Edwards wins at Fontana on a sunny California day
By The Associated Press
February 25, 2008
03:44 PM EST

FONTANA, Calif. -- Carl Edwards won the rain-delayed Auto Club 500 on Monday, charging past defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson with 13 laps remaining.

Johnson, winner of the past two Cup titles, came out of the final pit stop in the lead with 26 laps left. But Edwards came from third to capture the eighth victory of his career.

Edwards showed good form on his traditional victory backflip in front of the main grandstand after taking the checkered flag in a race that ended under caution when Dale Jarrett spun on the final lap.

Edwards had it all but wrapped up at that point, driving his Roush Fenway Racing No. 99 Ford to a lead of more than four seconds over Johnson.

Jeff Gordon, who dominated Sunday's racing, was third. He was followed by Kyle Busch and Roush's Matt Kenseth, who had won the two previous February races at this track.

About 25,000 fans, far short of the approximate 120,000 capacity, showed up on Monday, with the sun peeking out from high clouds and temperatures moving into the high 60s.