UPS eyes Edwards or Truex
UPS currently sponsors Michael Waltrip Racing and the No. 44 Toyota driven by David Reutimann. MWR Vice President Cal Wells has said that UPS has had preliminary discussions with six teams about what cars and drivers they would have open for 2009 and "UPS is doing exactly what they should be doing. We either earn the business back or we won’t."
But to say that UPS has started negotiations with any team is not accurate, according to a company official.
“As of this date, UPS is not engaged in formal active sponsorship negotiations with any NASCAR Sprint Cup driver or race team," read the statement, attributed to UPS Director of Sponsorship & Events Ron Rogowski.
“As a proactive and responsible corporation, we have an obligation to maintain an ongoing process of measurement and evaluation of all sponsorships. We have an ongoing interest in understanding available opportunities, but that itself does not imply any change in current commitments."
05/04/08 AutoRacing1.com is also hearing that UPS may be getting close to doing a deal with Martin Truex Jr. and DEI or Penske Racing.
05/03/08 This rumor is upgraded to 'strong' today. Carl Edwards could be the next NASCAR star to drive "the Big, Brown Truck?" Edwards, who announced Friday that he had signed a three-year contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing, appears set to join with sponsor UPS beginning next season, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.
UPS is close to completing a deal to pair with Edwards on Roush's No. 99 Fords, although the company is still talking with other teams, multiple sources confirmed.
UPS has sponsored Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 44 Toyota since last season and been paired with veteran Dale Jarrett since the 2001 season.
Jarrett retired as a fulltime driver in the Sprint Cup Series following the March 16 race at Bristol, Tenn., but still plans to compete in the May 17 all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Asked about sponsor plans on Friday, team owner Jack Roush said Edwards' car definitely had one or more sponsors for next season, but declined to name them. ThatsRacin.com
05/02/08 As this rumor said below, expect Edwards to stay with Roush Fenway. That announcement was made today
04/22/08 Office Depot is in the midst of an exclusive 60-day negotiating period to extend its sponsorship of Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Ford, but industry sources say UPS is waiting in the wings to make a run at the hot Roush Fenway Racing driver.
Edwards, winner of a season-high three Sprint Cup races this season and one of the busiest spokesmen in NASCAR, is perhaps the sport’s most-wanted free agent. Like Dale Earnhardt Jr. a year ago, Edwards’ contract with his team is up at the end of this season and his next step could create ripples among potential sponsors. Most industry experts, however, expect him to stay at Roush Fenway.
Office Depot, meanwhile, is in the final year of its three-year deal with the team.
While any prospective driver and sponsor changes on the No. 99 car won’t create the shock waves felt when Earnhardt Jr. switched teams and sponsors last year, Edwards and Roush Fenway appear to be in position to push the first of many sponsor dominoes in the coming four to six weeks.
“We value our relationship with Carl, and we’re working to continue that relationship," said Mindy Kramer, spokeswoman for Office Depot.
Kramer would not comment on Office Depot’s negotiating window with Roush Fenway, but industry sources said that it expires in the next three weeks.
If Office Depot, which has used Edwards out front for its annual “Official Small Business of NASCAR" promotion, doesn’t have a deal done by mid-May, industry sources say UPS will pursue sponsorship of Edwards’ car.
UPS has been considering several options, from staying at Michael Waltrip Racing to Edwards to Jeff Burton’s No. 31, which is scheduled to lose AT&T as its primary sponsor at the end of this season, but sources said Edwards has emerged as the top option. More at Scenedaily.com