NNS: Edwards wins the Great Clips 300 from pole position

Edwards celebrates with his traditional backflip.
Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

After starting from the pole position, Carl Edwards overcame a pit road penalty to win the Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After leading a race high 101 laps, Edwards earned his 35 career Nationwide series victory as well as his sixth victory and 19th top-10 of the season.


Taking the lead on lap 177 following the final restart, Edwards held an advantage over Busch for the win. 

“That was the hardest we could race out there,” Edwards said. “Kyle and I, Kevin, I raced Kasey—it was a lot of fun. This track is as good as it gets. This was a blast.”

The "excitement" of the race came from Turner Motorsports teammate Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier. The two made contact, Allgaier nose hit the rear quarterpanel of Sorenson's car, sending Sorenson into Trevor Bayne, ending the night for both Bayne and Sorenson. After the incident, Sorenson said: "I will tell you one thing: I will find him after the race, and it'll be between me and him - I promise you." Sorenson took a hit in the Nationwide standings, now trailing Stenhouse Jr, by -40 points. 

Race highlights and lowlights:

• Carl Edwards starts on pole
• lap 34- Jamie McMurray (driving the No. 7 JR Motorsports car) gets a flat tire and is forced to pit under green
• lap 43 – Eric McClure (No. 14) hits the wall in Turn 2 for the first caution, Carl Edwards receives a penalty for removing equipment from his pit stall, placing him at the end of the tail line
• lap 70 – Joe Nemechek (No, 87) hits the wall in Turn 2 for the 2nd caution
• lap 78 – Michael Annett (No. 62) spins through the infield but saves the car from any major damage
• lap 134 – Eric McClure again hits the wall in Turn 2 for the fourth caution
• lap 165 – Annett again spins in Turn 2 – saves it again.
• lap 171 – Teammates Justin Allgaier and Reed Sorenson touch in the rear quarter panel sending Sorenson into Bayne. Heavy damage for Sorenson and Bayne.

Race results:

1. Carl Edwards
2. Kyle Busch
3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Kasey Kahne
6. Justin Allgaier
7. Brad Keselowski
8. Aric Almirola
9. Jason Leffler
10. Elliott Sadler
11. Ryan Truex
12. Brian Scott
13. Steven Wallace
14. Jeremy Clements
15. Mike Bliss
16. Mike Wallace
17. Matt Carter
18. Joe Nemechek
19. Kenny Wallace
20. Michael Annett
21. Jamie McMurray
22. Josh Wise
23. Blake Koch
24. Derrike Cope
25. Morgan Shepherd
26. Robert Richardson Jr.
27. T J Bell
28. Eric McClure
29. Jennifer Jo Cobb
30. Kevin Lepage
31. John Jackson
32. Reed Sorenson
33. Trevor Bayne
34. Dennis Setzer
35. Clay Greenfield
36. Timmy Hill
37. Jeff Green
38. Scott Riggs
39. Tim Andrews
40. Chase Miller
41. Carl Long
42. Mark Green
43. Johnny Chapman