Cleared to walk unaided for the first time since breaking two bones in his right foot playing frisbee on 2 September, Carl Edwards didn't bring his crutches to California.

"It feels great to be off them," he said, having qualified eleventh for Sunday's race at Fontana, "I'm not in the clear yet but, as long as I don't mess this thing up, I'm good. I'm allowed to walk on my heel, so that's good."

Asked what he might do with the used crutches, Edwards said he would 'break them over my knee'.

"I actually left the crutches, I didn't even bring them," he revealed, "I meant to bring them but I left them, and I panicked this morning. I said 'man, I don't even have them', but I remembered that NASCAR'S medical folks have a set they've been carrying around for me in case I wrecked, so I don't have to stand there on one foot - I can at least crutch to the ambulance.

"So, no, I don't have them. I'm committed."

by Reid Spencer / Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service