Busch, Edwards Feud Earns Probation

NASCAR had to rain on its own parade, but thankfully they didn't induce a downpour.

The sanctioning body placed Sprint Cup point leader Kyle Busch and last Saturday night's winner Carl Edwards on probation Wednesday morning for their post-race antics following the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that it has placed Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation for the next six races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of their on-track incident last Saturday at the conclusion of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch, driver of the No. 18 car and Edwards, driver of the No. 99 car, both violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor's car after the race had concluded) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.

The probation takes effect beginning with this weekend's event at Auto Club Speedway.

Prior to 2008, the typical penalty for such post-race encounters included a monetary fine and seemed much steeper, but this penalty falls more in line with NASCAR's pledge from the beginning of the season to let the rough side drag a little more in the sport.

And can you blame them? The biggest news from Bristol was Busch & Edwards, not anything else.

It's been a long while since NASCAR has had a quality rivalry, and as these two drivers have sparred for wins in the past few weeks, one has definitely developed. A big part of that creation was the Bristol post-race bump between the two.

Of course, you can't forget either that this rivalry is deeper than a personal thing, as it's also about each driver winning his first Sprint Cup championship. That, my friends, is exactly why this brew of intensity and verbal lashings between the two is going to make the rest of the NASCAR season fun.

And this six-week probation thing? It merely looks like a formality.

Sounds good to me.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

8-27-2008 @ 4:38PM

Bernie said...

Nascar! Grow a back bone and give the people what they really want. Let the boys handle their business on the track! Rivalries in any sport puts butts in the seats. Yankees vs Red Sox, Cowboys vs Redskins, Dodgers vs Giants, Packer vs Bears just to name a few, whats not to like about a rivalry. Let them work it out. JMO

8-27-2008 @ 6:06PM

Travis said...

It's feud.

8-27-2008 @ 6:41PM

Geoffrey said...

Good call, Thanks.

8-27-2008 @ 7:01PM

LoriR said...

Kyle is such a girl!!!

8-27-2008 @ 8:20PM

Amy said...

Carl...YOU ROCK!!!!!!! It's about time that little elf got what was coming to him. Everybody keeps turning the other cheek BUT NOW it's an eye for an eye. PROUD CARL FAN

8-27-2008 @ 11:20PM

wendell said...

carl is a puss

8-28-2008 @ 1:08AM

if the other drivers could drive a car like kyle then we would have some racin

8-28-2008 @ 10:38AM

99fan said...

wendell is an idiot......who was kyle chasing at the end of that race? i think carl can drive pretty damn good myself.

8-28-2008 @ 11:22AM

MAry said...

NASCAR let the boys race. Nobody wants to see them get hurt or what happened to SR. But, rubbing bumpers that a show. I`m a 24 fan. I think they are all great racers I like them all except 42. Tony he is out spoken and all the other drivers should be to. But, it seems NASCAR will punish them for saying whats on their minds. What happened to racing??? Its call NASCAR $$$$$$$. Remember this is the drivers job and to us THE FANS love the sport.NO DRIVERS NO FANS.No more NASCAR. Let the boys play

8-28-2008 @ 11:23AM

18fan said...

99fan,

Not to spoil your fun but who is Carl Edwards chasing after the race and for a good portion of the race?

8-28-2008 @ 1:31PM

18fan, who won the race? and, who run down the winner after the race and hit him with his car like a little coward?

8-28-2008 @ 2:04PM

John said...

18fan,

It ain't who your chasing during the race but rather IF your chasing anyone at the end ! ! !

8-28-2008 @ 4:25PM

art said...

ya know back in the day gordon punted rusty ten time harder than mr. ed did to gumby. rusty took his lumps and did not cry like a little bitch. hell carl hardly hit kyle and if he was so good why didnt he repay him during the race? maybe kyle is gonna have his jap triad hit man get him.

8-28-2008 @ 5:54PM

Let me spell it out for you John, LOOK AT THE STANDINGS and tell me who is being chased by everyone by 200+ points?

Art, you really should stay in the present here history is history. These are the times of bitchie moanie people in all sports they are all over paid cry babies. It's what they do on the track that makes them great. Kyle is going to do what he has been doing, clean up. Stick him in a fiat and he might win a race. Watch California this weekend and we'll see what else you got.

8-28-2008 @ 7:02PM

Kim said...

I agree with Bernie! Let their owners deal with them for wrecking up their equipment after the race. What Busch did was uncalled for (funny and great entertainment, but uncalled for). Edwards (equally entertaining) had every right to retaliate. No one else looked to be in danger. It was his victory lap for Pete's sake. I would much rather see the two stop on the track, throw their helmets off, and kick each other's butt. That being said, while Busch is mouthy, I believe Carl is the brawn and would win that fight. Although sometimes the little guy is the one who surprises people.

And Bernie,

My Jimmie is going to win his home track race this weekend. Kyle or Carl will come in second with Gordon third or fourth. :-)

Kim

8-28-2008 @ 8:57PM

Let me re-spell that for ya Bernie, I'M TALKING ABOUT A RACE, not the standings. Momentum, Momentum, Momentum, 3 out of 4 and kickin in the door.

8-28-2008 @ 9:01PM

Yeah, you could be right Kim. Kyle Busch has run well in Cali, north and south. LOL that would have been great TV watching Kyle and Carl throw their helmets up and have at it. hahaha! :)

That's what makes it all worth while, a rivalry! YEAH MAN a rivalry! Gotta love it. Lets get Jimmy Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton Dale JR, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and LETS GO RACING!!! YEE HAW!!! This is getting fun!

8-29-2008 @ 1:18AM

Don Emerson said...

Yeah Lyle's response was kind of sissified, but hey he ain't no southern boy. That may be how they act out west. Carl ain't no southern boy either, but he acts like it sometimes. Just ask Matt Kenseth. I believe Kyle is a little better driver than Edwards, but Carl is like that ol' bulldog that bites and holds on til' it's over. Either way, we gots ourselves a feud a goin' and that suits me just fine. Works for me...

8-29-2008 @ 8:02PM

Hey John,

Don't get me wrong I do like Carl Edwards but I like Shrubie much better than Edwards. Busch is starting in the top 10 to 15 position Edwards, way behind in the 20's. There are too many good cars ahead of Ewards in this race for him to push it forward as fast as last week if he does make it to the front he's going to be hard to beat, but hey bring it buddy, I can't wait to see what fire lies in Kyle Busch's belly. Besides I think Kim was right the Hendrick boys are looking awfully fast. They are 1 & 2 like you said Kim, not bad. When the green flag drops lets see who checks out and who doesn't? Going to be a good hard fought race.

8-29-2008 @ 9:42PM

99FAN said...

bernie, just because you start up front doesnt mean you finish up front. just because you start in the back doesnt mean that you finish in the back! carl started 27th at michigan 2 weeks ago and won. if i had to bet money on this race i would put it on jeff gordon... too good of a driver to go this long without a win

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