Edwards Resigns With Roush-Fenway, It Wasn't About the Money

After months of speculation about Carl Edwards future, (Would he leave Roush Fenway and Ford for Joe Gibbs and Toyota? Would Aflac or Home Depot sponsor him? Where would Joey Logano end up?) it was announced that Edwards would stay put and wheel the No. 99 Ford Fusion for Jack Roush, the man who gave him his break in the Sprint Cup Series, for three more seasons.

Roush and Edwards divulged very little about the negotiation process that led the Columbia, Missorui driver to resign with the Ford powerhouse. One thing that was also not mentioned was what company would back the No. 99 team in 2012. All of the driver and sponsor contracts at Roush Fenway are up for renewal this season, so Edwards current backer Aflac may or may not be back. With Edwards newfound stardom and his potential for dethroning five-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson, his price tag had to have gone up, so the latter may very well be the case.

Roush said that, while they are working with Edward's current sponsors to come back next year, there are also several sponsors waiting in the wings for the opportunity to be on his hood. "We're sorting through now to find out who the anchor will be for the 99 and then we'll fill in around that with the other sponsors and interests. We don't expect to have a shortage of sponsors for Carl" Roush said. "As we finish the 99's program, we'll continue with the discussions of people that are committed to our programs for the cars that are left."

But the topic that was raised by most media members at that press conference was the money involved. Both Edwards and Roush vehemently denied that money played a role in getting Edwards to stay a "Roush-keteer." Several websites reported last week that Gibbs was offering him an $8 million base salary with a $10 million signing bonus. However, this was never confirmed by JGR officials. It was also reported that Ford had stepped up and sweetened the pot to entice Edwards to come back as the face of Roush Fenway and Ford Motor Company's Nascar program. It was later announced Ford gave Edwards an incentive program as well as a Ford stock program that will come to fruition after the third year of his contract.

So since money wasn't an issue, I guess Carl will be getting paid in Monopoly bills. If it wasn't about the money, why did it take so long to get a contract finalized? It was even reported during Sprint Cup practice on Speed channel that Roush said his wallet is a little lighter now that Carl is signed. If Carl was still a substitute teacher in Missouri, racing to try and prove his ability and make a name for himself, I would be a lot more inclined to believe that it wasn't about the money. But now that he has reached rockstar status in this sport, money had to play some role in these negotiations.

Yes Edwards wants to go to a team that will give him the chance to win titles, but he is also undoubtedly looking for the top tier team that will write the biggest check. Most drivers race because it is what they love to do (i.e. David Reutimann, Morgan Sheperd and any driver from the 60s and 70s). I used to count Carl Edwards as one of those drivers as well. Now I'm not so sure anymore.