NASCAR is a sport where a driver, no matter how talented he is, dependent on a large group of people who work towards making him the champion. In the longer run, they are attached to their teams and sometimes, remain ever grateful for the same. And, Carl Edwards is no different. His record spoke for itself—he was at the peak of his career when he made a move that stunned the NASCAR world. Edwards announced his retirement just before the 2017 Cup Series season.

Walking away when championships were still within reach seemed almost unthinkable. But for Edwards, the decision was deeply personal. Rather than returning to the tracks, he chose to step away entirely, dedicating his time to family and life beyond racing. While most team owners would have resisted losing a top driver just before a new Cup Series season, Joe Gibbs took a different approach.

Edwards and his lucrative career with Joe Gibbs 

It was roughly around the year 2014 that rumors were floating of Carl Edwards joining Joe Gibbs Racing and signing a multi-million dollar deal. However, his start at JGR wasn’t a cakewalk. He wrecked late in the Daytona 500 and struggled in Atlanta. But this didn’t define the strong character he exhibited. Edwards bounced back with a dramatic performance in Las Vegas, battling for the lead until he was caught in a major collision with Kasey Kahne.

One person who stood by him throughout his journey was team owner Joe Gibbs. As he took on the induction into the Hall of Fame, an emotional Edwards expressed his gratitude, saying, “And then walking in your office, Coach Gibbs… When I told you what I wanted to do, you jumped up from behind the desk and said, ‘Is this important to you? I got your back, and I am gonna make this happen for you.’ And you didn’t have to say that. You changed my family’s life, you gave me permission to go do something that I needed to do… Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you.”

Edwards’ breakthrough moment came at the Coca-Cola 600, where he executed a late-race charge to take the checkered flag, ending his 31-race winless streak. That momentum carried into the summer. The Joe Gibbs driver went on to secure pole positions at New Hampshire and the Brickyard 400.

For the 2016 season, Edwards teamed up with new crew chief Dave Rogers and found immediate success. He dominated the Food City 500 at Bristol, leading 276 of 500 laps and securing victory from pole position. At Richmond, he made history by executing the track’s first-ever last-lap pass for the win, overtaking teammate Kyle Busch. Edwards remained a title contender throughout the season. He won the rain-shortened race at Texas, locking himself into the Championship 4 at Homestead.

As he reflected on his career during his induction speech, Edwards shared his thoughts on the 2016 season, saying, “We won 19 races as a team. Homestead has been one of the best runs of my life. I don’t care that we don’t have that championship. I knew with 20 laps to go in that race what it felt like to have a championship team. That restart didn’t work out, and this is something that team gives gratitude. This may sound strange, but I am so grateful that we didn’t win that championship. Because it gave me time to go home and think about a few things. I looked at it, I looked at my career—it was beyond the wildest of my dreams. I didn’t know my kids.” Balancing personal and professional responsibilities is on the harder side of things for most sportsmen. Edwards’ words express how a man on track feels much more than the pressure of winning. But, the season finale he talks about is something worth remembering!

At the 2016 season finale in Homestead-Miami, Edwards was in a position to battle for his first Cup title. However, a late-race restart led to contact with Joey Logano. This sent him crashing and ending his championship hopes. Ultimately, Jimmie Johnson took the title for that season. Edwards walked away from NASCAR, announcing his surprise retirement in early 2017. His journey came full circle when he re-emerged at Darlington Raceway. Two years ago, he was honored as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers—another well-deserved title after his 445 premier series starts, securing 28 wins, two runner-up finishes, and 128 top-five finishes.

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Edwards makes nervous submission during induction

When Carl Edwards joined NASCAR, the sport was at an all-time high, making it very difficult for newcomers to debut and thrive in the field. He started from the tracks while being a teacher and handing out business cards which were self-promotional. His cards read, “If you’re looking for a driver, you’re looking for me.”  His promotions paved off and his career started in 2002 along with a debut in the Truck series holding hands with MB Motorsports. 

However, the way he resigned was not ideal. Citing the same, Edwards agreed that he never thought NASCAR would call him back, and that too for an induction into the world of NASCAR Hall of Fame. He said, “I didn’t think NASCAR would invite me back like this. When I came to Darlington last year, I was truly nervous about the reception and the welcome. I mean, that and then this, I understand what the NASCAR family is about. But for me, it was after 2016, that was a good season, it was almost a perfect season. I got home and I thought man, I’m so satisfied with my career, it’s so wonderful and I needed to be a father and a husband… But I just can’t believe that NASCAR welcomed me back.”

Edwards’ words carried the weight of a man who had walked away at his peak, only to realize the depth of what he had left behind. As he stood on that stage, no longer an outsider but forever a part of NASCAR’s legacy, the nervousness gave way to gratitude, a quiet acknowledgment that some doors never truly close.