Carl Edwards, one of the most beloved figures in NASCAR history, has broken his silence on Hendrick Motorsports’ offer to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600.
With Kyle Larson attempting the Indy 500, HMS is searching for a substitute driver—and Edwards’ name was thrown into the mix.
Edwards, who walked away from NASCAR in 2016, acknowledged that the offer was an honor—but also hinted at the challenges of making a return after nearly a decade away.
“Actually, this is cool. My friend sent me that, and really, it’s an honor,” Edwards said.
“I mean, [Larson] is one of the fastest guys to ever drive one of these cars, and for him to say that… I don’t know if he’s messing with me. I’m very likely to crash a car if I were to get in one right now.”
So, will “Cousin Carl” finally give fans the return they’ve been waiting for?
Edwards: “It’s Never a Total No”
Edwards, a 38-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, didn’t shut the door completely.
While he admitted that he hasn’t had official discussions with HMS, he’s not ruling out the possibility entirely.
“That is kinda interesting, but I’d have to go run the sim or something like that and see if I can even get around North Wilkesboro,” he explained.
“But nobody’s officially talked to me about it, no.”
Most importantly, Edwards left a window open, saying:
“No, it’s never a total no. I like options, but I don’t know. I’d say, yeah, it’s no for now, but I’d drive a sim and check it out.”
Could Edwards Actually Make a Comeback?
While the thought of Edwards back behind the wheel is exciting for fans, there are significant hurdles:
🚨 Next-Gen Experience: Edwards has never driven NASCAR’s current Next-Gen car, which is drastically different from the Gen-6 models he raced before retiring.
🚨 Rust Factor: Nearly a decade away from Cup racing means Edwards would need serious practice time.
🚨 Commitment: Edwards has consistently turned down comeback opportunities, making even a one-off drive feel like a long shot.
Could Hendrick Motorsports Convince Him?
If HMS is serious about putting Edwards in the No. 5, they might offer him time in the simulator to get a feel for the new car.
Would that be enough to convince Edwards to take the wheel at Charlotte?
Right now, it’s a long shot—but not impossible.
And for NASCAR fans, the mere thought of Carl Edwards making a one-off return is enough to send shockwaves through the sport.
