Carl Edwards will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start number 200 in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 Saturday at the Phoenix International Raceway.

“It is pretty unbelievable that it’s my 200th start,” said Edwards. “I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to race these cars. Like most racers I just dreamed about being able to compete at the level I’m racing at and win.

Edwards has recorded 16 wins, 61 top-five, 102 top-10 finishes and four poles thus far in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.

“There’s no better place for me to have a milestone start like this than at Phoenix," expressed Edwards. "That is where I ran my first-ever pavement race in 2001.  That was a big day for me, so to think almost 10 years have passed since I pulled my little trailer in with all my hopes and dreams, and set up my tent down in turn one to work on my USAC Silver Crown car. Almost all that stuff has come true, although we still need to win a Cup championship.  But 200 starts and a bunch of wins is a good start.  That will be fun to strap in the car on Saturday and think about all that.”

The Missouri native made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in August, 2004 at the Michigan International Speedway, starting 23rd and finishing 10th.

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