The thrill of NASCAR as a sport is that you never really retire as a driver – you improve your skills and get prepared for the next role. The eldest son of Glen Wood, founder of Wood Brother Racing, Eddie Wood has had a lucrative career in the NASCAR world. Given his years of experience as a NASCAR Cup Series driver along with being a proponent of the Hall of Fame, Wood has a legacy that only few can envision.  

After Eddie Wood stepped down as the president of the glorious Wood Brothers, there have been speculations about whether the prodigy is all set to draw a line to his career. However, recently his eldest son and the third generation owner of Wood Brothers, Jon Wood opened up about the kind of relationship Eddie shares with NASCAR.

Eddie Wood not bidding goodbye to his skills anytime soon

Eddie Wood is currently 71 years young, an age when most would like to bid adieu to tracks and pursue something else for recreation. However, given the legacy of the Wood Brothers, it does not seem that Eddie is one of them. Eddie Wood has been the face of Wood Brothers, the oldest operating team in NASCAR for years. Even after he had heart surgery at the age of 65, there has been no stopping him.  Although Eddie Wood is taking a break from the day-to-day activities that will be now looked upon by Jon, it isn’t a goodbye. Jon himself has a fair share of experience as a driver and he has accounted for more than 208 races in the national series (2001-08).

Describing the kind of passion that Wood shares for the track, Jon said, “I don’t know we have traditions. I know that if you ask my dad and Len what they are most proud of, the conversation will veer towards the museum in Stuart and nothing about the race shop. Because that’s the stuff they’re the most proud of. Not current-day racing. Although they live for that and people will ask like do they have plans like retiring. NASCAR isn’t a business you retire. You die from it. You’re in it or you get run out – one or the other. It’s not something you just say, well I’m tired and I’m gonna go start fishing. You look at Mr. Penske. He is 88 or something like he is late 80s and Richard Childress, same thing. You don’t age out of this business. Like it’s your hobby and passion and it’s gonna be there until you can’t.”

Jon’s words capture the essence of Eddie Wood’s undying dedication to racing, a commitment that transcends age or circumstance. For Eddie, stepping away from the track isn’t an option—it’s the lifeblood that fuels his identity and the legacy he continues to build.

Just like any other NASCAR legend whose heart and soul lie on the tracks, Eddie Wood shares a similar kind of love for the tracks. After all, Wood Brothers was a venture that started holding the hand of three siblings – Glen, Delano, and Leonard. While Delano and Leonard were vested with mechanical duties, it was Glen Woods who was the driver for the team who earned four Grand National victories. Eventually, all three of the brothers were in operations and hired drivers like Fred Lorenzen and Bill Elliott to drive for the team. It was the start of a legacy!

However, given the kind of racing that NASCAR has witnessed at the moment, Wood isn’t much of a fan. However, the rise in aggressive driving and on-track violence has left him disillusioned with the current state of racing. The playoff format adds to his concerns, often leaving consistent performers throughout the season without a fair shot at reaching the top tier. Add on to that different racing strategies that have been 

Eddie Wood’s unwavering commitment to NASCAR is rooted deeply in the tradition and values of the Wood Brothers. It is also a testimony to how driving is fueled by passion and age is just a number.  While the sport evolves and faces challenges, Eddie remains a testament to the spirit of true racing showcasing how much NASCAR is embroiled in his skin and with time has become a part of his existence.

The secret to Wood Brothers’ longevity over the years

A team that has spent as much time as the Wood Brothers in a sport ought to leave a mark, one way or another. In a scenario where teams like Stewart Haas Racing have been forced to shut down, Wood Brothers is a prime example of how one can sustain in the market if one ends up making the right relationships. Harping on the same feeling, Jon put out the real reason why the team sustained over so many decades.

He said, “I see the way that we’ve made it this long and the successes that we’ve had, and every bit of that is because of being good people, and the ongoing relationships that they have with all these key people.” This became evident when the team lost prime sponsors, like Little Debbie and the Air Force, in 2008. At the time, they made the hard choices to scale down resources, and they were able to spring back to life. The team had go for part-time racing, which inevitably saved them the perils of downsizing.

Through resilience, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to their core values, the Wood Brothers have proven that the secret to their longevity lies not just in speed and wins, but in trust and loyalty.

As they look to the 2025 Cup Series, they have another major change coming in, with former SHR driver Josh Berry taking over the wheel from Harrison Burton. Despite his victory at Daytona earlier this year, the rest of the season didn’t go the team’s way, with Burton barely able to break into the Top 10. Berry will be their hope to get a more consistent Cup Series performance this year.