Bob Rosato

Photo Essays: NASCAR driver Carl Edwards

A week in the life of NASCAR driver Carl Edwards. A chronicle of how a young NASCAR superstar driver spends an average week of his life. Photographed for Sports Illustrated's year end NASCAR issue.

An inside the car view as Carl drives the Office Depot Ford during a morning of testing at Martinsville Raceway.
   
After racing the day before, Carl stops by CNN in Atlanta for a promotion for a TV special, and for an interview with Kyra Phillips.
   
After his CNN visit, Carl and his close friend Darryl Jones pilot his private plane from Atlanta to Mooresville, NC
     
  
Carl stops by the shop at Roush Racing and visits with his crew chief Bob Osborne and other team members.
   
Carl gets in an early morning workout at the Roush garage before heading to Martinsville for testing.
   
Carl sleeps on the passenger side of his truck on his way to Martinsville Raceway for testing.
     
  
Upon arriving at Martinsville Raceway, Carl is greeted by race fans and signs a few autographs.
   
Carl sits behind the garage area at Martinsville Raceway on the cell phone after the testing was canceled due to inclement weather
   
After returning from Martinsville, Carl and his dad Carl Sr. put together a radio controlled helicopter which was flying by the afternoon
     
  
Carl makes a call before heading to the Roush Racing facility
   
Team owner Jack Roush conducts a meeting with Carl and several team officials
   
NASCAR drivers Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson meet Carl at a local Starbucks in the morning to ride to Martinsville together for testing
     
  
Carl puts on his fire suit in his transporter as he prepares for his testing run at Martinsville Raceway
   
Carl walks back to the garage area after checking out track conditions
   
Carl pilots his test car on the track at Martinsville
     
  
Carl waits in his car while adjustments are made between test runs
   
Carl goes over data with Roush engineer Jason Stockert in the garage during testing
   
Carl meets with members of the media follwing his testing at Martinsville Raceway
     
  
After testing at Martinsville, Caril is brought to Charlotte by helicopter for an appearance and autograpgh session at Office Depot
   
Carl signs an autograph for a young NASCAR fan who waited in a long line of fans at the Office Depot
   
Carl goes for an evening run following his Office Depot appearance near his home
     
  
Carl and his dad stop by the wind tunnel at Roush Racing. Technicians examine and test the car's aerodynamnics
   
Carl rides his motorcycle to the Lowes Motorspeedway in Charlotte
   
Carl hugs his mother, Nancy Sterling, upon greeting her at Lowes Motorspeedway prior to his practice run
     
  
Carl drives the Scotts Ford during his practice run at Lowes Motorspeedway
   
Carl reviews data with a crew member between practice runs inside the team's transport hauler
   
Before his evening qualifying run, Carl prepares some food with his friend and motorhome driver Tom Giacchi, parked in the infield at Lowes Motorspeedway
     
  
Carl and his crew roll his car down pit row as he prepares for his qualifying run
   
Car owner Jack Roush keeps a watchful eye from pit row as Carl makes his qualifying run
   
After qualifying, Carl watches the infield race exhibition in the infield of Lowes Motorspeedway
     
  
In the morning, before Carl heads to the track, he rides his dirt bike on a motocross track near his home
   
Carl gets elevated on his dirt bike showing the same skills he has as a superstar NASCAR driver