NASCAR: Carl Edwards ends return rumor before it starts

Carl Edwards is planning a visit to the Trackhouse Racing Team facility, but he shot down the inevitable NASCAR rumor stemming from that announcement.

Carl Edwards, who was recently named to the list of NASCAR‘s 75 Greatest Drivers, went onto SiriusXM NASCAR Radio last week and said that he is hoping to go to Trackhouse Racing Team’s facility in the near future and that he has had discussions with team co-owner Justin Marks about making a visit.

Edwards retired from Cup Series competition unexpectedly after the 2016 season. While he hasn’t competed in any races since the 2016 season finale, any time his name comes up in a NASCAR context, rumors start to swirl.

Part of it stems from the fact that nobody was expecting the fan-favorite Columbia, Missouri native to end his 13-year Cup Series career when he did. Though he is now 43 years old, that hasn’t kept fans from maintaining a sliver of hope, even though he has shot down this sort of rumor before.

Now Carl Edwards has shot down the rumor that he is planning to return to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing Team.

While he is planning to visit the facility and they do run a third part-time entry, the No. 91 Chevrolet, as a part of the PROJECT91 initiative they started last year, Edwards has no desire to get back behind the wheel.

"“I don’t mean — I’m not taking a seat insert or anything! But yes, I am going to go check it out. He’s such a cool guy, and that story is amazing. I’m just excited to see the shop.”"

PROJECT91 isn’t exactly designed for a driver with the background that Edwards has anyway. It is meant for renowned international racing drivers, and Marks made this clear when Trackhouse Racing Team was ruled out as a potential landing spot for Jimmie Johnson to make his Cup Series return in 2023.

2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen drove the car at Watkins Glen International last year and Circuit of the Americas earlier this year, but Marks has confirmed that its next driver will be somebody else. It just won’t be Edwards.