Ahead of the 2017 Cup Series season, Carl Edwards dropped a bombshell on the world of NASCAR. Only a few months after coming painfully close to winning the title, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver announced his retirement from the sport. At the time, Edwards had given the most generic of reasons for leaving the sport but according to an eminent insider, there is a lot more to the story.
America’s Favorite Video Today
No one expected Carl Edwards to quit NASCAR ahead of the 2017 season. If anything, fans expected him to fight stronger after how he lost the championship in 2016. At the time, Edwards had said that motor racing took up too much time away from his family and that he had no regrets. Well, that may just be the tip of the iceberg.
NASCAR insider lifts the lid on a controversial topic, again
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In a recent episode of Kenny Conversation with Kenny Wallace and Elliott Sadler, the former brought up the story of Carl Edwards’ retirement. The veteran insider went on to reveal that he had released an earlier video regarding Edwards’ retirement which was controversial. And when Wallace was looked at by NASCAR, he knew that he had speculated correctly.
The final race of Carl Edwards’ life was marred in controversy. With just 15 laps to go, the JGR driver was leading the race and looked set to claim the Cup Series title. However, NASCAR brought out the caution at the time due to a puncture for Dylan Lupton. But the weird thing is that there was no need for caution at the time. Or at least that is what a lot of people think. Lupton’s car could have made it into the pits without any help.
Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
On the restart, Edwards was in the lead of the race but an overly aggressive maneuver by title rival Joey Logano saw the JGR man crash out of the race which he seemed set to win at one point. Ultimately, it was Jimmie Johnson who came home to claim his seventh Cup Series championship.
In his earlier video, Kenny Wallace had suggested that Carl Edwards was simply disappointed with how NASCAR managed the closing stages of the 2016 Cup Series finale. That one caution cost him the Cup Series championship as far as Wallace and a lot of others are concerned. So, in Wallace’s opinion, Edwards left after being disappointed by the organizers.
“I did a Kenny Wallace Show on my opinion on why Carl Edwards quit the sport. Got almost 700,000 views and NASCAR and everybody looked at me. Come to find out that I was 100% accurate. Here’s a guy that tied for a Cup championship with Tony Stewart, come back the next year, had it won, and I’m not gonna go there again. NASCAR never said anything to me but they gave me the eye and the message was delivered because I was accurate. I was 100% accurate on why Carl Edwards left,” he said.
It turned out that his guest, Elliott Sadler, also believed in Kenny Wallace’s theory. After all, Sadler himself has experience of being wrecked out of a championship by an outside source.
Watch: 12 Years Ago Today Tony Stewart Delivered His Iconic Speech After Beating
Carl Edwards for the Championship
Frustrated former NASCAR driver sympathizes with Carl Edwards
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the 2017 Xfinity Series season, Elliott Sadler was the championship race leader with only a few laps to go. He was going to get the job done for JR Motorsports. However, he was raced and wrecked by a non-championship race driver, Ryan Preece. All of his dreams had come crashing down.
Sadler sympathized with Carl Edwards. He stated that the former Cup driver had done everything he could have to win the race. But when there is interference from an outside source (NASCAR in the case of Edwards with the caution), it is no wonder that the JGR star quit out of sheer disappointment.
“That last caution cost him a championship. As a driver, he did everything he could do to put himself in that situation and it’s taken from him from an outside source. How can you not be frustrated for him? How could you not walk away if you’re Carl Edwards?” Sadler asked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What is your take on the matter? Was Carl Edwards wrongfully cheated out of a championship win by NASCAR? Let us know your thoughts.
WATCH THIS STORY: “Ty Gibbs is More Along the Lines of Danica” – NASCAR Driver Slammed for Naming the “New Jeff Gordon” & “Max Verstappen of NASCAR”
Providing feedback will help us make your experience better.
Enjoyed Your Read? Let us know how likely you are to recommend EssentiallySports to your friends!
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : EssentiallySports – https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-veteran-insider-unmasks-painful-reality-behind-carl-edwards-early-nascar-retirement/
