Carl Edwards on practicing in Kyle Larson’s car at All-Star Race: ‘It’s never a total no’

Could we see Carl Edwards back in a NASCAR Cup Series car in 2025? Kyle Larson is advocating for it, and Edwards isn’t against it. We haven’t seen Edwards race, qualify, or practice a Cup car since 2016. Is it time for him to make a return?

In the last few years, Carl Edwards has been more open to being part of NASCAR. Not as a driver but as a former driver personality. Driving the No. 5 car for North Wilkesboro All-Star practice while Larson is in Indianapolis would be major.

It is a short track. Getting approval won’t be that difficult despite Edwards’ absence from racing in the last nine years. But would he even want to do it? Actually, perhaps.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports asked Edwards about the proposal. Nothing formal has been done, but Cousin Carl is aware of Larson asking him.

“Actually, this is cool my friend sent me that and really it’s an honor. I mean he’s one of the fastest guys to ever drive one of these cars and for him to say that, I don’t know if he’s messing with me, I’m very likely to crash a car if I were to get in one right now. But that is kinda interesting, but I’d have to go run the sim or something like that and see if I can even get around North Wilkesboro. But nobody’s officially talked to me about it, no.”

Carl Edwards isn’t saying yes, but he isn’t saying no.

“No, it’s never a total no, I like options but I don’t know. I’d say, yeah, it’s no for now, but I’d drive a sim and check it out.”

Of course, Edwards is going to be immortalized tomorrow night. He will be formally inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside Ricky Rudd and Ralph Moody.

During his career, Carl Edwards won 28 races and scored 220 top-10 finishes in 445 starts. Along with those stats he collected 22 pole awards as well. Spending most of his career with Roush, Edwards spent two seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing before abruptly hanging up his helmet.

In that final 2016 season at JGR, Edwards finished 4th overall in the playoffs. He had three wins that year with six pole awards. Then, he called it quits to the surprise of the NASCAR world.

Getting to see Edwards return and practice and qualify for Kyle Larson would be fantastic. It would give North Wilkesboro that All-Star feel.