Carl Edwards, a former NASCAR driver and 28-time Cup Series race winner, has recently rekindled his enthusiasm for the sport. Despite this renewed interest, Edwards has made it clear that he would only consider a one-off return to NASCAR under a very specific condition: the return of higher horsepower to the cars. This stipulation highlights Edwards’ long-standing passion for the challenge of handling powerful cars, a feature he feels has been missing in the current state of the sport.
Edwards, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has been offered the chance to race again by his former teammate, Denny Hamlin. Hamlin, who raced alongside Edwards at Joe Gibbs Racing during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, has been vocal about his willingness to help Edwards make a comeback, should he desire it. During a recent episode of his podcast “Actions Detrimental,” Hamlin extended an open invitation to Edwards to race for his team, 23XI Racing, whenever the time feels right.
“I just told him whenever he’s ready, just let me know, whenever you get that itch,” Hamlin said, referencing conversations he’s had with Edwards. However, Hamlin is well aware of Edwards’ stance on the current state of NASCAR cars and their power output. Edwards has been adamant that until the sport returns to the high-horsepower cars of his era, he has no interest in making a return to the Cup Series. “I think he’s probably stated many times – until they put horsepower back in these cars, I’m not doing it,” Hamlin recounted.
This isn’t the first time Edwards has made his views on horsepower known. His love for the sport lies largely in the challenge of controlling high-powered cars on slick tracks, something he has been vocal about throughout his career. Edwards has repeatedly said that the reduction in horsepower over the years has diminished the level of excitement and skill required to drive in the Cup Series. His desire to drive cars with significant power under the hood is what drives his passion for NASCAR, and without that element, he’s simply not interested in competing.
Edwards’ last full season in NASCAR was in 2016, and although he has remained largely out of the spotlight since his retirement, he admitted that one event almost tempted him back into the driver’s seat. In 2021, during the inaugural Bristol Dirt Race, Edwards felt a spark of excitement while watching the race. The spectacle of drivers sliding around on the dirt track, wrestling for control of their cars, brought back fond memories for Edwards and reignited his passion for the sport, if only briefly.
“My whole career, my favorite thing has been sliding the cars around and managing horsepower,” Edwards said, reminiscing about the Bristol Dirt Race. “That race, if it wasn’t any fun, I don’t want anyone to tell me that. Because, it looked like just a blast.” The challenge of managing a high-horsepower car on a slick track is something that has always appealed to Edwards, and the sight of the Bristol race seemed to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the former champion.
Edwards’ affinity for powerful cars is not a new development. As far back as 2008, he was advocating for high horsepower as one of the defining elements of NASCAR. In an interview that year, he emphasized how much of a spectacle the sport is when drivers are forced to handle cars with immense power under difficult conditions. “The fact is that these are the 43 best drivers in the world,” Edwards said. “The cars have 900 horsepower and go 200 miles an hour, and the track is slippery and the tires are slippery, and that’s a spectacle – and that’s what it’s supposed to be.”
In 2015, NASCAR began reducing the horsepower of its cars from over 900 to 750, and eventually as low as 550. The current Cup Series cars produce around 670 horsepower, a reduction that has left many in the industry feeling frustrated. Edwards, who retired just before these changes took full effect, would likely share in that frustration if he were still racing today. The reduction in horsepower has been a controversial topic among drivers and fans alike, with many feeling that it has taken away from the excitement and difficulty of NASCAR racing.
For Edwards, the power of the cars is more than just a preference—it’s a core part of what makes the sport special to him. Without the challenge of managing a high-horsepower car, Edwards sees little point in making a return to the track, even for a one-off appearance. His passion for the sport is closely tied to the thrill of driving a powerful car on the edge of control, and unless that element returns to NASCAR, Edwards is likely to remain on the sidelines.
While Hamlin’s offer to provide Edwards with a car remains open, it seems that the former champion will only take him up on it if NASCAR brings back the high-horsepower machines that he loved to race. Until then, Edwards is content to watch from afar, waiting for the day when the sport once again aligns with his vision of what NASCAR racing should be.