Brad Keselowski flips his #12 Dodge in Atlanta.
“Have at it boys.”
Those were the, now infamous, words that NASCAR told drivers at the beginning of the 2010 season.
In response to the lower ratings and declining ticket sales, NASCAR began an initiative to ask what the fans wanted to see in races through the fan council. One of the predominant complaints was that NASCAR did not allow drivers to be themselves and over-policed the action on the track.
NASCAR had the added pressure from many drivers that were critical of its bump-drafting restrictions at the Fall Talladega race.
Something had to change. So NASCAR decided to loosen their reigns on the races and hoped that drivers would self police themselves.
Fast forward to the Kobalt Tools 500.
Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski have had a history dating back to last season, where the drivers have had run-ins in the Nationwide Series. Sunday, the rivalry boiled over to the Sprint Cup Series.
On lap 41, Brad Keselowski got into Carl Edwards, sending the #99 Scotts Ford up the track, into the #20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano, and ultimately the wall. Edwards would return to the track 149 laps down.
On lap 324, Edwards got his revenge, bumping Keselowski, sending the #12 Mopar Dodge spinning and flipping on the front stretch at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The #99 was parked for the rest of race and called to the NASCAR hauler. But before he could even make it to his garage stall, fans and the media were on a witch hunt for the usually likeable driver from Columbia, Mo.
When asked if the move was intentional, Edwards’ response lacked any denial. “Brad knows the deal between him and I. Scary part is the car went airborne, and that’s not at all what I expected.”
After the race, Keselowski was among the masses calling for Edwards’ suspension from competition.
But why the upheaval? What was it about Edwards’ move that made it significantly worse than any other “payback” that has been seen on the track? Why is the move any worse than what Keselowski has done himself?
Last Spring, Edwards himself took flight on the final lap of the Spring race in Talladega after a bump from none other than Brad Keselowski. The wreck caused significant damage to the catch fence and injured 8 individuals in the grandstands.
One of the issues that NASCAR dealt with last season was the inability to officiate the sport consistently, giving out different punishments (if any) for the same offense.
Punishing Edwards for anything more than aggressive driving would create a major upheaval within the garage, especially since Keselowski was not punished last year.
If NASCAR decides to suspend Edwards, it would open a can of worms better left closed. Drivers would be afraid of making any contact with other cars, whether safe or unsafe. That in turn would negatively affect the competition (just look at the Fall Talladega race).
Yes, Carl Edwards blatantly and willingly wrecked Brad Keselowski. Edwards himself admitted to that, and should be punished appropriately. Anything more than a fine, however, would negatively impact the sport.
Tempers flared and cooler heads did not prevail, but at the end of the day, the wreck between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski was just another racing deal. One that would have happened with or without the NASCAR’s “have at it, boys” declaration.
“Have at it boys.”
Those were the, now infamous, words that NASCAR told drivers at the beginning of the 2010 season.
In response to the lower ratings and declining ticket sales, NASCAR began an initiative to ask what the fans wanted to see in races through the fan council. One of the predominant complaints was that NASCAR did not allow drivers to be themselves and over-policed the action on the track.
NASCAR had the added pressure from many drivers that were critical of its bump-drafting restrictions at the Fall Talladega race.
Something had to change. So NASCAR decided to loosen their reigns on the races and hoped that drivers would self police themselves.
Fast forward to the Kobalt Tools 500.
Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski have had a history dating back to last season, where the drivers have had run-ins in the Nationwide Series. Sunday, the rivalry boiled over to the Sprint Cup Series.
On lap 41, Brad Keselowski got into Carl Edwards, sending the #99 Scotts Ford up the track, into the #20 Toyota driven by Joey Logano, and ultimately the wall. Edwards would return to the track 149 laps down.
On lap 324, Edwards got his revenge, bumping Keselowski, sending the #12 Mopar Dodge spinning and flipping on the front stretch at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The #99 was parked for the rest of race and called to the NASCAR hauler. But before he could even make it to his garage stall, fans and the media were on a witch hunt for the usually likeable driver from Joplin, Mo.
When asked if the move was intentional, Edwards’ response lacked any denial. “Brad knows the deal between him and I. Scary part is the car went airborne, and that’s not at all what I expected.”
After the race, Keselowski was among the masses calling for Edwards’ suspension from competition.
But why the upheaval? What was it about Edwards’ move that made it significantly worse than any other “payback” that has been seen on the track? Why is the move any worse than what Keselowski has done himself?
Last Spring, Edwards himself took flight on the final lap of the Spring race in Talladega after a bump from none other than Brad Keselowski. The wreck caused significant damage to the catch fence and injured 8 individuals in the grandstands.
One of the issues that NASCAR dealt with last season was the inability to officiate the sport consistently, giving out different punishments (if any) for the same offense.
Punishing Edwards for anything more than aggressive driving would create a major upheaval within the garage, especially since Keselowski was not punished last year.
If NASCAR decides to suspend Edwards, it would open a can of worms better left closed. Drivers would be afraid of making any contact with other cars, whether safe or unsafe. That in turn would negatively affect the competition (just look at the Fall Talladega race).
Yes, Carl Edwards blatantly and willingly wrecked Brad Keselowski. Edwards himself admitted to that, and should be punished appropriately. Anything more than a fine, however, would negatively impact the sport.
Tempers flared and cooler heads did not prevail, but at the end of the day, the wreck between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski was just another racing deal. One that would have happened with or without the NASCAR’s “have at it, boys” declaration.
Join the forum discussion on this post - (5) Posts
[...] “Have at it.” – Edwards/Keselowski Edition | RacingForTheWin.com [...]
[...] “Have at it.” – Edwards/Keselowski Edition | RacingForTheWin.com [...]
3X3zCC ywzpaxailalt, [url=http://ihbuyiwqcgfp.com/]ihbuyiwqcgfp[/url], [link=http://qjymxtrqedxy.com/]qjymxtrqedxy[/link], http://lamhbquqbrgt.com/
Q9LHOP atkbnimbecsf, [url=http://bvycoisdptjb.com/]bvycoisdptjb[/url], [link=http://bbleowybhwva.com/]bbleowybhwva[/link], http://tghtocubptwy.com/