Edwards already signed by Gibbs?
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| Carl Edwards |
This rumor is downgraded to 'false' with today's announcement that Edwards will be back with Roush Racing.
08/03/11 According to AR1.com sources Carl Edwards to Joe Gibbs Racing is a done deal, but we do not believe Ford will let him go. they will do everything to keep him.
07/31/11 The current NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader, Carl Edwards, says the only contract he’s signed was his last one with Jack Roush three years ago.
Whether there’s a current contract or not, the latest scuttlebutt has Edwards driving the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012 for a staggering amount of money — $8 million as a base, plus a $10 million signing bonus.
When Kyle Busch was asked about Edwards’ possible move to Joe Gibbs Racing, he replied with a chuckle, “Eighteen million? He’s making a lot of money then." Another scribe suggested to Busch that he might want to renegotiate his contract.
“No kidding," Busch said. “I will. Good thing it’s up in two years. There’s no such thing as a $10 million signing bonus in this sport. Maybe football, but I’m not very good at football, so I wouldn’t get one."
Busch, who is currently fifth in the points standings and is tied with Kevin Harvick at a series season best of three wins, returned to his analysis of Edwards joining the Joe Gibbs fold. He’s encouraged that it would mean that JGR would be gaining a fourth team for the additional contribution it would bring to the organization.
“If Carl comes over to Gibbs I think it would be beneficial to the company because he’s really good at what he does," Busch said. “He has great communication. He’s got good feedback. He’s been one of the top three or four guys in the sport every year he’s been around — or at least every year Roush has had good stuff and has run competitively.
“I feel like Carl would certainly mesh well and fit in and we could have better results if we could make it a four-car team. I wouldn’t want to see Joey (Logano) go anywhere. I would hope we could work it where Carl is our fourth guy.". FOX Sports
07/31/11 Ford Racing has gone to what officials call unprecedented measures to help Roush Fenway Racing keep #99-Carl Edwards from going to the Toyota team of Joe Gibbs Racing. "We've helped out with an offer we have never done before for another driver,'' said Kevin Kennedy, the director of Ford Racing communication, before Saturday's qualifying for the Brickyard 400. "It was important enough for us that we were trying to make it unprecedented.'' Kennedy would not give specifics into what Ford has offered other than to say top executives in the organization have been closely involved with RFR in negotiations. "If he's around, it's something that will help him in terms of continuing to promote Ford products,'' Kennedy said of Edwards, who has become the face of Ford Racing.
"We've been in racing for 110 years and I don't think we've ever done this before.'' Steve Newmark, the president of RFR, acknowledged that Ford has gone above and beyond to help keep Edwards in the fold. Newmark added that the total package offered to this year's top free agent shows just how important officials believe he is to the future of the organization and manufacturer. "I hope everybody understands Roush Fenway is very intent on signing Carl,'' Newmark said.
"We understand he is trying to make a decision that is best for his future.'' Edwards declined on Friday to say whether he has made a decision amidst speculation he is headed for JGR to drive the #20 currently occupied by Joey Logano with Home Depot and Aflac as his sponsors. Newmark and Kennedy said Edwards has told them no decision has been made. Newmark added that no ultimatum or deadline for a decision will be made even though RFR wants it done sooner rather than later to prepare for next year. Sources said Edwards could earn more than $40 million over three years. Newmark said money hasn't been a major factor in RFR's negotiations.
Should Edwards leave, Newmark said the replacement likely would come from in house with developmental drivers Trevor Bayne or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He said no driver outside the organization has been contacted. ESPN
07/30/11 Carl Edwards is still refusing to discuss his current contract negotiations, even as rival driver Jeff Gordon insists the indecision will become a distraction to Edwards' championship chances. Edwards is the current Sprint Cup Series points leader heading into Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He's in the final year of his contract with Roush Fenway Racing and has declined to publicly discuss his negotiations. It's believed that he's being courted by Joe Gibbs Racing, and Gordon says if Edwards decides to leave Roush at the end of the year, it will ruin any chance he has at winning a championship this season. Edwards dismissed any notion of his contract talks becoming a distraction to his on-track performance.
07/18/11 According to AR1.com sources Edwards is almost definitely on his way to Joe Gibbs Racing to replace Joey Logano who simply has not performed in the Home Depot car. In fact we have not seen Logano's parents around the track much recently, so putting two and two together…….In addition, we hear we could see a swap of Crew Chiefs between the No. 18 and the No. 20 cars.
07/18/11 MikeMulhern.net rumors today that according to one unconfirmed report, an announcement by Carl Edwards about his 2012 plans could come next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The proposed deal would, according to sources, be the largest driver salary sponsorship ever in NASCAR, and the sponsor involved is indeed Home Depot.
Speculation about #99-Carl Edwards raged through in the NASCAR garage throughout the weekend, with unconfirmed reports that the stock car racing star – now back atop the Sprint Cup standings after Sunday's New Hampshire 301 – could definitely be heading to the Joe Gibbs Toyota operation next season and leaving Jack Roush's Ford operation. No one would say much at all on the record about the Edwards situation. However, it appears something is changing, or has changed. Just what, if anything, isn't clear. And yet still there was little more than more silence Sunday. No one involved was leaping into deny or confirm anything. Part of the speculation involves sponsorship possibilities. Edwards is considered one of the sport's most attractive drivers from a sponsor's viewpoint. And it is believed that part of the driving factor in the Edwards-Gibbs possibility could be Home Depot, the home improvement giant which has 'lost' five straight NASCAR championships to arch-rival Lowe's and #48-Jimmie Johnson. MikeMulhern.net