Carl Edwards has been the hottest thing on the NASCAR tour this spring, so hot and cool that he found time off last week to do some publicity work in San Francisco for the June tour stop at Infineon Raceway.
That's another track that's not really been one of Edwards' best, but when it's your season it's your season, and this is shaping up as aCarl Edwards season.
Edwards' PR gig at Sonoma was a "physical test," of sorts -- grape-stomping and bike riding. He's a fitness buff, to put it mildly.
"For me physical fitness and trying to lead a fit, healthy lifestyle is a really big part of my life, and it's helped me a in a lot of ways," Edwards said.
"As a race driver you don't have to be really fit, where if you're a triathlete you're going to find out who's really fit. I swim like a rock, so I can't imagine that part.
"Being fit helps you in general with your life. And we're at the point now in NASCAR racing that one-half or one-tenth of a second per lap can make a difference. So if at the end of four hours you're feeling a little better, you can get a little more out of the car."
Edwards doesn't just work out, he works out with special trainers, from the Carmichael Training System (there's one center in Asheville). And he says the regimen is not just about pumping iron or doing cardio, but thinking about health:
"I want to make sure the things I eat and the activities I do are benefiting me, that they're not detrimental," he said. "Every time you pick up something to eat, you think ‘Is this going to make me stronger?'
"Mark Martin was my inspiration to start training and getting in shape. Initially I didn't think racing was ever something you'd train for. But I saw Mark and a story he did when I was 17 or 18 years old, and it showed me that a guy like that could maybe stay faster later in his career.
"I partnered up with Carmichael, and they help me figure out exactly how to work out at different parts of the year. I do lots of cardio, lifting weights, just trying in general to be as prepared as I can.
"I try not to talk about the specifics too much, because I don't want anyone to know exactly what I do. But the thing is to be as healthy as you can. If you have an injury, you heal faster. If it's hot, you don't get tired as quickly."
Edwards says that he sees more and more drivers in the gym in the infield every year.
And does he practice those back-flips?
"The back-flip is actually pretty easy to do," Edwards insists. "That usually has to do with the 100,000 people cheering. You'd be amazed what you can do when you have that many people cheering for you.
"Starting on the door sill helps, too. Everybody thinks it's difficult, but starting from that height, it's pretty easy to do. Doing the back flip is the easiest part of winning.
"Eventually I'm sure I'll fall down, and it'll be a big hit for everyone."
At Sonoma this week Edwards was "matched" against some area kids, in what was a nice photo op.
"When I was these guys' age, I used to make fun of people who worked out," Edwards said. "I thought it was kind of silly. So to see kids like these taking it seriously and having a lot of fun with it, it's really cool."
Edwards has been a ball of fire this season, from California to Las Vegas to Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth.
"I'm doing the best I can, and our car has been great -- that's a really important part," he said. "I don't want to question it too much, but if I could bottle this up, I would.
"We're having fun, and that's the most important thing."
A blown engine at Atlanta, while running away with things, and a 100-point penalty at Las Vegas, have slowed Edwards, but not much.
"The thing about this series, and the way the season breaks up, is that as long as you can make it into the Chase (by September), there's no reason not to take chances," Edwards said.
"We're not quite at that point yet -- if we didn't have the penalty and didn't have the engine problem at Atlanta, we'd be in a really good spot, we could just go for broke.
"But I'm holding back a little bit. I feel we've got a championship team, and I want to make it to the Chase."
And Edwards is cruising a bit while he awaits the return of crew chief Bob Osborne, on suspension for the incident at Las Vegas.
"That will be nice to get Bob back. It's amazing the little nuances of that relationship I didn't really value but now I do. I didn't really realize what value it had until it's gone."
He'll need Osborne to help him figure out NASCAR's new car as the season progresses.
"There's a lot of chance for change and innovation … and that's going to be the story of the year. Whoever times it right is going to be the champion," Edwards said.
"Right now I love the (new car). I'm writing thank-you notes to NASCAR for developing it. I definitely didn't feel that way at first; I was embarrassed in our first few races because we were terrible.
"From the driver's seat, you have to be a lot more precise with the new car. You have to drive it a lot more precisely; the car won't carry you as much.
"Kyle Busch said it best: that when he steps out of the car he feels like he went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. That's a pretty good analysis. It's a pretty demanding car to drive."
■ Mike Mulhern can be reached at
mmulhern@wsjournal.com
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