesterday at Michigan International Speedway.
"We're winning races," Edwards said after pulling away from runner-up Busch for his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup victory of the season. "We're gearing up for the Chase. I'm feeling stronger than ever. We're here to win championships. That's what we're shooting for."
With just three races remaining until the start of the 10-race Chase for the Cup, Edwards closed the gap on series leader Busch with his second victory in the last three races. While Busch has had a great season, Edwards has kept him in sight.
When the 12-man Chase begins next month at Loudon, N.H., all of the eligible drivers will be seeded, with 10 bonus points added to their base total of 5,000 for each victory. Edwards lost one 10-point bonus because of a penalty early in the season, but would still be just 40 points behind Busch if the Chase began next week.
"The greatest part is we didn't give up more bonus points to Kyle," Edwards said. "He's just so strong. Every time I win and he finishes second that's really a 20-point spread for us. That's what we have to keep doing, is to try and win the next three events and go into this Chase on even ground."
Busch knows he has a battle on his hands. "Carl's right there," the youngster said. "He has been all year. Yeah, it's a 20-point swing. We've got to live with it. Hopefully, we can make it up someplace else."
Busch was just ahead of Edwards when they pitted under caution on Lap 180 of the 200-lap event, but Edwards won the race out of the pits.
David Ragan and June Michigan winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had stayed on track and were running 1-2, but Edwards easily passed them on the restart on Lap 183 to retake the lead, then held off Busch on two more restarts, including the final one with two laps to go.
Joe Gibbs Racing teams in the Nationwide Series will likely face big penalties after efforts to alter the results of a chassis dyno test.
NASCAR inspectors, preparing to do tests on horsepower numbers following Saturday's Nationwide race, found magnets under the gas pedals on the two Gibbs Toyotas, driven by Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, said officials will meet today and Tuesday to determine what penalties will be handed out.
J.D. Gibbs, son of owner Joe Gibbs and president of the team, said JGR takes full responsibility for the actions of its employees.
"Let me just say that, first and foremost, that that was a really poor, foolish decision on the part of our key guys there at JGR," Gibbs said. "I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to 
