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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
HEMBREE: NASCAR’s Move Was Good But Not Perfect
NASCAR reached virtually the only conclusion it could have in the case of Carl Edwards Vs. Brad Keselowski...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted March 09, 2010   Charlotte, NC
PHOTOS: EDWARDS KESELOWSKI CRASH Brad Keselowski wrecks at AMS. (Photo: Getty Images)
Considering everything that has been said, done and written since about the middle of last season, NASCAR Tuesday reached virtually the only conclusion it could have in the case of Carl Edwards Vs. Brad Keselowski.

Edwards will begin a three-race probation at the March 21 Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee as a result of his retaliatory move against Brad Keselowski near the end of Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This, in effect, means nothing. Probation is to NASCAR as a $5 fine for littering is to a guy who dumps his trash can on the side of the road. If Edwards does something seriously wrong – however that is defined – at Bristol, Martinsville or Phoenix, NASCAR might come down harder on him because he’s on probation. In the past, however, drivers haven’t been seen trembling a lot after receiving the probation “hammer”.

After throwing open the door – and the windows and basically removing the roof – to more aggressive racing with its proclamation of “Boys, have at it” in January, NASCAR would have found it difficult to seriously penalize Edwards for his Sunday transgression. Instead, it took the safe, middle route, announcing its displeasure but in effect slapping Edwards on the wrist.

NASCAR president Mike Helton mentioned at least twice in his press conference Tuesday that Edwards’ penalty also included being parked by NASCAR after the Keselowski incident. To describe this as a penalty is relative nonsense, however, because Edwards was a zillion laps down and the race was almost over. Parking a star driver early in a race? That’s another matter.

For judicial purposes, Helton was correct in pointing out that Edwards’ move and the fact that what Edwards did resulted in another car flying dangerously into the stratosphere are two separate items and should be treated as such.

Perception is another matter, however. If Edwards’ bump had resulted in Keselowski’s car simply sliding onto the apron grass, the national coverage of the incident would have been significantly less. Flying race cars, especially ones that approach grandstands, attract attention.

There will be understanding of Helton’s decision within the sport (at least by most observers), but in the bigger outside arena, where there often is little understanding of NASCAR’s ins and outs, there will be fury and outrage that a driver who sent a race car and its helpless driver hurtling through the air doesn’t receive a more significant penalty.

The bigger issue within the sport is that the “line” that NASCAR doesn’t want drivers to cross remains significantly fuzzy. Clearly, it’s OK to retaliate. In fact, NASCAR’s new version of racing almost demands it. Entertain us. Enthrall us. Excite us.

But it must be repeated that a person driving a 3,400-pound race car with road rage – however tempered – on his or her mind is a dangerous person. And a racetrack is not a private battlefield. There are other drivers – and a bunch of fans – who could be hurt by someone’s targeted revenge. And, short of injuries, a wreck caused by retaliation can have a huge impact on the day’s results. Edwards’ move Sunday sent the race into a long overtime and had an influence on the finish order.

It is fine to expect aggressive, retaliatory racing within the context of sanity, but it is ridiculous to assume that, in most cases, drivers can settle their own disagreements using on-track frontier justice. There must be a respected sheriff waiting to step in and keep the streets mostly safe.

Those who saw the blood on the ground in the grandstands after the Keselowski-Edwards crash at Talladega last year won’t soon forget it.

Clearly, Edwards did not intend to catapult Keselowski’s car into the air Sunday. But that’s almost beyond the point. It happened. So it must be assumed it can happen again. After it happens again and something other than a race car is mangled, it will be too late.

There’s a difference between good racing and rock ’em, sock ’em, roll ’em over, set-them-on-fire carnival thrill shows, and NASCAR must stand up and define the difference.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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