Carl Edwards to remain at Roush Fenway Racing

Carl Edwards to remain at Roush Fenway Racing

 (August 4, 2011)

 After protracted negotiations with his current team and with others—notably Joe Gibbs Racing—Carl Edwards has decided to re-sign with Roush Fenway Racing, Foxsports.com reported Thursday morning.

 Thanks to the collective efforts of RFR and Ford, Edwards, the NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader, has agreed to a lucrative multiyear deal that will keep him in the No. 99 Ford.

 Edwards has 19 Cup victories, including one this year in the third race of the season, at Las Vegas. In addition, Edwards has won 34 times in the Nationwide Series—fourth-most all time—and won the championship in that series in 2007.

 Since joining the Cup circuit full time in 2005, Edwards has qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in every season except 2006. In 2005, he and teammate Greg Biffle finished the season second and third to Tony Stewart in the Chase, each 35 points behind, with Biffle getting second place on a tiebreaker.

 Edwards’ best season was 2008, when he won nine races and finished second to Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 69 points back.

 Now that Edwards has decided to stay put, other notable drivers in contract years—among them Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, David Ragan and Brian Vickers—have a much clearer frame of reference against which to make their plans for next season.

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service