Carl Edwards, the NASCAR legend whose driving career was abruptly cut short, is set to make a surprising return to the sport. However, it’s not the comeback fans, and particularly Kyle Larson, had envisioned. The former driver, whose 13-season career saw him claim 28 race victories and consistently rank among the top 4, will not be found behind the wheel this time. Instead, he’ll be providing his expert analysis as a rookie broadcaster for Amazon Prime Video.
In a twist of events, Edwards rejected a generous offer from Kyle Larson. Larson, who had hoped for Edwards to take his place in the All-Star race while he was busy qualifying for the Indy 500, made a public appeal to Edwards. “Carl, if you happen to see this, please jump in the 5 car. We want you.” Larson had stated. However, Edwards has confirmed he won’t be stepping back into the driver’s seat for now. NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi shared Edwards’ decision, stating, “I asked Carl Edwards about whether he’d take Kyle Larson up on this offer, and Carl said he was going to decline.”
The 45-year-old Edwards, who has been away from the sport for several years, acknowledged Larson’s offer during the Hall of Fame ceremony. “It’s an honor, really. (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,” he quipped. Despite the humor, Edwards made it clear he was reluctant to get back behind the wheel, with the sport having evolved significantly since his departure.
Edwards’ return to NASCAR will instead see him as a pre and post-race studio analyst for Amazon Prime Video, with his broadcasting debut set for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26th. The streaming giant has planned to broadcast five races this season. Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports pointed out that Larson was hopeful Edwards could gain first-hand experience with the next-gen car during the All-Star race, which would aid him in his new analysis role.
Edwards’ new role will certainly come with its own set of challenges. Broadcasting has proved to be a tough nut to crack for many, as evidenced by the backlash Jamie Little faced as a play-by-play announcer for the Daytona Truck Series race. However, Edwards is set to join a seasoned broadcast team, including host Danielle Trotta and fellow analyst Corey LaJoie.
The former driver couldn’t contain his excitement about the new venture. He was quoted by The Athletic as saying, “The thing I’m excited about, and I feel like I can hopefully accomplish, is to get to talk a little bit about — especially since I’m not competing anymore, I got nothing to hide — there’s no trade secrets I don’t want to talk about.” Edwards is eager to share his insights with fans, hoping to shed light on what goes through a driver’s mind during a race.
Although he won’t be executing his iconic backflip celebration from the driver’s seat, fans can look forward to seeing Edwards back in NASCAR, albeit in a different capacity. Whether or not he makes a return to the track, his unique insights and expertise are sure to add a fresh perspective to the sport.
