Carl Edwards may have just entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but that didn’t stop him from reliving one of the most terrifying—and funniest—moments of his career with none other than Kyle Petty.
As Edwards took the stage in Charlotte, North Carolina, to accept his well-deserved spot among NASCAR legends, he wasn’t alone. Petty joined him, and the two wasted no time diving into a 2005 Bristol Motor Speedway feud that left the audience rolling with laughter.
The Bristol Brawl: When Edwards Thought He Was Done For
Edwards, then a young hotshot at Roush Fenway Racing, recalled his infamous run-in with veteran Kyle Petty on the legendary high-banked short track.
🗣️ “I was racing for my life,” Edwards admitted, laughing. “The first time you ran into the back of me, I thought, ‘Oh, he’s trying to end my day.’ I saved it, you went by, and then it’s like you waited for me or something.”
In typical Bristol fashion, tempers flared, and the two drivers clashed repeatedly until Edwards had enough:
🗣️ “In my little mind, I thought, ‘Okay, I gotta wreck him so bad he can’t come back and wreck me.’ So I wrecked you.”
Petty’s Rage and Edwards’ Priceless Plea for Mercy
After the checkered flag, Edwards knew he was in trouble.
As soon as Petty stormed over to his car, the younger driver had a split-second to decide how to handle the incoming fury.
🗣️ “You looked like a gorilla, like a monster,” Edwards said, still animated by the memory. “You’re the scariest man ever. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to appeal to his kindness.’ So I said, ‘Please, sir, will you let me out of the car before you beat my a?’”**
Cue the laughter from the crowd.
But Petty, despite being furious in the moment, kept his cool and did something unexpected.
🗣️ “I don’t remember what I said,” Petty admitted. “But I remember the last thing I said: ‘Okay, there’s people watching, they’re taking pictures. We’re going to shake hands and smile, and then just walk away.’ And that’s what we did.”
Edwards couldn’t believe how quickly the situation de-escalated.
Should NASCAR Bring Back Driver-to-Driver Radio Communication?
This nostalgic trip got fans talking about how NASCAR used to allow direct driver-to-driver communication via radio—something that was banned in 2012.
Edwards himself hinted that a direct channel could have prevented the misunderstanding.
🗣️ “That’s how crazy it is. You can think somebody is so angry at you. Sometimes maybe you need a radio frequency where the drivers can talk.”
📡 Before 2012, drivers could speak directly to each other instead of relying on spotters or crew chiefs to pass along messages.
🚫 Now, those conversations must go through multiple channels, which adds more tension when a driver thinks they’ve been wronged.
🔙 Fans miss the old-school NASCAR, where drivers settled their disputes immediately—either by talking or trading sheet metal.
For those looking to tune into the action, NASCAR journalist Seth Eggert has compiled a list of 2025 radio frequencies so fans can still listen in on the drama as it unfolds.
Final Thoughts: A Hall of Fame Career with No Shortage of Great Stories
✅ 28 Cup Series wins
✅ 2007 Xfinity Series Champion
✅ One of NASCAR’s most charismatic drivers
Carl Edwards deserved every bit of his Hall of Fame induction, and if this hilarious trip down memory lane proves anything, it’s that he left an unforgettable mark on the sport—both on and off the track.
Now the question is… should NASCAR bring back driver-to-driver radio to avoid future “Bristol moments”?