Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Truck racer will try cross-country weekend

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Carl Edwards plans to compete in Saturday's Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at LVMS as well as Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race in Dover, Del., the driver said Monday.

Edwards, who took over for Jeff Burton last month in the No. 99 Ford for Roush Racing in the Cup Series, is continuing to compete in the Truck Series because he still is in contention for the championship. With seven races remaining, Edwards is third in the NCTS standings, 39 points behind front-runner Bobby Hamilton.

"So far, the transition has been really simple but starting with this race, it gets complicated," Edwards said of racing in two series simultaneously. "The Cup race is in Dover, Del., while the trucks are in Las Vegas. I will qualify on Friday in Dover, fly to Vegas for the race, and then leave immediately following the race to fly back to Dover."

In five Cup races since taking over for Burton, Edwards has posted three top-10 finishes, including back-to-back sixth-place efforts at California Speedway and Richmond International International Raceway earlier this month. Edwards also has finishes of 10th, 33rd and 20th.

"I didn't think it would be easy and it really hasn't been," Edwards said of the move to the Nextel Cup Series. "The guys in the Cup cars race a lot and they're very good. The guys that are veterans in the Truck Series have raced in the Cup Series as well, so I'm used to the competition and intensity.

"Everyone has the experience but the Cup guys are hard to beat. I'm the new guy and I really have to hustle."

On Thursday, all 18 Champ Car drivers -- including Las Vegas residents Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Patrick Carpentier and Alex Tagliani -- will be signing autographs from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the ESPN Zone at the New York-New York hotel-casino.

On Friday, many of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers will be appearing from 7 to 8 p.m. at the NASCAR Street Party on the Third Street Promenade in downtown Las Vegas and will be signing autographs. The Street Party also will feature live bands, show cars, interactive games, contests and food and souvenir vendors.

Champ Car drivers will not be available at the Street Party because they will be qualifying Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and practicing from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the speedway.

"One of the unique qualities that motor sports possesses over many other sports is the drivers' willingness to make themselves available to the fans," LVMS general manager Chris Powell said. "These events really enhance the festive atmosphere surrounding this doubleheader and help build even more excitement for both races."

Among the local drivers competing in the Champ Car race, Tracy is listed at 7-2 to win, Carpentier is 9-2, Tagliani is 8-1 and Vasser is 12-1.

The race was red-flagged for rain on lap 68 (of 200) Saturday night and was resumed Sunday. Lynch, who qualified fourth, was running third behind race leader Mike Duncan and second-place Austin Cameron when the two crashed on lap 119. Lynch inherited the lead stayed out front the rest of the way for his first West Series victory of the season.

Lynch, the reigning West Series champion, remained sixth in the series standings, 225 points behind Duncan.

Other 2004 track champions are Doug Hamm (Late Models), Fred Kiser Jr. (Chargers), Dustin Ash (Semi-Pro Legends), Taylor Barton (Pro Legends), Dennis Lovelady (Master Legends), Dave Green (Thunder Roadsters), Jeremiah Wagner (Bandolero Cars) and Mike Heck (Bullring Bombers).