When Carl Edwards revealed the ‘unreal’ overhaul he’d make if he were in charge of NASCAR

There was a time when former Cup Series driver Carl Edwards revealed what he would do if he were in charge of NASCAR. It all happened during a 12 in 12 interview with reporter Jeff Gluck, back when he used to work for SB Nation.

Gluck, who currently works for The Athletic, asked Edwards what he would do if he somehow got the chance to oversee the highest racing series in NASCAR. The driver said that he would turn every race on restrictor-plate tracks into exhibition-style events.

“I would make the restrictor-plate races double the money for the winner, no points. Win or nothing,” Carl Edwards said. “Make them like the All-Star. That would be a blast! If you had a five-lap shootout at Talladega with no cautions – only throw cautions for fire – that would be unreal!”

At the time, Edwards used to drive full-time for Roush Fenway Racing (now known as RFK Racing). He retired from formal racing at the end of the 2016 season.

Throughout his entire career in the NASCAR Cup Series, Carl Edwards won 28 races. Today, he works as a NASCAR analyst with Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast team. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on February 7, 2025.

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Carl Edwards speaks with Denny Hamlin while recalling his own retirement

When Carl Edwards announced that he was going to retire at 36, while being at the height of his career. He had come really close to winning the series title in 2016, but he quit formal racing that year itself.

Like Edwards, Denny Hamlin has also been close to capturing that elusive title more than once. As he was leading laps at Phoenix, many thought that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver would win the race as well as the 2025 championship.

However, Hamlin failed to capture the title for the fifth time in the NextGen era. He is still the longest-tenured driver in the NASCAR Cup Series with no championships.

During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Hamlin admitted to having had a word with Car Edwards following his recent Phoenix heartbreak.

“To borrow from Carl Edwards, I mean, with five laps to go, I knew what it was like to be a champion,” Hamlin said. “I did everything I was supposed to, and so, you know, 40 seconds or 50 seconds at the end deciding whether I win that championship or not has no bearing on my ability or what I'm capable of.”

All eyes are now on the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium, which will host the season-opening Cook Out Clash on February 1. Fans can watch the 200-lap event live on FOX or listen to exclusive radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.