Carl Edwards: Skipping White House Visit Has Been Blown Out Of Proportion

Carl Edwards serves on the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and has a good relationship with people like Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

So if people say Edwards is skipping next week's White House visit with President Obama because it's a political statement, the Roush Fenway Racing driver disagrees.

Why isn't Edwards attending? He's simply busy, he said.

"I think that's blown a little bit out of proportion," he said. "...This is not only the busiest time of the year, this is about the busiest time of my life.

"The folks at the White House, I spoke with them. They understand and the NASCAR folks understand. If something changes then I'll be there, but, right now, I'm just not able to go."

Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle will not be attending. Kurt Busch was originally announced as not attending but said Friday he will be there. Obama will still honor five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson and six other Chase drivers from last season.