Is Carl Edwards Closer To Leaving Roush Fenway Racing For Joe Gibbs Racing?

Greg Biffle has been teammates with Carl Edwards ever since the latter driver came into NASCAR with Roush Fenway Racing.

But Biffle sounded frustrated on Friday when he was asked about Edwards’ still murky future. Edwards, a free agent after this season, has yet to decide whether he will stay at Roush Fenway Racing or leave for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Biffle compared Edwards’ decision process to the wrangling over the debt ceiling in Congress: Sooner or later, he said, it has to end.

“At some point, he’s gonna have to say, ‘I’m not coming back,’” Biffle said. “He’s not gonna be able to wait until Homestead – we all know that. Carl is a big boy, he’s a man and he has to make his own decisions.”

Biffle said Edwards should make a decision quickly so the team can start planning for next year – sponsorships and teams and personnel – either way.

“There are a lot of people’s jobs on the line (depending on) if we’re gonna be three teams or four teams,” Biffle said. “I understand contract negotiations take a long time and there is a lot to them, but truly if you know or you’ve made a decision, then it’s time to give everybody enough opportunity to make their (move) on the back side of that.”

Jeff Gordon, who drives for rival Hendrick Motorsports, said if Edwards announces he’s leaving Roush for Gibbs, then the 99 team “is done.”

“I just don’t see them winning the championship knowing that they’re leaving,” Gordon said. “I might be wrong. If he stays, it might have just been a blip and then get back on track. So I think that’s definitely playing a factor.”

Two of Edwards’ potential future teammates, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, said they would welcome Edwards to Joe Gibbs Racing with open arms.

““I think it would be good for our team,” Hamlin said. “I think that the dynamic of the three drivers that we already have is good. Having a guy that has already contended for championships and wins on a weekly basis can”t be a bad thing.”

Said Busch: “He’s really good at what he does, he’s got great communication, he’s got good feedback. He’s been one of the top three or four guys in the sport every year he’s been around. ... I feel like Carl would certainly mesh well and fit in.”

Edwards, for his part, remained tight-lipped about his future and said he preferred to negotiate out of the public spotlight.