“If you’re looking for a driver, you’re looking for me.” Carl Edwards wasn’t exactly shy about making himself known in NASCAR. Long before his 72 national series victories, backflip celebrations, and near-championship runs, Edwards was just a young racer hustling for an opportunity. His relentless drive led him to Roush Fenway Racing in 2005, where he turned raw talent into an unforgettable NASCAR career. Yet, at the peak of his NASCAR career, Edwards announced his retirement, leaving fans shocked. Now, eight years after that sudden walk away, Edwards makes a dream return to the sport
Fast forward to 2025, Carl Edwards is officially a NASCAR Hall of Fame. With 28 Cup Series wins, and a 2007 Xfinity Series championship, Edwards’ induction is a celebration of a career filled with brilliance. But for the man himself, the honor comes with a challenge. Ahead of the prestigious event, Edwards revealed his biggest problem going into the event.
Carl Edwards gets his much-awaited due
Carl Edwards’ Hall of Fame induction marks the return of a driver who walked away at just 36 years old. However, this comes with a challenge, i.e. how to fit years of gratitude into an eight-minute speech. When Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports asked if he could keep his speech within the time limit, his reaction was priceless.
“Okay, so this is so great. You guys know me so well. Bob, that’s exactly the biggest problem right now. You nailed it, that’s it. So, I think—yeah, Amanda’s not in here, but there’s no way I’m sticking to the eight minutes. It’s impossible. I mean, how am I going to do that? I got so many people to thank, and I’ve got it down to maybe like 13 minutes. But I ramble. So, there’s no telling what’s going to happen. It’s going to be hard,” said Edwards.
Notably, for Edwards, this night is about more than just personal achievement. It’s about the people who helped him get here. From his first NASCAR team owner, Jack Roush, to the crew chiefs, engineers, and mechanics who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, Edwards knows he didn’t do this alone. He was one of the most consistent drivers of his generation, but championships always seemed to slip through his fingers. In 2005, he won both Xfinity and Cup Series races in a weekend sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He continued to level up his performance and in 2007 won the Xfinity championship. However, ahead of the event, Edwards gave a teaser of his speech with a special message to NASCAR.
Anyone who knows Carl Edwards can predict he won’t stick to the 8-minute time limit tonight for inductee speeches for the NASCAR Hall of Fame (8p ET, NASCAR channel on Tubi). What he had to say about that: pic.twitter.com/hboKGGxafY
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 7, 2025
While speaking with Carla Gebehart, the 45-year-old expressed his feelings. “It’s hard. I’m gonna try to put it into words with the speech tomorrow night. But it’s difficult because, for me, it’s been 30 years. I was 15 years old and dreamed of driving one of these race cars. Then I got to do it. Then I left the sport, and I thought, ‘Man, I’d really given up this and these relationships.’ And for NASCAR to invite me back, it’s truly hit home that NASCAR is a family. And they let me be a part of it. So really special night,” he said.
However, Edwards’ Cup Series career brought more heartbreak than success. In 2008, he won nine races but fell short of the championship, finishing a close second behind Jimmie Johnson. His bad luck continued in 2011 when he lost the title to Tony Stewart in a tiebreaker. Five years later, in 2016, he was finally on the verge of winning it all. Leading the race with just 10 laps to go, his bad luck struck again as Joey Logano wrecked into him. He crashed out only to see Jimmie Johnson winning his record seventh title.
Despite these near-misses, Edwards still managed to win 28 Cup Series races, including major events like the Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500. His backflip celebrations became a fan favorite, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting drivers of his time. Now, as he prepares to take the stage at the Hall of Fame ceremony, he wants to make sure every person who played a role in his career gets recognized.
Will Carl Edwards make a NASCAR comeback?
While Edwards is focused on his Hall of Fame induction, one of NASCAR’s biggest stars is trying to bring him back to the track. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson wants Edwards to fill in for him in this year’s All-Star Race. Larson, who is set to race in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 doubleheader, made a public appeal for the same.
Speaking to Bob Pockrass, Larson had said, “I’ve not talked to him, and Bob, you can blow this out there. He’s probably not going to see it anyway, but I would love to have Carl Edwards do it. That’s my pick this year. I think it would make a huge splash in the sport and be great. Carl, if you happen to see this, please jump in the No. 5 car. We want you.”
However, Edwards made it clear that he would not like to make a comeback. “No. Actually, it was cool. My friend Chris Santusi sent me that. Really, I mean, it’s an honor. I mean, he’s [Kyle Larson] one of the fastest guys that ever tried one of these cars. And for him to say that I don’t know if he’s messing with me. I’m likely to crash a car if I were to get in one right now, but that is a kind of interesting,” he says.
Notably, ever since his shock retirement in 2016, Edwards has stayed away from the sport. Unlike other retired drivers who have returned for one-off races or analyst roles, he has largely kept his distance. Fans have long hoped for a comeback, but Edwards has remained firm in his decision to step away from racing. Will Carl Edwards change his mind to fill in for Kyle Larson?
The post “It’s Impossible”: Carl Edwards Lets Out His ‘Biggest Problem’ at NASCAR Hall of Fame Ceremony appeared first on EssentiallySports.
