Mike Edwards has won races and he has won championships in Pro Stock.

But never before has he experienced a ride quite like what his 2013 season has turned into.

Edwards’ magical run continued on Sunday at the NHRA Toyota Summernationals in Englishtown, putting together one of the most impressive performances in a year filled with them.

Mike Edwards has won races and he has won championships in Pro Stock.

But never before has he experienced a ride quite like what his 2013 season has turned into.

Edwards’ magical run continued on Sunday at the NHRA Toyota Summernationals in Englishtown, putting together one of the most impressive performances in a year filled with them.

The extreme heat at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park did nothing to thwart
Edwards’ dominance, which was capped with a spectacular 6.589 at 210.21 mph blast over defending champ Allen Johnson in the finals.

“In 2009, we won the championship, but I tell you what, this is a great start. It’s the greatest start I’ve ever had since I’ve been racing,” Edwards said. “It’s been a phenomenal year.”

Edwards’ second career win at Englishtown extended his already huge points lead in Pro Stock, and it simply added to his incredible start.

Through nine races, Edwards has been the No. 1 qualifier eight times and became the first driver in the class to win three times in 2013.

Nobody could come close to matching his performance this weekend, including his terrific 6.545 at 210.73 mph qualifying time.

With heavy storms and tornadoes continuing to ravage Edwards’ native Oklahoma, the chance to perform so well in Englishtown gave him a temporary reprieve from what has been a difficult spring in the Tulsa area.

“The whole weekend was just phenomenal,” Edwards said. “We just ran well every run. We struggled a little bit second round, but we bounced back and made a nice run in the semifinals.

“Then I think we saved our best for last in the finals. It felt about as good as it gets.

The guys did a phenomenal job and you almost have to pinch yourself when you’re running like this. Hopefully we can just pick it up.”

Edwards had the quickest car in every session Sunday, which didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who watched him perform Friday and Saturday.

But Edwards continued to be on point in eliminations, going 6.588 at 210 mph in the first round. He went 6.613 and 6.608 to beat Roger Brogdon and Jason Line, respectively, setting up a marquee matchup with Johnson, who went 6.64 in the finals.

Edwards, though, stayed in the same lane the entire day, delivering one standout run after another.

“The track here was tricky, but we went down both lanes really well. But when you can go down the same lane four times in a row on Sunday, it’s definitely an advantage,” Edwards said. “That’s really been helping us a lot.”

Edwards has already proven he can maintain his hot streak, but he doesn’t want it to end any time soon.

Next up is Bristol, one of Edwards’ favorite tracks and the site of last year’s win against Johnson in the closest side-by-side race in Pro Stock history.

“I hope we can keep the momentum going and keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Edwards said. “Hopefully we can keep getting more of these.

All articles and photography published in CompetitionPlus.com are protected by United States of America and International copyright laws unless mentioned otherwise. The content on this website is intended for the private use of the reader and may not be published or reposted in any form without the prior written consent of CompetitionPlus.com.