Carl Edwards is a good guy. NASCAR fans have known this for years. And nowhere was it on display more than a Florida race in 2016. The SportingNews.com reports that race has earned Edwards the Stan Musial Sportsmanship Award.
The scene was the 2016 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Edwards had his very first NASCAR Cup Series title within reach, but contact with Joey Logano late in the race took them both out.
Here's the restart for the championship that brought out the red flag. #TheChase https://t.co/8MYNnz1hiJ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 20, 2016
With only 10 laps to go, Edwards tried to block a charging Logano. Logano bumped him and the two spun out. Race and title dreams were over.
What happened next earned Edwards the nod from the St. Louis Sports Commission. Edwards walked over to Logano's pit box, shook hands with Logano's crew chief and wished him luck. Afterwards, Edwards stated that the wreck was entirely his fault. The 38-year-old Edwards then retired from racing in January, finishing 4th in the standings.
All class from #CarlEdwards.#TheChase https://t.co/eEgBcG37Ec
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 20, 2016
The gesture was applauded throughout NASCAR, and now beyond.
"Highlighted by what happened at Homestead, but also beyond just that moment, it's clear that Carl Edwards embodies the sportsmanship virtues we seek to celebrate at the Musial Awards," Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, said in a release. "He is very deserving of this honor, especially with an award that stands for integrity and civility in sports."
Edwards will be honored in November.