A little over a year ago, Mike Edwards was questioning his existence in Pro Stock competition. The former sportsman world champion was at his wit’s end with the rough and tumble world of NHRA Pro Stock.

This frustration led to a serious heart-to-heart with team owner Roger Stull regarding their existence. A man of faith, Edwards supported Stull in his decision to make the leap of faith into developing an engine program.

“It’s unbelievable,” Edwards said. “Roger made the commitment last September in Indy, to do this one time the right way and see how far it takes us. I never dreamed I would be standing here this early in the season. That car has two races on it. To come here and run the way we ran today; we ran good. We ran good in both lanes. A little over a year ago, Mike Edwards was questioning his existence in Pro Stock competition. The

former sportsman world champion was at his wit’s end with the rough and tumble world of NHRA Pro Stock.

This frustration led to a serious heart-to-heart with team owner Roger Stull regarding their existence. A man of faith, Edwards supported Stull in his decision to make the leap of faith into developing an engine program.

“It’s unbelievable,” Edwards said. “Roger made the commitment last September in Indy, to do this one time the right way and see how far it takes us. I never dreamed I would be standing here this early in the season. That car has two races on it. To come here and run the way we ran today; we ran good. We ran good in both lanes.

“This might be my most “best feeling” win I have ever had because it's ours. It's all ours. It's our engine program; Nick and Paul at the engine shop. Terry Adams came on board this year. Josh Robertson, Alan Lindsey, John Phillips, the whole team worked so hard and put in such a great effort. I am so proud of them. I am just so fortunate to have the opportunity to drive this thing.”

Even Edwards couldn’t have anticipated this kind of success so early in the program.

“No way,” Edwards said. “No way. When we started this we were going to sit down later and see if we were going forward or were we going backwards. Right now it would be really easy to go backwards. I hope we can keep going forward. It's tough to get a win but hopefully we can keep this momentum going. All it takes is hard work.”
Edwards became NHRA Pro Stock’s 600th winner by defeating Jason Line in the final round at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga. Not only did he run strong, but he left the starting line in rapid fashion with a .009 reaction time.

He joined four other "milestone" Pro Stock race winners including the winner of race No. 500, three-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson in the Summit Racing Pontiac; race No. 400 winner, ACDelco Chevy driver Kurt Johnson; and the winner of race No. 300, Jim Yates, driver of the WileyX Pontiac GXP.  And the man who won the very first Pro Stock race 38 years ago was Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, legendary racer, engine builder and continuing motorsports innovator, more times than not in conjunction with Team Chevrolet.  Jenkins was voted No. 8 on NHRA's all-time driver list, and this past Thursday his racing exploits were recognized in the form of induction into the prestigious International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala.       

"That's kind of cool to win the 600th race," Edwards said.  "Anytime you can win one of these races against these guys it's an unbelievable feeling.  That's pretty good company.”

The experience was overwhelming for Edwards, who was close to tears in the post-race press conference.

“You can't describe the feeling of winning one of these races in this class. It’s so hard, so competitive. It's so tough. There are so many good teams. I tried and tried and tried. It's been 2006 since I've won and I was wondering if I was ever going to do it again to be honest.

“I tell you what; it's just an unbelievable feeling to win one of these races. When you have to race these guys like the Summit team, the Jegs team; they are the guys who have set the bar for us all. To come away with the win is amazing.

“I am so thankful for my team. First of all, I am so thankful for God. This win is for him and I give him all the glory. And, for all those Penhall employees and Penhall customers and all those Young Life kids that came out Thursday night. I am sending four more kids to camp this year. And, thanks to all of those who support Young Life. I tell you what, I am truly blessed.”

HONORING THE AGES – Pro Stock celebrated its 600th event this weekend in Atlanta. In attendance was the winner of the

first, 200th (Bob Glidden), 300th (Jim Yates), 400th (Kurt Johnson) and 500th (Greg Anderson). The late Lee Shepherd was the winner of the 100th.

Bill Jenkins, who was the winner of the first Pro Stock event, was asked whether he felt the Pro Stock division would have progressed to the current level.

“I knew the class would only get better,” Jenkins said. “I expected it.”