Carl Edwards, right, talks with hic crew chief Bob Osborne during practice for the NASCAR Brickyard 400 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis.

Carl Edwards has spurned an offer from Joe Gibbs Racing to stay put with current team Roush Fenway Racing, The Associated Press has learned.

As the top free agent in NASCAR, Edwards has diligently researched all his options and appeared close to bolting for JGR. But a person familiar with the negotiations said Edwards has agreed to a multiyear contract extension to remain with Roush. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the deal will not be announced until later Thursday morning.

The current Sprint Cup Series points leader was under increasing pressure to make a decision, even though he was steadfast in negotiating privately and keeping the process out of the press.

But four-time series champion Jeff Gordon said last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that there was no way the contract talks weren’t a distraction to Edwards, and Edwards had no chance to win the title should he decide to leave Roush.

Roush teammate Greg Biffle then intimated Edwards was leaving the organization and needed to make the announcement so RFR could make its plans without him.

It was believed Edwards was leaning toward moving to JGR at that point, only to do an about face this week and pick Roush.

Edwards has been with Roush since 2002, when the team gave him his break in NASCAR. It came in the Trucks Series, but Edwards was in Cup by 2004 as a late-season replacement for Jeff Burton.

He was a four-time Cup winner the next season and a bona fide NASCAR star, backflipping off the winning car in celebration of each victory.