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Edwards looks to snap Kansas Speedway dry spell

By WTOP Staff

DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Carl Edwards boasts a stout resume at Kansas Speedway, reeling off the kind of finishes that keep him in contention at one of his favorite tracks.

Five top-fives. Nine top-10s.

But one big 0-fer.

“No victories, though,” Edwards said. “That’s the problem.”

Edwards has long considered Kansas his hometown track, at least in NASCAR, since it opened in 2001. Edwards hails about 140 miles east from the track in Columbia, Missouri — home of Shakespeare’s Pizza, The Blue Note and Rock Bridge State Park — but not a Sprint Cup champion. At least, not yet.

Edwards still has the rest of this season to chase a championship for Jack Roush and Roush Fenway Racing. But his future remains uncertain: Edwards and RFR teammate Greg Biffle are the top remaining free agents in the Sprint Cup Series and both could be on the move. Joe Gibbs Racing, which was turned down by Edwards when he re-signed with Roush in 2011, could be interested in making another run at him to expand to four cars next season.

Edwards, who starts fourth, refused Friday to discuss contract negotiations and his interest in JGR.

“At the end of the day, I am a Ford driver and drive for Jack Roush and that is my job,” he said.

Edwards is fifth in the points and already has a win this season, securing his spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Edwards called the mood at RFR “hopeful” that some solid finishes — outside of last week’s 30th at Talladega — will keep them in the hunt.

“I think if we continue on that path, we will have a shot at the championship and that is all we can do,” Edwards said.

Edwards and Emporia, Kansas, native Clint Bowyer are the sentimental picks to win at Kansas. Edwards is counting on plenty of friends and family to make the trip for Saturday night’s race.

“There are a lot of people in the grandstands and garage that if it weren’t for them, I definitely wouldn’t have this opportunity,” Edwards said. “For me, a win here would be a win for all those folks and validate or maybe in a way pay them back for how much they have done for me.

“This place is really special for that reason.”

Here are five things heading into the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway:

5-HOUR SUPPORT: 5-hour Energy President Scott Henderson blasted NASCAR’s integrity last season and had serious concerns that he could win in the sport in the wake of the Richmond scandal. But Henderson stuck with Michael Waltrip Racing and driver Bowyer, and 5-hour announced this week a three-year deal to extend its sponsorship of the No. 15 Toyota.

“Once we got to the end of the season, we were interested in putting a deal together,” Henderson said. “Once we got through the speed bumps, it wasn’t really a difficult decision.”

Henderson was less diplomatic last year at New Hampshire when he put NASCAR on blast: “When the guy who’s in charge can say, ‘I can do whatever I want and I’m going to do it and I just did,’ I wonder about integrity. I want to make sure we can win in this sport, OK?”

Henderson said 5-hour will remain a primary sponsor for 24 races a season over the course of Bowyer’s three-year deal with MWR. Henderson said 5-hour’s media exposure and retail support made it worth it for the energy drink company to stay connected with NASCAR. 5-hour is also the title sponsor for Saturday’s Sprint cup race at Kansas Speedway.

“Last year was probably a learning experience for everybody,” Henderson said.

BLANEY’S DEBUT: Ryan Blaney is set to make his Sprint Cup debut, driving the No. 12 SKF Ford Fusion for Team Penske. Blaney has a full-time ride in the Truck Series and was entered in Friday’s race at Kansas Speedway.

Blaney hoped he would be joined in the field by his father, Dave. Both Blaneys had to time their way into the field. Ryan Blaney will start 21st, but his dad failed to make the race.

KURT’S DOUBLE: Kurt Busch is gearing up his run at The Double. The 2004 Sprint Cup champion is attempting to become the fourth driver to complete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Both races are scheduled for May 25.

Busch passed Indy’s rookie orientation program and topped 220 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As he returns next week to Indy, Busch still has plenty to learn in the No. 26 Suretone Honda for Andretti Autosport.

“It’s been a good confidence builder all through the few days I’ve been in the car,” Busch said. “And Andretti Autosport had done a tremendous job in allowing me to roll as a rookie and to feel the comfort levels each time we go out in the car and not overstep anything that’s asked me to do too much as a newbie. The excitement is building up. It’s been great all this whole month.”

NIGHT RACING: Kansas Speedway is set for its first Sprint Cup night race Saturday. Kansas opened in 2001 and expanded to two races in 2011. Light towers were installed around the same time and the ARCA series was the first to run at night. Truck Series and Cup drivers were excited about the latest night race added to the schedule.

“I think night racing is great for our fan base,” six-time champion Jimmie Johnson said. “It’s tough for the teams and drivers because we are so used to a Sunday format. We sit around a lot in the morning. The crew goes to work and the drivers sit and wait and then it’s finally time to go. If the fans are smiling and hopefully they will show their support by coming out and tuning in Saturday night on television.”

DANCING DINGER: AJ Allmendinger wants to worm his way into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Allmendinger said he would do the worm across the stage if fans vote him into the non-points race. His first wish is to race his way into the race, but if not, he’s set to bust a move if fans get him into the field.

“We will have a good time with it,” he said.

Allmendinger said this could be the year the fans turn their attention to other drivers.

“They’ve got to be tired of voting for Danica (Patrick),” he said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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