CONCORD, N.C. — While Carl Edwards and Ricky Rudd may have demonstrated different personalities on and off the race track, they had very similar reactions to discovering they had been elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“I didn’t even consider it,” Edwards said. “I melted. I couldn’t comprehend how big of an honor it was. I know I’m totally ready to soak in what it means to be in the NASCAR family.”
“I happened to be in the back yard and I got a call from Mike Joy. I said, ‘Is this call what I think it’s about.’ He said it was in my best interest to get down to Charlotte. I think we set the world record from Lake Norman to the Hall of Fame. I couldn’t believe it.”
The two racing legends are now linked in history as members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Edwards and Rudd served as co-grand marshals for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400.
Edwards collected 28 NASCAR Cup Series wins in a 13-year Cup career, including the 2015 Coca-Cola 600 and won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2007. While it came as a surprise when the then-37-year-old walked away from racing after the 2016 season, the Columbia, Missouri, native says he has few regrets.
“I felt it was a season in my life,” Edwards said. “I had so much fun – more than I can imagine. For me, I needed to focus on my family and health. For me, it was the right decision and it’s been wonderful.”
Rudd won 23 Cup Series races in a span that began in 1975 and ended in 2007. Part of his career came while driving for a self-owned team.
“Reacquainting with people that are still connected with the sport has been neat for me,” said Rudd of the aftermath of his Hall of Fame election. “I was leaving racing and Carl was coming in. There was nobody better on the race track – and you got rewarded when he won to see a backflip. He won a lot so he did a lot of backflips.”
Joining Edwards and Rudd in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is the late owner/driver Ralph Moody, who was elected on the Pioneer Ballot. Edwards and Rudd were elected on the Modern Era Ballot.