Carl Edwards walked away from NASCAR in 2016, leaving fans stunned. He was at the top of his game, having nearly won the championship before suddenly retiring. Since then, rumors of his return have popped up year after year. But each time, Edwards has shut them down. Earlier this year, Kyle Larson tried to pull Edwards back in. Larson needed a substitute driver to handle his Cup car at North Wilkesboro during his attempt at The Double.

And Kyle Larson had only one name in mind: NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards. “I would love to have Carl Edwards do it. That’s my pick this year… Carl, if you see this, please jump in the No. 5 car. We want you,” Larson told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. Fans went crazy at the thought. But, Edwards crushed their hopes. “I mean, it’s an honor… (But) I’m likely to crash a car if I were to get in one right now,” he responded.

He left a tiny opening, saying he might try a simulator, but the answer was clear: Edwards had no plans to return. And yet, here we are. A new video featuring Edwards behind the wheel of a Cup car has sent the NASCAR community on X into chaos. Part-time Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie posted a video of Edwards sitting in his Cup car at the Rick Ware Racing garage. His caption? “I lost my ride.” It didn’t take long for fans to go wild.

Edwards had already been seen driving a Porsche with Trevor Bayne at Flatrock Motorclub earlier that day. Now, he was in LaJoie’s car at a Cup shop. It was enough to make anyone believe something was brewing. Adding to the mystery, Bayne tried to downplay the speculation. In one of his own videos, he said, “I’m not trying to start any rumors.” But NASCAR fans weren’t buying it. Edwards’s sudden presence around race cars—especially a Cup car—was too big to ignore.

One fan pointed out an interesting theory. “On his pod, Dale was trying to convince Carl to try out/run laps in the Cup car, so he’d be familiar with it for the broadcast job. Maybe he’s actually doing it.” It’s a valid argument. Edwards recently joined Amazon Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage team. As part of the new six-race broadcast lineup, he’ll provide post-race analysis alongside Corey LaJoie, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and others. Wouldn’t it make sense for him to get a feel for the Next-Gen car before speaking about it on live TV?

Notably, Rick Ware Racing isn’t exactly a powerhouse team, but it’s known for giving drivers a shot. If Edwards wanted to ease back into the Cup Series, this could be a low-pressure way to do it. The LaJoie situation adds another layer. Earlier this year, he turned down a competitive Truck Series ride, choosing instead to stick with a part-time Cup schedule. This might help him to get Edwards in for a race ahead of his broadcasting schedule. However, these are still speculations, and fans have mixed opinions.

Fan divided over Carl Edwards’s possible cup return!

Corey LaJoie’s latest social media post took NASCAR internet by storm. The speculations around Carl Edwards comeback left NASCAR internet divided. While some fans argued that this might be Edwards’ opportunity to learn about the Next-Gen car some took a sly dig at Rick Ware Racing and LaJoie. A user wrote, “Don’t worry, Corey. They’ll be looking for more pay drivers when the lawsuit starts.”

This comment took a direct dig at Rick Ware Racing which recently found itself in hot waters as Legacy Motor Club filled lawsuit against them. According to media reports the Jimmie Johnson led team bought a charter from Rick Ware who later denied going with the deal. Fans feel that the upcoming court battles might push RWR to have someone like Edwards in the seat who can bring sponsor money.

However, not everyone was thrilled with the idea of Edwards returning—especially if it was with a team like Rick Ware Racing. “I sure hope not… The thought of Carl Edwards finally coming back to the Cup Series only to run with a backmarker team like Rick Ware Racing makes me shudder,” writes a fan. Indeed, fans would rather see Edwards in a competitive car. A Rick Ware ride wouldn’t give him much of a chance to win, and some feel it would be a disappointing return.

One fan was bubbling with excitement at the tease of Carl Edwards back in a racecar and wrote on X, “Sir! No! Do not tease us like this!!!” Edwards has been teasing this entry ever since he admitted to trying out the simulator. But, after Edwards repeatedly denied rumors of a racing revival for nearly a decade since retirement, fans can’t handle the speculation anymore. It’s confirmation or nothing!

Meanwhile, there were some humorous posts also. “Well, if you’re going to lose your ride to anyone, it’s best it’s Carl!” a fan joked, referencing LaJoie’s misfortune. Some even took it a step further, saying, “Would be an instant top 10 running car with this change!” Notably, in the ongoing season, LaJoie and RWR are yet to break into the Top 20, which reflects the growing concern around their team. For now, fans will have to wait and see. Is Edwards just having fun before his broadcast debut, or is something bigger on the horizon? One thing’s for sure: he knows exactly how to keep the NASCAR world guessing.