Over every week after being chosen for the NASCAR Corridor of Fame Class of 2025, Carl Edwards remains to be processing the glory.
Edwards unexpectedly retired from NASCAR Cup Sequence competitors in January 2017. Within the years since Edwards has lived a quiet life again house within the Midwest, and he’s made lower than a handful of public appearances on the racetrack. However now that he’s a Corridor of Fame inductee, Edwards is reliving the glory days of being a inventory automotive driver.
“No, it doesn’t shut the e book,” Edwards mentioned of whether or not a Corridor of Fame nod brings closure to his profession. “What it does for me — and I didn’t count on this in any respect — it opens the e book. It makes me bear in mind and notice and put into perspective how a lot went into this. How a lot power was put in by all the fellows that labored on the automobiles, constructed the automobiles, offered the sponsorship, the media, the followers, everybody. And I obtained to be within the driver’s seat.
“I obtained to dwell my best wildest goals as a child. I feel it actually opens it for me — to have the ability to take a look at this and perceive it’s not simply one thing that I did and it’s achieved. This sport lives on. The spirit of everybody striving and attempting to be the most effective they’ll and competing; I’m so grateful to have been part of it whereas I used to be.”
In 13 seasons as a Cup Sequence driver, Edwards received 28 races driving for Jack Roush after which Joe Gibbs. Throughout all three NASCAR nationwide collection, Edwards visited victory lane 72 instances and claimed the 2007 Xfinity Sequence championship. Within the Xfinity Sequence, Edwards completed no worse than third within the championship standings within the six seasons he may earn factors.
A fan favourite and all the time respectful and interesting with the media, Edwards was one of many sport’s most likable personalities. Nonetheless, the clear break he constituted of the game after the 2016 season shocked everybody, and Edwards now admits that maybe he may have achieved a greater job of constructing it clear why.
It had nothing to do with how the ’16 season ended, which Edwards repeatedly made clear Thursday. The season finale that season noticed Edwards as one among 4 drivers in championship rivalry, and he had an excellent shot to earn the title earlier than a warning arrange a late-race restart. However these probabilities disappeared on the restart when there was contact between Edwards and Joey Logano.
Edwards walked down pit highway to Logano’s pit field to want the crew effectively as they remained within the race. He then walked away from a NASCAR racetrack for the ultimate time in a firesuit.
It was the danger of damage and realizing different issues in life wanted tending to that made Edwards retire. One thing he had begun interested by in 2015 however, as he additional described, actually regarded round and understood in ’16.
“I really feel utterly blessed and issues are nice,” Edwards mentioned. “No regrets. In fact, I’d like some extra trophies, however I wouldn’t change something.”
Edwards has no need to get again behind the wheel of a Cup Sequence automotive for enjoyable as a result of he couldn’t see himself doing it as enjoyable. The aggressive aspect of Edwards is just too sturdy, and he respects how the premier collection for him to attempt to come again. And those self same dangers of damage stay. Nonetheless, he does get pleasure from getting right into a simulator occasionally.
As an alternative, Edwards is now into Jiu-Jitsu and different actions. The day the voting panel met to determine the NASCAR Corridor of Fame Class of 2025, Edwards saved his busy schedule as a substitute of staying by the telephone. And since he didn’t suppose there was an opportunity of being chosen, Edwards was off the grid flying and went uninformed of the information for a couple of hours.
“This honor is excessive,” Edwards mentioned. “I didn’t count on this in any method. I used to be shocked. I really wasn’t out there at 4pm (native time) after they introduced it as a result of I assumed there was no motive to be, and it’s been an enormous deal to me. A lot larger than I ever would have anticipated.”
Edwards will probably be enshrined into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame alongside Ricky Rudd and Ralph Moody Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dean Sicking may even be honored that night time because the Landmark Award winner for contributions to racing.
