Edwards wins in Memphis

Cup star pushing for Nationwide title

Carl Edwards held off David Reutimann to win the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 on Saturday, keeping alive his hopes for a second straight NASCAR Nationwide Series title.

Edwards, who missed qualifying at Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, Tenn., because of practice for today's Sprint Cup Race in Atlanta, started 34th in his No. 60 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford, but he gained ground quickly after making an early stop for fresh tires.

He took the lead from Mike Bliss on Lap 69 and never trailed after that, taking his fifth Nationwide Series victory of the season and 18th of his career.

Edwards pulled to 116 points behind series leader Clint Bowyer, who finished 16th. There are three races remaining on the schedule.

"Any time you can gain 80 points on that team, you're doing something," Edwards said. "But obviously we've got to think about winning the next three races."

Kenny Wallace finished third, his best series finish since 2005 and the best finish ever for team owner Jay Robinson. He was followed by Austin Dillon, grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. Dillon was making his second Nationwide start.

Joey Logano finished fifth and Chase Miller sixth, the only other drivers on the lead lap.

Earlier in the day, 18-year-old James Buescher, in his sixth career series start, grabbed the pole with a lap of 117.591 mph in his Toyota. He is the third-youngest polesitter in series history (18 years, 214 days), behind only Casey Atwood and Logano. He finished 19th in the race.

ALSO SATURDAY

CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES: Ryan Newman passed Ron Hornaday in Turn 2 on the last lap at Atlanta Motor Speedway to win in his first series start.

Newman and Hornaday, both driving for Kevin Harvick Inc., traded the lead twice in the final eight laps of the race at Hampton, Ga. The two raced side-by-side for a lap, with Hornaday coming out front on the next-to-last lap.

Newman then grabbed it back and Hornaday, locked in a battle for the series points championship, couldn't afford to push the issue.

Hornaday, who started the race 65 points behind Johnny Benson by, trimmed the gap to 31 with three races to go.