NASCAR star Carl Edwards won’t drive in 2017, report says

While many other sports would consider a 37-year-old to be ancient, race vehicle drivers have had plenty of success in their late 30s, 40s and even early 50s.

Edwards was leading all championship contenders with 10 laps remaining at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November when a caution set up a restart that bunched the field. Unfortunately, he crashed with Joey Logano.

How could this be? It takes only a smidgen less to work up the nerve to walk away in your prime. He had a year left on his contract with the Gibbs team. He got choked up once, softly saying, “I just want to be a good person” as he fought back tears.

On Wednesday Carl Edwards announced his retirement from NASCAR.

“When he sat down in front of me and shared what he was thinking, I was totally surprised”, Gibbs said.

The former substitute teacher-turned-NASCAR star gave the gathered press three distinct reasons for stepping away.

I’ll never name names, but the stories I’ve heard and actually seen throughout my career, well let’s just say if camera phones existed… How could you be satisfied?

“This is all-encompassing. Full time”, Edwards said about the demands of the long NASCAR schedule.

He got his start in racing with a helping hand from Mike Mittler, a businessman and part-time NASCAR owner in Foristell, Mo. That part of Homestead, for me, personally.

Edwards said he would like to devote the time he spends on racing to the people that are important in his life.

The third and final reason is his health.

But, several missed title chances have also defined his career. “You know I don’t just race for the trophies”.

Edwards insisted his reasoning for walking away were pure and personal. Despite the lack of Twitter presence, Carl was one of the most popular drivers among fans on the social media platform.

When the news broke Tuesday, I was completely shocked.

“I’m a little sad because obviously NASCAR won’t be as much fun to watch without him. My dad and myself wanted to do something more in the sport, to be more professional, but we had no experience in what we were doing”. Two people can look at the same situation and come to differing conclusions.

The Missouri native has 28 career Cup victories to his credit and finished inside the top 10 of the points standings on four occasions.

With his abrupt leave, what does that mean for the future of Joe Gibbs Racing?

Last season, the 25-year-old driver became the first Mexican born driver to win a NASCAR title when he triumphed in the Xfinity Series. He will join Kyle Larson as the only two drivers from NASCAR’s diversity program to race at the top level.

“That experience of meeting one of the best in the sport is what made me a fan in the first place”, said Powers, who’s 18 now. Do you think he’s going to retire for good?

Well, he did. And now, we just might respect him more than ever before. But for now, congratulations on a great career.