The way they've raced in the Chase, Edwards and Stewart likely will be running up front Sunday. Edwards, seeking his first Cup title, has led the Chase for the last six races. Stewart's four Chase wins tie Jimmie Johnson for most Chase races won in a year. In the last two races, Stewart has led the most laps.
Both drivers have had success at Homestead: Edwards has won two of the last three races at the South Florida track; Stewart swept the first two races at the track, in 1999 and 2000.
Making the event more special is that Edwards and Stewart respect each other and are enjoying the experience.
"There would be nothing better than coming down to the last lap, side by side, racing for the win," Edwards said after finishing second Sunday at Phoenix. "It's going to be fun."
Said Stewart: "It's fun. He's keeping me honest, I'm keeping him honest."
The drivers' crew chiefs will have a decisive role in Sunday's race. How Bob Osborne (Edwards) and Darian Grubb (Stewart) prepare their race cars, drivers and crews, plus their race strategy will affect the outcome. Neither Osborne, 38, nor Grubb, 36, has ever won a Cup title. As a sign of the modern times, both crew chiefs earned engineering degrees, Osborne from Penn State and Grubb from Virginia Tech.
Addressing how Edwards is handling the attention this week, Osborne said on a Tuesday conference call: "He's very calm. He's taken everything in stride. He's excited about the situation that we're in."
Except for a temporary transfer early in the 2006 season to Jamie McMurray's Roush Fenway team, Osborne has been with Edwards since 2005.
