AFLAC full time next year on the 99

Office Depot to MWR? UPDATE 2 AFLAC to be primary for #99?: hearing Office Depot, currently the sponsor for #99-Carl Edwards, is considering a move to Michael Waltrip Racing with driver #00-Michael McDowell. UPS has been rumored as a possible sponsor for Edwards and Roush Racing in 2009.(5-8-2008)
UPDATE Exclusive negotiation period ends between Roush & Office Depot: The exclusive negotiating period between Office Depot and Roush Fenway Racing in regards to sponsorship of Carl Edwards beyond his season has expired, Office Depot Public Relations Director Mindy Kramer confirmed Friday afternoon. "We're looking at options for 2009, including Carl and other things at Roush ­ nothing to report yet," Kramer said at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "When you're talking about a significant investment, it's difficult to get those things done in a short period of time," said Kramer, who declined to say whether Office Depot had started talking to other teams besides Roush Fenway. "Carl was not signed until almost the very end of our period of exclusive talks, so that was a hindrance to us being able to have some meaningful discussions. How do you have meaningful discussions with a team when he may have ended up somewhere else?" The company, which has official NASCAR status as well, wants to stay in the driver sponsorship side of the sport. "We like this sport; we don't want to drag this out," Kramer said. "It's an important decision, and there's a lot to go into it. We don't pay attention to the rumors and speculation out there. ... We just try to focus on what's going to be right for our business in 2009 and beyond. Obviously we've had a great four-year relationship with Carl and have had tremendous success." Office Depot sponsors the car for 23 races, and other companies, including some Office Depot business partners such as Aflac, fill out the rest of the schedule.(SceneDaily)(5-17-2008)
UPDATE 2 - AFLAC signs to be Edwards full sponsor in 2009? hearing that AFLAC, already a sponsor of Carl Edwards, also had an exclusive window of negotiation once Office Depot passed on sponsorship with Roush Fenway and AFLAC has signed to become the new full-time sponsor of the #99 Ford in 2009.(5-19-2008) Comment here