Like the majority of today’s NASCAR drivers, Carl Edwards was influenced to become a racecar driver by being the son of a reputable driver, Carl Edwards Sr. Edwards Sr has spent some four decades as a modified stock car and USAC Midget Sprint Car driver, amassing over 200 career victories.
By the time Carl reached the youthful age of 13, he began racing mini-sprint cars. In his second season driving in the mini-sprint series, Edwards won four feature events. He continued his on-track success in the Midwest in 1995 and 1996 as he accumulated 14 victories.
Edwards’ career began to soar after he joined the IMCA Modified Division. He became a recurrent winner on the Midwestern dirt tracks, most notably in 1999 when he won 13 events. Meanwhile, the youngster’s engaging personality began to shine as he passed out business cards as a way to get his name out there to the racing world. Edwards heeded advice given to him by his first cousin once removed, Ken Schrader, a recognized NASCAR veteran who advised the young driver to gain as much experience in dirt track racing as he could. Additionally, Edwards spent time as a substitute teacher.
In 2002, Edwards caught the eye of Jack Roush after he competed in seven Craftsman Truck Series events driving for MB Motorsports. At Kansas, which is considered his home track, he posted an impressive 8th place finish. In addition to his limited schedule in the Craftsman Truck Series, Edwards started his first Busch (Nationwide) Series event at Gateway International Raceway, which is also considered a home track for the Missouri native. Driving for Bost Motorsports, Edwards posted a 38th place finish.
In 2003, Edwards signed with Roush Fenway Racing to drive the #99 Superchips Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. He began to turn heads as he posted three wins and finish 8th in the final championship standings. Additionally, he was crowned as the series Rookie of the Year. His first win occurred on July 12, 2003 at the Kentucky Speedway.
A year later, Edwards was considered a strong championship threat in the Craftsman Truck Series after winning the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. As the 2004 season progressed, the stage got bigger for Edwards as he was named as Jeff Burton’s replacement in the 99 Nextel Cup ride in August. Jack Roush had struggled to find sponsorship for the 99 car with Jeff Burton behind the wheel, so the veteran driver left the organization and found a home with Richard Childress Racing. Edwards made his understated debut at the Michigan International Speedway. He posted an impressive 10th place finish in his introductory race.
Carl Edwards would compete in 13 Nextel (Sprint) Cup races in 2004, posting one top five finish and 5 top ten finishes. Meanwhile, Edwards went on to finish 4th in the Craftsman Truck Series standings.
Heading into the 2005 season, Edwards and his Roush Fenway Racing team secured sponsorship with Office Depot and Scotts Brands and was a solid threat to capture his first career Cup victory. However, few expected it to come in the season’s fourth race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Less than 24 hours prior, Edwards captured his first career Busch (Nationwide) Series victory. During the closing laps in the Cup race, Edwards was trailing leader Jimmie Johnson by several car lengths. On the final lap, Edwards would use the outside lane to edge out Johnson by .028 seconds. Following the victory, he showcased his celebratory back flip.
Edwards continued to be the Cinderella story of the 2005 season as he won at Pocono Raceway in June. He would remarkably clinch a spot in the Chase for the Championship when established drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Kevin Harvick were shut out of the top ten. During the Chase for the Championship, Edwards would add two more wins to his resume at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. Following the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Edwards would end up tied with his Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle for second in the championship standings, just 35 points behind Tony Stewart.
In the Busch Series championship race, Edwards finished third behind Martin Truex Jr and Clint Bowyer, and won four races. Furthermore, he was the Busch Series Rookie of the Year.
As the 2006 Nextel (Sprint) Cup season approached, Carl Edwards was a trendy pick to capture the championship. However, he struggled throughout the season and failed to win a single Cup race and did not appear in the Chase for the Championship. He finished 12th in the final championship standings. He faired much better in the Busch Series as he won four races and finished second in the championship standings. But his struggles in NASCAR’s top series proved to be frustrating for the young driver and it was evident following several confrontations with opposing drivers, most notably Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Edwards returned to form in 2007 as he won three races, and qualified for the Chase for the Championship. He placed 9th in the final championship standings. However, Edwards encountered much denigration following an on-going feud with his Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. At Martinsville in October, Edwards shoved Kenseth and drew his fist back as if he were going to punch his teammate. Many drivers in the garage, including several of Edwards' teammates uttered disparaging words towards him.
He clinched the 2007 Busch Series championship by 618 points over David Reutimann. Edwards became the 19th different Busch Series champion after posting four wins. Moreover, he is the last Busch Series champion as the name will be changed to the Nationwide Series in 2008.
Off the track, Edwards has displayed the ability to market himself well by appearing on the cover of national magazines such as Men's Health. In 2006, Edwards demonstrated his acting flair by playing a Homeland Security agent in Fox TV's hit series 24. He is also affiliated with the Columbia, Missouri-based Back40 Records. He also attended the University of Missouri.
