Stayin' put
Edwards thrilled with multiyear Roush Fenway deal
By RICK MINTER Cox News Service
When it comes to driver-contract negotiations, Carl Edwards appears to be a breeze to deal with.

NASCAR Carl Edwards (right), driver of the Roush Fenway No. 99 Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane with team owner Jack Roush after winning the Sprint Cup Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 25 in Fontana, Calif. Edwards, who has won three Cup races in 2008, recently signed a multiyear contract extension.

He announced last week that he has resigned with Roush Fenway Racing for a multiyear deal that will keep him driving the No. 99 Ford for three seasons.

"It really wasn't that painful," Edwards told reporters at Richmond.

"[Team President] Geoff Smith and I get along really well, and we just pretty much sat down. He's really easy for me to deal with.

"It took us about a week and a half of going back and forth with just little things, and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world for the contract I got."

Edwards said he's always felt comfortable dealing with the Roush brass, from the first contract he signed in 2003 to join the team to drive in the Craftsman Truck Series.

At that time, he was a struggling, relatively unknown short-track driver who had made just seven truck starts. He was just hoping for a career break.

He said that he decided the night before his first big meeting with Roush officials that the opportunity to drive outweighed any contractual issues.

"I made up my mind that I was going to sign that contract, no matter what it said," he said.

It worked out fine for both parties. Since then, he has won six truck races, 13 in the Nationwide Series, 10 in Cup - including three this year - and a championship in the Nationwide Series.

Those stats played a key role in his contract decisions.

"The No. 1 thing is looking into the future and saying, 'Where can I win the most races and have the most success?' " he said.

Team co-owner Jack Roush told reporters that Edwards had at least two other offers but chose to stay put.

Jamie McMurray, Edwards' teammate at Roush, said Edwards' decision was an easy one.

"When you're winning the amount of races he has, and he's had a chance to win even more than what he did so far this year, a guy would be crazy to want to leave Roush Fenway and go somewhere else," he said.

Carl Edwards by the numbers

3

Victories in 2008 (Auto Club 500, UAWDodge 400, Samsung 500).

2

Number of times Edwards has finished 20th or below in 2008.

4

Number of times in 2008 that Edwards has started a race in the top four.

SPRINT CUP STANDINGS

1. Kyle Busch
1,495; leader
2. Jeff Burton
1,477; behind: -18
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1,391; behind: -104
4. Clint Bowyer
1,372; behind: -123
5. Kevin Harvick
1,350; behind: -145
6. Denny Hamlin
1,349; behind: -146
7. Jimmie Johnson
1,318; behind: -177
8. Tony Stewart
1,297; behind: -198
9. Greg Biffle
1,269; behind: -226

10. Carl Edwards
(shown above)
1,230; behind: -265
11. Ryan Newman
1,212; behind: -283
12. Kasey Kahne
1,162; behind: -333