Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing form ideal team

In a quest to win an elusive first championship Carl Edwards felt a change of scenery was needed. What he wanted was a new team that would energize him, surrounded by teammates that would push him to a greater level.

Joe Gibbs Racing had long contemplated expanding to a fourth car, but the situation had to be ideal. It wanted a driver who could step-in and be a contender instantly and fit harmoniously within the organization, and the proper funding needed to be obtained.

Edwards found his team and JGR its perfect driver in a deal that became official Tuesday. At age 34 Edwards is in his prime, and as evidenced by 23 career wins and two second-place Sprint Cup Series finishes he possesses the ability JGR was seeking. Along with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, the team now has four drivers in the fold who are bonafide title contenders -- a status that maybe not even Hendrick Motorsports enjoys.

“The media has been asking us if we’re going to add a fourth car,” Gibbs said. “We’re very careful with it. ... I think everybody said this would be the right time. Adding Carl in the team brings more resources and we’re competing against teams that have four cars, or more with their alliances, so it’s great to have that as we want to win races.”

Three years ago JGR thought it had wooed Edwards away from Roush Fenway Racing only for Edwards, at the last minute, to re-sign. It was decision that at the time made sense. Everything JGR offered Roush did as well. So Edwards stayed.

But ever since Edwards has found success fleeting. In 2012 he went from tying Tony Stewart for the championship the year before (Edwards lost the title on a tiebreaker) to winless and out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup completely. Last year Edwards rebounded by winning twice to qualify for the playoffs, only then to finish last in the 13-driver field.

An obvious factor into Edwards’ decision is that there is no longer a level playing field between Roush and JGR. A gulf has developed with Roush slipping to just 10 wins since 2012, while Team Penske has assumed the status as the No. 1 Ford-backed organization. During that same span, JGR has 21 victories and is without question at the top of the Toyota pyramid.

“I felt that this time in my life and career that a change would be something that would let me reach that goal,” Edwards said. “I am ready to go race and win and contend for championships each year.”

That Edwards is leaving his team of 10 years for presumably greener pastures follows a recent trend that has seen Kenseth and Kevin Harvick leave their longtime teams and find instant achievement elsewhere.

Like Edwards, Kenseth left Roush for JGR where he won seven races and finished second to Jimmie Johnson last year in the championship. After 13 years with Richard Childress Racing, this season Harvick moved to Stewart-Haas Racing, where he’s won twice and is a title contender.

“To be honest, Matt’s success over here was a real eye-opener for me,” Edwards said.

The almost instant success Kenseth and Harvick have enjoyed will be the standard that Edwards will be measured against. Because as perfect as his union with JGR may be, championships are won on the track not on paper, and in this instance anything short will be deemed a failure.