One of the country's most historic cities played host to one of NASCAR's most notable drivers. Sprint Cup Series pilot Carl Edwards made a series of pit stops to three storied landmarks - the USS Constitution, Quincy Market and City Hall Plaza - in Boston, Mass., on Tuesday to help promote the July 17 New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Edwards, who boasts an impressive Sprint Cup Series career resume that includes 27 wins, 211 top-10s, with 120 top-fives, will return to New England in July, in search of his first ever win in Loudon. He will build off of the two poles he earned at the Magic Mile last year and intends to make his inaugural visit Sunoco Victory Lane as a Sprint Cup Series NHMS winner.
"There's something special about New Hampshire because you feel as though you're racing in front of racers - people who really understand and appreciate this sport," said Edwards, who has two wins this season and currently sits fourth in points. "We're close. We were strong in qualifying last season. Now we need to put it together. I have a good feeling we can get it done in July."
On Tuesday, Edwards boarded a water taxi and headed toward the Charlestown Navy Yard, where the USS Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides", is currently undergoing a three-year restoration in the shipyard's dry dock. Edwards visited with sailors, signed copper sheathing that will replace the old sheathing on the bottom of the ship, and took a tour of the 200-year-old naval frigate that was given its name by George Washington.
"This is so awesome. The history of this ship is just absolutely amazing and it's truly an honor to be here," Edwards said. "To think about where this ship has been and what it's been through over the years. Wow. What a privilege to have a chance to be on board and look around."
Edwards boarded a trolley at the shipyard and took off toward Quincy Market, where he visited with a throng of fans that awaited his arrival. Edwards answered questions from former Boston Bruin and current radio personality Lyndon Byers.
Edwards capped off his afternoon with a visit to the City Hall Plaza, where he made quite an entrance at the 34th annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl, a three-day charity ice cream event. The driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing got behind the wheel of the NHMS Show Car and surprised Scooper Bowl attendees by driving right up to the main stage, where he, along with Cheryl LaPrade, director of the New Hampshire chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, presented a check for $10,000 on behalf of SCC to the Dana Farber Pediatric Cancer Institute.
