Very good blog as usual and thank you for the opportunity to comment.

I am saddened by Jr.'s comment that he should not have pitted. It seems that he has been made to believe that his life is less valuable than a win. Anyone that cares for him has been cleared out and he is left with a CC that does not listen to what the driver is saying. My only hope is that nothing serious happens to him before he can get out of that contract.

I have despised Carl since 2004 and what he did yesterday to Brad made my blood boil. The fact that he has no remorse confirms what a sad individual he really has turned out to be. Nascar will not do anything but slap his wrist but then they have a real problem handing out punishment to those that are so deserviing but had no problem with twice in 2004 to Jr. for minor infractions.

Junior salvaged what could have been a horrible points day by rallying to a top 15. (Thanks Jamie McMurray!!) I think he did the right thing by coming in. I love how everyone in the media (not you Irene) is making it out to be that Juniors tire issue is HIS fault but all the other 10+ drivers that had tire issues were of no fault of thier own. Junior obviously had a top 10 car all day, so after being 2 laps down due to tires and finishing 15th, i will take it.

As for Carl Edwards, I have lost alot of respect for him. He tried for 3 laps to wreck Brad. Another foot over and Brads head would have been crushed by the wall when his roof landed on it. I am all for NASCAR saying "boys have at it" but when you do something on purpose that ends up putting a drivers and the fans lives in jeopardy then you need to be suspended for at least 1 race.

Irrene,

Someone at work told me Dale Jr had a loose wheel hub, if so, wouldn't that be another part failure for the 88 team?

Carl Edwards is an idiot. He has had several run-ins with Dale Jr as you pointed out.

Dale Jr is lucky that it only cost him a race car at Daytona. It could have been much worse.

NASCAR needs to park a guy that is 150+ laps down and admittedly goes for revenge regardless of history between the two drivers.

Brad may very well have a target on his back, but not at 190 mph!

I was very glad to see Junior make the best out of what could've been a horrible day. His 15th place finish brings him up to 13th in the points- much better then he was at this time last year. It's not the finish I was hoping for, but considering the circumstances, it's quite an accomplishment. I'll take 15th over 32nd any day!
On another note... I've never really liked Carl all that much, and I'm very dissapointed in his actions yesterday. Although I like Brad quite well, his "aggressive" style makes me wince sometimes. I'm sure I can honestly say, however, that Brad has never, ever hit someone that hard intentionally (Talladega last year was a racing deal, and also mostly Carl's fault). I've never seen him hit someone that hasn't been on the same lap as himself, and, for the most part, he's done his bumping thoughtfully. He can take it, too- He knew good and well that Denny was coming for him at Homestead last year, and when he did get spun out, he just laughed and commented on how it was kind of fun. He even sent Denny a Christmas card! Carl said one thing, yet did another, and while I know that he certainly didn't want to send Brad flying, that's what happened. If Carl gets punished, it should not be seen as hypocrasy on NASCAR's 'boys, have at it' stance- just a lessen for someone who commited an act of stupidity.

Thanks so much everyone for your thoughtful comments - I really appreciate each and every one of them.

As for Carl's penalty - I 'm speechless now. It's just wrong but Nascar is always on the wrong side of penalties it seems.

But after he wrecked Jr at Daytona Biffle said this,.

GREG BIFFLE: Sorry I hit you in the floor pan.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: I didn't see you.
GREG BIFFLE: I was looking at your feet.
Interview post Daytona 500 2/14/10 re:2/13/10 N'wide race at Daytona

The above should read after 'he' Carl Edwards wrecked Jr at Daytona Biffle said -

It was a frustrating day to say the least. I can't describe how I felt when I saw Junior drop from the top 10 to pit road for a tire issue. "This can't be happening again." Fast in practice, the pole, racing top 10 all day and now here we are, 30th, off the lead lap. Again. Are we sure this is a new race? Is someone messing me with? Did my husband DVR a previous race and that's what I'm watching? Because surely we can't be having this luck again.

And then, as they looked into the tire I prayed there was an issue that Junior didn't pit for nothing. That would have been the icing on the cake. Pitting for a thought issue and there wasn't one. But I have to agree that Junior did the right thing by pitting. If it was vibrating so hard that he couldn't see, (as he said over the radio) then it was only a matter of time before we would have a repeat of the previous Atlanta wreck like you posted.

Dare we say that Junior got lucky? Taking advantage of the wave around in an attempt to get lucky was a good call by Lance. I was hesitant at the call because it never works out for Junior. Never get the caution we need. Then to get back on the lead lap and then... another tire issue. I will admit, I thought the day was done. no way he could get back with that many laps to go.

But great for Lance for digging in and telling Junior he could finish as high as 21st with the lap they were on. And then the end. WOW! 15th! After all the mess, he can home with a 15th place finish. If there is ever a race that needs to be looked back on at the end of the year that "made" Junior's season, would be this one. Where Junior should have finished 30th/31st the team fought and drove hard and pulled out a 15th.

Hopefully Atlanta will be the turn around. They need to shake off all these 'mechanical' issues. The bad tires, broken axles, hubs and whatever. Once they get those behind them and can put together a full race, which they did at Atlanta, it will be game on.

As for the Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski issue. Brad is an agressive driver. Everyone knows that, everyone sees that. The issue at the beginning of the race did not warrant the retaliation that Carl issued. Brad had the position, held his line and Carl moved down on him, thus wrecking himself and Joey Logano. Should Brad should have used some of that 'give and take'? Sure. But show me where it says he has to? This is a race. If Carl wanted that position, he should have taken the position. If his car wasn't fast enough at the point of the track, then either hold the line until he can make the pass completely. He didn't and came down on Brad and wrecked himself. Carl expected Brad to give him the position. But Carl knew the past history of Brad and how Brad races. He doesn't give positions to people. This is a race. It's a race on lap 1 just as much as it is on lap 400. Quit being babies and expecting other racers to give you a position. With the way cars are, being so close, every position matters. It's so hard to pass on the race track no one should give them up easily. And just because Brad is a 'rookie' doesn't mean anything. He deserves to be out on that track just as much as Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte.

NASCAR should have taken into account that Carl has caused some pretty bad wrecks. He caused his own Talladega wreck. Again he can't down on Brad and BRad held the line instead of backing off. Carl wrecked himself. He caused the big one at Daytona in the Nationwide race that cause Junior to flip. He could have taken off Junior's hand in Michigan. And Carl wants to talk about how Brad deserves it? He needs to be taught a lesson? So does Carl.

Sick of all these drivers whining about being turned and wrecked. And he passed me, he can't do that. He needs to respect me and blah blah blah. You got to give respect to earn it and so far Carl hasn't earned my respect with half the wrecks that he caused and he wants to flip a car dangerously at Atlanta at those speeds? An idiot.

Response from Scott's via e-mail

"Thank you for contacting us concerning Scotts and our sponsorship of Carl Edwards.

Scotts appreciates the support of NASCAR fans everywhere, and we have an excellent relationship with Carl Edwards, Jack Roush and the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing team. However, like many fans, we were very concerned about the on-track incident that occurred in Atlanta this past weekend.

As a result, we have strongly expressed these concerns to both Carl and Jack, and we are confident that they have a clear understanding of the trust we have placed in them as ambassadors of our company, our associates and our brands. In addition, as a sponsor, we want to make sure that drivers, race teams and NASCAR focus on keeping these types of incidents and misjudgments from happening. "