Carl Edwards honored at state capitol

JEFFERSON CITY — Race car driver Carl Edwards, a Columbia native, was honored Monday by Missouri senators for his NASCAR championship.

Edwards brought his 2007 Busch Series trophy to the Capitol on Monday to pose for pictures and sign autographs for fans. He drew a standing ovation from senators who unanimously passed a resolution honoring his accomplishments.

Dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and tie, Edwards looked more like a lawmaker than a NASCAR driver. But he assured that he has no political ambitions.

“The biggest difference between racing and politics is racing is probably a little bit safer,” Edwards quipped.

Edwards finished 19th Sunday in the Daytona 500, a middle-of-the-pack finish he described as disappointing.