NASCAR’s Carl Edwards won’t return to Roush Fenway team in 2015

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards won’t return to the Roush Fenway Racing team next year.

Roush Fenway said Sunday before the Brickyard 400 that its three-driver Sprint Cup Series lineup in 2015 would be Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.

Biffle and Stenhouse currently are on the team with Edwards. Bayne, who currently races mostly in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series, is being promoted to a full-time Cup ride.

The exclusion of Edwards, who drives the No. 99 Ford, was not unexpected. Rumors have circulated for months that he was looking to move to a new team, possibly Joe Gibbs Racing.

Edwards declined to discuss his future Sunday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, telling reporters he was focused on winning the Brickyard 400 and this year’s Cup championship.

Now in his 10th full season in the Cup series, the 34-year-old Edwards has spent his entire Cup career with Roush Fenway.

Edwards, known for his celebratory back flips after a victory, has 23 career Cup wins in 356 starts. He’s finished second in the title standings twice, in 2008 and 2011. He also won the Nationwide Series championship in 2007.

“I will always be thankful for Carl’s contribution and the role he played in many Roush Fenway wins and championships,” team co-owner Jack Roush said in a statement. “We wish him well for the future.”

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