Last weekend at Pocono Raceway, Denny Hamlin spent time with Carl Edwards, prompting Hamlin to offer his candid thoughts about Edwards’ early departure from NASCAR. In a pre-race interview with Amazon Prime, Hamlin suggested his former Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate might be reconsidering whether stepping away from the sport in 2017 was the right decision. Hamlin’s remarks centered on how Edwards may be facing doubts amid Hamlin’s own continued success.
Carl Edwards had a 13-year career primarily with Roush Fenway Racing before joining JGR in 2015, where he raced alongside Hamlin for two seasons. Edwards came close to winning a championship in his final full year before abruptly retiring. Hamlin shared during the conversation:
“In my opinion, it was not said in the interview, but like I think Carl maybe misses not, you know, keep going. I think he’s having second thoughts of seeing the success that we’ve had over the long sustained period of time, not being able to keep that thing going.” (0:50 onwards)
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin’s reflections shine a new light on Edwards’ sudden retirement at age 37, which surprised many fans and insiders given Edwards was still performing at a top level. His decision to leave NASCAR was seen as a personal choice but raised questions about what might have been if he had continued competing.
Carl Edwards’ Career Highlights and Impact on NASCAR
Edwards’ record supports Hamlin’s belief in his talent and potential legacy. With 28 wins in 445 Cup Series races and 72 victories across all NASCAR national series, Edwards left a significant mark on the sport. He won the 2007 Xfinity Series championship and finished second in the Cup Series twice, narrowly missing out in 2011 due to a tiebreaker and finishing runner-up again in 2016.
Meanwhile, Hamlin, with nearly 60 Cup wins, is the most successful JGR driver historically. Despite his own accomplishments, Hamlin considers Edwards the naturally more gifted racer, noting:
“I have no doubts he would have been as successful. If not way more successful than I was. I believe he was way more talented naturally behind the wheel than I was. I know that because I got to be teammates with him. I got to see his talent in the same race car that I had.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Although they were not very close while racing, Edwards and Hamlin appear to have developed a mutual respect in the years since Edwards retired. Earlier this year at Darlington, Hamlin honored Edwards by racing with the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion tribute paint scheme, reflecting Edwards’ legacy.
Carl Edwards’ Return to NASCAR Broadcast and Appreciation of the Experience
When Edwards left NASCAR in 2017, he cited a desire to focus more on his family, a reason echoed by Hamlin, who recently missed a race to be with his newborn son. After several years away from racing activity, Edwards returned briefly to the NASCAR scene this year as part of Amazon Prime’s new broadcast team.
Edwards served as a part-time analyst for five races, working alongside driver Corey LaJoie and a technology-driven broadcast crew. Following his final race at Pocono, Edwards expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the chance to reconnect with the sport:
“Thanks for coming along on this ride with us. This has been a real fun five weeks. Getting to know Corey, the Amazon Prime crew. This has been really cool… This has been an adventure for me to come back to the sport to be with all of you, the fans, everyone at Prime… We’ve got a wonderful sport and it’s neat to be able to be a part of something like this.”
—Carl Edwards, Former NASCAR Driver and Broadcaster
Viewership Trends and Future of NASCAR Broadcasts
Edwards’ broadcast stint garnered praise from many fans and NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who described the coverage as the best he had seen. However, viewership numbers for the first five Amazon Prime NASCAR races reflected a decline compared to the previous year on traditional networks, according to Blackbook Motorsports data:
- Coca-Cola 600: 2.72 million viewers (down from 3.2 million in 2024 on Fox)
- Nashville: 2.06 million (lowest for that event since 2021)
- Michigan: 1.77 million (16% drop compared to 2024 USA Network)
- Mexico City: 2.1 million (record streaming audience)
- Pocono: 1.869 million (vs. 2.391 million on USA Network last year)
Despite lower overall ratings, Amazon attracted a younger demographic, with the average viewer age at 55.8 years compared to traditional TV. This signals potential for growth as streaming platforms develop their NASCAR audiences.
What Lies Ahead for Edwards and NASCAR’s Broadcast Landscape
With Edwards concluding his five-race coverage and TNT scheduled to take over the summer NASCAR broadcasting duties, Edwards is expected to retreat again from the racing spotlight. Hamlin’s suggestion that Edwards might be reconsidering his retirement adds a layer of intrigue about the former driver’s future involvement in NASCAR.
If Hamlin’s observations are accurate, this brief re-entry into the sport could rekindle Edwards’ passion for racing, opening the door for possible new chapters in his NASCAR story. Meanwhile, the sport continues to evolve, embracing streaming platforms to connect with future generations of fans.
