QUICK TURNAROUND; WITH A CARL EDWARDS WIN, KYLE BUSCH LOOKS BEATABLE.(News)

Byline: AL PEARCE

Only a month ago, Kyle Busch had a hammerlock on this year's Sprint Cup. He entered the dog days of August with four poles, seven wins and six other top-10s in 20 starts. He held a 253-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr. and was virtually assured of being seeded No. 1 in the 12-driver, 10-race Chase for the Championship. The Cup, as folks often say about such things, was his to lose.

Now, on the cusp of September, he may be doing just that. When Carl Edwards knocked Busch aside to win the Sharpie 500 at Bristola race Busch had almost cavalierly led for 415 consecutive lapsyou could almost feel the season change. After being top dog all year, Busch was suddenly challenged, and found wanting, as the "regular season moved toward the Chase. Without much hype or hoopla and with the unabashed support of his fans, Edwards might have peaked at the right time.

"I don't believe in momentum, but you people do, so yes, it's good to have it on our side, the Roush Fenway Racing driver told the media after winning the Bristol pole. "Momentum doesn't really exist, but even if I don't believe in it, it sounds good. It's especially great for morale with the crew. In this sport, you're either fast when you unload off the truck, or you're not. The reason we're running well is that everybody's been working hard for a long time. I don't think it has to do with just the last few weeks.

Yet those last few weeks have reconfirmed that Edwards is a worthy Cup contender. Just in time, too, since former champions Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch (not to ...