BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) - Carl Edwards raced to his fourth NASCAR Nationwide victory of the year, passing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with less than 10 laps remaining Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
Edwards, the Sprint Cup points leader, had finished second in three straight Nationwide races since winning at Dover in May, but he was able to slip underneath Stenhouse and then cut in front of him before holding on to win by 1.669 seconds in the No. 60 Ford. It was his 33rd career Nationwide victory.
"With 15 to go, I didn't think we were going to be able to get him," Edwards said.
Edwards and Stenhouse gave Roush Fenway Racing a 1-2 finish.
Kyle Busch was third, followed by pole-sitter Paul Menard.
Edwards isn't eligible to earn Nationwide points. Reed Sorenson, the points leader entering the race, finished 11th following an early pass-through penalty for a commitment-line violation.
Stenhouse now leads the series standings. Elliott Sadler, eighth Saturday, is second. Sorenson dropped to third.
Mark Martin, seeking his 50th Nationwide win, was the leader coming out of the third and final caution on the 100th of 125 laps. Edwards and Busch quickly passed him, but Stenhouse moved to the lead not long after that.
Stenhouse led laps 104-116, but Edwards remained patient and denied Stenhouse what would have been his second win of the year.
"It was more work than I thought it would be," Edwards said. "I really had to drive hard. He is really getting good at this, and he's going to be tough."
After his victory, Edwards did his usual back flip, then went running into the stands to celebrate. He finished second in a Nationwide race at MIS last August and won one in 2008. He also has two Sprint Cup wins at this venue.
Brad Keselowski, who edged Edwards to win in Michigan last year, led for 11 laps, the most of anyone besides Edwards and Stenhouse. Keselowski, however, fell back after a pass-through penalty for an uncontrolled tire. He finished ninth.
