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Lack of Suspension for Carl Edwards Inexplicable

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary,NASCAR video,NASCAR pictures, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

If OnPitRow.com was a NASCAR team, I’d be the development driver of the bunch. In the same way that young hotshots like Joey Logano have been driving since they were in grade school, I’ve been following and writing about all forms of motorsports since I was barely old enough to talk.

March 11, 2010 4:07 pm CST 2 Comments

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I have been a fan of Roush Fenway Racing since I was a small child, watching Mark Martin pilot the No. 6 Valvoline car. Through the years, watching the team expand into one of NASCAR’s first multicar powerhouses, I have become a fan of almost every driver to slide behind the wheel of their Fords.

This means that yes, to some extent, I am a Carl Edwards fan. Say what you will about his personality, but he shows flashes of brilliance as a racecar driver, the nine-win season in 2008 included. I think his 2009 Talladega wreck may have affected his psyche a little bit, and may make him a more careful driver in the long term, but he’s still got talent.

That aside, however, his actions in Sunday’s race at Atlanta were inexcusable. I’m sure that everybody knows what happened by now – after Brad Keselowski (the same driver who put him into the catchfence at Talladega last year) got into him early in the race, he returned to the track and ruined a great run by the Penske Racing driver with five laps to go.

Keselowski’s car flipped and landed on its roof, most of the pressure on the driver’s side, before rolling back on all four wheels. Keselowski was shaken up to say the least, and Edwards was parked for his deliberate actions, which he all but admitted to later on.

The problem, however, is NASCAR’s decision only to put Edwards on probation for three races for this incident. Given his history with Keselowski, as well as the complaints that others like Denny Hamlin make about the young driver, these incidents are likely not over. They’ll just wait until Edwards’ probation is over. NASCAR didn’t even wring Edwards’ hands – they wagged a finger. That’s all that the meeting between the two drivers and their owners will be, too.

Marty Smith wrote on Twitter that a “precedent has been set” for these types of retaliatory actions – that no driver should be afraid to dive-bomb a rival they’re angry at now. I understand NASCAR’s desire to open up the racing this year, and I applaud it, but not laying the hammer down in deliberate accidents, especially ones where the wrecked driver could have been seriously hurt, is a mistake.

My opinion: NASCAR should have parked Edwards for at least one race. I might have waited until the next Atlanta race to do it, however. I don’t want a driver who’s going to race like that to make his way into the Chase, and Atlanta is the penultimate regular season race. Taking Edwards out of a race so close to the cutoff could knock him out (if he’s in) and make it far more difficult to make up ground, whereas missing Bristol would give him about 20 more races to get back to the front.

Filed under: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brad Kesolowski, Carl Edwards

Tagged with: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards

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Hotlanta Chowder and NASCAR Shark Fin Soup

by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

March 10, 2010 10:29 pm CST No Comments

Tires.

“Pete. Do you ever get tired of the tires? Sometimes, I get tired of the tires. Very tired”

That was a little play on the words of one of my favorite lines ever, from the very best racing movie of all time, John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix.

Deal with it.

Steve asked Fox’s Jeff Hammond who was to blame for Sunday’s tire issues at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jeff blamed the crew chiefs. So did Steve.

But tires were just an excuse for me to use my movie line in this post. The real story. The only real story, really, was Carl Edwards’ wrecking of Brad Kezelowski, and NASCAR’s subsequent wrist slap of Edwards for the dirty deed.

From the buzz we got during the On Pit Row broadcast Tuesday, to what I’ve read and heard around the NASCAR Twittisphere, most of the subjects of the Kingdom of France seem pretty PO’d about Carl’s easy way out of this deal. Jerry Bonkowski, one of our guests On Pit Row, sure seems to feel that way. Read what Jerry has to say here.

I think that, somewhere in the back of a very dark, and very expensively appointed hauler, Prince Brian is cackling like a drunken hen.

This whole deal, including the spectacular double axel that Kezelowski’s Penske Dodge executed at AMS, has been just what the PR(ayer) people in Daytona were hoping for. (Well maybe it was second to a Dale and Danica weekend sweep somewhere).

This wreck and the attendant story lines, put NASCAR front-and-center on all the general sports news shows, beyond the normal race recaps. Mike and Mike. Jim Rome. Oprah.

There was excitement. Maybe not the kind that NASCAR purists wanted.

But this is about the Benjamins baby. Eyes on the decals. Butts in the seats. Cash.

And this wreck will help.

Photo credit: Round girl Jen by BethAnne Heisler for OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Brad Kesolowski, Carl Edwards, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio

Tagged with: Kobalt Tools 500

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NASCAR Christmas Presents from the Monday Morning Crew Chief

by Charlie Turner

December 21, 2009 8:25 am CST 2 Comments

What are the perfect gifts for NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and, yes, Danica Patrick?

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Watch the 2009 holiday edition of the Monday Morning Crew Chief with Mindy Monday and find out.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Monday Morning Crew Chief, NASCAR, NASCAR video, Phil Parsons, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: Mindy Monday, Tony Eury Jr

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Fast Laps with a Jimmie Johnson Hangover

by Charlie Turner

December 9, 2009 10:43 pm CST 1 Comment

We’ve all beaten Jimmie Johnson’s results to death by now. But there were plenty of other stories at the end of NASCAR’s 2009 schedule. Try a little NASCAR debate with Steve and Charlie, Fast Lap style.

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Turn 1 - Who will be first to win their fifth championship Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon?

Turn 2 - What will spur larger crowds at NASCAR’s 2010 events?

Turn 3 - If Brad Keselowski is a “breath of fresh air” in the Cup field; what is Denny Hamlin?

Turn 4 - Could 2010 see no Rookie of the Year contenders?

Give us your take on these four, fast ones. Keep it short - preferably Twitter length - but bring the passion.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Fast Lap Posts, Fast Lap video, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, NASCAR video, jimmie johnson

Tagged with: NASCAR rookie of the year

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Really Jack Roush? Really?

by Mindy Monday, Special To NASCAR commentary,NASCAR video,NASCAR pictures, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

November 30, 2009 3:35 pm CST No Comments

Mindy Monday is back with a post-championship, Monday Morning Crew Chief NASCAR video.

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It’s about Denny Hamlin vs Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch vs Brian Vickers. And then there’s Danica Patrick vs whichever sexist pig wants to go a round with her.

Jack Roush maybe?

Watch it now.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Brian Vickers, Danica Patrick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Monday Morning Crew Chief, NASCAR, NASCAR video

Tagged with: Jack Roush

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Pat Tryson May Get Kicked Out of the Crew Chief Union

by Charlie Turner

November 14, 2009 10:09 am CST No Comments

Well that’s what Mindy thinks anyway. I mean how can a guy show up one day a week and out think 42 full-timers on the pit boxes of NASCAR?

Mindy has a business proposition for JR Motorsports too. It’s all here in the latest Monday Morning Crew Chief video with our Mindy Monday. Watch it now.

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Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Chase for the Cup, Danica Patrick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Monday Morning Crew Chief, NASCAR, NASCAR video, Penske Racing, Texas Motor Speedway, jimmie johnson