Carl Edwards jumps into Cup car

Carl Edwards To Drive Roush Racing No. 99 Ford

Concord, N.C. (August 12, 2004) -- Roush Racing announced today that Carl Edwards, age 24, will enter the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition as the driver of the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford for the remainder of the 2004 season commencing in Michigan at the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday, August 22. Edwards, currently third in the Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, will continue to drive the No. 99 Superchips F-150 in the remaining Truck Series races.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Edwards. "I'm really excited about the opportunity that Jack Roush has given me to drive the No. 99 Ford. I'm really looking forward to working with Bob (Osborne, crew chief) and the entire No. 99 team. I've been watching the team and it's obvious they have turned a corner and I'm excited to have the chance to help continue that momentum. They've had great race cars this year and awesome pit stops and I'm really looking forward to working together as a team to try and take the No. 99 Ford to victory lane."

"Roush Racing is faced with a great opportunity to provide the necessary platform for the warp-speed advancement into NEXTEL Cup stardom of yet another ambitious, resourceful, talented and charismatic driver in the person of Carl Edwards," said Jack Roush, owner Roush Racing. "This unexpected window of opportunity has been made possible through Jeff Burton's decision not to execute his option to drive the No. 99 Ford Taurus in 2005. Carl will follow in the footsteps of Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Jeff Burton in being supported by Roush Racing's best people and hardware at a time when his experience and motivations are certain to propel him into NASCAR's most elite group."

"The No. 99 legacy began at Roush Racing with Jeff Burton who has done an outstanding job for Roush Racing, its sponsors and the entire sport," said Geoff Smith, President of Roush Racing. "Carl Edwards has both the talent and demeanor to build on the No. 99's legacy of success."

"It should be remembered that the No. 99 team is still in business and is still looking to land a primary sponsor," continued Smith.

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich., based Roush Industries that operates nine motorsports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; two in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Biffle, and two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Jon Wood and Edwards. For sponsorship inquiries please contact John Miller at Roush Racing at 704.720.4600.

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