Who said the silly season window has been closed with all teams concluding business for 2025? Although the chartered teams played their role, it’s the open entries for the Daytona 500 that are making all the noise. If we are to go by the latest rumors, it seems like future Hall of Famer Carl Edwards could mark his return to Cup racing at the Daytona 500. This development is indeed a big surprise given that the veteran driver has always remained firm on his stance about not returning to competitive racing.

This update raises a couple of questions for a lot of race fans. Firstly, what persuaded the former Roush Racing driver to script a comeback run? And second, does this rumor have any basis? Well, the source seem to be legit, but going by Edwards’ past statements, it is hard to believe that he will make a U-turn and compete at Daytona International Speedway. It was Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s crew chief, Mike Kelley who sent the racing community into a frenzy hinting that Edwards could be next in line to make an announcement for Daytona 500.

“I’m expecting Cousin Carl to make an announcement tomorrow that he’s attempting to make the @DAYTONA 500! This years duels are getting exciting!.” He shared this update on X.

It has to be noted that Edwards had cut himself off from NASCAR after his retirement in 2016. The only reason why he’s back in the picture is because he’s been inducted into the HOF, and he’s also open to serving as an ambassador for the sport and promoting NASCAR racing. “I got to live my greatest, wildest dreams as a kid. It’s not something that I did, and it’s done. This sport lives on, the spirit of everyone’s striving and trying to be the best they can and competing, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it while I was,” Edwards said to NASCAR.

So this news does come as a surprise given that Carl Edwards has time and again stated that he isn’t open to the idea of returning to racing. But back in 2023, he dropped a hint about his potential comeback, stating, “I’m not planning on doing any driving. (The Cup Series) is the tip of the spear. These guys are so good that I would be terribly slow, so I’d have to prep a lot. Seriously, that’s the truth. But I’ll tell you this, if it creeps in and it’s something we wanna go do, then I promise you I’ll give it a 100%.”

Ardent Carl Edwards fans wanted this speculation to come true, whereas others highlighted major hurdles to this dream comeback story.

Can Carl Edwards really make his NASCAR comeback? Fans have their say

MBM Motorsports previously had linked up with veteran driver Mike Wallace. However, with NASCAR’s putting Wallace’s dream run on a halt, the team is now desperately looking for a new driver. Although this is a far-fetched theory, this race fan is starting to connect the dots and thinks that Edwards could be driving for Carl Long’s new rebranded team, Garage 66. “What if it’s Carl Edwards driving the Carl’s Jr Garage 66 for Carl Long.”

There was a bit of confusion among the race fans regarding the identity of the Carl mentioned by Kelley. Edwards also goes by the nickname Cousin Carl, whereas there’s also Carl Long, the owner of the open team trying to enter the Daytona 500. However, fans were hoping that it would be pretty exciting to see the former Roush Racing driver competing in a NASCAR event. “I’m assuming “Cousin Carl” is referring to Carl Long. If it’s Carl Edwards i will spontaneously combust with joy.”

Back in 2016, he made it to the Championship 4 race, and he was the favorite among the 4 drivers to clinch the title. But as fate would have it, he found himself on the bitter end of things as Joey Logano crashed into Edwards on a restart with 10 laps to go at Homestead. Little did anyone know that this would be his last race in NASCAR as he dropped a shocking retirement announcement. Therefore, the mere thought of Edwards getting back in the race car is too much to take in for his ardent fans. “Don’t give me hope like that…”

Edwards knew the risks involved in competing at the NASCAR level, and the potential for life-threatening injuries played a part in his early retirement. However, his fans felt that he had a lot more to offer to NASCAR and should have had another attempt to clinch the championship. He is labeled as one of the best drivers to have not won the biggest prize in NASCAR racing. This is why the mere potential of his return had this fan in disbelief. “Can no one else see that this is clearly a joke? Feel like I’m going insane here.”

Now, there were a few who brought up the possibilities of how NASCAR would deal with this situation differently with Mike Wallace’s judgment. Like Wallace, Edwards has been away from competitive racing, and NASCAR could deny his request to compete at the Daytona 500. A surprising decision by NASCAR could give birth to a new controversy. “Would he even be allowed to. Or would they do to him what they did to Mike Wallace.”

Without an official confirmation by the driver or any of the teams, it is hard to suggest if Carl Edwards is going to be back in NASCAR.