It has been over 24 hours now and I still can’t see a way NASCAR can get away without giving Carl Edwards a week or so off. I am not a fan of Brad Kesolowski at all but that really doesn’t weigh on my thoughts. If this was any two drivers I would feel the same. That is what is missing from this equation.
People are saying it’s payback for Talledega! That makes it even worse, and why did he choose now to do this. There were plenty of opportunity before this to wreck him. Carl waited until he was out of a race where it wouldn’t hurt his team. This premeditated wrecking was a long thought out plan. That is the reason why NASCAR will sit Carl down for a week.
What about the car he ruined, don’t you think Roger Penske is slightly pissed off about someone taking out his car and his sponsor who was going to have a top 5 finish. Someone has to pay for that car and that is where Carl’s prize money will go. If they strip him of his winnings from yesterday and combine that with last place money from next week that should just about cover it.
All I been hearing on Twitter is people saying Brad deserved it. I agree Brad had something coming but not at 180 mph. In the old days the stuff that brad does would have been handled off track and brad would have black eyes all the time.
I know NASCAR said they would let the drivers police themselves but there has to be a line there also, otherwise drivers would be carrying guns. I know that’s an overstatement but I wanted to show that a line has to be drawn somewhere and this is the place to do it.
People are saying a suspension is too much and it will take care of itself. I don’t think so, what if that car went into the stands and killed someone? Cousin Carl would have been arrested in the NASCAR hauler, not exactly what NASCAR wants to see happen. This is why they have to stop it right now. Don’t think for a minute that Brad is gonna let Carl get away with this. This is far from over unless NASCAR does something, and if they don’t and someone gets hurt then what.
The only way I see this coming to an end is to sit cousin Carl for a week and strip him of the prize from yesterday. I am sure some of Carl’s fans will not agree with me. I would have to say that Carl was my second favorite driver until this.
NASCAR-ista says
I agree – they’ve got to penalize Edwards for this one. Somebody could’ve been killed simply because he used poor judgment regarding a score he wants to settle.
Ogre_Kev says
Food for thought (and low-cal, at that):
Carl and Brad have a history that is not limited to their Cup races. They both race in the Nationwide series, too. And ask Kryle about how Brad raced in _that_ series sometime.
Carl didn’t flip Brad, he spun Brad. It just so happened that instead of spinning into the grass Brad got airborne. It was a freak (albeit 100% preventable) accident. NASCAR has to put this into the context of other incidents. Carl picked a straightaway with no other drivers nearby to deliver his message. Of all places to do a bad thing, that was actually the safest.
Sitting Carl will _not_ put this to an end; that will just cost Carl two more races. One for the penalty and one because you know danged well that Brad is going to take a shot at him later, too. Frankly, the better punishment for Carl is to put him on the track at Bristol. From the sound of it, all the Penske _and_ some of the RCR cars will make sure Carl understands that they are upset with him.
NonStopRacing says
I agree that retaliation on the track needs to stop, and Brad needs to have his aggressive driving addressed as well. Sitting Carl out for a week may or may not send a message, but they won’t know until they do it.
Will be interesting to see what we hear from NASCAR tomorrow.