Edwards fails inspection after winning race

~ The driver moved up to third, but he could lose points and fall down the Chase standings.

DOVER, Del. -- Carl Edwards dodged the smoke, the skids and the wrecks to win his first Chase race in two seasons and vault five spots in the Chase for the championship standings.

He probably won't be able to avoid a NASCAR penalty.

The No. 99 Ford failed the postrace inspection because the right-rear fender was too low. NASCAR will likely fine him and dock points that will push him down the standings and negate some of the effort from his win Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Potson said there was no evidence of intentional tampering.

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Dodge Dealers 400 auto race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., on Sunday, Sept., 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Matthew S. Gunby)

"This is a height violation. It is not one where we believe the structure of the body has been manipulated," Potson said.

Edwards' lead late at Dover helped him avoid a massive wreck with 14 laps left that took out Chase contenders Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and a few other drivers in the 400-mile race on the concrete track.

Kurt Busch's car hit the wall on the straightaway and ricocheted back on the track and into Reed Sorenson. The big crash left Truex's crumpled car on the track while the race was red-flagged for nearly 12 minutes.

The cars can be repaired. The damage done in the points race in the pursuit for the Nextel Cup title might be too much to overcome for some of the drivers.

Edwards was about the only Chase driver left standing in the race that had 13 caution periods. He won for the third time this season and made a Monster Mile-sized pass in the standings, from eighth to third, pending the expected penalty.

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards back flips off his car as he celebrates winning the NASCAR Dodge Dealers 400 auto race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., on Sunday, Sept., 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)