No NASCAR suspension for Edwards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR will not suspend Carl Edwards for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski's car during last weekend's race at Atlanta.

There had been a loud cry for NASCAR to punish Edwards for returning to the track Sunday after an earlier wreck with Keselowski and then deliberately causing a crash. The contact sent Keselowski's car flying into the air, and it bounced on its hood off a retaining wall. No one was injured.

A person familiar with NASCAR's discussions said Edwards will not be suspended for his actions.

NASCAR president Mike Helton is to address the Edwards accident later Tuesday. The person familiar with the decision spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Helton will be making the official statement.

Edwards could still be fined or placed on probation, but escaped the more serious penalty, presumably because NASCAR wanted to protect its relaxed "boys, have at it" attitude of allowing drivers to police themselves on the track.

NASCAR announced in January it would loosen its stance on aggressive driving and allow drivers the opportunity to settle scores on their own. The policy wasn't tested until Sunday, the fourth race of the season, when Edwards returned to the track down 153 laps and spent at least one lap intentionally trying to wreck Keselowski.

He succeeded with three laps to go in the race, igniting a frightening crash that he admitted deliberately causing.

Edwards was unrepentant, too, citing past incidents with Keselowski as the root of the retaliation.

Keselowski, meanwhile, called for a harsh penalty.

"It'll be interesting to see how NASCAR reacts to it," he said after the wreck. "They have the ball. If they're going to allow people to intentionally wreck each other at tracks this fast, we will hurt someone either in the cars or the grandstands. It's not cool to intentionally wreck someone at 195 mph.''

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