Carl Edwards motivated by move to Joe Gibbs Racing

A year ago Kevin Harvick won the Sprint Cup championship in his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing. Right behind Harvick in the standings was Ryan Newman, in his first season with Richard Childress Racing.

That two drivers in their first year with new teams placed first and second in points wasn’t lost on Carl Edwards. Neither was the fact that Matt Kenseth, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch all recently have enjoyed instant success after switching organizations.

Now Edwards is the high-profile driver on the move, having made what he calls the “toughest decision I’ve made in my life” and signing with Joe Gibbs Racing after 11 years with Roush Fenway Racing. But that decision was made easy when looked around and realized sometimes the grass, is in fact, greener on the other side.

“You take Tony Stewart’s change,” Edwards said. “When he left Joe Gibbs Racing, I thought that was crazy and didn’t seem like it made any sense. But, it spurred great performance. ... Kevin and Ryan basically switched teams and they finished one-two.

“I hope I can do the same thing those guys have done and have a great year.”

With the change, Edwards is experiencing feelings he hasn’t felt since his first full season of Cup in 2005. He describes it as being “a little anxious and a little nervous,” but also calls it a motivator to prove himself to his new team.

“I feel like I’ve really got to prove myself,” Edwards said. “I’d say I’m as focused as I’ve ever been and I am as excited as I’ve ever been. This is a neat opportunity for me”.

Edwards’ sentiments are similar to what Harvick said he felt a year ago as he was preparing for his first season with SHR following 13 years with RCR. Reenergized and determined, Harvick would go on to win five races and his first Cup championship.

The expectation among many is that Edwards, twice a runner-up in the championship and the winner of 23 Cup races, could replicate what Harvick accomplished. That group includes Harvick, who tapped Edwards as a championship favorite during an appearance on Tony Stewart’s SiriusXM NASCAR radio show last week.

“I think Carl is probably going to have a lot of momentum,” Harvick said on Tony Stewart Live.

To make room for Edwards, JGR added a fourth team, expanded its headquarters and hired more than 100 new personnel. He will join Kenseth, Busch and Denny Hamlin to form a formidable four-driver lineup and be paired with veteran crew chief Darian Grubb, who as Stewart’s crew chief defeated Edwards on a tiebreaker for the 2011 championship.

Despite a NASCAR wide testing ban this offseason, Edwards and Grubb had the chance to work with one another during an approved December test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The communication was “perfect” according to Edwards, furthering his enthusiasm for what’s ahead.

“Darian Grubb is an amazing crew chief, just amazing,” Edwards said. “The JGR organization statistically and if you’ve been there you know they are just an amazing place. I feel like I have experience and have learned a lot. I feel like I’m in the best form I’ve ever been in as a driver. We should have good opportunities to go perform at a very high level.”