The Hall of Fame Career of Carl Edwards

One of those cards landed him an MB Motorsports Truck Series ride for seven races in 2002. At twenty-two, he is a lot older than Truck Series rookies of today, but with his age, came a lot of talent. In those seven starts for MB Motorsports, he recorded an 8th place finish at Kansas. That got the eye of one of the greatest NASCAR team owners of all time, Jack Roush.

Welcome to Roush, Carl Edwards

Jack Roush was impressed enough with Carl Edward’s ability, that he signed him to a full season in the #99 Ford F-150. Unsponsored, Edward’s would win three races; Kentucky and back-to-back at Indy Raceway Park and Nashville. He would pick up a sponsor, Superchips, after his two wins. He would win the pole for the 3rd to final race of the season at Martinsville, and finish the season eighth in the points standings. He finished 2003 with 3 wins, 13 top-fives, and 15 top-tens, earning Rookie of the Year.

Back for another season, 2004 would be almost identical to his 2003 season. He would open it hot, winning the opener at Daytona, and secure the pole for the sixth race at Dover. Another win at Kansas and Bristol. He would secure the pole for the penultimate race at Darlington, and finish his second season, fourth in points.

Carl Goes Cup Racing:

2011: Carl Edwards vs Tony Stewart

One of the greatest championship battles of 21st century NASCAR, saw Edwards chase down Tony Stewart for the 2011 Sprint Cup championship. Edwards’ would win early, getting his first and only win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Stewart on the other hand was having an awful season. He would be the last to enter the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

But once the chase began, Stewart would turn it all around. He would win the opening race of the chase and the following. He followed it up with a win at Martinsville and then Texas. When the final race at Homestead Miami came around, Edwards and Stewart were close in points. Although he would lead 119 laps, he would not lead the last. Stewart would take the lead on lap 232, and with Edwards in second, Stewart would win the race and the championship.

Going Out With a Bang

Since his runner-up with Stewart in 2011, Edwards’ would win nine more races, bringing his total to 28 career wins. Once again, Edwards found himself running for a title again, this time in 2016. Having left Roush Fenway Racing at the end of 2014, he is driving for Toyota and their flagship race team, Joe Gibbs Racing. While Carl has been in this position before, the format has changed, with four drivers racing for a title at Homestead-Miami.

Jimmie Johnson is looking to be the third seven-time champion in NASCAR History. Joey Logano is looking for his first championship title. Kyle Busch is looking to go back-to-back in championships. and Edwards is still looking for his first.

He would roll off tenth for the race. This was looking like Edwards’ would finally become a Cup Series champion. A wreck by the #32 car would delay his title. Bunching the field up, he would lead the field to green. A better start by Logano behind him would force Edwards to block, and that block would end in Logano turning him into the wall.

With championship hopes gone, Edwards walked from his destroyed Camry, to pit road. He climbed up the #22’s pit-box and told them to go win the championship. Edwards would never race in NASCAR again after that, announcing his retirement in January of 2017.

One of NASCAR’s greatest:

NASCAR was blessed with a great talent in Carl Edwards. A champion of the Busch Series, Rookie of the Year honors in both Trucks and Busch. 72 wins across NASCAR top series, 429 top fives in the three series. Edwards was a driver whose talent took him outside of NASCAR stardom. He would pose for ESPN’s ‘The Body’ making the cover. He would race in the International Race of Champions in 2008, beating Michael Schumacher, 7-time F1 Champion.

While he never became a Cup Series champion, Carl Edwards’s career is well deserving of Hall of Fame Honors. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Carl.