FORT WORTH, Texas -- Carl Edwards got the victory he desperately needed to earn a championship-contending spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, winning at Texas on Sunday night in a race shortened by 41 laps because of rain after the start was delayed nearly six hours.With his fourth career win at Texas, Edwards joined Jimmie Johnson as drivers locked into the championship-contending spots in Homestead.That leaves two spots up for grabs next Sunday at Phoenix.Edwards entered the second-to-last race before the Nov. 20 season finale eighth in points among the drivers still eligible for the championship.This is huge. I dont think its sunk in yet. Thats all we said was needed, just a shot, Edwards said. Now were going to go to Homestead, were going to do what we need to do. This was a great test. We came here and did what we needed to do, we performed, and I really believe we can do that at Homestead.The rain-shortened victory was certainly appropriate for Edwards after how his championship Chase ended last year.Last years race at Phoenix was delayed nearly seven hours as a series of storms passed through the area, and then once it started under the lights was called after 218 laps. Edwards finished fifth, leaving him five points out of the final spot for the Chase finale.Edwards three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are among the six other drivers still in contention this season, and clearly not all of them can advance.Light rain had already been falling, and plenty more was on the radar around the track, when the caution came out with 45 laps remaining of the originally scheduled 334-lap race.All the cars were brought to pit road four laps later, and it was only a few more minutes before NASCAR declared the race over and official after 293 laps. It could have taken two hours or more to dry to track.We were in a bad spot if we went green again, Edwards said. But the last run before it rained, I think we could have held off, Im not sure.Edwards had taken the lead on lap 258 late Sunday after beating Martin Truex Jr. off pit road, and led the rest of the way.It was Edwards first win at Texas in eight years. He swept the two Cup races there in 2008, the season he had nine wins overall and a career-best finish of second in points.Joey Logano, another Chase contender, finished second while leading a race-high 178 laps. Truex finished third and Chase Elliott fourth.Logano is third in season points, with Kyle Busch fourth. Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch are in the fifth through eighth spots. If one of those six drivers dont win Phoenix, the final two championship spots would be determined by points.Harvick got his track-record eighth win at Phoenix in March, and has won five of the last six races there.Weve done it I dont know how many times, Harvick said. Well just go there and do what we always do and race as hard as we can.Some other things from Texas:TRAILING AFTER GREEN: Polesitter Austin Dillon led only the races first six laps, but didnt lead a green-flag lap. He was passed by Logano for the lead on lap 7, the first lap after the green flag.BIG BOBBLEHEAD: The first 30,000 fans were given Tony Stewart bobbleheads commemorating the retiring Sprint Cup drivers final race at Texas. During driver introductions, track president Eddie Gossage presented Stewart with his own bobblehead -- a life-sized replica with an oversized head.HELD OUT: Matt DiBenedetto wasnt allowed to drive because of NASCARs concussion protocol. He was involved in a hard crash in the Xfinity Series race Saturday, and wasnt cleared by doctors to drive in the Cup race even though he said he felt perfect on Sunday.LOUD POP: A tire specialist for Richard Childress Racing was treated and released from the infield care center after a tire just taken off Paul Menards car popped while being checked behind the wall. Guillermo Celis Colombia Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. David Ospina Colombia Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/carlos-valderrama-colombia-jersey/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Frank Fabra Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Felipe Aguilar Colombia Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. HOUSTON -- The Chicago White Sox lamented their inability to make plays in crucial situations after losing three straight games by one run each to Houston. They finally found a way to capitalize when they had a chance to change the game Monday night and it led to a 4-2 win over the Astros. Dayan Viciedos bases-loaded triple in a four-run sixth inning helped the White Sox snap a four-game losing streak. They also avoided being swept in a four-game series for the first time since 2008. Chicago trailed 2-0 before Alejandro De Aza singled in the sixth and went to third on Adam Dunns two-out single. Paul Konerko pulled Chicago to 2-1 with an RBI single that went between the legs of starter Bud Norris and into centre field. Conor Gillaspie barely beat the throw to first on an infield single that loaded the bases. That brought up Viciedo, whose triple landed on Tals Hill in centre field just out of the reach of a diving Brandon Barnes. All three runners scored to put Chicago up 4-2. "It was a good one for Viciedo to get a hit," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Its just one of those that you hope gets him going a little bit because hes been missing out. And to finally get it, with him doing it, its good to see." It was the second straight game with a triple for Viciedo, making him the first White Sox player to do that since Mark Kotsay in August 2010. "Theres been some rough spots where things havent gone the right way," Viciedo said through a translator. "But I feel like theres some good things, too, and I want to work on the good things Im doing right now. I want to concentrate on those things and become more consistent." Nate Jones (3-4) allowed three hits in 1 1-3 scoreless innings for the win. He struck out three. Addison Reed pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save. White Sox starter Jose Quintana yielded five hits and two runs in 4 2-3 innings, but didnt factor in the decision for the fourth straight start. He has a no-decision in nine of his 14 starts this season. Jason Castro doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Astros, who had won four straight. Barnes had three hits. Norris (5-7) allowed eight hits and four runs over six innings in his third consecutive loss. "I was in a groove, and that sixth inning was very frustrating," he said. "Im still frustrated about it." It was a rare road win for the struggling White Sox, who have dropped 12 of their last 14 away from Chicago and 14 of 19 overall. The Astros had runners at the corners with no outs in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Barnes annd Jose Altuve.dddddddddddd. But Matt Thornton struck out Castro before Jesse Crain fanned J.D. Martinez and Chris Carter to end the inning. Carter struck out twice to give him 101 this season, which leads the majors. The Astros struck out 12 times in all to extend their total to a major league-high 673. Crain struck out three in 1 2-3 innings for his career-high 27th straight scoreless appearance to tie a franchise record for relievers. He was just happy to help the team end its skid. "We needed to turn things around," he said. "Obviously, weve been struggling and getting this one and avoiding the streak was big and hopefully we start a new win streak and win tomorrow." Ventura raved about Crain. "Its not just easy situations going in there mopping up," he said. "Hes been coming into some real tough situations and coming through for us. Its amazing what hes been doing. I think hes just been locked in, healthy and everything else." Altuve singled with one out in the first and scored on a double by Castro to make it 1-0. Quintana pitched a 1-2-3 second inning before getting into trouble in the third. Barnes singled to start the inning before stealing second base and advancing to third on an error by catcher Hector Gimenez with one out. Castros second double, which bounced off the wall in right field, sent Barnes home to extend the lead to 2-0. Castro has five RBIs, two doubles and two homers in the last three games. Norris looked good early. He allowed a double to Alex Rios with two outs in the first before retiring the next eight batters. Rios singled with one out in the fourth and stole second, but Norris set down the next two batters to end the threat. NOTES: Houston activated OF Justin Maxwell from the 15-day disabled list and optioned OF Jimmy Paredes to Triple-A Oklahoma City after the game. Maxwell, who has been out since April 24 with a broken left hand, will be in Tuesdays lineup. ... Chicagos Dylan Axelrod opposes Minnesotas Mike Pelfrey when the White Sox open a three-game series against the Twins on Tuesday. ... Jordan Lyles is scheduled to pitch for the Astros on Tuesday when they open a series with Milwaukee. Right-hander Alfredo Figaro is set to pitch for the Brewers. ... The Astros signed second-round draft pick RHP Andrew Thurman and four other picks on Monday. Thurman was at Minute Maid Park and worked out with the team before the game. Houston also signed 28th-round pick LHP Jordan Mills, 30th-round pick RHP Jorge Perez, 33rd-rounder 1B Tyler White and J.D. Osborne, who was selected in the 36th round. ' ' '