Performer of the Month: Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards has finally ended Sebastian Vettel’s seemingly inexorable stint by claiming the Castrol EDGE Performer of the Month title for November.

Vettel had claimed the accolade for the past eight consecutive months as he stormed to the 2011 Formula 1 world championship.

That run finally came to an end in November, as NASCAR Sprint Cup frontrunner Carl Edwards broke through to top the monthly standings for the first time since the Performer of the Month title was introduced.

Edwards’ victory may have owed something to the fact there were only two F1 races, including the Abu Dhabi grand prix in which Vettel suffered his first retirement of the season on the opening lap.

While that may have been a factor, Edwards’ scintillating form in the final three Sprint Cup races of the year should also be acknowledged as the 32-year-old took three straight second place finishes.

That run was almost enough to give Edwards his first Sprint Cup crown, but he was matched blow for blow by Tony Stewart. The duo ended the year on the same number of points, with Stewart claiming the title by virtue of a superior win tally.

Stewart pushed Edwards all the way in the race for the November Performer of the Month title too, but this time Edwards emerged on top, just 12 points against his rival.

Mark Webber finished third, while Ford’s WRC star Jari-Matti Latvala secured fourth ahead of Vettel, who finished fifth in spite of his puncture on the Yas Marina circuit.

Ranking Year

Edwards’ racing career began at the age of 13 when he followed in his father’s footsteps by racing four-cylinder cars at several Midwestern tracks.

Success over the following years was followed by a move into a variety of other national series including the Capital Speedway Track Championship and the Pro-Modified division. Success was again plentiful.

Edwards won the Baby Grand division championship in 2002, and also met with success in the USAC series. It would be his seven NASCAR Camping World Truck outings, however, that would change his career forever, as they convinced team owner Jack Roush to sign Edwards up for 2003.

The move paid dividends, as Edwards captured three wins, one pole and 13 top five finishes in his rookie season, finishing eighth in the points standings.

Wins flowed again in 2004, and was Edwards was given the nod to move up to the Sprint Cup for the final 13 races of the year, recording a best finish of third at Atlanta.

Since that breakthrough Edwards has become a mainstay and a regular challenger in the Sprint Cup. He has finished twice, in 2008 and 2011, the latter of which he lost on wins count-back after finishing level on points with Tony Stewart. He would have won both titles had NASCAR not changed their points system in 2004.

At the same time he has continued to race in the Nationwide series, and was crowned champion in 2007 after taking four wins and nine podiums from the season.

In total the 32-year-old, who has stayed with Roush Fenway throughout his NASCAR career, has racked up 19 wins and 89 top fives in the Sprint Cup, and 37 victories in the Nationwide division.

Having missed out on a maiden Sprint Cup crown in such agonising fashion in 2011, Edwards will start 2012 as one of the pre-season favourites.