Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Edwards Gets Three Race Double Secret Probation


Step aside Kyle, NASCAR's new I'enfant terrible.
Tuesday is lay-down-the-law day in NASCAR, and this time around fans got an interesting look at NASCAR’s attempt to control its “animal house.”

While NASCAR gives its fans a much broader look behind the scenes that most sports do, on some subjects, what’s going on in the garages, we only see the tip of the iceberg. Such is probably the case with the Carl Edwards/Brad Keselowski conflict.

Who wouldn’t think that a three race probation, no fines, no suspension, is barely a slap on the wrist? The earlier penalty being parked for the rest of the race at Atlanta only had minimal impact on Edwards since he was already laps down from the earlier fracas with Keselowski.

The whole situation would have seemed like no big deal had Keselowski’s car not gone airborne. Seldom has a NASCAR sanction ever been considered too light. Their penalties are swift and harsh.

It would be hard to believe that their light sanction would in any way drivers sending other drivers airborne out of fits of anger. So what is going on with this case?

Can they believe that Keselowski’s reckless driving and assorted antics are so irritating that others’ anger at him is somehow self-induced?

Word has it were it not for Keselowski’s car going airborne many drivers would have seen what happened to him justified.

Surely Carl Edwards got the message loud and clear. However, there is another driver who has much to learn. His attitude, thick-headedness and denial transcend the competitive juices which occasionally need a little cooling off by more mature drivers. Perhaps the light punishment on Edwards served as a more severe punishment on Keselowski as it suggests he isn’t worth the effort to stand up for.


No comments: