HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Carl Edwards looked like a man at full peace with his life on Wednesday, as he confirmed that his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing and decision to not drive full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season was completely on his own terms.
While he didn’t use the word ‘retirement’, Edwards did make it clear that the decision was his and that he does not have any immediate plans to resume driving, instead wanting to focus on personal and family interests outside of the sport.
“First of all, this is probably the most scared I’ve ever been … talking about this,” Edwards admitted. “But I’ve been racing for over 20 years. It’s been something that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I have no regrets. It’s been a blast. … I owe thanks to a lot of people, from my family to all the people that have become like family through racing … from Capital Speedway in Missouri all the way to Daytona, Mike Helton, Lisa and Brian (France) and all the folks in NASCAR that I’ve met through the years.”
“I’ve had so much fun driving. There’s nothing I love more than driving down into a corner at 190 miles an hour sideways, next to the best drivers in the world. All of my competitors have pushed me … and that’s because of how good they all are. I’m proud to have been a part of that group.”
Edwards cited three key reasons behind his sudden move to step away from the sport – satisfaction with his career, the time factor the sport takes out of his life and the health risks of professional racing.
“My reasons are straight forward. Number one, I’m truly, personally satisfied with my career. I know everyone’s probably thinking, ‘Well, you don’t have a championship.’ Listen, Jimmie (Johnson) has a few extra if he wants to send one my way,” Edwards laughed. “But I don’t race just for the trophies. This has been a great journey for me and I’ve been rewarded by the challenges of this sport. Going through the process I have in this sport … and becoming a better person, stronger person, better teammate and better friend … that’s been a big deal to me. Whether or not I have a championship, I’m satisfied.”
“Second, this (sport) is an all-encompassing thing. We do this, and it’s full time. It’s not just the physical time, either. I wake up in the morning, and I think about racing. I think about it all day. I have dreams about racing. That’s just how it is. I’ve been doing that for 20 years, and now I need to take that time and devote it to people and things that are important to me and that I’m really passionate about.”
“The third reason is because of my health. I’m glad I can stand here and say that I am 100 percent healthy, but it is a risky sport. I am aware of the risks. I’m a sharp guy, and I want to be a sharp guy in 30 years. That is a piece of the puzzle.”
With those three factors in the open, Edwards also explained why he made the decision to step away now, after questions flew around social media regarding the peculiar timing of the decision after the news first broke on Tuesday.
“When you put those things together, that brings us to the timing of all of this,” Edwards explained. “If I put those three things together, the timing for me to do this is now. That’s where coach Gibbs comes in. I thank him for allowing me to do this. … If I wanted to race next year … and I am not saying the R word here I know how that has worked out for guys … but if I want to get back in a race car, I’m calling coach Gibbs and I’m going to race here.”
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