Leaving the sport you’ve been in for decades is never easy, especially when the biggest title in the series keeps eluding you. For Carl Edwards, however, the decision was never about a championship. Edwards simply walked into Joe Gibbs Racing‘s office and asked to be released from the final year of his contract. Fans kept asking for a return to NASCAR, and Carl Edwards acquiesced, just not in the way the community expected.

After a brief cameo on NASCAR Inside the Playoffs, Carl Edwards revealed the real reason that inspired his involvement in NASCAR once again.

Carl Edwards feels at home in his second phase of NASCAR

Eight years ago, as fans reeled from the heartbreak of Tony Stewart’s retirement plans, Carl Edwards planned his exit from the sport. His last race was certainly not easy to watch. Pitched in a heated race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Edwards’ championship hopes ended with just ten laps to go. Racing championship rival Joey Logano, the two crashed, resulting in Jimmie Johnson running away with the seventh title win of his career.

Some fans at the time believed the end to a shot at winning his only championship was enough for Carl Edwards to exit the sport. He made it absolutely clear, saying, “I may have been unclear, and I want to be explicit, that I did not leave the sport because of the way 2016 ended.” Carl Edwards stepped away from NASCAR due to the chaotic schedule, which kept him from his family. Now, eight years into retirement, he’s making a brief return—not to racing, but in a cameo on NASCAR Inside the Playoffs.

Addressing what motivated his return, Carl Edwards made a candid statement to the NASCAR world. He said, “That’s just been amazing. The sport has welcomed me back in such a way. It’s the first time that I’ve truly felt that family and that’s really why I’m here. It’s just fun.” 

Carl Edwards’ return to NASCAR comes without the pressure of chasing wins each weekend. After stepping away to focus on family, he’s now making a brief comeback—but in a different role, with a cameo on NASCAR Inside the Playoffs.

Edwards’ career kept him constantly between the racetrack and his Missouri home, where he chose to keep his family life private and separate from the NASCAR spotlight. Now, after eight years of retirement, Edwards continues to enjoy life on his farm, though fans wonder if his cameo hints at a future return to the sport.

Will Edwards return to racing?

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Carl Edwards’ last race in NASCAR left fans with a sense of sadness. Losing his title in the last race due to a crash and his subsequent retirement announcement was a massive shock at the time, which was followed by Edwards taking up radio silence. Now that he is finally back taking NASCAR again, is a racing return on the table? Fans would certainly love it.

Similar to the offer he made to Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin offered an open seat to Carl Edwards, should the racing bug ever strike him again. “I just told him whenever he’s ready just let me know. Whenever you get that itch. I think he’s publicly stated many times until they put horsepower back in these cars I’m not doing it.” 

It seems like Carl Edwards, like a lot of other NASCAR Cup Series drivers, isn’t happy with the Next-Gen cars. A major chunk of the NASCAR community believes the Next-Gen cars have not reached the kind of entertaining racing Gen-6 cars often put on display. With Hamlin owning 23XI, a seat will always be available for Edwards should he wish to return, even for a single race.

Carl Edwards has firmly shut down any rumors of a NASCAR comeback. Watching as a fan has only deepened his appreciation for the sport. After achieving his childhood dream in a 14-year career with numerous wins and a Hall of Fame induction, Edwards is content enjoying the sport from the sidelines. He said, “The longer I’ve been away, I appreciate the sport more and more. Last year, just the honor of being part of those 75  drivers, it shocked me how much fun it was to come back to Darlington to be a part of that, and I guess what I’m trying to say is the longer I am away, the more I appreciate it.” 

Carl Edwards hasn’t let his NASCAR legacy fade. While enjoying a quiet life in Missouri, his $70 million net worth and piloting skills are being put to use in recent relief efforts. After Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Edwards partnered with Operation Airdrop and the Gideon Rescue Company, flying relief materials and rescuing stranded civilians. His contribution, along with NASCAR peers like Greg Ives, is Edwards’ way of giving back to the state that shaped his career, showing that even in retirement, he’s still supporting the NASCAR community.