With the Daytona 500 just around the corner, NASCAR’s rumor mill is in overdrive. Speculation about comebacks is everywhere—Martin Truex Jr. is all set to come back for the ‘Great American Race’ after retiring as a full-time driver, Jimmie Johnson still has a foot in the game and will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 too. But the real wild card is potentially none other than the former fittest man in NASCAR – Carl Edwards. And he’s in the spotlight thanks to none other than Kyle Larson.

Yes, Larson—the uber-talented 2021 Cup series champion who refuses to be confined to just one discipline—has thrown a curveball that’s got everyone talking. He wants Edwards to step in and drive his car for a practice session. And Edwards? Well, his four-word response is pure Carl—equal parts respect, humor, and a touch of that classic mystery.

Kyle Larson’s big ask: The double and a wild card ride

Kyle Larson loves a challenge, and in 2025, he’s taking on one of the biggest ones yet again—running both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. It’s a grueling feat, one that only a few legends have attempted. His attempt in 2024 was marred by bad weather but that won’t stop him from giving it another go this year. But there’s a catch: while he’s battling it out at Indy, his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ride will be sitting idle for the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

That’s where Carl Edwards comes in. Larson, always up for a bold move, publicly floated the idea of Edwards stepping in for practice. “I would love to have Carl Edwards do it,” Larson told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. “He’s one of the greatest drivers of all time, and it’d be awesome to see him back in a car, even if it’s just for practice.”

For Edwards, the request is both flattering and a little nerve-wracking. “Okay, so there’s two sides, right?” Edwards mused. “There’s the ‘Oh my gosh, Kyle Larson’—I mean, he’s the baddest driver in the world. I really think he is… That car, that team, it would be so much fun to do the race. But then the realist in me is like, you haven’t driven a race car for eight years, you’ll screw it all up and it’ll be terrible. So I don’t know what to do about that. Hey Kyle, you’re messing with me! I’m gonna get ya back one way or another. No, really, it’s an honor.”

Larson is one of the best drivers in the Cup Series right now and has a stacked resume. With three Chili Bowl titles to go with the 2021 Cup Series Championship and a Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona victory in 2015, there’s a good reason Edwards holds him in such high regard. On the other hand, Edwards hasn’t raced since 2016, and the last time he did, the memories were bittersweet.

Carl Edwards was 10 laps away from his first Championship the last time he drove a car in the Cup Series. 2016, Homestead Miami. In his 13th year in the Cup Series, Edwards was finally on the brink of a crowning achievement, leading the final race of the season with the title in sight. However, within the blink of an eye, it all came crashing down. Edwards was involved in an incident with Joey Logano, which ended his race and his title bid in dramatic fashion. Edwards came up short, in his last-ever attempt, as he chose to retire from racing after 2016. However, he holds no regrets, saying, “I don’t regret leaving.” But added that given his legacy and admiration from fans, “I could have probably done it better.”

When it comes to making a return, he is hesitant at the moment. “It’s never a total no,” Edwards admitted. “I like options. That is kinda interesting, but I’d have to go run the sim or something like that and see if I can even get around [North Wilkesboro Speedway]. But nobody [at Hendrick Motorsports] officially talked to me about it. It’s no for now, but I’d drive a sim and check it out.”

Would he be rusty? Absolutely, and he knows it. “I’m very likely to crash a car if I were to get in one right now,” he joked. Still, even the smallest hint of a return has fans buzzing.

Carl Edwards’ Hall of Fame moment: A speech to remember

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While the prospect of Kyle Larson’s offer has everyone talking, Carl Edwards has also been busy making headlines for something else—his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The 45-year-old Missouri native, famous for his backflip celebrations and 28 Cup Series wins, received the honor alongside Ricky Rudd and Ralph Moody.

But there was one thing that had Edwards sweating: his speech. “You guys know me so well,” he laughed in a chat with Bob Pockrass. “Staying under the eight-minute limit? That’s the biggest problem right now. There’s no way I’m sticking to eight minutes. I’ve got it down to maybe 13 minutes, but I ramble, so there’s no telling what’s gonna happen.”

His “eight-minute” speech stretched to 20, and nobody had any qualms with it. He spoke from the heart, touching on his dirt-track beginnings, his abrupt departure from the sport, and everything in between. “I thought I was truly turning my back on this whole sport,” he admitted, reflecting on his shocking 2017 retirement. “But what you’ve done here is let me win both ways.”

Perhaps the most powerful part of his speech came when he spoke about his discovery of his faith in life post-racing. “I realized that all that time in the car, all the people that loved me, all the amazing opportunities… I wasn’t alone. God is real.” By the time he wrapped up, there weren’t many dry eyes in the room. Once again, Carl Edwards reminded everyone why he’s more than just a driver—he’s a legend.

So, will we see Carl Edwards in a NASCAR car again, even if just for a practice session? The door isn’t completely closed. But for now, he seems happy enjoying his Hall of Fame moment, reflecting on his career, and savoring life away from the weekly grind.