“I don’t have a life raft I’m jumping onto, I’m just jumping. And in a way, that makes it easier. This is a pure, simple, personal decision,” Carl Edwards said during his shocking retirement press conference on January 11, 2017. At just 37 years old and still at the peak of his career, Edwards walked away from NASCAR with one year left on his contract, leaving fans and the racing world stunned.
Though he cited reasons like health, family, and satisfaction with his career, recent revelations suggest a deeper, more complex story behind his decision to step away. Now, nearly a decade later, Edwards has finally peeled back the curtain on what truly led to his stunning exit. And the truth? It’s far more unsettling than anyone imagined.
The race that changed everything
Carl Edwards’ NASCAR career was nothing short of remarkable. Over 445 Cup Series starts between 2004 and 2016, he secured 28 wins and finished in the top 10 an impressive 220 times. He was also a two-time runner-up for the Cup Series championship, narrowly losing to Tony Stewart in 2011 on a tiebreaker. Despite coming agonizingly close to clinching the title multiple times, a Cup championship eluded him. However, his abrupt retirement from the sport left everyone shocked and puzzled.
The 2016 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway had been the moment of reckoning. Edwards, in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, was in prime position to win his first Cup Series championship. But as the night unraveled, so did his belief in his place in the sport. “There were so many crazy things that happened,” Edwards recalled in a conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. “My motorhome broke down, had all sorts of issues going on at home that were very strange. Danica [Patrick] and I almost wrecked in practice,” he further added. But despite the chaos, he had the fastest car. It felt like destiny was on his side until things took a bizarre turn. A late-race pit stop error or mistake on his end suddenly put his title hopes in jeopardy.
Carl Edwards reflects on the caution that ultimately cost him the 2016 Championship.
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Edwards had dominated much of the race. However, with just four laps remaining, a controversial caution flag, dubbed by some as a ‘phantom caution,’ erased his lead and set up a chaotic two-lap sprint to the finish. On the restart, Edwards attempted to block Joey Logano but miscalculated. This resulted in a violent crash as Edwards went spinning into the inside wall. The impact was severe. His car was subsequently struck by Kasey Kahne, causing it to lift off the ground.
Physically, Edwards emerged from the crash without significant injuries. Mentally, the incident had profound implications. Edwards reflected on the crash as a pivotal moment, leading him to reassess his career and life priorities. “I was able to get the message that I did not belong in a race car,” Edwards explained. “That’s not what I was supposed to be doing with my life,” he realized.
His quest for a Cup Series Championship had been one that suffered heartbreak in the past as well. In 2011, Edwards was the most consistent driver for the entire season, but he could not stop Tony Stewart’s terrorizing playoff run. Stewart won three of the last four races, to tie Edward on points and took the title on the race wins tiebreaker as Edwards could only amass one victory along with his 19 top-5 finishes. However, that wasn’t even the first time he experienced championship heartache.
In 2008, Edwards was fresh off an Xfinity Series Championship in 2007 while also competing in the Cup Series. He rocketed up the standings that year with a career-best 9 wins for the season. However, the Chase format was his downfall. After the points reset ahead of the ‘Chase,’ Jimmie Johnson turned into a beast. Johnson finished in the top 15 in every single race, winning three of them and edging Edwards out to win his third consecutive championship. So, in 2016, when Edwards lost it for a third time, he made peace with it instead of lamenting the hat trick of heartbreaks.
Stepping away from NASCAR wasn’t about giving up. It was about reclaiming control over his life. Now, as he enters the sport again, he does it to a crowd of fans that have been eagerly awaiting his return.
Carl Edwards makes a return to NASCAR
Carl Edwards is returning to NASCAR! But before you get all excited, let us inform you that he will not be returning as a driver. But as a broadcasting analyst for Amazon Prime Video. This marks his first major involvement with the sport since his retirement in 2016, aside from his appearance as a guest analyst on FOX in 2023. Edwards will provide pre and post-race analysis, starting with the Coca-Cola 600 in May.
“We’re thrilled to introduce Carl, Trevor, Kim, and Marty to our NASCAR on Prime Video team,” Alex Strand, Sr. coordinating producer at Prime Video, said with excitement. Prime Video will stream five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races from May 25 to June 22. As a Hall of Famer with multiple Cup Series wins, Edwards brings invaluable experience to the broadcast team. He will join Danielle Trotta and Corey LaJoie in the studio, offering insights that fans have missed since his retirement.
Edwards’ return to NASCAR, albeit in a different capacity, is welcomed by fans and the racing community. Fans have been asking for Edwards’ return with a microphone ever since his brief stint for FOX Sports at the 75 Greatest Drivers list celebration at Darlington Raceway in 2023. His upcoming involvement is seen as a positive step for Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage, which aims to elevate the viewing experience with authentic analysis. We wish Edwards success in his new role, hoping his expertise will enrich the NASCAR broadcast experience.
Carl Edwards’ return is a testament to his enduring connection with the sport, and fans look forward to his unique perspectives and insights throughout the tenure.
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