Few NASCAR careers feel as unfinished as Carl Edwards’. The backflipping maestro had come close to winning a championship, but the golden moment never came. After suffering a near miss in 2016, Edwards chose to hang up his helmet for good.
It has been nearly a decade since Edwards left the sport, but NASCAR fans still remember him fondly.
What Are NASCAR Fans Saying About Carl Edwards’ Retirement?
NASCAR fans were shocked to see Edwards leave the game in 2016. He was only 36 years old back then and had a formidable title charge that season.
Many drivers have stayed at their best well into their 40s, suggesting Edwards still had plenty to offer on the track. However, repeated heartbreaks convinced him to call it quits.
Edwards later said the way he lost the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series title was the main reason behind his decision.
“I wanted to win that championship. It’s everything I’ve worked for, that’s it, that’s the prize you want more than anything in the world, and yes, I believe that was snatched,” he said.
Fans shared their disappointment about Edwards’ early exit in a recent social media post, though it came from outside the usual NASCAR circles.
An X account called “Baseball’s Greatest Moments” recently asked users to name athletes who retired with elite years still left. Many NASCAR fans replied by naming Edwards and explaining why they still miss him.
“Is this even a debate?” one fan asked, posting a photo of Edwards.
Motorsport artist Harris Lue also joined the discussion, commenting that Edwards’ 2016 retirement came in his first year in the sport.
“Hurts… that was my first championship working in the sport and that was undoubtedly the worst possible outcome,” he wrote.
Another fan pointed out how much the result of the 2016 championship impacted Edwards’ original retirement plans.
“couldn’t believe that race went down the way it was and originally he was gonna make 2017 his final year,” they wrote.
Jimmie Johnson had won the title that year. One fan revealed that they love Johnson, but must admit that Edwards deserved the crown in 2016. “Even as a Jimmie fan, that title was his… I don’t blame him for retiring after that,” the comment read.
Edwards captured 28 wins in the Cup Series and claimed the Busch Series championship in 2007. Among his top victories were the 2011 All-Star Race, the 2015 Coca-Cola 600, and the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500.
In 2023, he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. He drove for Roush Fenway Racing from 2004 to 2014 and joined Joe Gibbs Racing for 2015 and 2016.
