BUY TICKETS: See the races in Atlanta
MORE: Suarez: It’s going to be a great year | Edwards gives Atlanta advice
HAMPTON, Ga. — Carl Edwards flew to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday morning in his personal Cessna plane, presumably packing light. Though he stepped away from NASCAR competition in January, Edwards still made sure that his driver’s suit and helmet were part of his cargo.
Just in case.
Ever the racer, Edwards was back in his element at Atlanta, enjoying seeing the people and surroundings at a venue that catapulted him to NASCAR’s elite with a breakthrough victory nearly 12 years. His role Friday was as teacher and consultant, sharing lunch and working with rookie Daniel Suarez, his successor in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota.
Though his safety gear was in tow, Edwards reiterated that he was sticking with the decision he made in the offseason. And he also made it clear — despite rumors, hearsay and conspiracy theories to the contrary about his reasons for leaving — that Suarez had earned his place in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
“I think very quickly I’ll be out of the picture because it’s his team. He’s proven himself,” said Edwards, dressed in a crisp black shirt with the logo of team sponsor Arris. “He doesn’t have to have me here. I’m only an addition to what he’s already got, and it’s only because he wants me here.
“I definitely don’t want to get in the way. I’m not a hanger-on type of guy. If they don’t want me here, I won’t be here.”
MORE: Edwards goes to Phoenix to help Suarez
Edwards, who was unsure the length of his stay in the Peach State, tackled a wide range of topics in his informal afternoon gaggle with reporters behind the No. 19 hauler: His insistence that it’s not a “retirement,” his chances for a return to the cockpit, his peace with the January decision, his potential political aspirations, Suarez’s development, and those pesky rumors that haven’t caused him to lose his sense of humor.
“Man, I should’ve started this a lot different. I could’ve messed with you guys somehow with all the rumors and stuff,” Edwards said with a grin. “(Suarez benefactor) Carlos (Slim) pays me $1 million a race to come and hang out. Penske wants me to spy on the Toyotas.”
Edwards was joking, but the act of stowing Nomex into his luggage did plenty to stir the intrigue. Even with his career resume, the 37-year-old veteran would have to complete certain compulsory tasks to turn laps.
He would have to have a current 2017 NASCAR competitor’s license (he doesn’t, NASCAR officials said), pass a drug test and receive approval from both the track and NASCAR’s competition department. As of Friday afternoon, Edwards said he was unsure about his status and indicated he’d filled out no paperwork.
“I snuck into a lot of race tracks and driven stuff, so I’m not above doing that,” Edwards quipped. “I don’t know. I haven’t filled out any paperwork. I did tell (series director) Richard Buck this morning that I’m pretty sure that I’d pass the drug test, so that’d be good.”
Edwards continued to shy away from the word “retirement,” but with the roar of XFINITY Series cars practicing in the background, it was clear he missed the challenge of Atlanta’s worn asphalt. “This place, I love this place. I miss driving while I’m standing here.”
Full-time driving remains out of the question for now, Edwards says, but even the lure of a partial schedule in any of NASCAR’s national series would be a tough sell.
“I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to come here and it’s hard to be kind of half-in, half-out,” Edwards said, “so I’m going to try really hard to stick to my plan, step away, make sure I get my perspective right and if decide I want to drive something, I’m going to do it 100 percent, but I don’t know what I’m going to … right now, I don’t know … I’m certain that I wouldn’t agree to something full-time right now.”
Edwards also touched on the possibility of a political run, something he broached in his January 11 announcement. The Missouri native reaffirmed his offseason stance, indicating that he had no concrete intent to campaign for office.
“I haven’t decided on the political stuff,” Edwards said. “Like I talked about at the press conference, I really believe in individual freedom and liberty and what the United States is based upon. I think, like anybody, I’ve been paying attention and it’s a little scary what’s going on as a whole in our country and in the world. So if I can help with that down the line, great, but I don’t have any firm plans right now.”