Redstarr you have a point about those t shirt sales. :jester: You heard it hear first. Danica will never amount to anything if she goes cup racing. If she thinks the Busch series is tough then just wait. Im not being sexist either. She does not have what it takes imo. But they will sell those t shirts.

An established team like Roush needs some veteran drivers that can get it done. Im all for fresh talent but an outfit that size needs some heavy hitters like Carl. I really have no use for Jack Roush and Ford needs to re think what they are doing. He has the Ford monopoly and thats not a good thing. I sure miss the days of Yates racing.

All of nascar is controled by just a handful of people anymore anyway and that sucks. I really wish teams were limited to two cars. The little guy has no chance what so ever anymore.

I agree about Jr. He's a huge asset to HMS because of the money he brings in to the team.

The only difference between him and Danica, I think, is that Danica probably has some potential in a cup car given good equipment. Her issue in Indy Cars has always been the fact that those races are almost always outright speed contests, and unless you're in a Ganassi or Penske car it is very difficult to have any success.

I actually wouldn't be surprised to see her do well in stock cars once she commits full time to them.

But back on topic, I don't see Jack Roush meeting Carl at the figure he wants. I think I would be more surprised to see him re-sign with Roush than jump ship to another team.

And back OT for a moment, the guy I REALLY want to see in Nascar at some point is Lewis Hamilton. I think once he gets tired of F1 I wouldn't doubt at all that he might look to come to NASCAR, especially considering his personal frienship with Tony Stewart and the fun he had in the ride swap last week. I think Lewis could easily be a top Cup driver and would definitely be a joy to watch.

I'm usually against open wheel drivers in the NASCAR, since most of them (with few exceptions, such as Tony Stewart) showed apsolutely nothing in the NASCAR in the past.

Well there's a number of factors in that, with the exception of Stewart not many open-wheel drivers walked onto top-flight teams at the top of their game. There's also a HUGE component of acceptance, or lack thereof, and NASCAR has never quite shook the sort of good-old-boys "there's them and there's us" attitude. Open-wheel drivers used to give Stock Car drivers a run for their money in the very NASCAR-like IROC series, after all.

:iagree:

I'd say Montoya is the closest right now, but he's held back by the Ganassi team (not a consistent race winning organization) and a bit also by his driving style. Doesn't help that Ryan Newman likes to wreck him whenever he gets the chance. :doh:

I think Lewis definitely would be a success if he came in with a top team. He's just one of those drivers, like Stewart, that could drive anything and win.

Anyways... back to Carl. Watching Wind Tunnel on Speed last night it seems like Carl is just sitting back waiting for the teams to present offers to him. Gibbs and Red Bull want him and both teams have the money. Seems like if Carl were to go to Gibbs, UPS likely would go with him. It's more likely that he'd go to Gibbs but RB can give him any $ amount he wants. Either way, it's looking like he won't be staying with Roush.

Also -- where will Danica end up next year? My guess is full time in a JR Motorsports Nationwide car with some Cup races sprinkled throughout the season with the expectation that she's full time in Cup in 2013. Maybe with Stewart-Haas in a 3rd car.

All I know is NASCAR will do whatever it takes to get her over here. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$

Scratch the Red Bull idea. Looks like they might be out of Cup after this year.

I don't think Ganassi is bad or even an average team. After all, Jamie McMurray did win a Daytona 500 and Indianapolis last year driving a Ganassi's Chevy.
I'm pretty sure it's Montoya's agressive driving (and because of it - crashing) the reason why he's not a Chase driver.

RE: Edwards, I just don't see him and Kyle Busch on the same team.

I think it's a combination. Jamie Mac was never consistently a front-runner. Ganassi is definitely a Tier 2 organization in NASCAR. Every now and then they will put some runs together that prove otherwise but on average, they aren't up there all the time like the HMS and Roush cars.

Re: Kyle and Carl... I definitely think it's possible. I don't think Kyle and Carl are the types to hold any sort of grudge against one another. They are both definitely above the level of the average RCR driver, IMO. I see no reason why they couldn't be successful teammates. You know they'd push each other very hard which would be a good thing for the team as a whole.

Roush may still be Tier 1 team, but they're decreasing fast. Few years from now they might go down like Yates did. Last year they won only 4 races, including last 2 (the year before that they won only 3 races) and they haven't had a champsionship contender since Carl Edwards in 2008. Heck, Denny Hamlin alone won 8 races and entire Joe Gibbs Racing won 11 in 2010. Even new teams, like Stewart Haas Motorsports won 3 races last year.

So I wouldn't be putting Roush name in the same sentence with Hendrick and Gibbs and even Childress ...

I still think they are one of the top teams, they just had a bad go at it the last couple years.

So far this year you've got Carl leading the points with one win, and Kenseth already has two wins this year and has been running well. Biffle will probably get some wins this year with the way he's been running.

Ragan... I don't know about that kid.

But you're right, Roush could be deteriorating especially if they lose key sponsorship. Carl might want out because he sees the writing on the wall...

I'm sure Roush would've had much more success with other manufacturers since Ford really sucked in the past few years (before new engine came out). Even Dodge was beating Ford in the past few years. I'm glad Jack stayed with Ford.

Yeah, Ford did blow for a while. GM sunk a ton of money into it's racing programs whereas Ford didn't. Though it worked out in the end because GM bankrupted itself. :D

Ford did invest a lot into WRC with no results. Sebastien Loeb & Citroen were much better and still are. Only 1 win this year in 7 races so far (Citroen won remaining 6).

Anyway, I would like to see Petty winning races too. Ambrose has a big chance this week at Infineon.

I think a lot of that is Loeb himself... he is an amazing talent.

I agree with you on Petty. I am a big fan of AJ and Ambrose... I think they both are close.

UPDATE 2: #99-Carl Edwards on Friday again declined comment on his contract status, as he has throughout the year. Edwards is in the final year of his contract with Roush Fenway Racing, and the team is also negotiating contract extensions with all of its primary sponsors except 3M, which has signed a multi-year deal to remain with the team and Greg Biffle. "As far as my contract status, it is the same as the beginning of the year," Edwards said Friday morning at Infineon Raceway. "We are working hard on it and we do all that stuff behind closed doors. We are making progress and hopefully we will be able to tell you guys what my plan is soon." Asked about the oft-repeated rumors that he would go to Joe Gibbs Racing next year to replace Joey Logano, Edwards added, "I have heard rumors about all different teams for the last two years. The thing I am going to do is keep working on it and working on it privately. I think that is the best way for me."(SPEED)(6-25-2011)

Another UPDATE: #99-Carl Edwards is staying focused on winning a championship despite widespread speculation that he is leaving Roush Fenway Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing after this season. Edwards would not comment Friday on whether he has made a decision, but he was adamant that it will not hurt his chances of winning the title regardless. "I feel like no matter what happens we have a great thing going," said Edwards, who has a seven-point lead over five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson heading into Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Jack Roush and Ford and Aflac, that is our mission right now -- to win the championship. That is all of our goals. Whatever happens, happens. But I believe that is reasonable to believe that could happen no matter what." Speculation that Edwards was headed for JGR to drive the #20 Home Depot car currently driven by Joey Logano, with Aflac following him to JGR, intensified two weeks ago at New Hampshire. Logano and crew chief Greg Zipadelli told ESPN.com that they have been given no indication that their status for next season will change. Logano said the rumors haven't been a distraction for him and his team. "If anything it is making my team work harder," Logano said. "It's making us come together more as a team. It's good. The last few weeks it's paid off. The last four weeks we have scored more points than anybody. All I've heard is rumors. No one has told me anything." Edwards would not give a timetable for making an announcement, although sources say it has to be soon so plans for next season can get under way. When asked if he had made a decision, Edwards said, "I'd just rather not say. We're working hard on the contract stuff. I've heard a lot of different ideas out there. The story remains the same -- I'm going to make a decision that is the best one I can make. I'm going to do that outside the media. Right now I have a signed contract, and that is the contract I signed in 2008 to race for Jack in '09, '10 and '11. So that is my mission. That's what I'm going to honor."(ESPN). .(7-29-2011)

He is getting alot of flak on his facebook page about staying put and loyal, no championships can be won or repeated without keeping a team together, look at JJ and Jeff Gordon...

Ford steps in: 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)(7-30-2011)

That sounds promising. I'm a huge Carl fan and my fiancee is a big Joey Logano fan. If he takes over Joey's car she's not going to be happy and I won't hear the end of it.