Last night I was watching the Nationwide Series Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois. On the last lap, Carl Edwards spun Brad Keselowski in the wall, right near the finish line. After being unable to finish the race, Keselowski was slammed in the front end by the #70 of Shelby Howard, who couldn't get around him. Keselowski's car was plowed into by Howard and sustained much more damage, but Howard and Keselowski came home 12th and 14th, along with causing damage to Colin Braun, Tayler Malsam, Jason Leffler, Carl Edwards (who won) and some other drivers.
In victory lane, Edwards says that it was his decision, citing "You did this to me, I will do this to win". Now I am paraphrasing, but the fact is Edwards and Keselowski do have history. It basically started back at the 2009 Aaron's 499 in Talladega, Alabama. On the final stretch of the lap, Keselowski had already pushed Edwards into the lead, and when Keselowski went to the bottom to try for the win, Edwards tried to block and ended up flipping over and destroying the catch fence, sending debris that hurt 8 people. After much-a-media-criticism, Keselowski was proud with his first Cup win and it seemed the problem was over.
At the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, Georgia, Keselowski couldn't stop his car on Lap 41 when Edwards came down on him, making Edwards loose by accident and wrecking him into Joey Logano. Both cars weren't competitive. Now with 3 laps to go in that race, Keselowski was 4th, and Edwards was 156 laps down. Edwards comes and PURPOSELY spins Keselowski. When Keselowski spins, the car flips over and slams the wall in the left a-pillar, which holds the windshield in front of the driver together. The wreck seemed similar to the Aarons 499 wreck, but with less destructive results. Keselowski's Top 5 day went away and Edwards was parked. During the ensuing days, fans, media, critics were all screaming for NASCAR to park Edwards car for the next race as well. On the Tuesday after the Atlanta race, NASCAR president Mike Helton explains to loyal fans on the website that Edwards would only receive a 3-race suspension. This was done to the "let the boys be boys and have the gloves come off" theory NASCAR is trying for 2010. This decision led to much a criticism, including from me. The three races came and went, with no future problem.
Now last night occurs. This is the THIRD scrape-up between these two in a little more than a year with disastrous results. Edwards, to me at least, is acting like the Kevin Harvick on physical fight and scream in your face. I understand we have reasons and ways to deal with anger of problems with another driver, but as of late this is getting more childish than ever before. Kyle Busch, every time something does not seem to go his away, he has a temper tantrum of sorts and refuses interviews and acts like its all THEIR fault, such as the Winston (or to them All-Star Race) with his own teamate, Denny Hamlin. Kevin Harvick, he commonly, when mad at someone, will get in their face and get physical with the other driver, as displayed at Watkins Glen in 2007 with Juan Pablo Montoya, pushing him and screaming at him. Now with Edwards, the way of dealing with the problem is making the other driver feel as miserable as you.
This is not how we behave in real life, much less in NASCAR. What happened to the days we stared and made a face or arm gesture to the other driver to show our displeasure? All of a few years ago, it seemed throwing a helmet at the person you're angry with was over the top. Now that looks like a misdemeanor compared to the felonies of sorts going on. There has to be a place where NASCAR has to draw the line. These cars cost money. Repairing cars costs more than building them. In the three year span, Edwards has lost one car severely, while Keselowski has had his car crashed twice, both very severely. We all talk about the safety of the cars, but how about look not in the car, but the drivers' head? There can be serious consequences and I don't think NASCAR was harsh on Edwards in Atlanta. That should be changed right here right now. We have to draw the line, and it seems lately the public critics, media and true fans are noticing the problem here for NASCAR does.
Now that you've heard my point, we look at happened with Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick a few weeks back, and the fighting over relatives of both drivers, Tom Logano (father) and Delana Harvick (wife). Bob Keselowski is Brad (and older brother Brian)'s father and in the post-race show, NASCAR on ESPN gave Bob Keselowski his turn to voice his opinion as Brad was brought to the infield care center. Bob knows that this has gone on more than far enough. Its racing and even Brad has never done anything intentionally in all three incidents. For the Aaron's 499 and last night, the last lap means the bell lap. This is where we vie for the win. Often it means wrecking another. However, there comes to a point where revenge does not solve the problem. Remember Atlanta was not one of these cases, since it was three laps to go AND the fact that Keselowski had a top 5 finish (4th at the time) and Edwards was 156 laps down, doesn't show any respect on Edwards fault.
Now that my ranting is over, I ask you, the loyal reader this. Is NASCAR's "take the gloves off" policy having men act like men, or are we creating girls in the process? I say the latter.
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