Blog 3 by Eli G

Back at the beginning of January, I finally got the chance to see one of my idols. It was my all time favorite NASCAR driver Carl Edwards. Carl had been racing in NASCAR since about 2003 or 2004. He started out in NASCAR's truck series where he won his first race at Daytona. He went on the next couple of years to race part time with Roush Fenway Racing. In 2005 he landed a full time ride with the team and had a full time sponsor too. He also raced in the Busch Series, what is now the Xfinity Series. Carl had a very consistent career. He stayed with Roush Fenway up until the 2015 season. He then switched over to Joe Gibbs Racing. He put together two really nice seasons in the number 19 Arris Toyota. In 2008, 2011, and 2016 he came so close to winning the championship. In 2008 he won about 8 or 9 races. In 2011, he only won one race but the championship ended up being the closest finish in the championship ever. Him and Tony Stewart were tied at the end of the race but the championship went to Stewart because he had more wins on the year. 2016 was a heartbreaker. Carl had 3 wins on the year. His last coming in Texas. He dominated the championship race but with 13 to go a caution came out. A late race restart caused Carl to wreck out of the championship battle. Sadly that was the last time he would be in a car. With about a month away from the start of the season, Carl decided to retire. That's why I was able to meet one of my lifelong idols on January 6th in Springfield. It was awesome though because I got his autograph and got to talk to him. He is probably the nicest person in the world. I got to watch him be inducted into the Ozark Racers Hall of Fame. It was truly something that I will never forget.