Carl Edwards Retires: No More BackFlips at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan businessman Jack Roush gave Carl Edwards his first Cup start at M.I.S. Two of his 28 career wins came at Michigan International Speedway.
Shocking NASCAR news as Carl Edwards has announced his retirement at the age of 37. On November 19 of 2016, Carl Edwards was 10 laps away from doing his signature backflip and hoisting NASCAR's championship trophy at Miami-Homestead Speedway. Less than 2 months later the driver has surprised the NASCAR world by announcing his retirement. ESPN reports Carl Edwards has no health issues but Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s battle with concussions factored into his decision to quit racing.
"I need to take that time right now and devote it to people that are important to me. ... Those [health] risks are something that I want to minimize."
-Carl Edwards
Edwards spent 13 years in the Cup series, many with Roush Racing (later Roush Fenway) before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015. Although his NASCAR team is in North Carolina, Jack Roush's other businesses- under the umbrella Roush Enterprises, are headquartered in Livonia, Michigan and Michigan International Speedway is considered his "home track." Carl Edwards took the checkered flag first at M.I.S. on June 17, 2007 and again on August 17, 2008.
Daniel Suarez will move up to the Cup series and drive the #19 for Joe Gibbs racing. No official word on what Carl Edwards will do next- could we see him at one of Michigan's 890 Subway restaurants?