Driver Carl Edwards to join Joe Gibbs' NASCAR team next year

Carl Edwards to drive Joe Gibbs' fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup car next year

Carl Edwards will move to Joe Gibbs Racing next year as Gibbs expands its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team to four cars, the team announced Tuesday.

The other drivers in Gibbs' Cup series stable, who drive Toyotas, are Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth. Edwards will drive the No. 19 Toyota.

Edwards' move was widely expected. The 35-year-old Missouri native already had said he would leave Roush Fenway Racing after this season.

Known for his celebratory back flips after race wins, Edwards has 23 career victories in the Cup series, including two this season.

"To be able to bring a driver the caliber of Carl Edwards on board to launch our fourth team is just a thrill," Joe Gibbs, the Hall of Fame NFL coach, said in a statement.

Joe Gibbs Racing also said it signed driver Daniel Suarez to compete in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series. Suarez currently races in NASCAR's Mexico Toyota Series.

The team also said it launched a diversity initiative to give more opportunities to Mexican and Latin American drivers.

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