In a moment when many athletes would lose their cool, Carl Edwards took the high road. For that, and for being a class act throughout his career, the NASCAR driver will be honored at the Musial Awards in St. Louis on Nov. 18.
Presented by Maryville University, and produced by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the National Sportsmanship Foundation, the Musial Awards celebrate the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and the biggest names in sports who embody class and character. The national event takes place annually at the 3,000-seat Peabody Opera House. The event and its awards are named for Stan Musial, the late St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer who was the ultimate good sport.
The particular moment of sportsmanship for which Edwards is being recognized occurred last November at Homestead – Miami Speedway. Edwards was among four drivers in contention for NASCAR’s Cup Series championship. He led the season finale race with 10 laps to go. But as he tried to block competitor Joey Logano from passing him on a restart, the two drivers crashed, ending Edward’s shot for his first Cup Series title.
As reported by Jeff Gluck for USA Today, “Instead of storming off or starting a fight or hiding or blaming someone else or pouting about what was undoubtedly one of the most disappointing moments in his life, Edwards responded with pure class.” He walked over to Logano’s pit box, shook hands with crew chief Todd Gordon, and wished the team good luck. It was a gesture of extraordinary sportsmanship that was lauded throughout NASCAR. Gluck quoted Gordon as saying, “That’s just a stand-up guy. I’ve (gained) a lot of respect for Carl today. I don’t know that there’s many guys who would do that.”
Based on the character he has shown throughout his career, it was not a surprise Edwards would take such a gracious approach. Winner of NASCAR’s Busch Series in 2011 and holder of 28 Cup Series wins, the Columbia, Mo., native’s success on the track is equaled by the class, respect and humility he has personified.
In January, Edwards stepped away from racing after 13 years driving in the Cup Series. At the Musial Awards, he will be among several individuals recognized for remarkable displays of sportsmanship that represent the best in sports and humanity. The full lineup of honorees will be announced in October.
MUSIAL AWARDS TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2017 Musial Awards range from $10 to $50 and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com; in person at the Scottrade Center box office and all Ticketmaster ticket centers; and by phone at 800-745-3000. Additional fees may apply.
The Musial Awards also offers all-inclusive tickets and packages that provide prime seating for the awards show plus a pre-show dinner, reserved parking and more. All-inclusive tickets are on sale now. Information can be obtained at MusialAwards.com or by calling 314-345-5111.
TELEVISION SPECIAL:
In addition to the live awards show on Nov. 18, the Musial Awards will air as a primetime one-hour television special in December on KSDK-TV Channel 5, St. Louis’ NBC affiliate, with potential syndication in other markets. Last year’s Musial Awards broadcast recently won the Mid-America Emmy Award for Sports – One Time Special. It’s the fourth Emmy the show has won in that category and its eighth Emmy overall.
MORE ON THE MUSIALS:
In addition to keeping alive the legacy of Stan The Man, the mission of the Musial Awards is to inspire selflessness, integrity and civility in sports and society. Its organizers – the St. Louis Sports Commission and National Sportsmanship Foundation – want to have a transformational impact, empowering people across the nation to be good sports.
Recent Musial Award recipients include golf legend Arnold Palmer, baseball hall of famers Joe Torre and Cal Ripken Jr., women’s basketball star Tamika Catchings, pro tennis player Jack Sock, Little League World Series sensation Mo’ne Davis, and sportscaster Ernie Johnson.
This marks the 12th year the event has taken place in St. Louis. Showtime for this year’s Musial Awards is 7:30 p.m.
The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately-funded nonprofit organization that grows, strengthens and moves St. Louis forward through sports. The organization uses the power of sports to enhance the area’s quality of life and generate economic and social benefit for the St. Louis region.