Just a day after reports surfaced that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Carl Edwards would step out of the seat before the 2017 season, Edwards put the reports into shocking reality officially announcing that he’ll step away as the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry effective immediately.
“I’ve been racing for over 20 years, “It’s been something I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Edwards said during a news conference Wednesday morning at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters. “I have no regrets; it’s been a blast.”
While Edwards refused to use the word “retirement,” Edwards said that he is stepping away from NASCAR to concentrate more time on other issues that are important to him.
And while it may be difficult and hard for those to accept the timing of his departure at a peak in his career, for Edwards, the decision was simple.
“The people close to me know that I follow my gut, and sometimes I just gather what’s around me and me, and I say, look, it all signs points to this, then that’s what I need to do.”
Edwards talked about three different reasons for his abrupt departure from competing in Cup Series competition. Edwards mentioned that he is satisfied with career, the toil of the series schedule has left him little time to focus on other issues he cares about and the health-conscious advocate is lucky enough to be “100 percent healthy.”
Shortly after Edwards’ announcement began, NASCAR Chairman Brian France issued the following statement:
“Carl Edwards has made an indelible mark on NASCAR. His hard-charging driving style has led to memorable moments that will live forever in the history of our sport. Carl’s passion and personality will greatly be missed – as will the signature backflips that NASCAR fans have come to expect following his victories. We wish Carl nothing but the best as he enters this next phase in life.”
Edwards said he made his decision in late December and approached Gibbs with the bombshell news. Gibbs asked Edwards to take some time to think and make sure this is what he wanted.
Four days later, Edwards informed Gibbs that he stood behind his decision.
Edwards told, “I thought it was coming, and instead, he stuck out his hand in a much different way, and he said, I admire you for being able to make a decision like this, and I’m going to go to work for you, and that’s the type of person Joe Gibbs is. That’s the type of organization this is. I cannot thank him enough.”
During his 40-minute news conference, Edwards appeared authentic and heartfelt in detailing his reasons for his departure. At one point, he choked up, softly saying, “I just want to be a good person” as he fought back tears.
“I don’t have a life raft I’m jumping onto; I’m just jumping,” he said. “And in a way, that makes it easier.
“This is a pure, simple, personal decision.”
Edwards adamantinely denied rumors he had an ulterior motive for leaving, including another driving job in 2018 for a different team or manufacturer.
After some pressuring questions, he bluntly quipped: “This is not a money deal, guys.”
And while Edwards he has no other plans for racing, but if he ever did decide to return to NASCAR, JGR owner Joe Gibbs would the first person he called.
“If I’m going to get back in a race car, I’m calling Coach Gibbs first,” he said. “There is no better race team. There is no faster car than a Toyota Camry. There’s no better engine.
“There’s no better crew chief than Dave Rogers. There’s no better crew. And I’m going to race here.”
Throughout his news conference, Edwards made several references to the people most meaningful in his career, his fans were no exception.
“So, when I started racing, there weren’t a lot of fans,” he recalled. “There weren’t this many people at the racetrack usually (laughter), and so as it got going, early in my career with Jack when we were on fire and everything was great, and I thought, this is just how it is, people love you, and then I went through some years where it wasn’t so good, and I’m not joking, the fans, I realized they were a part of my team, they were a part of what I do.
“I was at some racetrack and I was having a really bad day, I hadn’t won a race for a year and a half or something, and someone came up to me with all their 99 gear on, and they said, “You are one of the best drivers in the garage. Don’t you get down. I see you walking around like that. You need to go and kick everybody’s butt.” And I thought, huh, I needed that. I mean, it meant something. And so I’ve learned to really, really appreciate the fans.
“And so that’s cool. It does mean a lot. I do get a lot of people ask I felt like people were in the last day since Tom broke this, a lot of people were worried about my health and stuff like that, and that meant a lot people were actually concerned. That’s really, really cool.”
37-year-old Edwards began his full-time run in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2004 at Roush Fenway Racing. After 11 seasons and 23 wins, Edwards left Roush at the end of the 2014 season to join Joe Gibbs Racing aboard the No. 19 Toyota Camry, a fourth entry.
In the No. 19 Toyota, Edwards scored an additional five wins over the last two seasons. He finished fourth in the Cup standings last season in his first Championship Round berth.
During his 12-year run at the sport’s pinnacle level, Edwards won 28 races, 22 poles and captured 124 top-five and 220 top-10s in 445 starts. Edwards’ career-best points finish was second in the standings in 2008 and 2011.
In addition to his accolades in Cup, he also captured the 2007 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship while driving for Roush Fenway Racing. Across all three NASCAR National divisions, he has 72 victories.
Reigning XFINITY Series champion Daniel Suarez will drive the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota in Cup competition in 2017.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
