BUSCH

• Edwards wins at Phoenix, prevents Busch from clinching title

  
  

  Avondale, AZ (Sports Network) - Carl Edwards did all he had to do to postpone Kyle Busch's opportunity to clinch the Nationwide Series until next week by winning Saturday's Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

  Edwards led the most laps with 109 and easily beat second-place Kevin Harvick at the finish by 2.415 seconds to cut Busch's lead to 190 points.

  Busch was involved in an early-race crash when he got loose and made contact with Clint Bowyer. He spun around and tapped the wall, sustaining damage to the front and rear left panels of his car. Busch pitted several times during cautions for repairs and then knifed his way through the field to move up to the third spot with fewer than 40 laps to go. He experienced motor problems shortly after and faded from there to finish ninth.

  If Busch would have finished seventh or better, regardless of Edwards' performance, he would have captured the series title before next week's season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

  Edwards picked up his fifth victory of the season and the 25th of his Nationwide career.

  "I know Kyle has almost clinched the championship, but we came here to win the race," said Edwards, who also won the 2005 and 2008 fall events at Phoenix. "[Crew chief] Dan Stillman built a great team this year and Mike [Kelley] has taken over. This is a great way to get started. Before the year is over, it's good to get a win." Kelley took over as Edwards' crew chief, while Stillman moved over to Roush Fenway Racing's No.6 team earlier this month.

  Busch refused to comment after the 200-mile race concluded. All he needs to do is simply start at Homestead to win his first NASCAR national touring series championship.

  Reed Sorenson finished third, followed by Bowyer and Brad Keselowski.

  While Edwards avoided title elimination at Phoenix, the feud between Denny Hamlin, the pole sitter, and Keselowski erupted again when Keselowski bumped into Hamlin while the two were battling for a top-five position just after a restart on lap 157.

  "We just got into a pushing match," Keselowski said. "I don't really hold any grudges.

  I don't know why he wanted to do that. It's just the way racing is I guess." Hamlin, who finished 12th, saw things differently and promised retaliation at Homestead.

  "I'm just happy I signed up for next week's Nationwide race, and in turn, there's a lot of guys who owe him, and there's a lot of guys who have a lot of chips that they're going to cash in, and I'm going to be the first at pay window," Hamlin said.

  Hamlin and Keselowski have been involved in several on-track incidents in Nationwide competition throughout this season. Keselowski, currently third in points, will move up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2010, driving the No.12 car for Penske Racing.

  David Ragan finished sixth, followed by Matt Kenseth and Mike Bliss. Steve Wallace completed the top-10.

  11/14 20:05:25 ET