Carl Edwards is making his long-awaited return to NASCAR, but not in the way many fans might have hoped. The newly inducted NASCAR Hall of Famer is stepping into the broadcast booth rather than back behind the wheel. Edwards has joined Amazon Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage as an analyst for their pre- and post-race shows, marking his first official role in the sport since his abrupt retirement in 2016.
Edwards’ return comes as part of Prime Video’s five-race deal to broadcast NASCAR events, and he will be working alongside Corey LaJoie and Danielle Trotta in the studio. Meanwhile, the main booth will feature Adam Alexander on play-by-play duties, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte providing analysis. Edwards’ addition to the broadcast team adds credibility and excitement, as fans have long wanted to hear from him since he walked away from the sport at the height of his career.
His decision to join Amazon’s coverage did not come lightly. Edwards revealed that it took Prime Video executives making a personal visit to his home in Missouri to persuade him to accept the role.
Since his retirement, he has largely stayed out of the public eye, focusing on his family and personal interests. However, he made a brief return to the NASCAR scene in 2023 during the sport’s 75th-anniversary celebration at Darlington and, more recently, during his Hall of Fame induction this February.
Edwards’ NASCAR career was nothing short of remarkable. In his first four full-time seasons in the Cup Series, he secured 16 wins while driving for Roush Fenway Racing. He was a championship contender multiple times, with his closest shot coming in 2011 when he lost the title to Tony Stewart on a tiebreaker after the two finished the season deadlocked in points. His final season in 2016 also ended in heartbreak after a late-race crash in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway cost him another shot at the championship.
While many fans still hope for an eventual return to racing, Edwards’ new role with Prime Video at least brings him back into the NASCAR community. His perspective as a former driver, especially one who walked away at his peak, will be invaluable in the broadcast booth. Whether this is just the beginning of a larger comeback remains to be seen, but for now, NASCAR fans can look forward to seeing one of the sport’s most respected drivers back in the fold—at least on their screens.
