Edwards re-signs with Roush Fenway

Edwards will enter his fifth full season in the Sprint Cup Series next year, which will also be his fifth with Roush Fenway Racing at NASCAR's top level, having first raced for them in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2003.

"I signed my contract yesterday, so I'm staying with Roush," Edwards said at Richmond International Raceway. "I looked at everything and I talked to everybody and, for me, the number one thing is looking into the future and saying, 'Where can I win the most races and have the most success?'

"I was honoured at the people whom I got to speak with and I just feel like for me personally this is where I want to be for the near future and we got it done. It's good. I'm real happy about it. It's a huge relief. It really wasn't that painful."

Edwards himself conducted negotiations with Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith to conclude the deal that will also see him driving in the Nationwide Series, where he is currently the defending champion.

He says there were many reasons behind his renewal with his current team, with which he has won three Sprint Cup races this season, that have him as virtual leader in the seeding for the Chase.

"There are a few things," Edwards added. "Robbie Reiser running the place, that's a big deal for me. More and more I'm understanding how important that is.

"Things we've been doing with this car of tomorrow to make it better, I feel like it's very efficient how everyone is working and it's making the cars faster, and I feel like our engine program has a lot in the near future that's going to be great.

"Plus, my pit crew, I've struggled since I've been here with changing people and having different pit crew guys, and I feel like finally with Robbie managing that I've got a group of guys that are going to be really good over the next three years."

Jack Roush admitted that Edwards had contemplated other offers before agreeing to sign a new deal with his team, while confirming Edwards has been signed for the next three years.

"We've certainly been challenged there by another team and Carl heard that challenge and considered very carefully what was there for him from a performance point of view and what the economic impact was of the offer we could make, as well as the competitive offers, and that put us in a competition there that I'm happy came out favorably, but I was not thrilled to find out we were in that competition," Roush said.

Edwards is currently tenth in the Sprint Cup drivers' standing, despite leading the series in number of wins. He lost 100 points after his car failed post-race inspection at Las Vegas.

His crew chief Bob Osborne, who had been suspended for six events following that infraction, has returned to work with Edwards this weekend.