NASCAR dropped the hammer, or handed it, to Carl Edwards - a three race suspension in all NASCAR Series competition.
Three races doesn't seem like a big punishment, because it's not. I have to be honest and say I wasn't looking for a suspension, but I did expect a fine and a significant amount of points.
I got nothing.
Now, this is where I would go into some detail about the incident, but unless you've been living under a rock you've seen the replay of the incident on some news channel or at least heard people talking about it. If you haven't seen it - chances are you've stopped reading this post after NASCAR was the first word you read. That being said.
Yes, in my opinion, Edwards crossed a line. Brad Keselowski is an aggressive driver. I don't dispute that. He has made enemies. That being said, Edwards still has no right to use the racecar as a weapon.
Take 'Special K' back to the motorhome lot and whip his ass. Don't do it on the race track. There is too much at stake there. It's not like we're racing shopping carts here. It's a 3,400 pound car - at 180 miles per hour.
I think the punishment from NASCAR is fine, but it's the punishment from the grandstands that will really hurt Edwards. He lost a lot of respect on Sunday, and in this sport - that means more than any points or monetary loss.
Anybody recall the 89' Winston? Rusty Wallace went from hero to zero in moments. Wallace needed police protection after slamming Darrell Waltrip into the wall. (The famous: "I hope he chokes on that 200 grand," said Waltrip.)
I think Edwards made a choice - he now has to live with the consequences. And he is willing and ready to do so. Edwards says he is fine with what happened.
The garage is very split on the deal, and some - like Keselowski rival Denny Hamlin - are just shutting their mouth over the deal. Kevin Harvick, who has been parked by NASCAR for aggressive driving in the past, said he's going to ask NASCAR for a refund of all the money he's lost for the same type of issue.
It is what it is. NASCAR will figure it out, people will soon forget - but make one thing clear.
People. Are. Talking.
There hasn't been this much buzz in NASCAR since 2001.
1 comment:
Kevin Harvick cracks me up!!! NASCAR opened the can of worms when they said "have at it boys!" Although I prefer the rubbin' is racin' outlook, I didn't expect someone to take it this far this quickly...esp. not Carl Edwards. Now, Tony Stewart and his monkey...that wouldn't have surprised me ;-)
Post a Comment