A True Inspiration - By Stacy Herdman

“Never give up on your dreams,” instructed Carl Edwards as he accepted his award at the NASCAR
banquet following the breakout season Carl had just concluded.  Carl is a great inspiration to many people, especially to people like me because we have similar ambitions, backgrounds, and also experiences.

            Carl became an inspiration to me because we both have ambitions of racing stockcars professionally.  With this ambition comes a long, hard road with many successes and struggles.  It takes a very driven, determined, and strong willed person like Carl.  To see him succeed is very motivating.

Most people with the ambitions such as these are from the Southern states due to the origin of NASCAR.  However, Carl is from the Midwest as am I.  For Carl to make his own opportunities and also sacrificing more to fulfill his dream is very inspiring to me. 

             Most importantly, Carl is an inspiration to me because we have similar racing experiences.  Carl is a Babygrand Champion.  Babygrands are nationally sanctioned smaller stockcars in which I am involved in.  Most don’t take our cars seriously, however Carl explains they contributed profoundly to his racing experience.  This gives us a feeling that we too can fulfill our dreams.

              Carl is not only an inspiration to racers, but to all who think their dreams are too far to grasp.  It is when people as successful as Carl tell us to never give up, that we are reminded that it is possible to succeed beyond our wildest dreams.