MONDAY MORNING CREW CHIEF: NASCAR faces a big question – what to do with Carl Edwards?

By Jeff Owens

Monday, March 08, 2010

Carl Edwards heads to the garage early after crashing Brad Keselowski in Atlanta.

Tom Copeland
CIA Stock Photography

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Four races into its new “Boys, have at it” era, NASCAR officials have a dilemma on their hands.

Should they penalize Carl Edwards for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday or let him get away with one of the most blatant acts the sport has seen in some time?

That is the question that all of the NASCAR world is asking today. And it’s the type of interest and controversy NASCAR hoped for, though certainly not to this extent, when it decided to lighten up on its drivers and allow them to police on-track behavior themselves.

Edwards certainly took matters into his own hands at Atlanta, returning to the track 149 laps down and tracking down Keselowski to deliver a bit of payback for an earlier incident.

Edwards, no doubt, had been hankering to get back at Keselowski for a while. The two have had a few dust-ups in the Nationwide Series, and it was Keselowski who sent Edwards flying into the fence at the end of the Talladega Cup race last April.

Edwards got his vengeance, but in a horrifying manner.

He intentionally spun Keselowski with three laps remaining in the Kobalt Tools 500, but when he did, Keselowski’s car lifted off the ground, rolled over and smashed roof-first into the outside wall.

Though Keselowski walked away unscathed, it was a frightening wreck that made Edwards’ actions seem downright criminal.

Now it is up to NASCAR to decide how to handle the incident. It parked Edwards during the race and summoned him to the NASCAR hauler afterward.

But does it issue more penalties? Does it fine him or suspend him, as Keselowski called for?

NASCAR allowed Denny Hamlin to get away with a similar incident in the final Nationwide Series race at Homestead last year. He intentionally wrecked Keselowski, and then boasted about it, reminding everyone that he had vowed to do it.

But Edwards’ actions appear to be far worse for two reasons: One, he came out of the garage with the sole intent of wrecking Keselowski; and two, he did it at one of NASCAR’s fastest and most dangerous tracks, causing a horrifying accident that could have injured Keselowski and, potentially, spectators.

On one hand, NASCAR can’t tolerate such blatant acts. If it lets Edwards get away with it, it sends the message to the garage that anything goes, no matter how blatant or dangerous the act.

On the other hand, if it comes down hard on Edwards, what does that do to its “Boys, have at it” philosophy?

Wouldn’t it be hypocritical to suspend or fine Edwards after it basically told the drivers that they could police themselves on the track without fear of repercussions?

NASCAR officials must be extremely careful how they handle this one. They face a huge risk of sending the wrong message no matter what they do.

MESSAGE DELIVERED

The other issue that could come out of the Edwards-Keselowski incident is whether or not it alters Keselowski’s attitude and driving style.

So far, the young driver has been one of the most aggressive drivers on the track, and he has made it clear that he doesn’t care who he runs over or angers in his attempt to get to the front.

But he was the recipient of a serious message on Sunday: Be careful who you mess with.

Keselowski had run into Edwards before and made no apologies for it. Edwards got even on Sunday, sending Keselowski on the wildest ride of his life.

Afterward, Edwards didn’t deny that he wrecked Keselowski intentionally and said that there was a clear message behind it.

“Brad knows the deal between him and I,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re out here to race and people have to have respect for one another.”

The question now is this: Will Keselowski get the message and tone down his act?

Will the incident and his frightening crash cause him to drive a bit less aggressively and show more respect toward his peers?

Or, will someone have to wreck him again?

VINDICATION FOR ADDINGTON

No one was happier about Kurt Busch’s win Sunday than crew chief Steve Addington, who got a bit of vindication with the victory.

Addington led Kyle Busch, Kurt’s younger brother, to 12 wins at Joe Gibbs Racing, but was released as crew chief when the duo struggled and missed the Chase last year.

Kurt Busch and his Penske Racing team signed Addington to replace Pat Tryson, who left Busch and Penske to join Michael Waltrip Racing.

Sunday’s victory, Kurt’s second straight in the March race at Atlanta, showed that Addington still knows how to produce a winner and that he and the elder Busch are meshing quickly.

Addington didn’t deny that the victory was particularly sweet after being replaced at Gibbs.

“I think if I denied that, I would be lying,” he said. “You know, it feels good. It honestly feels good to be with this race team, with Kurt as the driver, and come back and win before the 18 car [of Kyle] got a chance to win.

“That's a personal deal. There's nothing against that. I'm still great friends with Kyle and everything. But it's a good feeling. It's a relief in a certain way.”

MENARD, SPEED ON THE MOVE

Every year there a few surprises that get off to good starts and jump into the top 12 in points, making them look like early favorites to make the Chase.

But there has rarely been two bigger surprises than this season.

After four races, Paul Menard is ninth in points and Scott Speed is 12th.

Menard finished 31st in points last season and hasn’t finished higher than 26th in his three full seasons in the Sprint Cup Series. He entered the season with just one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

But Menard produced solid finishes in the first three races and vaulted into the top five at the end of the race at Atlanta, finishing fifth.

He was considered the “fourth” driver at Richard Petty Motorsports after it merged with Yates Racing. But Menard is clearly showing that all he needs is good cars, a strong engine and a quality chance.

Speed is an even bigger surprise.

The former Formula One driver failed to qualify for three races last year and finished 35th in points as a rookie. His Red Bull Racing team started the year outside the top 35 in owner points and has been forced to qualify for each race on speed.

But Speed has been a big surprise in all four races, leading the first three and earning respectable finishes. Then, at Atlanta, he raced his way through the field and finished 10th.

Suddenly, Speed is not only on the verge of earning a guaranteed starting spot, he looks like a legitimate contender to challenge for a spot in the Chase.

Menard and Speed, two drivers whose careers seemed to be jeopardy entering this season, are quickly proving that they belong in NASCAR’s elite series.

TIRE PROBLEMS MUST STOP

For the second time in three years, Goodyear faced a rash of tire problems at Atlanta, with more than 10 drivers suffering failures that either caused them to crash or forced them to pit.

Though Goodyear officials attributed most of the issues to aggressive setups or punctures, the tire manufacturer cannot allow problems to surface at a fast, dangerous track like Atlanta.

Though the track is one of the manufacturer’s biggest challenges, it must continue testing there to find a better compound to withstand the high speeds and abrasive surface.

Though drivers and teams shouldn’t be pushing the tire beyond its limits with aggressive setups, it’s ultimately up to Goodyear to make sure its tires are durable and perform under whatever circumstances arise.

No matter who is to blame, tire problems are not something that should hamper a race anywhere and under any circumstances.