Express Delivery for Carl Edwards

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Ahh yes, what would April be without speculation for next year’s silly season? The latest in the slew of ongoing rumors and negotiations in our dramatic world that we call NASCAR has fallen on the lap of non-other than Roush-Fenway Racing driver, Carl Edwards.

Edwards’ contract with car owner the no. 99 Ford Fusion, Jack Roush, expires at the end of the season. There have not yet been any indications that Carl is looking elsewhere for a seat, and experts expect Edwards to resign with the team by the end of the year. At the same time, however, Office Depot’s sponsorship contract on the 99 car also expires at the end of this year, and rumors are surfacing that the price tag for renewal may have just gone up to a price that they’re just not comfortable with.

Three years ago Office Depot signed a deal with Roush Racing that had them spouting out about $12 million to $14 million a year. Sources are saying that Roush is now reportedly looking to make somewhere in the neighborhood of $22 million to $24 million off of Edwards. With Office Depot’s stock dropping by over $25 per share over the last calendar year, that is looking to be well out of their price range.

One sponsor that doesn’t seem too shy about spending the dough, however, will coincidentally be up for grabs at the end of the year. UPS’s 2-year deal with Michael Waltrip Racing is up at the end of the year, and Carl Edwards is reported to be their number one option. All indications are that if Office Depot hasn’t finalized a deal with Roush by the end of their exclusive negotiating period in mid-May, then UPS will be hot on the hunt after Cousin Carl.

In Other News:
- Clint Bowyer lost control of his no. 07 Chevy Impala on Tuesday while demonstrating a burnout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The demonstration was in preparation for NASCAR’s first-ever Pennzoil Burnout Contest prior to the May 17th All-Star Race held at Lowe’s. The event will feature five drivers performing a burnout, with the winner to be determined by how fast they can begin from a standing start and complete a full drag racing-style, tire smoking burnout and two doughnuts before reaching the finish box. The winner will receive $10,000 to be donated to the charity of his choice. The event is being compared to MLB’s Home Run Derby or the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest.

- Ryan Newman is reportedly unhappy with his engine department at Penske Racing after blowing up during the last Sprint Cup Series event in Phoenix. The incident isn’t the first engine failure that Newman has suffered this season, and the trend has sent him plummeting in the standings since winning the opening Daytona 500 back in February.