Carl Edwards has arguably suffered more heartbreaks than any other driver in NASCAR. From the narrow title defeat in 2011 to the morale-killing championship moment in 2016, the 72-time NASCAR series race winner (between Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck series races) has seen plenty of thrills and spills in his massive decade-long racing career.
Yet, through every gut-wrenching defeat and shattered dream, Edwards had one unwavering supporter by his side: his wife, Katherine Edwards, who helped him battle his demons with relentless strength and high-octane determination. Here’s everything you need to know about the motorsports legend’s wife.
Who Is Carl Edwards’ Wife, Katherine Edwards?
Katherine Edwards (née Downey) was born on March 15, 1979, in Columbia, Mo. She grew up in the same town as her eventual soulmate and NASCAR speedster, Carl. However, unlike Carl, she found an interest in medicine and acquired a degree in sports medicine, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
After acquiring her degree, she took another major leap in her career by taking a residency program and later becoming the chief resident at the University of Missouri in 2007. She built her area of expertise around severe trauma and brain injuries.
During the early phase of his NASCAR career, Carl dated Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amanda Beard, breaking up in 2006. Carl met his future wife, however, the very same year, and the two began dating each other soon after. Three years into their relationship, Carl and Katherine tied the knot on Jan. 3, 2009.
According to Sportskeeda, the pair welcomed their first son, Michael, in 2011, followed by their daughter, Anne, in 2011. So far, the two parents have chosen to raise Michael and Anne in private, keeping the media attention at bay. While Carl is constantly in the media’s spotlight, his wife has stayed away from social media, maintaining a low-key profile at all times.
Katherine played a crucial role in supporting Carl as he suffered one of the greatest heartbreaks in NASCAR, losing out to Jimmie Johnson and eventually forcing him into an early retirement.
