Home Depot may get Carl Edwards after all.
According to a report posted by CBS Sportsline's Pete Pistone, the Atlanta-based home improvement giant could move to the No. 99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford driven by Edwards in 2012. Such a move would end Home Depot's association with Joe Gibbs Racing which began with the 1999 Daytona 500. The Gibbs/Home Depot partnership is the fourth-longest active team/sponsor partnership, following Penske Racing and Miller Brewing (since 1991), Interstate Batteries and Gibbs (1992), and DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports (1992). The DuPont/Hendrick partnership is unique in that it has had just one driver, Jeff Gordon.
Earlier this year, Gibbs and Home Depot courted Edwards to take over its No. 20 machine, driven by Joey Logano. Rumors swirled at New Hampshire in July that Edwards had taken the deal, reportedly worth a staggering $18 million, but Edwards and Roush announced a contract extension in early August.
Home Depot's Gibbs tenure has been a successful one. Tony Stewart set a rookie record in 1999 with three victories and finished fourth in points. He recorded 33 wins in ten years with Gibbs and was the series champion in 2002 and 2005. Stewart departed Gibbs following the 2008 season to join what is now Stewart-Haas Racing as an owner/driver. Logano stepped into the 20 car and has yet to become a consistent force on the circuit.