Former NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the entire world buzzing about a controversial moment that practically forced Carl Edwards into an early retirement. For the first time since his heartbreaking Cup Series title defeat to Jimmie Johnson in 2016, Carl Edwards opened up about the aftermath of his retirement from NASCAR and pretty much all forms of racing.
Carl Edwards Reveals the Heartwarming Story that Changed his Life
While Edwards acknowledged the controversial caution that derailed his motorsport career, he also reflected on the unwavering support of his wife, Kate Edwards, and their children during the early phases of his retirement.
Indeed, one can only imagine the heartbreak Edwards endured—one moment, he was on the verge of victory, his name nearly etched on the championship trophy; the next, it was all taken away in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, Edwards admitted that the defeat proved to be a blessing in disguise as he fully embraced fatherhood for the very first time through an adorable father-son moment barely a month or two into retirement.
Edwards was still reeling from his defeat to Johnson in Miami when, one morning, he felt his son’s footsteps gradually thumping towards his bedroom. “I’m trying to be a good dad. I’m trying to be a good husband,” he said during his interview with Earnhardt Jr. on the “Dirty Mo Media” podcast.
“It was like a month or two in, I was laying in bed with Kate. My son woke up, and I heard him running down the hallway, and he jumped into bed with me. He jumped on my side of the bed. And that’s the first time that had ever happened. Cause I was the guy that kind of showed up and left and Kate was the parent, you know, and I thought, holy crap. And said, Kate just said, this is what you’ve been missing. And that was pretty shocking to me.”
Edwards even revealed that a high-level NASCAR employee had approached him, urging his return to the track. However, the American had already made up his mind about his decision, ultimately converting what seemed like a long break into a permanent retirement.