NASCAR: Will Pending Driver Announcement Change Dynamics in Cup Racing?

Stealth moves under veiled secrecy have been underway in the top series of NASCAR, as perhaps one of the biggest announcements by a driver appears imminent.

Carl Edwards appears to be the hot ticket to the the silly season theater as speculation abounds that he will leave Roush Fenway Racing and join the stable of Joe Gibbs Racing.

It is no secret that four teams are the goal of the premier team owners because it makes for a more efficient operation, and JGR is one of those planning to expand with the proper opportunity.

Opportunity may be knocking really hard on the door of the place that houses drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.

Edwards has been the king of the points this season, having been in the No. 1 slot much of this year and currently occupying that position.

He only has one win, compared to Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick who have secured three wins and rank in the top five of the point standings.

Edwards has 10 top-five, 13 top-10 and no DNF's this season. At least in his mind, he is the one to knock five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson off his perch.

As the driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford for Roush Fenway Racing relishes his status as the No. 1 free agent, many wonder why he hasn't accepted the offer from Jack Roush that has been on the table.

The answer may be that Home Depot, who currently sponsors Joey Logano at JGR is seeking a powerhouse driver to go against the other home improvement sponsor, Lowe's and their driver Johnson.

Logano was thrust into the seat of the the famous orange and white No. 20 formerly occupied by Tony Stewart at JGR. Logano sits 18th in points with no wins, three top-five and five top-10 finishes for 2011.

Home Depot is hardly getting the return from Logano for the significant sponsorship dollars they put forth in NASCAR racing.

Should Edwards announce his move to Joe Gibbs Racing, he would be assured of a package from Home Depot that would be worth many millions more than any deal with Aflac and RFR.

Edwards has been with Roush Fenway Racing since he came into the Nextel (Sprint Cup) Series in 2004. Loyalty sometimes can be a casualty of opportunity and big bucks.

In the dynamics of NASCAR Cup racing, the potential move of Edwards would leave a gaping hole at Roush Fenway Racing and also in the cache of drivers for Ford Motor Company.

A move to JGR by Edwards would also make for interesting dynamics with his new fellow drivers, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Logano as competition gets amped up to new levels in the organization.

Edwards would more than likely get Greg Zipadelli as his new crew chief at JGR. "Zippy" is comfortable with high-profile drivers, having been with Tony Stewart for many years.

Danger always lurks with major announcements by a driver. Should Edwards announce a move to Joe Gibbs Racing as soon as the Brickyard 400, it could upset the balance of the team at RFR.

Edwards, his crew chief, Bob Osborne, and the team have to maintain momentum toward the Chase and certainly through the Chase all the way to the Homestead-Miami race at season's end.

All this speculation needs to play out soon, sponsors need to know where to place valuable dollars. Jack Roush remains in limbo knowing the loss of Edwards at RFR is a really big deal.

Edwards has already said he will cut back on his Nationwide racing in 2012 to concentrate on Cup racing and his family, according to a scroll on the Speed Channel.

We shall soon see if the sometimes controversial Edwards, known for retaliation, back flips and joining the pit of fans around the flag stand after a win, may be on the verge of changing team dynamics in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Stay tuned to see if Edwards will be driving the highly recognized No. 20 at Joe Gibbs Racing or if he will remain loyal to Jack Roush and continue driving the No. 99. Odds are the news will break at Indianapolis next week.