Edwards to stay with Roush Fenway
Roush Fenway Racing announced on Thursday morning that Carl Edwards has re-signed with the organization. The contract extension is a multi-year agreement that will start with the 2012 season.
“Carl Edwards has achieved a level of success on and off-track that would put him at the top of the list for any race team,” car owner Jack Roush said. “Carl and the No. 99 team are having a terrific season again this year, and we’re thrilled that our relationship will continue for many more.
Details, including the length of the contract, were not released.
With the contract negotiations completed, Edwards shifts his attention on making his 250th-career start in the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, when that circuit heads to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
Edwards has been with RFR since 2003. He began with the organization from behind the wheel of a No. 99 entry in the NASCAR Camping World (then-Craftsman) Truck Series. He has since competed in all-three of NASCAR’s national series -- Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup -- for Roush Fenway, the last several years competing full-time in both Nationwide and Sprint Cup.
“We saw great potential in Carl a decade ago, and it’s been a thrill to watch him grow into one of the sport’s premier drivers behind the wheel of the No. 99 (Sprint Cup car),” Roush said. “We didn’t take our past success for granted when we sat down with Carl to talk about his future. As an organization, we approach each week with an intense focus on being successful in the race to come. Carl’s position atop the points is a testament to that diligence.”
Edwards currently occupies the top spot in the Sprint Cup Series championship points standings. Due to NASCAR’s new ruling that allows drivers to compete for a championship in only one of its series, he is not competing for the Nationwide Series title this year.
Because of that rule and the expansion of Edwards’ family in recent years, the driver announced a few weeks ago that 2011 would be his final season of racing full-time in both the Cup and Nationwide series. Beginning in 2012, Edwards plans to focus primarily on full-time Sprint Cup competition while running part-time in Nationwide Series companion events.
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Photo of Carl Edwards courtesy of NASCAR Media.
