Sorry, race fans. Carl Edwards still isn’t planning on returning to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
AUDIO: #CarlEdwards joined @ClaireBLang for a status update of sorts tonight. Could we see Carl Edwards the…politician??? pic.twitter.com/QSiJwxAoLB
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) March 22, 2018
“I don’t have any plans to come back,” Edwards told Claire B. Lang of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday night (March 21). “I do miss a lot of people. I do miss the fans and there are a couple races I’d like to be a part of, but for the most part I’m having a lot of fun.”
Edwards has been enjoying a life free from racing. He’s returned to the track only a handful of times since retirement.
The racer from Columbia, Mo., who once handed out business cards to potential teams, drove for 12 years in the Cup Series, 10 for Roush Fenway Racing and the final two for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was runner-up in the 2016 championship before a surprise decision to exit NASCAR in January 2017. A hard wreck late in the 2016 Ford EcoBoost400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway cemented his decision.
Edwards earned 23 victories, 13 poles and 187 top-10 finishes in the RFR No. 99 Ford, losing the 2011 championship on a tiebreaker to Tony Stewart. In his two years with JGR, he earned five wins, nine poles, 17 top fives and 33 top 10s.
Edwards captured the 2007 XFINITY Series championship. Other career highlights include pushing Trevor Bayne to victory in the 2011 Daytona 500 and sailing into the fence while battling with Brad Keselowski in the 2009 Aaron’s 499.
Since his departure, there have been rumors that Edwards would get involved in Missouri politics, perhaps running for Congress or governor. When Lang asked about that possibility, Edwards didn’t rule it out entirely.
“I really believe in America and that the Constitution is a fair rule that’s letting us have all of our success and our freedom,” Edwards said.” So if sometime there’s a chance for me to help that cause and lend some assistance to not letting us get off track, then heck yes. But there’s nothing planned anytime soon.”
Republican Eric Greitens is the current governor of Missouri but has been involved in a scandal regarding an extramarital affair. Greitens’ term, should he finish it, runs through January 2021.
About the author
Wesley has been with Fronstretch since October 2017. He loves well-told stories in whatever format he finds them. Aside from NASCAR, he enjoys reading, country music and OKC Thunder basketball. He has a BA in Liberal Arts/English and currently lives in eastern Oklahoma, where he works as a freelance writer/editor.
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You are missed Carl!
The loterry-level payoff he got and the NDA he signed with life-changing penalties will both keep him happily retired.
I don’t believe that for a second. The guy made his money (more than he can spend), had a worthy career, and escaped any major injury. Why is it so hard for people to believe he walked away a happy camper?
If I had 5 million in the bank I’d never work another day in my life. He probably had 5 times that when he retired.
I’d love to be free of work and able to do anything I want with the rest of my time. He is living the dream.
Even if he got a lottery level payoff and signed an NDA, there was nothing that would have kept him from signing with another team if he had the desire.
Well said Bill B
Hell, I’m missing him. But on the oher hand, I understand him.