BRISTOL, Tenn. - Any decent promoter could devise a clever marquee for this weekend’s NASCAR doubleheader at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Forget about the track modifications, the struggles of Dale Earnhardt Jr., or even the surprising Food City 500 qualifying effort of Joey Logano. The marquee at BMS should center on the conflict between “Concrete Carl” and “Battling Brad.”
By now, even the most casual NASCAR observer has seen the jaw-dropping highlights of the crash between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks ago.
Edwards has admitted to being at fault, but he clearly had no intention of launching the Keselowski car into the air. This was all about payback from earlier incidents with Keselowski.
In a rowdier era before the stars of the sport were transformed into lovable cartoon characters, drivers settled disputes with a right hook or wrench.
Racing has never been a game for the meek, and that’s why so many folks have been attracted to the spectacle.
NASCAR racers are modern-day cowboys who fight with 3,400-stock cars and put their health on the line each week at speeds approaching 200 mph.
Due to the constant glare of the television camera, the demands of soft-stomached sponsors and the iron fist of the NASCAR leadership, the modern-day stock car cowboys must remain well-behaved on and off the track.
There is a fine line between being a redneck and a renegade. Guys like Tony Stewart get it. Stewart may be surly and even smart-alecky at times, but competitors and reporters know better than to cross him. Respect is earned.
According to NASCAR’s resident diplomat Jeff Burton, one of the keys to maintaining order in motorsports is the tradition of self-policing.
“I think one of the coolest things about our sport is that every lap at every race track, someone could spin somebody out to take the position,” Burton said. “The truth of the matter is the reason that doesn’t happen is because you know that if you do that; it is going to get done to you.”
Basically, drivers keep a mental scorecard on which competitor is due a favor or a nudge.
“If you go back and look at the number of times people have been penalized for spinning someone out, it is very, very small,” Burton said. “That in and of itself means the sport polices itself already.
“There has to be a limit that we cross and NASCAR steps in and says we are not going to put up with that. But they can’t make every call.”
Burton said the star power of a particular driver should not be a factor when it comes to imposing penalties for aggressive driving.
“The day that I feel that NASCAR makes decisions based on someone’s popularity will be the day I walk out of the gate and go find something else to do,” Burton said.
The next round of the Edwards-Keselowski saga unfolds today in the Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide race.
Both drivers realize that they will be under heavy scrutiny by the ever-watchful NASCAR eye. However, there’s no room to hide on this half-mile concrete oval.
Bad things can and do happen at this unique short track. Get your ring-side seat now.
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