Analysis: Ford, Roush weren’t about to let Edwards get away

Analysis: Ford, Roush weren’t about to let Edwards get away

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(August 4, 2011)

 

With Ford Motor Company, invariably there’s still talk about the ones that got away.

 

In the early 1990s, Ford lost Jeff Gordon to Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. In 2004, Ford lost Kasey Kahne to Ray Evernham’s start-up Dodge team, and not even a breach-of-contract lawsuit could keep Kahne in the blue oval camp.

 

On the verge of losing yet another marquee Sprint Cup driver, Ford and Roush Fenway Racing made Carl Edwards an offer he couldn’t refuse. As a result, Edwards disappointed Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, which had come to the table with huge money to try to lure Edwards away from the No. 99 Aflac Ford.

 

Roush and Ford reportedly combined to match or slightly exceed the JGR offer, speculated to have been in the $18 million range (including a $10 million signing bonus). That took money out of the equation and moved the crux of Edwards’ decision to other factors.

 

An announcement of a move to Gibbs almost certainly would have jeopardized Edwards’ hopes for a Cup title this year. Even though Edwards has an 11-point lead over second-place Jimmie Johnson right now, lame ducks don’t win Cup championships. Gordon said as much last weekend before the Brickyard 400.

 

With Edwards’ protracted and presumably difficult choice, a lifer with Ford stays with Ford. Nothing against Toyota, but, under the circumstances, that seems to be the most sensible choice Edwards could have made.