Carl Edwards is known to thousands of NASCAR fans as the driver of the famous Aflac car # 99 in the Sprint Cup Series. Born April 15,1979 in Columbia MO, Carl was always a fan of racing and followed in his father's footsteps, beginning his racing career at the tender age of 13.
1994-2004
The first ten years of Edwards' career set the framework for his hugely successful NASCAR racing days. By the end of the 1994 season, Carl Jr. had four feature race wins under his belt, and moved on to collect 14 more four-cylinder series wins over the next two years. 1997 saw him make the move to the dirt circuit, enabling him to compete in NASCAR Dirt Modified Series.
Edwards' next stop on the way to the top was Capital Speedway in Holt Summit, MO in 1998, when he was awarded Rookie-of-the-Year honors in the modified division. He kicked it up a notch in 1999, competing in the Modified division and the Dirt Late Model class and totaling 13 feature wins as he worked his way inexorably toward the NASCAR Track Championship.
2000 saw Carl dominating across the field. He not only won three Sportsman division races, but dominated the Pro-Modified division of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. He was also named Rookie-of-the-Year, winning 13 feature races and taking the Capital Speedway Track Championship. Baby Grand division races were on the menu for 2001, and Edwards again did the family name proud, winning 9 out of 11 races in Indianapolis, Tucson, Lebanon, and Moberly. That wasn't enough for the rapidly rising star - Carl also ran 5 of 7 USAC Silver Crown Series pavement races, competing in Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Irwindale, with his best finish of 15th place in Richmond.
Carl stuck with the USAC Series throughout 2002, with eight starts, and also managed a top 10 finish in Kansas during his seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for MB Motorsports. In addition, he claimed the 2002 Baby Grand National Championship. 2003 saw Carl earn a third place podium at IRP. It was his only USAC race of the year; he subsequently joined Roush Fenway Racing to drive the No. 99 Superchips Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. A terrific rookie season followed, as Edwards took three wins, one pole, 13 top-five finishes, and 15 top-10 finishes. Carl finished eighth in point standings for the year, and was named the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year.
Edwards won the season-opener at Daytona in 2004, setting the tone for another impressive year, He continued to win with Kansas following Daytona, and Bristol following Kansas. At this point Jack Roush approved him finish the truck season while simultaneously transitioning to the Sprint Cup Series. Carl didn't let Roush Fenway down - his debut in the Cup car at Michigan instantly put him on a level with Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte and Kyle Petty as he finished inside the top 10 his first time out! The year ended with Edwards holding fourth place in the overall truck series standings, and a third place at Atlanta with an additional four top 10 finishes in 13 Cup starts.
2005-2010
Carl Edwards' NASCAR victories continued to pile up, becoming too many to count. He continually ran impressively on the tracks both in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series, and became the only driver in history to win both his first Cup and Nationwide races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, 2005. That year he also came in third in overall point standings, narrowly missing overtaking reigning favorite Tony Stewart and technically tying with teammate Greg Biffle for second.
Edwards continued to break records and hone his racing skills and hovering near the top of the leader board year after year. In 2008 Carl won the Tag Heuer Top Racecar Driver of the Year Award as well as the National Motorsports Press Association voted him as the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award.
2010 saw controversy erupt, however, as Carl 'nudged' Brad Keselowski as the two opponents rounded the bend at 200 miles an hour during a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Atlanta in March, 2010. Fortunately, Keselowski was unhurt, but NASCAR officials deemed the nudge intentional and reckless and put Edwards on probation for three races. This sparked a large amount of contention among fans and drivers, with some feeling the move was harsh, and others calling it too lenient. According to NBC Sports, "Edwards acknowledged his action was intentional but said he was surprised by Keselowski’s car taking flight." Keselowski supported NASCAR's decision.
According to Carl Edwards' official website, the driver enjoys spending time in Columbia, MO, with his family and friends, riding bicycles, working out and reading when he's not on track; he also works with various children's charities including Speedway Children’s Charities, Dream Factory and Victory Junction Gang Camp.