Carl Edwards remains one of those rare figures in the NASCAR Cup Series whose racing history and achievements suggest a title should have followed, yet fate never dealt that final card. His last stint in 2016 cut especially deep, ending a career that came within inches of the sport’s highest prize and leaving scars strong enough that he never strapped into a NASCAR car again.
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Despite the heartbreak, Edwards never turned to social media to air frustration or trumpet achievements. He maintains an Instagram presence where he occasionally shares NASCAR-related moments, but he has never used Twitter, even during the height of his career.
That choice was not accidental. During his final Cup season in 2016, Edwards addressed the topic in an interview with Frontstretch when asked why he stood apart from most drivers by staying off Twitter. He said that it’s a deliberate boundary he has set between racing and the rest of his life. As he put it,
“For me, I think that when I go home from here, I have a lot of other interests and things going on. In some ways, if I’m constantly involved and focused on specifically opinions and these things that aren’t going to make me faster, it feels like I’d spend too much time on it.”
Edwards recalled an early encounter with the platform that cemented his stance. When Brad Keselowski first burst onto the Twitter scene, Edwards’ brother encouraged him to take a look, impressed by how engaging it seemed. Edwards picked up the phone, scrolled through the feed, and lost track of time. By the time he handed the device back, an entire hour had vanished. He looked at that past hour as a warning sign.
With so much noise surrounding the sport, Edwards recognized that diving into that stream could consume every spare moment of the week.
From that point forward, he chose distance. Edwards preferred to operate on his own terms, focusing on preparation and personal interests rather than commentary and reaction. Still, he left the door slightly ajar. In 2016, he publicly stated that a Cup championship would change everything. “I have committed that if we win the championship, I will join Twitter or participate,” but the title never arrived, and the account never followed.
Years later, his absence sparked confusion. In 2023, a Twitter account using the handle @CarlEdwards19_ appeared without warning and posted two messages. Kenny Wallace later revealed that he had spoken directly with Edwards and confirmed the account was fake, putting an end to the speculation.
Even during his racing days, the 46-year-old remained largely invisible on social platforms. After stepping away from NASCAR at the end of the 2016 season, he continued that pattern, keeping a low profile and letting his body of work speak for itself.
