Edwards, Bowyer on fast track to new deals

— Let the bidding begin.

Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer, who catapulted from the dirt tracks of the Midwest to NASCAR stardom, enter the 2011 season in the final year of their contracts and are about to be two of the sport’s most attractive free agents.

Edwards, from Columbia, Mo., has been with Roush Fenway Racing since 2004, qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup five times in six years and finishing second in 2008, when he won a series-most nine races. Plus, he won the 2007 Nationwide Series championship and was the 2003 NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series Rookie of the Year.

Bowyer, from Emporia, Kan., has driven for Richard Childress Racing since 2006, qualifying for the Chase three times, finishing third in 2007 and winning the Nationwide Series championship in 2008.

Both have nothing but good things to say about their current owners, but both are sure to test the free-agent waters.

“I have had a great relationship with Jack Roush, and I just want to do whatever is most likely to let me go win championships,” said Edwards, who won the final two races of the 2010 season and finished fourth in the Chase. “The dream would be to do that at Roush in the 99 car with Aflac on board, but we just have to sit down and go through everything and see where everybody is.”

Bowyer, who won two races in the Chase last season but finished 10th in the standings because of a 150-point penalty after his victory at New Hampshire, thinks on-track performance will take care of the business side.

“To be honest, I haven’t had a whole lot of thought about it,” Bowyer said. “I just focus on the task at hand, winning races and competing week in and week out. I have a lawyer and a manager who handle most of that stuff for me, and I can stay out of it.

“Hopefully I’ll be where I’m at and will be for years to come.”

Both Edwards and Bowyer are 31 and have been cash machines for their owners. Edwards has amassed nearly $35 million in earnings for Roush Fenway. Bowyer has produced nearly $22 million for Richard Childress Racing. Not only are they among the most successful drivers on the track, but they also are popular among fans and, most important, appealing to sponsors. Edwards, next to Dale Earnhardt Jr., may be the NASCAR’s most visible pitchman.

Imagine the back-flipping Edwards joining Hendrick Motorsports if Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to struggle in the last year of his contract or as a replacement for Jeff Burton, whose contract at Richard Childress Racing is also up after this season.

An alternative could be Bowyer or Edwards taking their talents and dimples to Stewart-Haas Racing, which includes Stewart and Ryan Newman. Another scenario might involve Penske, which has Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski, or teams like Richard Petty Motorsports or Red Bull Racing, which are badly needing a marquee driver.

“Clint will be a highly desired driver,” said Burton, who has no plans to leave Childress. “A lot of people are going to want Clint to drive their race cars. There’s no question about that. That’s one of the negatives to having a lot of talent. We are going to have to do what we have todo to keep him.

“I really want to see Clint stay at RCR. I like Clint. I think he’s got the talent, he’s got the ability, he’s got the personality. He makes me a better race-car driver. I really want to see him extend his contract.”

In 2008, when Edwards’ last contract at Roush was expiring, he wrapped up talks quickly and announced an agreement with Roush in early May, enabling him to concentrate on his watershed season.

Sports, Pages 21 on 02/19/2011

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