"I thought I knew Carl pretty well": When Mark Martin struggled to understand Carl Edwards’ NASCAR retirement

Eight years ago, NASCAR Hall of Fame Mark Martin spoke about not fully understanding Carl Edwards' decision to step away from racing at just 37.

Edwards announced his retirement from NASCAR in January 2017. The Missouri native debuted in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and won the Xfinity Series championship five years later. He competed in the Cup series for 12 full seasons and had 28 wins with 220 top-10 finishes.

Martin, who was Edwards' teammate at Roush Fenway Racing between 2004 and 2006, talked about his decision in a press teleconference in January 2017:

"I thought I knew Carl pretty well. He and I have not have a chance to discuss it. I just don’t know what factors really went into making that decision. I’ll know and understand it when he gets a chance to take me through his decision process." (via USA Today Sports)

Edwards' announcement came in the prime of his career during a press conference with Joe Gibbs Racing after he almost won the 2016 Cup Series championship. He said that he was happy with his career and wanted to focus on his family and staying healthy.

"I put him right near the top of the list of wanting to race as bad as anybody I’ve ever known. So I’m a little confused," Mark Martin said in another conference.

In 2017, Daniel Suarez took over the No. 19 Toyota to replace Carl Edwards, who will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year.

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"It almost pisses me off" - Mark Martin on fans asking if he will return to NASCAR

Mark Martin raced until he was 54 and gave up full-time driving in NASCAR in 2013.

He won 40 Cup Series races and has the second-highest wins (49) in the Xfinity Series races. The Arkansas native finished second in the Cup standings five times but never won the Cup championship or the Daytona 500 in his 31-year career.

In a 2020 interview with The Athletic's Jeff Gluck, he revealed his firm stance about not returning to racing, which was exhausting and took everything out of him.

"I’m done. People don’t get it. If I had a passion to go drive cars, I would," Mark Martin said (NY Times).

"It almost pisses me off. I realize they mean well and have a good heart about what they’re saying. I appreciate that someone thinks I can drive the 6 car at Fontana. But dude. Can’t. Won’t. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t," he added.

The five-time IROC Champion Martin now runs automobile stores and dealerships.