Speaking in the press conference to confirm his withdrawal from full-time competition, Edwards reflected on the Homestead race – in which he starred in its closing stages only to be taken out of a title-clinching position in a huge wreck at a late-race restart after colliding with Joey Logano.

When asked if his decision to step back from full-time NASCAR racing would have happened regardless if he'd won at Homestead, he replied: "It's a good question… I don't know, who knows? It might have made it easier.

"Let me tell you about Homestead. With 40, 30, 20 laps to go, that's what I lived for. That is it. That is racing to me. Dave [Rogers, crew chief] and I had worked all year to be in that moment.

"To pass the battle with Jimmie [Johnson], and then to be able to pass Joey and Kyle [Busch] for the ultimate prize, driving as hard as I could, and to be in the position, to know on that day we were getting it done – not literally – that's what I live for.

"That part of Homestead, for me personally, I won. That's what it's about.

"The outcome, obviously, I wasn't happy with. That's frustrating and everything, but I feel really good about that [contending for the title]."

Edwards was also asked what he would replace the buzz of racing with, but shrugged: "I don't really have that figured out yet. Life's short, and you've got to do what your gut tells you."