Contracts, Sponsorship and the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season   April 23, 2008 Matthew Blaylock - SCR   Eight races into the 2008 Sprint Cup season and their are already drivers that have to answer questions about 2009.With the likes of Carl Edwards contract with Roush Fenway Racing being up at the end of the season, to Bobby Labonte being in the last year of his contract with Petty Enterprises one has to wonder what are some of the other things we can expect as the 2008 Sprint Cup season pushes ahead and the 2009 season begins.   Carl Edwards:   Carl Edwards seems to be in the catbird seat heading into contract negotiations with Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards already has three wins on the young season and is easily a marketable driver for Roush Fenway Racing. Edwards could almost name his own price to drive for any team and most sponsors would be happy to have him.   Recent reports are current sponsor Office Depot is in negotiations with Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Fenway Racing is in negotiations with Edwards. If Edwards does not re-sign with Roush, sponsorship for that No. 99 Ford may be hard to find. If Edwards does re-sign with Roush, and Office Depot does not reports are that UPS could be waiting in the wings. Jeff Burton:   Jeff Burton and his Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team have been looking for a sponsor for the No. 31 Chevrolet for over a year now. Ever since AT&T merged with Cingular there has been a stink about sponsorship on the No. 31 Chevrolet.   Burton has not hurt his cause in trying to lure a new sponsor to the table for his team. He currently sits atop the Sprint Cup points standings and he made the Chase in 2007. Even with all the controversy about his current sponsor and NASCAR primary sponsor Sprint Burton has held his hand steady.   If UPS does not adorn the hood of that No. 99 Ford driven by Edwards in 2009, word is Burton would be their second choice.   David Reutimann:   If UPS does decide to jump ship from Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) for the greener pastures at Roush Fenway Racing or RCR, where would that leave the struggling No. 44 Toyota team and driver David Reutimann?   Reutimann is not as young as Edwards or experienced as Burton but he has proven he can keep the fenders on a car and keep it in the top 35 in owner points. He has done just that twice already this year with the No. 00 and the No. 44. So Reutimann has proving that he will give any potential sponsor that all mighty time on the television that all sponsors seek.   Advertise on StockCar Review, SCR has advertising rates starting as low as $12.00 per month. Email us at scr@stockcarreview.com for more information.       Bobby Labonte:   Bobby Labonte could end up being the hottest free agent during the 2008 season. The 2000 Cup Champion has not forgotten how to drive a car; it is more like teams have forgotten how to put a competitive car underneath him.   General Mills has already announced that it will not return to the No. 43 Petty Enterprises Dodge after 2008. So the burning question has to be why would Bobby Labonte return? General Mills is happy with Labonte and it is already known that General Mills is heading to a fourth RCR team in 2009, if Labonte wants to end his long winless drought it might be wise for him to follow General Mills to that fourth RCR team.   Either way though Labonte will have a ride in 2009, as Petty Ent. have a contract waiting for Labonte’s signature.   These are only four drivers that have early season questions about their 2009 season, as with every season we can all expect more.   Questions, Comments: Email Matt