Edwards sticks with the Cat in the Hat

By Mike Smith

Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011 | 5:04 p.m.

Early in his racing career, a fledgling driver named Carl Edwards handed out business cards in an attempt to draw attention to his driving talents.

Edwards doesn’t need business cards today.

As one of the top drivers in the Cup series, he was the biggest free agent in the sport until today, when he announced that he would be remaining with Roush Fenway Racing. His new multiyear deal is the smartest move the young driver could make.

As the top driver in the Ford camp, it would have been a mistake to jump from a ship that’s on course to enter the Chase. And competing in the Chase will take all of the powers of concentration he can muster if he wants the title. I don’t care how focused Edwards and his team say they would have remained if Edwards decided to leave. A decision to bolt Roush Fenway would have hung like a dark cloud over a team that needs to be on its best game to compete against the likes of a driver who has won five consecutive championships.

And why contemplate a move to a team like Joe Gibbs Racing when you’re in the points lead? He’s obviously at a team that’s capable of competing for the championship. Why give that up for a new team, new crew members, new teammates and a new working environment that may or may not work?

Edwards also has a solid fan base, and I bet many of those fans are loyal to the Ford brand. How many disgruntled fans would toss beer cans on the track the first time Edwards won a race in a Joe Gibbs Toyota?

I’m sure the lure of money is a powerful aphrodisiac once a driver has achieved a certain level of success and status. A driver at this level probably always wonders if he could be making more somewhere else. The financial terms of Edwards’ deal weren’t released, but I would hope he chose to remain with Jack Roush even if the money was better at the Gibbs organization. If money is the prime motivator, then achieving success and maintaining it are more difficult. Winning should be the primary goal. And choosing the situation that allows you to win is the best insurance that the money will come. Not to mention that it makes for a happier driver.

And, of course, there’s the teammate situation. Edwards and Gibbs’ driver Kyle Busch haven’t exactly wanted to have few beers together. I know they publicly claim they have patched over their differences, but when have you ever known a Cup driver to easily let go of a grudge? These guys hold on to slights, perceived and real, until they’re on their deathbeds. Whenever I’ve had opportunities in my career, the first thing my boss has always said to me is: “Do you like the people?” That’s good advice.

So now Edwards can focus all of his attention on winning that Cup championship. The competition is stiff, so he’s gong to need all the focus he can muster.

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