photo credit:  Nick Wass/The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After competing the past seven years for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series, all while running a full Cup Series schedule, Carl Edwards has decided not to run any Nationwide races in 2012.

"The way we're approaching this season is, I'm not committing to any races right now," Edwards said. "And as the season goes, if I decide I'm just a nervous ball of energy on Saturdays and I can't function without going and racing -- because that might be the case -- then we'll work to try to go [Nationwide] racing."

“
I'm hoping this lets me focus more on the Cup car, lets me be a better Cup racer by maybe having more time during the race weekend to maybe hone the setups in.
”
-- CARL EDWARDS

Edwards' most ardent racing goal of winning two championships in the same season was blunted on two fronts last season. First, NASCAR issued a rule limiting drivers to racing for only one national series championship in any season.

"Once they said we could not run for the championship, I had already committed and Roush and the sponsors had already committed to running the full season," Edwards said, "so we stuck with it and we did it. But to me, that was really, in my mind, my last real go at it for the whole season."

Edwards' hopes for the Sprint Cup championship ended when Tony Stewart won five of 10 Chase races in 2011. He and Edwards were tied in points following the Ford 400 finale, but Stewart won the championship via the tiebreaker.

Edwards did have the consolation prize of earning the 2011 Nationwide Series owners' championship for RFR, but says he's compelled to do more in 2012.

"I'm hoping this lets me focus more on the Cup car," Edwards said, "lets me be a better Cup racer by maybe having more time during the race weekend to maybe hone the setups in.

"I don't know how it will actually affect our performance but I do know my calendar is a lot more open and I'm able to breathe a little more. And I know my family and everyone will really appreciate that [my schedule is less hectic on Fridays and Saturdays]."

Edwards said there are circumstances that might cause him to reconsider -- although it might take nearly a third of either season for that to occur.

"Truly I learned so many things in that Nationwide car that it's a real toss up whether or not it'll help the [Cup] performance on Sunday," Edwards said. "I've made some big mistakes on Saturday that helped me not to make them on Sunday.

"We could get 10 races in [to the season] and I could say 'Hey, I'm better off racing on Saturdays.' Then, it would be on me to go look for some way to put something together so that we could go race." - BY DAVE RODMAN - www.NASCAR.com

01 Mike Wallace, St. Louis, Mo. Johnny Davis/Lori Morgan TBA Chevrolet Brad Parrott

compiled from NASCAR Media

No. Driver/Hometown Owner Sponsor Car Crew Chief

Wondering Which Drivers Chose To Race For The 2011 Nationwide Series Title? Here You Go!

Justin Allgaier                             25 Charles Lewandoski

2

 NATIONWIDE STANDINGS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

NASCAR officials made a pair of changes to the cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. The sanctioning body is attempting to slow the cars, which topped 200 mph in both practice sessions.

Between the first and second practice, NASCAR reduced the size of the tapered spacers, which limit air flow to the carburetors and therefore slow the cars, with the alteration going into effect for the second session. 

In that, teams went even faster with Tony Stewart leading the field with a lap of 202.238 mph and Brad Keselowski following at 202.234 mph. Aric Almirola and Dale Earnhardt Jr. also topped 200 mph in the session.

The tapered spacer will be up to 1 1/16th of an inch. A restrictor plate will also be added to the cars between the spacer and the carburetor. That plate, which can be 61/64ths of an inch, will further disrupt the air flow to the carburetor and should slow the cars. The change will be in place in time for Thursday's practice sessions.

“We didn’t have a test like the Cup teams had, so we’re allowing the teams to make changes during today’s practices,” Nationwide Series director Joe Balash said after the first change. "(The 200.303 mph) was not really the number we’re looking for.”

Danny Lawrence, of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, said NASCAR is shooting to slow the cars to around 195 mph. Nine teams were faster than 196 mph in Wednesday's final session. - by lee spencer - www.foxsports.com