Carl Edwards won 28 races in his NASCAR Cup Series career, establishing himself as one of the most successful and popular drivers of his era. Competing for two of the series’ most iconic teams, he consistently contended at the highest level. Just last month, Edwards earned his rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
However, one notable achievement remains absent from Edwards’ career: a NASCAR Cup Series championship. On three separate occasions, he came agonizingly close to winning the sport’s ultimate prize. In 2008, he finished runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in the points standings. Three years later, in 2011, Edwards suffered one of the most heartbreaking defeats in NASCAR history, losing the title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker.
But it was one defining moment in 2016 that ultimately led Edwards to walk away from the sport. That year, he reached the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, competing against Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, and Jimmie Johnson for the title. Edwards controlled much of the race, but a late caution set up a critical restart with 10 laps to go. On that restart, Logano made a move to pass, and Edwards attempted to block. Unfortunately, the block came too late, resulting in a crash that took both drivers out of contention. That devastating moment marked the end of Edwards’ racing career, as he retired before the start of the 2017 season and has not competed in NASCAR since.
Carl Edwards Says NASCAR Playoff Format Made It Difficult for Him to Return
Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download podcast this week, Edwards offered a revealing explanation for his decision to step away from NASCAR.
“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 [from me],” Edwards told Dale Earnhardt Jr. “I’m going to put everything in my life second. I’m gonna start at Daytona, drive the hell out of this race car like I’ve been doing for 13, 14 years, and I’m gonna run this thing all the way to the end and give everything I’ve got—another year of my life. And then I’m gonna get to Homestead at the end of 2017, do everything just right, and they’re gonna throw a caution with five laps to go, and we’re gonna put all this on a restart?”
Edwards’ frustration is understandable. Losing a championship in such dramatic fashion—especially after coming up short in previous years—was undoubtedly difficult to accept. The NASCAR playoffs emphasize peak performance at the end of the season, making every late-race restart crucial.
But that is the nature of sports. The greatest athletes thrive in those pressure-filled moments. They win because they execute when it matters most. That’s why Logano is now a three-time NASCAR champion and remains a threat to win more titles. Edwards retired at 37—an early age by NASCAR standards. Had he continued racing, perhaps he would have eventually captured that elusive championship. But with his mindset, it’s hard to imagine the outcome ever being different on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
