Edwards, 37, began his NASCAR career driving for Mike Mittler in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2002, but broke onto the Cup scene two years later after he was signed to replace Jeff Burton in the No. 99 Ford mid-way through the 2004 season.
A two-time Cup championship runner-up, Edwards finished second in 2008 and again in 2011, when he lost the title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker in the last race of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Edwards was also in contention to win last year’s Cup title, but contact with Joey Logano on a restart with 10 laps to go sent him into the wall and eliminated him from contention. He finished fourth in points as a result.
He also has the 2007 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship on his resume, which includes a combined 72 NASCAR national series victories (28 Cup, 38 XFINITY and six Truck).
While reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Daniel Suarez was confirmed as Edwards’ replacement in the No. 19 Toyota for 2017, the Missouri native did leave the door open for a potential return down the road.
However, he stressed that a return to racing was far from an immediate priority of his.
“I have a lot of interests outside of racing,” Edwards said. “There’s a lot of aviation stuff that I’m invested in … the agriculture thing has been great … but I love the sport. I do want to be a part of this and be close to it, but there’s no telling what Joe and I might do together going forward.”
“I hope you all can accept that I don’t have (life after racing) all figured out yet,” Edwards said. “I am at peace with that. If I lay out those three reasons and put them together, it adds up to this. Life is short and you have to do what your gut tells you.”
A particularly emotional moment came late in the press conference, when MRN Radio’s Brian Nelson asked Edwards about a quote written by NBC’s Nate Ryan and how Edwards always seemed to live his life “the Midwestern way”.
Holding back tears, Edwards offered a simple response, a testament to his Missouri heritage.
“I just want to be a good person,” Edwards said quietly.
Not only was Edwards that during the course of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, he was a wheelman at the controls of a race car.
It’s hard to find much more good than that in the sport.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
Follow RCO on Twitter: @RaceChaserNews
