Reflecting on his journey in NASCAR, Carl Edwards, fondly known as ‘Cousin Carl’, sheds light on the pivotal role his cousin, Ken Schrader, a NASCAR veteran, played in shaping his career. Edwards, who enjoyed a successful 15-year career with 72 wins and two Xfinity Championship triumphs under his belt, is now a celebrated inductee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Yet, his path to success was not as straight as it may seem.
Edwards was well aware of the privileges he enjoyed, thanks to his family connection to Schrader. As he put it, “My dad’s cousin is Kenny Schrader. He’s a NASCAR driver. I used to tell people, ‘I’m not born on third base.’ Was so proud, ‘I did all this work.’ Now I look back and I was right! I wasn’t born on third base, I was two steps from home. These pieces all fell in place.”
Edwards recalls a time in his teenage years when he was so enthralled with his racing dream, he felt that having Schrader guide him to a NASCAR career was a given. He moved to North Carolina to shadow Schrader at his shop and was confident that he’d eventually be put in a race car. However, it was Schrader who brought him back to reality, advising him to go home and race, bringing Edwards to the realization that his path to success was not going to be as straightforward as he had imagined.
This advice was a turning point for Edwards. He could have been handed a seat and raced in lower tiers, but he chose to work his way up. He won local dirt races, briefly attended the University of Missouri, and continued to nurture his passion for racing. His big break came in 2002 with a NASCAR Truck Series debut with MB Motorsports. He then made a full-time debut with Roush Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2005. His consistent progress ultimately led to an Xfinity Series title in 2007.
However, Edwards’ journey wasn’t devoid of heartbreak. He remembered a time when he was working for Truck Series team owner Mike Mittler at MB Motorsports. A tragic incident involving team driver Tony Roper led to a reshuffling of roles, and Edwards, who was looking forward to his chance, was left devastated. Yet, his resilience saw him through, and by 2002, he was the one behind the wheel, replacing Larry Gunsleman.
Edwards’ story is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and the ability to smile in the face of adversity. Today, he looks back on his career with satisfaction, grateful for the opportunity to have entered the sport the right way and exited when he felt it was time to focus on his family. Despite never claiming the Cup Series Championship, Edwards’ legacy in NASCAR will be remembered for his attitude, both in and out of the car. His story serves as a reminder that privilege may open doors, but it’s perseverance and dedication that truly drive success.