Has Nudging in NASCAR Gone Too Far?
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As you can see from the picture above, it was a frightening car wreck to see in Atlanta on Sunday. At nearly 200 miles per hour, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards nudged opponent Brad Keselowski – high-speed contact that sent Keselowski airborne, slamming the #12 car into a fence that protects the crowd. Keselowski survived the wreck uninjured. The driver of the #99 car? Edwards was disqualified, before taking to his Facebook page to ask fans what they thought about the confrontation, as reported tonight on “World News.” The two have a history of bad blood on the racetrack. And even NASCAR officials have encouraged aggressive driving as they attempt to once again increase interest in the sport. The next NASCAR race is scheduled for March 21 in Bristol. So tonight we ask, should NASCAR punish Edwards? Or is rubbing an important part of racing? *And we openly admit NASCAR is not our strongsuit. Please help inform the discussion. ——————– UPDATE: Here is a clip of the crash from a “GMA” segment this morning.
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“Bump & Run” is as much a part of the sport as hockey fights are to hockey. If you are going to comment on a sport you know nothing about, maybe you should start to watch. It truly is a GREAT sport!
Posted by: Trish | March 9, 2010, 12:10 am 12:10 am
He should be punished. DQ from that race and held out of the next one..
Posted by: billbob | March 9, 2010, 12:10 am 12:10 am
Nobody seems to remember Keselowski did the exact same thing to Edwards last year. Did Keselowski get suspended for it? NO! So why should Edwards??
So what, Edwards tapped him and caused a wreck, isn’t that what Keselowski did earlier in the same race, essentially ending Edwards race again?? Is Keselowski going to be punished for being too aggressive and causing multiple accidents that involve Edwards?? Of course not, He just wants to point fingers and whine like the child he is. Perhaps Keselowski should return to racing Go-Karts where the competition is his own age.
Posted by: Racefan4Life | March 9, 2010, 12:13 am 12:13 am
Rubbing or Bump & Run is part of the sport. Otherwise, the cars would just be going around in a circle. No, Edwards should not be punished.
Posted by: Lil Harrison | March 9, 2010, 12:13 am 12:13 am
Rubbing, bumping, etc it is part of racing. But Cousin Carl deserves to be suspended, fined, made to be pay for the car that he intentionally wrecked, take classes on road rage management classes and run public service ads. To ruin someone’s run with a few laps remaining when you are over 100 laps behind is wrong. I am a huge NASCAR fan, have been since a kid, and this is just wrong!!! Shame on you Mr. Edwards.
Posted by: Andy | March 9, 2010, 12:14 am 12:14 am
it was a great race, but I think they should limit the bump drafting. NASCAR supposedly changed the rules, and is letting the drivers decide the bump draft by gentlemanly rules. Carl Edwards was anything but gentlemanly. If two race car drivers have issues they should be settled off track, they end up takong too many inocent drivers out of the race. It would have been interesting to see if Jaun Pablo Montoya could have caught Bush, but we’ll never know now, as with just three laps to end the race in the restart, he didn’t have sufficient time to catch Bush in the end….totally not fair, and I am not a Montoya fan
I think both Edwards and Keslowski need to sit out a race with a pair of boxing gloves
Posted by: rafancer | March 9, 2010, 12:18 am 12:18 am
Bump & run? That’s called blatant disregard for the sport. Why tear up equipment just because the goofy, back flippin GOMER WAS OUT OF THE RACE. Settle it like a man out in the parking lot. I hope they disqualify him for more than 2 races.
Posted by: David | March 9, 2010, 12:19 am 12:19 am
NO punishment,as what goes around, comes around.brad is a dirty driver himself,and has just recieved payback-
watch “madhouse”on the history channel,much more of the same
Posted by: MADHOUSE WATCHER | March 9, 2010, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Yes, he should be suspended. It started a couple of years ago at Daytona when he raced off of pit road and ran into the side of Earnhardt jr almost taking his arm off. Nascar did nothing then, and he knows he can get away with chasing down a driver and hitting them. Until he has points and races taken away he will continue. He was not a little sorry for what he did.
Posted by: kenny | March 9, 2010, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Carl Edwards should not be punished further. Certainly something should be done about the bumping because someone will eventually get seriously hurt. However, the rules must be applied fairly. Brad Keselowski has done this to Carl in the past, and pay backs are expected under the current format. Nothing happened to Brad when he did it and Carl’s car went airborne then also. Carl was at least disqualified. NASCAR needs to address the situation in general not to one person who happened to be the “bad guy” this week.
Posted by: Lynda Scullion | March 9, 2010, 12:19 am 12:19 am
NASCAR said it wanted to let the drivers race this year with less interference — Well? There’s history between the two. I’m sure Edwards didn’t mean, or expect him to turn over. If Keselowski wasn’t suspended for doing the exact same thing to Edwards last year, with injury to fans in the stands, then Edwards shouldn’t be suspended either. That’s racing, and it’s what NASCAR said it wanted to see. If officials want to change the rules now, then they need to do it going forward, not change them and punish Carl. And no, he’s not my favorite driver — no dog in this fight!
Posted by: Jo | March 9, 2010, 12:21 am 12:21 am
He should be punished by sitting out the next 3 raceses.That was uncalled for.
Posted by: bill | March 9, 2010, 12:21 am 12:21 am
Yes I believe that Mr. Edwards should be punished. I believe that you will have bump and runs or rubbing in a fast auto race. But to just try to wreck another driver over something that happened a year ago. No this is not racing it’s attemped murder of another driver or maybe someone out just for a fun day at the races. Race right or get off the track for good.
Posted by: George Phillips | March 9, 2010, 12:22 am 12:22 am
Nascar should not have said “Have at it boys!” They thought they were being cute, but I knew when I heard it that there would be trouble. So many fans seem to think that there should be wrecks to make the racing interesting and have really contributed in a way also. Perhaps the same ones that think there needs to be profanity to show personality. Carl let his emotions get the best of him and I know he is sorry he did.
Posted by: Sue | March 9, 2010, 12:23 am 12:23 am
Last year Keselowski wrecked Edwards, this year Edwards wrecked Keselowski, even trade? NO! A lot of drivers and fans could have been hurt on both wrecks I really think that both drivers should be disqualified for the rest of the race season. Send a message to all drivers this kind of stunts has no place in Nascar.I love to see bump drafting but this was not bump drafting it was “I’m going to get even with you and if you try to get me I’ll get you more.
Plain truth someone could have been Killed.
Posted by: Bill Hales | March 9, 2010, 12:23 am 12:23 am
while the bump&run is part of this sport, there has also been a long running “feud” between these two drivers. should Carl be fined? Probably. Should this question have been posed when they admit they know nothing of the sport? Probably not. I’m sure there are other questions of importance.
Posted by: Mari | March 9, 2010, 12:26 am 12:26 am
this is like the deliberate elbow to the head in hockey, it has to stop sooner than later, before someone is seriously hurt, as well too many inocent drivers get taken out of the race because of another drivers fued, maybe they should change their names to Hatfeild and McCoy
Posted by: racefan | March 9, 2010, 12:33 am 12:33 am
I agree with racefan4life. Why does everybody seem to forget that the spoiled little brat has done the same thing, not only to Carl but to Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. I think it’s great that Carl had the guts to do something about it since Nascar officials haven’t. Personally I find Brad K. repulsive and arrogant and has no business racing in Nascar with his immature attitude. Carl DOES NOT need to be punished for anything.
Posted by: barbara | March 9, 2010, 12:34 am 12:34 am
Bump drafting is part of the sport of racing and NASCAR said this year it was being allowed and causing cars to get loose and wreck is just part of the results of that so they need to back off and let Carl be without any punishment. Brad did essentially the same thing to him last year and he didn’t have to sit out any races when it wasn’t allowed. The fans want excitement and part of that is the wrecking of the cars. Either the officials allow the bump drafting and the consequences that go along with it or they don’t, but they can be wishy washy and back and forth punishing some and not others.
Posted by: Ty | March 9, 2010, 12:35 am 12:35 am
Carl Edwards is a loose cannon. He has a history of “head hunting” drivers who he has decided are the reason he’s not winning. He has taken whining to a serious level !!!
Posted by: Hairgod | March 9, 2010, 12:37 am 12:37 am
Keselowski has wrecked other drivers before and it’s never his fault (according to him). He wrecked Denny Hamlin in the Nationwide series and Denny justifiably retaliated, but there was not a serious wreck because the Nationwide cars do not have the wing.
Before the roof flaps were used, cars would flip all the time. The roof flaps corrected this until NASCAR came up with the “Car of Tomorrow” configuration with the wing. Now whenever a car goes backwards at a high rate of speed, the roof and cowl flaps deploy, but are ineffective due to the wing making the cars get airborne. Hopefully when the spoilers are put back on the Cup cars, the problem will be solved. …and no, Carl Edwards should not be punished further.
Posted by: Sara | March 9, 2010, 12:44 am 12:44 am
Gee, didn’t Kesolowski wreck Edwards on
the last lap of the race @ Talledega last year & fans did get hurt in the
stands from pieces of the 99 & almost
had the 99 in there laps. What happened
to Kesolowski? They gave him the win!!
Paybacks are hel_. Can’t take the heat
Brad ‘baby’, get out of the kitchen.
NO!!! Absolutely no punishment for Carl
Edwards. Let’s watch good racing!!
Posted by: George | March 9, 2010, 12:44 am 12:44 am
Absolutely NOT! Brad has been doing this in the Nationwide and Cup series for 3 years. Bump, spin-out and wreck em Brad. Bet Denny Hamilton just wishes he had been the one as he has been wrecked as many times as Carl by Brad! Everyone seems to have forgotton that BRAD WRECKED CARL at the very beginning of the race. The Car going Air Born is on NASCAR and their rear wing. NOT Carl. RECAP:
BRAD VS CARL
BRAD VS DENNY
BRAD VS JOEY LAGONNOE
Hummmm, Seems to me there is one name that consistently comes up here
Posted by: robert & Linda | March 9, 2010, 12:45 am 12:45 am
I’m not a fan of either of these drivers, however, Carl Edwards caused the accident at Talladega by trying to block Brad K’s car. He also caused the accident on lap 40 of yesterday’s race by coming down into Brad K’s lane when he was clearly in that space already. Carl is out of control. Maybe he’s taking steroids or something. He has had a number of dust-ups with established drivers in the past. Brad K is an aggressive driver and because he is the new kid on the block, certain other drivers are offended by him. I believe Carl needs something major to perhaps get him to re-evaluate his place in the sport.
Posted by: Pepper22 | March 9, 2010, 12:47 am 12:47 am
i see it this way, i watched the race and the reruns of the begining of the wreck and it was on purpose,and my opinin is that nascar should take all of carls points and owners points and park him for three races. dont get me wrong i like carl but he took it to far at the speeds they drive it is so easy to hurt or kill more than just the two drivers there are 42 more drivers and thousands of people at the track watching the race.
Posted by: floyd | March 9, 2010, 12:50 am 12:50 am
NO-Carl was allready called into the hauler and disqualified, more than what happened to Brad K. when he wrecked Carl last year! Trading paint makes for great racing, but we can’t have the drivers taking each other out-and they don’t want that either-but pay back is pay back and Brad has had that coming for a long time!! Grandma Linda
Posted by: linda | March 9, 2010, 12:57 am 12:57 am
Carl Edwards is what NASCAR needs.
If the car had not become airborne and that clip not shown over and over, not much would have come of it.
Punishment? I think NOT.
Posted by: John | March 9, 2010, 1:06 am 1:06 am
OK lets back up here….first of all we are not talking about bump drafting..we are talking about a bump and run…This all started basicaaly last year at Talladega when Carl moved down to block Brad on the bottom of the track Brad was already there and could not lift in time and Carl got spun out. That was not intentional like what happened on Sunday…Carl needs to sit out the great race we will have at Bristol…maybe that will give hime someything to think about NOBODY wants to sit out at Bristol..
Posted by: Patricia | March 9, 2010, 1:09 am 1:09 am
No its all part of the sport.
Posted by: Pam | March 9, 2010, 1:10 am 1:10 am
Ithink carl should be out for the year, that shows he is inmature an not prof
Posted by: jason turner | March 9, 2010, 1:26 am 1:26 am
Earnhardt did this for years and NASCAR never did anything about it. The fans think he was the greatest driver ever.
Edwards just did what many other drivers wanted to do but didn’t have the guts.
Posted by: AKsnowbird | March 9, 2010, 1:29 am 1:29 am
I really believe Carl was only trying to send a message to Brad – by spinning him out. I do not, in any way, believe Carl meant to flip Brad’s car, or to hurt anything but Brad’s feelings. I KNOW he certainly didn’t intend to injure any spectator or competitor. Carl felt he had been wronged several times in the past by Brad. If you watch the footage before the wreck, you will see that Carl was very careful to only nudge Brad’s car to SPIN him. This is a time honored PAYBACK and warning maneuver that has been practiced
by the greats of stock car racing since the beginning. The car flipped because the wing caused the car to become airborne. I’m sure Carl did not mean for that to happen !!
Posted by: wayne morrison | March 9, 2010, 1:40 am 1:40 am
no carl should not be punished any further. If it were Dale Earnhardt that had bumped him out of the way than nobody would even be complaining, and if brad had not went airborne this wouldn’t even be a big deal. Carl should not be punished the fault is on Nascar on for telling the guys have at it but for putting the wing on the car. If the spoiler was on the car it would have not went airborne on the first place. It is common sense that if you build a wing to plant the car on the ground moving forward then it is going to lift the car off the ground in the oppisite direction.
Posted by: big worm | March 9, 2010, 1:44 am 1:44 am
@Trish: I myself race (go karts, not nearly as fast as this haha), so I know all about bump and run. What Edwards did wasn’t as close to BaR as it was to a PITT maneuver by the police. Edwards was racing nearly 100 laps down and had nothing to prove in that situation. If you look at the video, you can see Edwards’ hands and how intentional the wreck was.
@billbob: Edwards seemed to have done himself in last year and Talledega….he was all over the track trying to block when Keselowski had his nose on the inside. As for earlier in the race, it was the kind of incident NASCAR sees all the time, nothing intentional. Just a racing incident.
Posted by: Kieran | March 9, 2010, 1:49 am 1:49 am
I thougth it was great,way to go Carl!Brad had that one and many more comeing,and he will get them to.If carl is going to be punished in any why,then Brad should be band from the sport permenatly.Brad has crashed every thing but the pace car,and nascar has done nothing to him.So they sould leave othere drivers alone when they crash him.Maybe Brad learned a lessone,but I doubt it.Go get him Denney.Ha Ha Ha!!!!
Posted by: boo | March 9, 2010, 2:00 am 2:00 am
I’m sorry I had a typo. I meant it’s not nascar’s fault for telling them to have at it. And if NASCAR does away with rubbing or bump drafting I will no longer watch or support it. Before the race everybody was saying NASCAR needed contravercy or rivals, and now we have it and everybody is complaining. But you know what. There will be more people watch on tv at Bristol because everybody will want to see what brad is going to do to carl. Which is better for the sport it’s what nascar needs it’s what the sponsers need and if there were no wrecks no revenge than nobody would watch. So quit complaining people before you kill the sport we all love
Posted by: big worm | March 9, 2010, 2:00 am 2:00 am
Edwards should be punished for his actions. Not only did he put Keselowski’s life in danger, but also the fans that were in the nearby stands. A one race suspension would be fine as long as future incidents by Edwards would result in a stiffer penalty (e.g, 10 race suspension).
I would also think the “insurance” company AFLAC should reconsider having Edwards as a company spokesman. Someone who intentionally causes another to wreck is not who I’m going to listen to about auto insurance.
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 2:13 am 2:13 am
You have to understand NASCAR to comment accurately on this. Kaselowsky is a young beginner who has driven overly aggressively and caused many accidents or near accidents. NASCAR is a rough contact sport and it has always been a practice for experienced drivers to teach young upstarts a lesson in respect and humility. Kaselowsky’s history of immature driving and efforts to wreck Edwards and other drivers is sufficient cause for Edwards paying him back. The unexpected result of Kaselowsky’s car going airborne was NASCAR’s fault for requiring the “wing” on the back of the vehicle, instead of a spoiler. Certainly not Edward’s fault. If the car had not taken off, this would not be a news event, but just another day at the races.
Posted by: Noel | March 9, 2010, 2:32 am 2:32 am
Keselowski has had one coming for a long time he has been banging and pounding and not respecting other drivers safety for a long time if it wasnt Carl it would have been one of several other drivers he has crashed out of the way maybe he will have learned something called respect Heer Heer to Carl
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 3:15 am 3:15 am
Both drivers had to go the the ‘trailer’ after the race and were ‘punished’ by NASCAR. I don’t agree with how they punish one driver over another for doing the same thing. I personnally don’t think Edwards did anything wrong. If Brad were more experienced and a better driver then he wouldn’t have wrecked. They are allowing people to drive in the big leagues that should still be down learning in the Nationwide series. And if they would let the guys handle things off the track instead of punishing them for it then it wouldn’t spill over to the track.
Posted by: amltrywif | March 9, 2010, 3:16 am 3:16 am
No I don’t feel Edwards should be punished. When is Keselowski going to be stopped by NASCAR for all the wrecks he has caused in about every race he has been in. I also have to disagree with some, I feel Edwards is a very honest and fair man, he like many other drivers are just pushed over the edge because NASCAR has done nothing to stop any of this in the past!
Posted by: Wanda | March 9, 2010, 3:18 am 3:18 am
This is the highest of highs of an aggressive sport, it use to be fought out after the race & then it was over and you raced again next week. Then everything became a “kinder & gentler” way & fighting wasn’t allowed…now they take out their aggressions while going nearly 200 MPH…what do you think is going to happen? Brad has agitated the situation to what it is & I do not feel that Carl should be punished, if Carl is going to be punished…then find punishment for Brad just being a bad driver.
Posted by: Mel | March 9, 2010, 3:18 am 3:18 am
This should have been controlled before it got this far. Even Kyle said a few weeks ago the Brad needed to have a sit down with Toni stewart to learn some race manners. Carl should not be made an example of.
Posted by: Connie | March 9, 2010, 3:19 am 3:19 am
Much like in the NHL, aggression is an element of the competition that is marketed on its face. Neither NASCAR or the NHL are going to overtly promote and sell combat and rough driving as part of the package.
However, it’s clear that they’re both going to permit aggression to occur for the sake of the thrill, and hand out minor punishments from instance to instance, whether it be DQs or penalty minutes.
Although this particular crash was more dramatic than most, the association will only step in if the pattern of bumping gets out of hand for too long–they could be sued for not enforcing the rules enough.
Posted by: ToddUncommon | March 9, 2010, 3:21 am 3:21 am
As both a long-time fan and a journalist who has covered the sport for more than a decade, my take is that Carl Edwards pulled a stupid stunt that could have killed somebody just because he was angry. There are many ways to resolve his differences with with Brad Keselowski besides purposely wrecking him at 190+ MPH during a race. It wasn’t bump-drafting or trading paint or a bump-and-run, it was a deliberate act of violence. Carl has admitted his role in the previous incidents with Brad, so I ask, “what is he so angry about?” In Sunday’s race it is clear that Carl drove down into Brad, who had Hamlin behind him and nowhere to go; Carl should be mad at his spotter, who failed to tell him that Brad was under him. At Talladega last year, they were both racing for the same spot and Carl lost the battle – he admits to his culpability in that incident, and he didn’t get airborne until another car hit him. Is Brad aggresive? Yes, as he should be, but if Carl has a problem with it, he should first let his team owner, car chief, crew chief and others take it up with Brad and NASCAR, then get together with other drivers to pass the message off the track, then hit the media before ever making it personal, and never at high speeds like he did at Atlanta. NASCAR has benched other drivers for lesser transgressions – ask Kevin Harvick – and Carl should be fined, suspended and used as an example of what NOT to do.
Posted by: nascarett | March 9, 2010, 3:28 am 3:28 am
This is a part of racing. Many other drivers would have done the same thing. Carl only meant to bump him and “rattle his cage” as Dale Earnhardt Sr. would have put it. Brad could have avoided the wreck if he had more experience. Now take a look at what Brad did to Carl on the last lap at Talladega last April… That was a real wreck, just short of the finish line. Carl climbed out of a completely totaled car and jogged to the finish line! Brad is the whiner not Carl. Carl is an all around great guy, and Brad had it coming to him. He had repeatedly bumped Carl out of the way numerous times over the last year! Go Carl! I’m behind you all the way, and I know both Carl and Brad and do like both of these guys! That’s racing!
Posted by: Shirley Lilly | March 9, 2010, 3:30 am 3:30 am
Nascarett has the most honest and reasonable take on this whole mess. Something NEEDS to be done here and now. The probability of a tragedy gets more real each time a loose cannon like Carl takes the track. Also, what kind of insurance company wants to sponsor a driver with this track record? Would AFLAC care to insure a driver like him? They need to take a long, hard look at who represents their company to the world.
Posted by: Skeeter | March 9, 2010, 5:11 am 5:11 am
I also agree with Racefan4life. Nobody mentioned that not only did Keslowski cause the horrific accident with Edwards last year, he has caused problems in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races. Nobody mentioned that in the race this past weekend, Keslowski was the cause of Carl’s wreck which caused him to leave the track for repairs. This cost Carl dearly with laps and points. NASCAR had better place the blame where it belongs. If they punish Edwards, they need to review Keslowski’s behavior on all the tracks, and either remove him or fine him for deliberately causing wrecks to other drivers. He’s a danger to all of the drivers and doesn’t care who he takes out of the races. He hits the drivers that have talent and I don’t blame them for being angry. I’d say he’s jealous that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a winner. If they punish Edwards for this incident and let Keslowski continue his bad behavior what kind of message does that to the fans, young and old? NASCAR may lose even more viewers from their already sinking ratings. I think the media needs to get both sides of this story too. Right now they are portraying Edwards as the villian when it should be Keslowski!
Posted by: shypes88 | March 9, 2010, 5:15 am 5:15 am
Why don’t you do an in depth investigation of both drivers and find out how both have been drving for the last two years and find out who is really in the wrong and who is in the right? Keselowski is known as “crash”lowski because he has run into so many other drivers endangering their lives. Why wasn’t he fined all those times? So now when Carl does what Nascar say (i.e. take care of it yourselves) he is suddenly the bad guy. Keselowski had no regard for how dangerous his actions were until it came back to bite him. Find out all the facts and them ask us to comment on an in depth report, not on one incident.
Posted by: Judith Adams | March 9, 2010, 7:48 am 7:48 am
This story made me so disappointed in GMA! I am an avid NASCAR fan and watch GMA every morning while getting ready for work…this is the first time I’m writing in about a story.
This story portrayed NASCAR as an unsportsmanlike, unprofessional, and unsafe sport when it’s as far from any of those descriptions as a sport can get. While I am by far not a Car Edwards fan, Brad Keslowski has intentionally wrecked numerous other, more experienced, drivers over and over. Edwards, or any other driver, would have intentionally caused a car to flip. The fact that these cars do flip so easily has been a wide discussed issue, but rather than focusing on that GMA chose to take Nascar’s “police yourselves” order out of context and join in on the sensationalism attitude the media loves to portray.
Posted by: Leza | March 9, 2010, 9:03 am 9:03 am
ANY OF YOU PEOPLE THAT SAY BRAD GOT WHAT WAS COMING IS SO STUPID. IF YOU WATCH ANY OF THE RACE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IN THE EARLY PART OF THE RACE CARL CLEARLY CAME DONE ON BRAD AND WRECKED HIMSELF. YOU DONT COME FROM THE MIDDLE AND GO TO THE BOTTOM WHEN SOMEONE IS THERE. DEGA LETS SEE CARL WENT HIGH TO BLOCK BRAD DROPPED LOW TO PASS HAD THE INSIDE CARL CAME DOWN AND SPUN HIMSELF. ALSO DID ANYONE EVERY NOTICE WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAD IN DENNY, CARL, AND KYLE. HEY MAYBE THEY SHOULD GET THEIR ASSES OUT OF THE NATIONWIDE RACES AND STAY UP IN THE CUP. THEY HAVE NO NEED TO BE RACING WITH THE UP AND COMERS NEEDING TO MAKE A NAME FOR EM. THE SAME RULE ABOUT RESPECT DONT APPLY THERE BECAUSE CUP GUYS NEED TO RESPECT THE YOUNGER GUYS BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR SERIES NOT CUPS. IF BRAD TOOK IT EASY ON THEM HE WOULDN’T HAVE WON A RACE AND THEY WOULD BE DOMINATING EVEN MORE THAN THEY ALLREADY ARE
Posted by: Steve | March 9, 2010, 9:11 am 9:11 am
OK..let me first say that I was so disappointed with the way GMA covered this! Anybody that knows NASCAR knows that the car started to flip because of the new spoiler…even the commentators mentioned that fact. Drivers bump each other at every race, so why should this incident be any different? It really wasn’t that bad of a wreck! Has everyone forgotten the wreck Ryan Newman was in years ago where his car was almost unrecognizeable? IT’S RACING PEOPLE! Secondly, the car DID NOT touch the fence…only the safer barrier…and isn’t that what the fence is there for? So GMA…please…if you are going to cover a story, get the facts right and do it without all of the dramatics!
Posted by: Stacy | March 9, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Brad is one of the dirty drivers. Not only has he wrecked Carl on more occasions than I can count and Carl has “let it go” many times. Nascar made the decision to let the drivers “handle” the situation when they opened the door. You caqn’t punish 1 driver for a wreck when the other driver has had NO punishment from Nascar! Fans need to go back and remember the other wrecks Brad has instigated with the other drivers. He is agtressive and irresponsible when it comes to the respect of the drivers. No Punishment should be given to Carl. He should have been allowed to complete the race. As I recall last year when Carl’s car flipped because of Brad, he wasn’t disqualified from winning the race when he caused Carl to go flying in the air and injuring the fans! Why is it now EVERYONE wants revenge on Carl for doing what he did? Brad has to be stopped from causing the problems. GOOD FOR YOU CARL! Stand up and stop being the nice guy when you are dealing with irresponsible kids. If you can’t take the heat without crying, find a new hobby! This is a profession and needs to be respected as the drivers need to have respect. YOU earn RESPECT.AND NO! I am not a fan that likes to see anyone injured!!! It is a sport for entertainment NOT for revenge. Must remember…what goes around..comes around! I think an apology is in order from Nascar to Carl. He was following the NEW rules. SO…Brad grow UP!
Posted by: Jamie | March 9, 2010, 10:07 am 10:07 am
This is real simple. Edwards, and a couple of other drivers, can’t stand the fact that a rookie like Kosloski is not intimidated into surrendering his position by veteran drivers.
Edwards should be suspended for at least three races, maybe the whole season. This was an aggravated assault with a motor vehicle. A felony in most states.
Bump drafting had nothing to do with it.
Posted by: Tom | March 9, 2010, 10:11 am 10:11 am
Now we got one of the biggest proponents for “nanny state”, ABC News/Disney, chipping about NASCAR. Next they will do an expose where they rig a car to crash. Then start a compaign to keep the speeds down to 55 MPH and install a “time out” box for any driver that isn’t “sharing” or “being nice.” Go back to your lattes and quiche ABC. And let ‘em race. Payback in NASCAR is part of the sport. They’ll work it out on their own, either on or off the track. Like the expression goes, “If I have to explain…you wouldn’t understand.
Posted by: BeezerGeezer | March 9, 2010, 10:33 am 10:33 am
that was very blatant what carl done and then going wrong wayon pit road was very blatant what Brad did to Carl was different if you want yo block another car because he is faster than take your chance this wasn’t the case Sunday. Carl should be punished for both.
Posted by: jerry | March 9, 2010, 10:43 am 10:43 am
True NASCAR fans who follow the sport understand the nature of racing and “payback” is as much a part of the sport as lug nuts. It happens in every every sport for that matter. Edwards blew it big time by when and where he evened the score. Keselowski has few friends in the garage and has a reputation of taking out other cars. Even if he had it coming, it’s not cool to have it delivered by a car 150 laps down (arguably at the hands of Keselowski) in the middle of the front stretch on one of the fastest speedways on the circuit.
Posted by: Cameron | March 9, 2010, 10:58 am 10:58 am
How much does Carl have to take from this guy? He was airborne because of NASCAR dictating the wing instead of the spoiler. Go Carl
Posted by: Bifffan | March 9, 2010, 11:20 am 11:20 am
No punishment! Brad should have gotten his long time ago. He has been the cause of MANY incidents. tapping cars, hitting cars, and deliberately causing wrecks for a long time. He has received no repremand for them, so why should Carl? Why is this incident such a BIG deal…When Carl was wrecked and flipped up into the wall airborne and car torn up and could have been a very SERIOUS wreck, nothing was said! ITS JUST RACING! Well…THIS \was JUST RACING/ You get what you give! Remember that boys. NO MORE PUNISHMENT FOR CARL!
Posted by: RACE FAN | March 9, 2010, 11:55 am 11:55 am
how about a life time ban & maybe send a message to the rest of the drivers that this will not be tolerated.
Posted by: shorthair | March 9, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Carl Edwards should be punished, but nothing too over the top. Don’t make him a poster child but let him know that this type of obvious retaliation will not be allowed. I love NASCAR and I am very happy to see the officials relax on alot of the rules including rubbing and restricter plates but you just can’t run into someone else and make it so obvious. Make it a situation where it appears to be an accident or a miscalculation. I don’t want to see the grudges dissappear but if you do it the way that Edwards did it and has done it in the past then noone will take the sport seriously because NASCAR will appear to not be in charge.
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
This crap MUST be stopped, This is not a boxing match. People can get killed with this kind of bad stuff. Go at it is not cute. I under stand the accidents will occure but intenional foul play should not be permitted, period. ALL that are involved should be punished. I will not keep supporting NASCAR if this keeps up. This is not a play station kids, grow up and act like MEN.
Posted by: Bill F | March 9, 2010, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
How is it not attempted manslaughter? Vehicular assault? Does the state indemnify the racers or don’t the regular laws apply? If you purposely did that to another car going 5mph in a parking lot you’d probably do some prison time.
Posted by: James M | March 9, 2010, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
I agree that Carl should not be punished – Brad K deserved everything he got – I’m just surprised it took someone that long to do it – thank you Cuzin Carl – Brad K’s a flake and needs to go back to the ARCA league and learn how to drive. He’s ruined to many driver’s days by his lack of driving skills. I’m glad Nascar has taken the gloves off so to speak – the young pups are gonna learn – if it’s the hard way than that be their choice.
Posted by: Sporty | March 9, 2010, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t think Edwards should be punished for one reason or another. I disagree, but here’s a suggestion that would be both fair and entertaining.
Put Kosloski and Edwards on the track at Bristol by themselves in a special event and play by Detroit rules; no blood, no foul.
I’d buy a ticket for that one.
Posted by: Tom | March 9, 2010, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
NASCAR has spoken. Three race probation for Carl Edwards. NO FINE, NO LOSS OF POINTS and NO SUSPENSION. There will be a face to face sit down with the two drivers, car owners and NASCAR before the next race to “air out” what is going on between these two. Well done, Mike Helton. Let the boys be big boys. This ain’t little girl soccer where scores aren’t kept and everyone is a “winner.” Now maybe Brad Keselowski will mind his P’s & Q’s.
Posted by: BeezerGeezer | March 9, 2010, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
Give me a break, Carl is a whining? Brad has run into almost every driver on the track but it’s always someone else’s fault. He lacks talent and needs to go back to Nationwide and learn how to drive. He acts like a spoiled brat who is owed something — he’s owed something alright — Payback!!!
Posted by: Jo | March 10, 2010, 12:05 am 12:05 am
there should be more contact allowed
its part of the sport. earnhardt sr made a living off of it and nobody protested or nothing. if they dont wanna take any risks then dont play sports and espeacially in nascar
Posted by: gordonfan27 | March 10, 2010, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
I just e-mailed SCOTTS and AFLAC, told them id never buy their procuct as long as they continue supporting Carl Edwards and his dirty driving. Yes, i saw the race….hoping this isnt Nascar at its best.
Posted by: the_mechanic | March 10, 2010, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
At the Talladega race in ’09 both Brad and Carl(Mr.ED) were racing for the win,that was racing! Carl attempted to block Brad and paid for his actions just as Big E paid the ultimate price for blocking at Daytona in’01. Sad but true facts are facts and Sundays incident was not even remotely related to racing as Edwards was not a contender(160 laps down) and his motive for being on the track was not for gaining points. Edwards was on the track for one thing and one thing only to bring harm to Brad. This was premedetated Aggreveted Assault with a Deadly Weapon and should be treated as such! Nascar should not have a say in this matter as jurisdiction should fall into the hands of the Clayton County State Attorney and his office alone! His info is available online at Clayton County GA.
Posted by: riffraff | March 11, 2010, 9:58 am 9:58 am
Edwards needs to be in jail! Crime is Crime no matter where it happens or by whom! Edwards was not a contender! What happened at Talladega was a racing incident and Carl tried to block Brad resulting in his wreck. What happened Sunday at Atlanta was a premedatated malicious assault with a deadly weapon and should be treated as such! I don’t give a damn about the fealing of an ungreatful punk like Edwards when peoples lives are at stake! It is the sworn duty of the office of the state attorney in Clayton County Ga to uphold the laws in that state and the penalty phase of this story should fall into his hands! Crime is Crime, no matter when or where it happens oan/or by whome!
Posted by: riffraff | March 11, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Make an example out of Edwards before some inocent bystander gets killed!
Posted by: riffraff | March 11, 2010, 10:13 am 10:13 am