Carl Edwards Makes Young Man's Day

[race crazy]

This is why everyone should like Carl. How he races or not-he has a genuine heart and Id thought I would share this story which was posted on the roush fenway forums. Carl does give away his trophies to those less fortunate and this isnt the first time or the last time-you da man, Carl!


LAKE CITY - Cody Byrnes sat in his wheelchair Friday smiling at a large, glass trophy sitting on top of his grandmother’s entertainment center.

While the NASCAR first place trophy had been in his possession for five days, he was still in shock.

Cody, a 15-year-old Lake City High School sophomore, has the disease, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a joint and muscle disease, which leaves him unable to walk and talk - but he can communicate in his own way.

At his grandparent’s Lake City home Friday, Cody told the story of his trophy as best he could through using sign language, expressions, vocal tones, writing and his best translators: mom and dad.

On Sunday, 15-year-old Cody was at the Michigan International Speedway - like he is every year - with his parents, Pat and Teresa Byrnes of Lake City.

Cody, who has been a NASCAR fan since he was 3, said he loves the speed of cars, hearing cars zoom by and gets excited when they crash. And he dreams of driving.

Cody was hanging out near the infield’s fence at about 1 p.m. Sunday waiting for the drivers to walk by.

And that’s when it happened.

Cody spotted his favorite NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and gave him a wave and a thumbs up.

To Cody’s surprise, Edwards waved back. Even more shocking, Edwards started walking toward Cody. Edwards asked, "Want me to sign your shirt?" after noticing that Cody was flying his flag on his wheelchair.

Cody nodded excitedly. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Not only did Edwards sign his shirt - he signed his wheelchair, too.

And what Edwards said next - nobody expected.

"Hey buddy - tell you what: If I win today, I’ll give you my trophy," Teresa recalled Edwards saying. "You know I give these away. You just meet me back here at the fence after the race."

Now, Edwards started 27th out of 40-some drivers. It was a long shot.

"I told Cody not to get his hopes up. But he gave a thumbs up and prayed for (Edwards)," Teresa said.

The family watched the race on pins and needles - lumps in their throats. Sixty laps into the 125-lap race, Edwards pulled to the front. Edwards teetered around first place for many laps afterward, and the family decided win or not, they were going back to the fence to say thank you to Edwards.

At the last pit stop, Edwards was in the lead and ended up taking first. Edwards, famous for doing a back flip after winning a race, gave his gymnastic performance. Edwards’ victory in the NASCAR Spring Cup 3M Performance 400 moved him into second place in the Sprint Cup Series points.

After giving interviews and autographs, Edwards came around the corner, saying, "Cody! Where’s Cody?"

Cody drove his wheelchair up to Edwards with a thumbs up.

"Buddy! We won that trophy! We did it!" Edwards said.

The Lake City family followed Edwards back to his trailer.

"Cody," said Edwards, as he handed Cody the 8- to 10-pound trophy, "these are pretty hard to come by. So, don’t sell it."

Edwards looked at Pat and Teresa, "Well, unless you have to," he joked.

Edwards spent time talking with Cody and his parents, gave Cody his sunglasses and signed the trophy, which reads "Cody, You’re the man! N.G.U. - Carl Edwards. "N.G.U." stands for "never give up."

Cody takes ownership of the trophy - saying it’s his, that he won it. And in a sense, Teresa agrees.

"I think you motivated him," she told Cody. "In a way, you won it together."¨ Through sign language, Cody said he’s still "surprised" and "shocked" that he has the trophy.

He plans to display the trophy, signed T-shirt and sunglasses in his room. And Cody can’t wait to go to school wearing his Carl Edwards signed T-shirt.

Next year, Cody believes he’ll meet Edwards again, and although he would love to have another trophy, Cody wouldn’t accept a second trophy from Edwards, if he offered.




NASCAR driver Carl Edwards poses with Cody Byrnes of Lake City after giving Cody his first-place trophy at Michigan International Speedway.

[skippy]

Always did here that Carl gave his trophie's away. I tink he only has a guitar that he won. That's great to hear how he decided to giive this one away.

Thanks for finding and posting this one Stephen.

Mike

[ashley832]

Very nice story! Thanks for posting Stephen!

Ashley

[stewart20rulz]

That's an awesome story...I wonder how many other stories there are we don't hear about. Most all Nascar drivers have a big heart and do a lot of charity work off the track. There's two sides...on the track and off. I don't think we here enough about all the off -the-track goodness a lot of drivers do. This is just another reason it is so easy to be a NASCAR fan.

[Labontebrothersfan]

That is so awesome! Those trophies are hard to come by, it's pretty cool that Carl gives them away. He gives people who struggle with illness something to remember forever.

[munozqc886]

Wow, that was n awesome read. Sorta got me choked up. That was an incredible thing Carl did for Cody, God Bless him. Makes you wonder if Kyle would do something like that

[stewart20rulz]

I vote to take carl off probation LOL

[race crazy]

haha if Kyle did that Id think id have to go to therapy for being in shock lol.