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Edwards claims win, but Ford taken for reviewwire reports
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.24.2007
DOVER, Del. — Hard hats would have been an appropriate fan giveaway Sunday at Dover International Speedway.
The Dodge Dealers 400 was a dangerous place to be for drivers in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
Even race winner Carl Edwards had to overcome early-race engine problems and avoid trouble from a record-setting 13 cautions before he could claim his third win of the season, which catapulted him to third place in the Chase standings and only three points behind leader Jeff Gordon.
Nearly everyone else in the Chase had serious problems aided by a wild set of circumstances that included a late-race, 12-car wreck involving Chase participants Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.
Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton avoided many of the on-track incidents, but none ran particularly well. On this day it wasn't necessary.
With the help of the mass of wrecked cars, Gordon's 11th-place finish was enough to hand him the points lead on his own for the first time since the 12 Chase drivers were reseeded based on wins.
Even the race didn't solidify Edwards' status in the Chase. His No. 99 Ford failed post-race inspection and NASCAR officials confiscated the car to verify measurements.
Greg Biffle's second-place finish — his best of the season —was aided by a decision to pit for tires during the race's 12th caution on Lap 387. On the new rubber, he was third with three laps remaining and moved into second with two to go.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third, Mark Martin fourth and Kyle Busch fifth.
Force injured in NHRA event
ENNIS, Texas — Peggy Llewellyn raced to her first NHRA national-event victory Sunday, topping the Pro Stock Motorcycle field at Texas Motorplex in the competition marred by a wreck that seriously injured Funny Car star John Force.
The 58-year-old Force was alert and conscious Sunday after sustaining serious injuries in a wreck with Kenny Bernstein during the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals.
Force broke his left ankle and left wrist and suffered a severe abrasion to his right knee, a team spokesman said. Force, a 14-time champion, was airlifted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, where doctors planned surgery Sunday night to clean up the abrasions and possibly set the broken bones.
The wreck occurred just after the two cars crossed the finish line in the second round of eliminations.
Llewellyn, based out of San Antonio, shared a somber winner's circle with new NHRA Powerade Series points leaders Larry Dixon and Tony Pedregon, in addition to Pro Stock star Dave Connolly, who collected his fourth consecutive NHRA trophy.
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