Carl Edwards named honorary starter for Darlington Cup race
Yesterday at 03:02 PM
Darlington Raceway announced today that NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards will serve as the honorary starter for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, the flagship event of The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. Edwards notoriously won the coveted 2015 Southern 500 to close out the inaugural Throwback Weekend at the Track Too Tough to Tame.
"I‘m excited to come back to Darlington Raceway as part of Throwback Weekend and Darlington‘s 75th anniversary," said Edwards. "Winning here in 2015 and returning for NASCAR‘s 75th anniversary celebration in 2023 are two of the greatest moments of my career, so I‘m honored to have the opportunity to wave the green flag for the Goodyear 400."
"Carl has established himself as one of the most likeable personalities in our sport‘s rich history," said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. "We‘re honored to have him join us for the Goodyear 400 and help celebrate NASCAR‘s past and present to close out The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR."
The recently inducted NASCAR Hall of Famer is one of the most renowned drivers of the modern era. Hailing from Columbia, Mo., Edwards had an incredible NASCAR national series career that included 72 victories — each usually capped by his signature celebratory backflip. His immediate Truck Series success earned him full-time rides in both the Cup and Xfinity Series in 2005. He won his first races in each series during an early season weekend sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Edwards finished in the top two in the Xfinity Series standings for five straight years, including his 2007 championship, and amassed 38 wins over seven full-time seasons.
Over 13 years in the Cup Series, he won 28 races, including the Coca-Cola 600 and Southern 500, both in 2015. He was the championship runner-up twice, including the closest finish in NASCAR history, losing by tiebreaker to Tony Stewart in 2011. Edwards announced his retirement in 2017 before being named one of NASCAR‘s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023 and a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee in 2024.
Darlington Raceway‘s 75th Anniversary season races into high gear April 5-6 with The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. Drivers and teams will pay tribute to the rich heritage of NASCAR with throwback paint schemes and uniforms that will invoke Too Tough to Tame memories of days gone by. Action begins Saturday, April 5, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series‘ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200. It concludes Sunday, April 6, with the NASCAR Cup Series‘ Goodyear 400.
— Darlington Raceway —
