Speed Racer
aka "mach5driver"
By Lee Montgomery, Turner Sports Interactive
September 22, 2003
3:00 PM EDT (1900 GMT)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Carl Edwards burst on to the NASCAR scene this season, winning in the Craftsman Truck Series in his first year with Roush Racing.
Just a year ago, Edwards, 24, was living in his mother's basement in Missouri, making a few appearances in the trucks while also racing USAC Silver Crown, taking some classes in college and even teaching.
Much has changed. He's in the spotlight with Roush, doing his now-famous backflip after his victories. NASCAR.com sent Lee Montgomery to sit down with Edwards at Roush's shop and find out where Edwards came from, where he is now and where he's going.
Q: Growing up in Missouri, where you a Wallace or a Schrader fan? Or because of your dad, who was an open-wheel guy, were you an open-wheel fan?
Carl Edwards: Actually, I was a Schrader fan. My dad and Kenny are actually cousins. Kenny jokes around. He drove dad's car one night. I think he drove it three nights in a row. He won the first two nights, and then he got second the third night. So dad fired him and started driving it himself. So Kenny gives dad some trouble over that.
But, yeah, I was a big Schrader fan. I was really into open-wheel, like sprint cars and stuff. I thought those were the neatest things growing up.
Q: Was your career headed that direction, IRL? CART? Or did you have your eyes on NASCAR, too?
Carl Edwards: I was just trying to head in any direction where I could make a living driving race cars. We got the USAC Silver Crown car and ran some races. We ran in conjunction with the IRL cars a couple times. I really look up to those guys for what they can do. Seeing those things run around a place like Richmond, you'll gain respect really quickly. I'd love to drive something like that, but right now, NASCAR's really where my heart's set.
Q: Did you ever have any contact with the IRL people? The theory behind that series was young, American drivers. Now, it kinda seems to have not gone that way.
Carl Edwards: I've never spoken to anyone at all about driving in that series.
Q: Interesting. This time last year, you were at a bit of a crossroads, I guess you could say. You were in Missouri, you were going to school, teaching a little bit. What was life like then?
Carl Edwards: It was a neat time. There were a lot of things going on. My parents were going through a divorce, which was really tough. My personal life, my family life was really kind of rough. The racing was really taking off. I got the ride with Mike Mittler, and that was a huge deal. I was getting some rides in Silver Crown cars. We won the baby grand national championship last year, so I was traveling around and doing that.
But I was still living in my mom's basement and really hoping something was going to pick up. I tell you, it was really one of the most fun times, too, because I was free to go where I wanted. I really had a good time.
Q: Could you catch yourself dreaming of getting in NASCAR? Where were you at that point? Making a lot of phone calls? When Mike called you, were you like, "Oh, God. OK, sure."?
Carl Edwards: I did a lot of dreaming. You turn on the TV, and all you see is NASCAR. I wasn't sure where I stacked up, whether I could race with these guys or not. Then I remembered the day Mike called. It was just unbelievable. I'm really kind of -- not really cynical, but I'm very realistic. And I understood that my chances were very slim. Until I actually got to Memphis for that first Craftsman Truck Series race in the truck, it was still 50-50. I didn't quite believe it was going to happen. It's amazing. Things have changed so much. It's great.
Q: And then the call from Jack. Kind of the same thing? You were like, "This isn't Jack Roush." Was it from Jack, or who was it from?
Carl Edwards: It was from (Roush president) Geoff Smith and (Roush director of sponsorship development) John Miller. My crew chief, Doug Richert, who started us out this year, was on the phone, too. I didn't know any of those guys very well, and they were pretty vague. They told me, "We've got a seat." And I said, "Is it for the whole year?" They said, "Yeah, we can go for the whole year." I thought, "Man, this is too good to be true." So they said, "Well, we'll send you a contract." Man, I sat next to that fax machine.
And then they sent it to me, and I thought, "Something's going to happen. I'm not going to get this mailed back right." I worried. I don't think I slept for a good three or four days. I really could not go to sleep at night I was so excited.
Q: So you were pulling pages off the fax machine and looking for a place to sign?
Carl Edwards: Big time. And I hate to say it, but that's the only contract that I had. I called up Kenny Schrader and said, "Here's what they offered me. What should I do?" He said, "Well, what's your other option?" That's a pretty good point. I was really happy to become a part of Roush Racing.
Q: You said you were a dreamer. Do you still find yourself dreaming? Do you still pinch yourself thinking, "Geez, here I am with Roush, winning races and an up-and-coming guy now."?
Carl Edwards: Yeah. I tell you what, it really is like I went to sleep and I've been dreaming ever since that first race. It's a total change. I used to come down here, and I had the opportunity to work with Timmy Kohuth and Kenny Schrader -- just to help out at the shop. To walk in the shop and see my name on the trucks and know that all this work is going toward my development, it's an unbelievable feeling. It's easy to forget how I felt a year or two ago. Just yesterday, I spent a few minutes speaking with an up-and-coming guy, Danny Bopp, a guy who races Legends cars around here. It really reminded me of exactly where I was about two years ago. I'm just so fortunate.
Q: You talked a little bit about the development part of it. How is he trying to develop you? What is he trying to get you to do? What are some things you're working on?
Carl Edwards: The biggest thing is, the goal for me, and I guess the ideal situation, would be for sometime to end up in Nextel Cup and race for championships. That's what Roush Racing is about, winning the Winston Cup championship. They're trying to develop me and use the knowledge they've had with the development of Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth to really hone my driving so I can do what needs to be done to get the big sponsors and win the races and win championships. It's so competitive that you have to be very precise, and you have to do everything right. They're knocking off all the rough edges. They haven't got them all yet, but I'm learning a lot.
Q: Is one of the rough edges this backflip that you do?
Carl Edwards: No, I plan on doing that as long as I can. The fans seem to like it, kids love it. It's a good way to show how excited I am to win a race.
Q: How did that start? Did you jump out of a Silver Crown car and jump off a roll cage one night?
Carl Edwards: No, Tyler Walker -- I saw him do that after a Sprint Car race. I just thought, "Man, that's about the neatest thing I've seen a driver do in Victory Lane." My ex-girlfriend helped me a lot, just figuring I needed a coach. It's got to be somebody close to you because there's no way to look good falling on your head. It's something that's fun to do.
Q: So you could coach me how to do it? An old, fat guy like me?
Carl Edwards: It's pretty simple. It's a leap of faith, that's for sure. The higher you are to start with, the easier it is.
Q: But no jumping on the roof, I don't guess.
Carl Edwards: No.
Q: You recently got your braces off, too. That's a pretty big step in your career.
Carl Edwards: Yeah. I tell you what, I spend a lot less time flossing now. I've about made myself sick from eating apples. I haven't eaten apples in forever. I was on a kick there, three or four a day. That was no good. I'm toning that back, and I'm enjoying life without braces.
Q: Cool. You've had a lot of success this year, obviously. Maybe with a few breaks earlier in the year that could've gone your way, you'd be in the championship hunt. What about 2004? What's going on with Roush and the truck program?
Carl Edwards: We're looking at 2004, whether it's in the trucks or Busch car or whatever, to be a championship year. That's my goal. Obviously, it would be a lot simpler if we stayed in the trucks. I'd feel more confident, but the Busch Series would be a really great challenge. We're going to take the last part of this season and really practice running like a championship team. They've won championships out of this shop. I think if we do everything right, we can get tot hat level.
September 22, 2003
3:00 PM EDT (1900 GMT)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Carl Edwards burst on to the NASCAR scene this season, winning in the Craftsman Truck Series in his first year with Roush Racing.
Just a year ago, Edwards, 24, was living in his mother's basement in Missouri, making a few appearances in the trucks while also racing USAC Silver Crown, taking some classes in college and even teaching.
Much has changed. He's in the spotlight with Roush, doing his now-famous backflip after his victories. NASCAR.com sent Lee Montgomery to sit down with Edwards at Roush's shop and find out where Edwards came from, where he is now and where he's going.
Q: Growing up in Missouri, where you a Wallace or a Schrader fan? Or because of your dad, who was an open-wheel guy, were you an open-wheel fan?
Carl Edwards: Actually, I was a Schrader fan. My dad and Kenny are actually cousins. Kenny jokes around. He drove dad's car one night. I think he drove it three nights in a row. He won the first two nights, and then he got second the third night. So dad fired him and started driving it himself. So Kenny gives dad some trouble over that.
But, yeah, I was a big Schrader fan. I was really into open-wheel, like sprint cars and stuff. I thought those were the neatest things growing up.
Q: Was your career headed that direction, IRL? CART? Or did you have your eyes on NASCAR, too?
Carl Edwards: I was just trying to head in any direction where I could make a living driving race cars. We got the USAC Silver Crown car and ran some races. We ran in conjunction with the IRL cars a couple times. I really look up to those guys for what they can do. Seeing those things run around a place like Richmond, you'll gain respect really quickly. I'd love to drive something like that, but right now, NASCAR's really where my heart's set.
Q: Did you ever have any contact with the IRL people? The theory behind that series was young, American drivers. Now, it kinda seems to have not gone that way.
Carl Edwards: I've never spoken to anyone at all about driving in that series.
Q: Interesting. This time last year, you were at a bit of a crossroads, I guess you could say. You were in Missouri, you were going to school, teaching a little bit. What was life like then?
Carl Edwards: It was a neat time. There were a lot of things going on. My parents were going through a divorce, which was really tough. My personal life, my family life was really kind of rough. The racing was really taking off. I got the ride with Mike Mittler, and that was a huge deal. I was getting some rides in Silver Crown cars. We won the baby grand national championship last year, so I was traveling around and doing that.
But I was still living in my mom's basement and really hoping something was going to pick up. I tell you, it was really one of the most fun times, too, because I was free to go where I wanted. I really had a good time.
Q: Could you catch yourself dreaming of getting in NASCAR? Where were you at that point? Making a lot of phone calls? When Mike called you, were you like, "Oh, God. OK, sure."?
Carl Edwards: I did a lot of dreaming. You turn on the TV, and all you see is NASCAR. I wasn't sure where I stacked up, whether I could race with these guys or not. Then I remembered the day Mike called. It was just unbelievable. I'm really kind of -- not really cynical, but I'm very realistic. And I understood that my chances were very slim. Until I actually got to Memphis for that first Craftsman Truck Series race in the truck, it was still 50-50. I didn't quite believe it was going to happen. It's amazing. Things have changed so much. It's great.
Q: And then the call from Jack. Kind of the same thing? You were like, "This isn't Jack Roush." Was it from Jack, or who was it from?
Carl Edwards: It was from (Roush president) Geoff Smith and (Roush director of sponsorship development) John Miller. My crew chief, Doug Richert, who started us out this year, was on the phone, too. I didn't know any of those guys very well, and they were pretty vague. They told me, "We've got a seat." And I said, "Is it for the whole year?" They said, "Yeah, we can go for the whole year." I thought, "Man, this is too good to be true." So they said, "Well, we'll send you a contract." Man, I sat next to that fax machine.
And then they sent it to me, and I thought, "Something's going to happen. I'm not going to get this mailed back right." I worried. I don't think I slept for a good three or four days. I really could not go to sleep at night I was so excited.
Q: So you were pulling pages off the fax machine and looking for a place to sign?
Carl Edwards: Big time. And I hate to say it, but that's the only contract that I had. I called up Kenny Schrader and said, "Here's what they offered me. What should I do?" He said, "Well, what's your other option?" That's a pretty good point. I was really happy to become a part of Roush Racing.
Q: You said you were a dreamer. Do you still find yourself dreaming? Do you still pinch yourself thinking, "Geez, here I am with Roush, winning races and an up-and-coming guy now."?
Carl Edwards: Yeah. I tell you what, it really is like I went to sleep and I've been dreaming ever since that first race. It's a total change. I used to come down here, and I had the opportunity to work with Timmy Kohuth and Kenny Schrader -- just to help out at the shop. To walk in the shop and see my name on the trucks and know that all this work is going toward my development, it's an unbelievable feeling. It's easy to forget how I felt a year or two ago. Just yesterday, I spent a few minutes speaking with an up-and-coming guy, Danny Bopp, a guy who races Legends cars around here. It really reminded me of exactly where I was about two years ago. I'm just so fortunate.
Q: You talked a little bit about the development part of it. How is he trying to develop you? What is he trying to get you to do? What are some things you're working on?
Carl Edwards: The biggest thing is, the goal for me, and I guess the ideal situation, would be for sometime to end up in Nextel Cup and race for championships. That's what Roush Racing is about, winning the Winston Cup championship. They're trying to develop me and use the knowledge they've had with the development of Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth to really hone my driving so I can do what needs to be done to get the big sponsors and win the races and win championships. It's so competitive that you have to be very precise, and you have to do everything right. They're knocking off all the rough edges. They haven't got them all yet, but I'm learning a lot.
Q: Is one of the rough edges this backflip that you do?
Carl Edwards: No, I plan on doing that as long as I can. The fans seem to like it, kids love it. It's a good way to show how excited I am to win a race.
Q: How did that start? Did you jump out of a Silver Crown car and jump off a roll cage one night?
Carl Edwards: No, Tyler Walker -- I saw him do that after a Sprint Car race. I just thought, "Man, that's about the neatest thing I've seen a driver do in Victory Lane." My ex-girlfriend helped me a lot, just figuring I needed a coach. It's got to be somebody close to you because there's no way to look good falling on your head. It's something that's fun to do.
Q: So you could coach me how to do it? An old, fat guy like me?
Carl Edwards: It's pretty simple. It's a leap of faith, that's for sure. The higher you are to start with, the easier it is.
Q: But no jumping on the roof, I don't guess.
Carl Edwards: No.
Q: You recently got your braces off, too. That's a pretty big step in your career.
Carl Edwards: Yeah. I tell you what, I spend a lot less time flossing now. I've about made myself sick from eating apples. I haven't eaten apples in forever. I was on a kick there, three or four a day. That was no good. I'm toning that back, and I'm enjoying life without braces.
Q: Cool. You've had a lot of success this year, obviously. Maybe with a few breaks earlier in the year that could've gone your way, you'd be in the championship hunt. What about 2004? What's going on with Roush and the truck program?
Carl Edwards: We're looking at 2004, whether it's in the trucks or Busch car or whatever, to be a championship year. That's my goal. Obviously, it would be a lot simpler if we stayed in the trucks. I'd feel more confident, but the Busch Series would be a really great challenge. We're going to take the last part of this season and really practice running like a championship team. They've won championships out of this shop. I think if we do everything right, we can get tot hat level.
