In NASCAR, it’s said that “rubbing is racing”. Things like trading paint and bump drafting are commonplace and are often used tactically to win races. What’s not common, however, is letting your anger get the best of you and punting an opponent at 195 miles per hour.
Yesterday’s Kobalt Tools 500 (won by Kurt Busch) saw the ongoing feud between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski come to a full-on boil. Edwards, upset about an earlier incident with Keselowski that took him out of contention, clearly drove into the Penske Dodge of Keselowski with the intention of spinning him. Retribution is one thing; I’m a former racer and I know how that goes. Wrecking someone intentionally, at full speed, thus putting driver’s and spectator’ lives in danger, is something else entirely.
Afterwards, Edwards commented that, “Brad knows the deal between him and I. Maybe we won’t get in anymore incidents. That would be the best thing; the best thing would be for Brad and I not to get together anymore and we probably won’t. I’m just glad everybody is alright.” In other words, you’re sorry because you got caught, and Keselowski shouldn’t try to even the score.
NASCAR needs to take clear, decisive action on behavior like this. Pulling points and levying a fine just won’t cut it.