CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carl Edwards said he never expected to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, so when the announcement came down a week ago, he was unreachable for hours until his wife encouraged him to check his phone.
He was shocked to learn that he was joining fellow former driver Ricky Rudd and the late Ralph Moody, a race strategist who made it in on the pioneer ballot, as the 2025 inductees. Nine days later, Edwards remained overwhelmed by the recognition; he said he was greeted by a fan congratulating him as he left a Bass Pro Shops early Thursday in his home state of Missouri.
The induction ceremony is next February in Charlotte.
Edwards won 28 races over 13 Cup Series seasons, another 38 races in the second-tier Xfinity Series and six in the third-tier Truck Series. He won one season title in the Xfinity Series and finished second four other times.
The only thing really missing from his racing resumé is a title at NASCAR’s highest level, which is a bit of a hot-button topic.