Carl and Kate Edwards welcome daughter

We'll never know if Carl Edwards did a backflip, but we're sure he must have been beyond happy when his wife Kate gave birth to their first child, daughter Anne, on Wednesday.

The birth was announced on Ford Racing's Facebook page on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, Edwards' Facebook page confirmed the good news:

Kate and I have a beautiful baby girl! Anne Edwards is 8 lbs, 4oz and likes to eat and cry. all of the well wishes and support from everyone mean a lot to us. kates doing great, though shes having a little trouble burping annie....whole new world!

Edwards married Kate Downey, a physical rehabilitation doctor, on Jan. 3, 2009. The two met in their hometown of Columbia, Mo. The couple announced they were expecting in October.

The baby's due date was announced as Feb. 17. In anticipation of his daughter's birth, Edwards has had a driver on standby for the first two race weekends of the NASCAR season, at Daytona and Fontana, Calif.

In a team press release, Edwards and Kate request that instead of flowers or gifts, donations may be made to a charity called Back 2 Back Ministries. Donations will be used for an orphanage in Monterrey, Mexico.  


The arrival of Edwards' daughter comes during a baby boom in the Sprint Cup Series. Two weeks ago, Elliot Sadler and his wife Amanda welcomed a son, Wyatt Herman Fritts Sadler. Also expecting babies are Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon.

Skirts and Scuffs congratulates Carl and Kate on their new addition!

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Photo: NASCAR Media