Edwards docked 60 points; both drivers on probation

Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
 
(July 21, 2010)

NASCAR on Wednesday penalized Carl Edwards 60 points, fined him $25,000 and put him on probation through the end of the season for aggressive driving in Saturday night’s Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway.

Brad Keselowski, who was involved in the incident with Edwards, also was put on probation through the end of the year for aggressive driving.

The penalties stem from the last lap of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250, where Keselowski and Edwards were racing for the lead. Keselowski bumped Edwards in Turn 1 to take the lead. As the two drivers were headed down the frontstretch toward the checkered flag, Edwards hit Keselowski, wrecking him.

While Edwards went on to win the race, Keselowski’s car hit the outside and inside walls and then was hit by driver Shelby Howard.

Edwards gets to keep the win, but the 60-point penalty resulted in him earning 130 points for the event. Keselowski, who finished 14th, earned 131 points. By losing 60 points, Edwards is now 228 behind Keselowski with 16 races left in the season.

The Roush Fenway Racing No. 60 team also was docked 60 points in the owner standings.

Edwards and Penske Racing’s Keselowski have the right to appeal their penalties.

Earlier this season, Edwards was put on three weeks probation for retaliating against Keselowski in the Sprint Cup race at Atlanta. In that race, the retaliation resulted in Keselowski’s car getting airborne and his roof hitting the outside wall.

Roush Fenway Racing has not decided whether to appeal.

“As with all NASCAR actions of this nature, we will internally evaluate the penalties, and the underlying explanations, prior to making any decision about next steps,” Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said.

Penske Racing will not appeal Keselowski’s penalty, according to a statement released by the team.