Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

A blown tire late in Sunday’s race almost certainly put Carl Edwards in a win-or-bust position for the next two races in the Round of 8 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Edwards was running ninth when the blown tire sent him hard into the outside wall on lap 358 of 500. Ultimately, Edwards finished 36th, 23 laps down and trails teammate Kyle Busch by 32 points for the final spot in the Championship 4 finale, set for Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The best medicine for the driver of the No. 19 Toyota would be a victory, either next Sunday at Texas or Nov. 13 at Phoenix. Otherwise, Edwards isn’t likely to have a shot at the series title at Homestead.

“We had a really good race going and sometimes that’s just what happens in racing. I think we had a top-three car. I was having a lot of fun, and now we just go to Texas and try to win there and Phoenix – we could win at either one of those race tracks.”