Carl Edwards was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and gave a memorable speech.
He left NASCAR in 2016, just months after finishing fourth in the Championship.

What happened?

Edwards surprised everyone with his exit, stating he didn't have an exit plan.
He said: "I don't have a life raft I'm jumping onto; I'm just jumping."

Why it matters for Carl Edwards

Eight years after leaving, Edwards was invited back to the NASCAR community.
He felt accepted by past competitors, fans, and teammates at the Greatest Drivers event.

What comes next?

Edwards expressed gratitude for the NASCAR family, saying: "I didn't give up something for my family, I realized through all this that I've gained a family."
He reflected on his 2016 Championship experience, where he was 10 laps away from winning.

Edwards took the green flag in first place but dropped low to block Joey Logano.
The No. 22 Penske turned the No. 19, and Edwards hit the interior wall.

Edwards finished fourth in the 2016 Championship, with Jimmie Johnson taking home his seventh championship.
Edwards shared his thoughts on the race, saying: "Homestead was one of the best races I've run in my life."

He knew what it felt like to have a championship team with 40 laps, 30 laps, and 20 laps to go.
Edwards walked away with the feeling, not the hardware, showing extreme fortitude.

Edwards looked at his career, which was beyond his wildest dreams.
He felt grateful that he didn't win the championship, as it gave him time to think about his priorities.

The theme of Edwards' speech was gratitude, and he thanked the NASCAR community for accepting him back.
He said: "This is something; the theme of this is gratitude, I'm so grateful that we didn't win that championship."

Edwards' speech was a heartfelt expression of his appreciation for the NASCAR family.
He felt at ease with the acceptance he received from the community, including his wife Kate.

Edwards' experience at the Greatest Drivers event was a turning point for him.
He realized that he had gained a family through his time in NASCAR, and that was worth more than any championship.