Harrison Burton’s unexpected win at Daytona stirred up mixed reactions among NASCAR fans. Some were frustrated with the playoff format, as Burton secured a spot despite a lackluster season. But for many, it was exactly the kind of thrill NASCAR needed. Burton’s victory, after a challenging season, highlighted just how pivotal every race can be, reigniting the excitement and unpredictability that makes NASCAR so special.

One person who truly appreciated the moment was Carl Edwards, a veteran with 28 Cup Series wins to his name. Having felt the intensity of the playoffs firsthand before his retirement in 2016, he could relate to Burton’s journey. Famous for his signature backflips, Edwards made a rare appearance at the NASCAR circuits, reflecting on Burton’s win and what it meant to him. “Forgot the magic,” Carl Edwards confessed, but Burton’s win brought it all back.

Edwards’ career was nothing short of remarkable. Racing from 2004 to 2016, he achieved everything except a title—and even then, he came heartbreakingly close. Twice, in 2008 and 2011, he almost clinched the crown, with the latter year ending in a dramatic tie with Tony Stewart. Still, Carl Edwards walked away from the sport knowing he had accomplished everything he set out to, title or not. His legacy is one of perseverance, success, and a deep love for the sport—a legacy that Burton’s victory helped him remember and celebrate.

Over the years, he has been connected to NASCAR, but according to him, it didn’t feel the same. It was only when he spoke to the media recently that he revealed what helped him rekindle his love for the sport. Eric Estepp put out a video on X where Carl Edwards said, “You can get used to doing anything. You can’t forget the magic.” He explained how he put on the Daytona race on TV, and his son wanted to watch the end of the race.

Giving the very details of that day, he said, It was quite late, and his wife came down to ask everyone to sleep before getting captivated by the race and joining them. “Harrison Burton won that race,” said Edwards before describing the environment of the room. “I mean, the tension in the room, some amazing excitement. I look over, and my wife’s got tears in her eyes. My son’s pumped, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s what NASCAR is about.'”

Harrison Burton did turn his luck around with a thrilling final lap at Daytona, passing Kyle Busch in overtime to claim his first career victory and secure a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. The 23-year-old, who is losing his ride in the No. 21 Ford with Wood Brothers Racing next season, took the lead with a big push from Parker Retzlaff and now has signed to drive for AM Racing in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series. During the race, Busch made a late charge and forced Burton below the double-yellow line, but NASCAR ruled the contact led to Burton crossing, sparing him from a penalty.

It was the underdog win that moved the Burton Family and many more in the NASCAR community. Sharing the sentiment at his house, Carl Edwards concluded, “To see it the way I’ve been seeing it lately is pretty exciting for me. You can get used to it.” 

Although many fans did not like that Burton eliminated many drivers who performed better all season, Edwards and his family enjoyed the unpredictability of the situation. After doing everything that he wanted to do in the sport, Carl Edwards is happily retired, but it does not mean that he doesn’t miss the spot.

The reasons behind Carl Edwards’ early retirement

When Edwards decided to step down from racing at the age of 36, there was more than one reason he quit. In his recent interview, he said, “I do miss driving, but I got to drive and do just about everything I wanted to do in the sport.” Besides that, he has also mentioned in the past that he wants to retire when he is still young and healthy so he can do more in the future.

Having a family also added to the reason behind his retirement, as having a wife and kid is a full-time job. Juggling racing and his family started to get hectic for him, and he decided to pick what was more important to him. But as per sources, what really stuck with him was the 2016 title race. Carl Edwards was all in control at Homestead-Miami Speedway until a questionable caution was called with four laps remaining. It set up a late two-lap sprint to the finish, and Edwards wrecked on the restart, racing Joey Logano for the win.

Although he hasn’t won the Cup Series title, he decided that proving he is a champion was not that important to him. Despite not having a title, his larger-than-life personality got him tons of fans, and his celebratory black flips have left many in awe.

So the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a well-deserved one for him. When the announcement came, he was off the grid for hours, until his wife nudged him to check his phone. When Carl Edwards finally did, he was floored—he’d just been announced as one of the 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, joining the legendary Ricky Rudd.

Even nine days later, the news hadn’t fully sunk in. “I’m still overwhelmed,” a candid Edwards admitted.

“Definitely, I would have rather not have had a caution come out,” Carl Edwards added. “But, you never know the outcome of that, and like I’ve said, I wouldn’t change a thing….I think things would have been a lot different if we won that championship,” he further added, finally shutting all rumors around his early exit.

Even though there’s no title for him, he remains the NASCAR legend that he is. Considering the Burton story that Carl Edwards just revealed, do you stand with him in his definition of true NASCAR spirit?