“For almost three decades, we were side by side through every high and low, every celebration, and every challenge.” This wasn’t just a statement. For Jeff Gordon, it was a loss that he never wanted to bear. He didn’t just lose a workplace colleague, but a life-long friend when Jon Edwards passed away in April. The man who’d stuck by his side through his Cup Championships, his appearances on TV, and all of his races was gone. And it was a loss felt throughout the NASCAR world, best described by Gordon’s words. “He was one of the most loyal, hardworking, and selfless people I’ve ever known, and I will be forever grateful for his immeasurable impact on my life and my career. My heart is with Jon’s family and everyone who loved him. He was truly one of a kind.”
And as we roll out of the Memorial Day weekend, one special for Edwards, another NASCAR insider pays his tributes to Rick Hendrick’s PR champion.
NASCARCASM—the sport’s beloved satirical voice — wrote a post on X that left fans weeping. Reminiscing about his time with Edwards, he wrote, “The last time I spoke with Jon Edwards, someone had given him a book about navigating a cancer journey which said someone had hoped to get to my wife. We were gonna meet up either last week or this week at IMS so he could hand it off to me. That meet-up would have probably also included him checking in on me and my wife, catching up a bit, disagreements about the quality of In-N-Out burger, and some of his signature, good-natured ball-busting followed by that signature, wry grin of his.”
When we look at the work Edwards put in behind the scenes, you see there was a lot of effort, even for the small things. Once, in September 2001, when Rob Quiellen, a hard-core Jeff Gordon fan, wanted to bring his son to a race and meet Gordon, all attempts failed, until Jon Edwards came through. Edwards did it all. Garage passes, meeting Gordon, the whole works. Just to make the dream of a young boy come true. That’s the kind of person Edwards was. Despite the pressure of handling PR for a Cup Series winning star, he took a moment to make fans happy.
And even while doing this, Edwards made time to ensure all bases were covered, as the post emphasized. “He’d have been busy as hell, managing all aspects of the Double, but he’d have made time. I’m sure a ton of folks missed him even more this weekend than usual. But I was glad to see the aforementioned wry smile again.”
The last time I spoke with Jon Edwards, someone had given him a book about navigating a cancer journey which said someone had hoped to get to my wife.
We were gonna meet up either last week or this week at IMS so he could hand it off to me.
That meet-up would have probably… pic.twitter.com/glibGCaqTf
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) May 26, 2025
When Kyle Larson planned to run the Double once again this year, running both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, Edwards spearheaded the effort, working to manage the logistics of it all. When he took ill at Darlington, little did fans know how devastating an impact it would have on the sport. Edwards was a pioneer in NASCAR PR.
But despite this, he made time for people. The reason? Well, as Edwards put it, “We don’t see enough go into the media center and cultivate relationships. I love having those discussions outside the transporter. I love going into the media center and just sitting down and we can just have a discussion, and all of a sudden a story pops out of that discussion.” And it clearly had an impact. “Jon made you feel like you were the hero, even when he’d just pulled an all-nighter,” Kyle Larson noted.
His gestures in the sport, on the track, and off it, continue to be relevant even today. Remember when Jeff Gordon secured his 76th win back in 2007 and flew an Earnhardt Sr. tribute flag? That was all Edwards’ plan! For over a decade, he orchestrated Hendrick Motorsports‘ “600 Miles of Remembrance” program, ensuring fallen soldiers’ names adorned car windshields during Memorial Day races. But Edwards pushed beyond symbolism: he connected drivers like Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott directly with Gold Star families, transforming tributes into visceral human connections.
And who would know this better than Rick Hendrick and the rest of the team, who sent a farewell message for their friend. “Above all, Jon was a kind and thoughtful person who carried a genuine passion for our industry, our organization and his many teammates and friends. Our thoughts are with Jon’s family and all who are grieving this tremendous loss. He will be deeply missed.”
While HMS was forced to do its first 600 Miles of Remembrance without Edwards, they carried on strong in memory of their fallen soldier. Let’s see how it unfolded.
How the 600 Miles of Remembrance program went at the Coca-Cola 600
11 years on from the start of the tradition, the 600 Miles of Remembrance continued this time at the Coca-Cola 600, and while HMS missed Jon Edwards, the man who spearheaded their effort every year, it didn’t keep the team from showing up in full force. The tradition involves placing the name of a fallen soldier with their ranking on the windshield instead of the driver’s name.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman‘s No. 48 carried the name of Hospital Corpsman Second Class Michael Richard Kempel, recipient of the Silver Star by the President of the United States, on the special red, white, and blue livery. Talking about it, Bowman said, “The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the most meaningful races of the year because of how deeply it honors our military. From pre-race ceremonies to the moment of silence, everything is built around showing respect and gratitude to those who’ve served — and especially to those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s bigger than racing — it’s about honoring real heroes. We had a video call last week with Michael’s family, and it was really special to hear stories about him. We also got to show them the paint scheme with his name on the windshield, which made the moment really special. It’s something I don’t take lightly, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to honor his legacy.”
And Bowman wasn’t alone. William Byron, the man who led most of the race, paid a tribute to Corporal Garry Dwight Barbee, uncle to Jason Gray, a Truck Series driver for HMS. Barbee sacrificed his life two weeks into the service in Pleiku, Vietnam, when he was just 20 years old. It was a gesture that highlighted the importance of Memorial Day.
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