Roush Racing driver Carl Edwards will compete for championships in two of NASCAR's national touring series this season.
In addition to a full, 36-race Nextel Cup season in owner Jack Roush's No. 99 Ford Taurus, Edwards will also run the 35-race Busch Series schedule in Roush's No. 60 Charter Communications Ford.
Roush plans to announce a sponsorship program for Edwards' Cup program next week, a team spokesman said.
"It means the world to me," Edwards said of the opportunity. "I remember reading about Kevin Harvick when he first moved to Cup (in 2001) and ran all the Busch races and all but one of the Cup races.
"I remember reading that story and thinking, 'man, can it be any better than that -- to get to run so many races and do it on so many different tracks? What a neat opportunity that would be.'
"So I really appreciate Jack giving me this chance. It's going to be a blast."
Edwards, 25, skipped a run at the Nextel Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year title in 2004 when he replaced Jeff Burton in the No. 99 while also running for the Craftsman Truck Series championship.
Edwards began his debut Cup program with a 10th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway in August. He scored a third at Atlanta and ended the season with five top-10s in 13 starts.
He finished fourth in the Truck Series after winning three times -- including the season opener. Edwards scored six victories and was the 2003 rookie of the year in two full Truck Series seasons for Roush.
Edwards made his Busch debut -- and his only series start -- at Bristol in August, starting 14th and finishing 19th.
He's following in the footsteps of Roush teammate Greg Biffle, who ran both series in 2004. Biffle finished third in the Busch championship with five victories and was 17th in the Nextel Cup Series with two wins.
In 2005, Charter wanted Biffle to once again run for the championship, but the former Truck and Busch Series champion preferred to take a limited Busch season deal with Brewco Motorsports to better concentrate on his Cup program.
Edwards was a simple choice for the rigorous schedule.
"Carl Edwards is definitely one of NASCAR's rising stars," Roush said. "Charter is getting a driver with the skills and determination to have a big impact in both Busch and Nextel Cup racing."
Edwards said details of his schedule, such as who will drive his respective cars when there is a conflict for practice and qualifying sessions, is still being worked out.
His crew chiefs: Bob Osborne in the Cup Series and Brad Parrott in Busch, remain in place, though.
"I feel like I have the two best crew chiefs I could possibly have in this entire business," said Edwards, who vowed to put into practice the lessons he learned doing a shortened dual schedule last season.
"The biggest thing I learned is the value of being able to get all the track time you can and to talk with the crew chief as much as you can after each practice," Edwards said. "I talked to Biffle a little about it and he said the hardest part for him was having to leave right after a practice, to go to the other car and not be able to sit and talk.
"I'd say with that information I'll try my hardest to get the most out of every session that I can and to work with Bob and Brad to make the most of every minute we get on the track."
In addition to a full, 36-race Nextel Cup season in owner Jack Roush's No. 99 Ford Taurus, Edwards will also run the 35-race Busch Series schedule in Roush's No. 60 Charter Communications Ford.
Roush plans to announce a sponsorship program for Edwards' Cup program next week, a team spokesman said.
"It means the world to me," Edwards said of the opportunity. "I remember reading about Kevin Harvick when he first moved to Cup (in 2001) and ran all the Busch races and all but one of the Cup races.
"I remember reading that story and thinking, 'man, can it be any better than that -- to get to run so many races and do it on so many different tracks? What a neat opportunity that would be.'
"So I really appreciate Jack giving me this chance. It's going to be a blast."
Edwards, 25, skipped a run at the Nextel Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year title in 2004 when he replaced Jeff Burton in the No. 99 while also running for the Craftsman Truck Series championship.
Edwards began his debut Cup program with a 10th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway in August. He scored a third at Atlanta and ended the season with five top-10s in 13 starts.
He finished fourth in the Truck Series after winning three times -- including the season opener. Edwards scored six victories and was the 2003 rookie of the year in two full Truck Series seasons for Roush.
Edwards made his Busch debut -- and his only series start -- at Bristol in August, starting 14th and finishing 19th.
He's following in the footsteps of Roush teammate Greg Biffle, who ran both series in 2004. Biffle finished third in the Busch championship with five victories and was 17th in the Nextel Cup Series with two wins.
In 2005, Charter wanted Biffle to once again run for the championship, but the former Truck and Busch Series champion preferred to take a limited Busch season deal with Brewco Motorsports to better concentrate on his Cup program.
Edwards was a simple choice for the rigorous schedule.
"Carl Edwards is definitely one of NASCAR's rising stars," Roush said. "Charter is getting a driver with the skills and determination to have a big impact in both Busch and Nextel Cup racing."
Edwards said details of his schedule, such as who will drive his respective cars when there is a conflict for practice and qualifying sessions, is still being worked out.
His crew chiefs: Bob Osborne in the Cup Series and Brad Parrott in Busch, remain in place, though.
"I feel like I have the two best crew chiefs I could possibly have in this entire business," said Edwards, who vowed to put into practice the lessons he learned doing a shortened dual schedule last season.
"The biggest thing I learned is the value of being able to get all the track time you can and to talk with the crew chief as much as you can after each practice," Edwards said. "I talked to Biffle a little about it and he said the hardest part for him was having to leave right after a practice, to go to the other car and not be able to sit and talk.
"I'd say with that information I'll try my hardest to get the most out of every session that I can and to work with Bob and Brad to make the most of every minute we get on the track."
