Carl Edwards' Richmond Win Won't Curb Fallout from Tony Stewart's Comments
When Carl Edwards wins a Sprint Cup race, a feat achieved in consecutive weeks now, it seems like a triumph of truth, justice and the American way.
As Edwards performs his familiar backflip—one cannot help but wonder if one day, he will be too old for such nonsense and disaster will ensue—one half expects flowers to bloom amid the garden of empty seats that greet almost every NASCAR winner these days.
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If NASCAR were baseball and Darrell Waltrip were Vin Scully—and, boogity, boogity, are they not—then Edwards would be a two-out pick-me-up in the bottom of the ninth. NASCAR needed that clutch hit from Edwards, who bumped teammate Kyle Busch's Toyota out of the way on the final lap at Richmond International Raceway and gave stock car racing's ruling body a way to save face after another clueless, tone-deaf week.
"That's the most fun I've had at Richmond," Edwards said in the media conference following the Toyota Owners 400. "That was a blast. I don't know what it looks like from the outside, but from the inside, all the cars were out there searching for grip."
NASCAR spent the weekend trying to get a grip, too. Edwards' rousing victory diverted attention away from a controversy that left many questioning the wisdom and tactics of the sport's leadership in general and Chairman Brian France in particular.
So overjoyed was NASCAR at the return of a three-time Sprint Cup champion, Tony Stewart, from injury that it attempted to slap Stewart to the pavement, figuratively, when he had the gall to criticize the empire for what he perceived as safety transgressions.
On April 20, in Denver, North Carolina, Stewart had told NBC Sports' Nate Ryan, “For all the work and everything, all the bulletins and all the new stuff we have to do to superspeedway cars, and all these other things they want us to do for safety, we can’t even make sure we put five lug nuts on the wheel.
“It’s not bit anybody yet, but I guarantee you that envelope is going to keep getting pushed until somebody gets hurt. You will not have heard a rant that’s going to be as bad as what’s going to come out of my mouth if a driver gets hurt because of a loose wheel that hurts one of them. With all the crap we’re going through, with all the safety stuff, and for them to sit there and sit on their hands on this one … ”
"I'm so happy to see the return of @TonyStewart, and I love that he stood his ground on safety. Go Smoke! #NASCAR #TOYOTAOWNERS400
— Allen (@_Allengator_) April 24, 2016"
For the past two seasons, NASCAR officials have turned a blind eye to monitoring whether or not all the lug nuts are properly tightened when teams change tires on pit stop. It's sort of "let the driver beware." Stewart, never a shrinking violet during his long and outspoken career, took the occasion of his grand return to allege that NASCAR was shirking its responsibility.
The response to NASCAR's $35,000 fine was quick, incredulous and rebellious.
Paul Newberry of the Associated Press railed against NASCAR's leadership, specifically naming France. He cited "a lack of coherent leadership," listing punishment of Stewart as one of many examples.
The fledgling Drivers Council quickly announced it would pay the $35,000 in Stewart's behalf.
| Winner | Make | Team | Track | Lead Changes |
| Kyle Busch | Toyota | JGR | Martinsville | 11 |
| Kyle Busch | Toyota | JGR | Texas | 17 |
| Carl Edwards | Toyota | JGR | Bristol | 16 |
| Carl Edwards | Toyota | JGR | Richmond | 23 |
NASCAR needed a diversion, and what better ray of sunshine than Edwards, whose only reference to Stewart after the race was, "It's cool to have Tony back. He's done so much in the sport. He continues to do a lot in the sport. Let me tell you, the guy is competitive..."
The next question was about his backflip. Perfect.
On Friday, during media availability, Edwards had said, "I wasn't even sure who got fined, and I didn't read the statement, so I just can't answer it. I'm not dodging your question. I just don't know what was said."
He might have been the only person at the track who wasn't aware of what Stewart had said, what NASCAR had done, and how the Drivers Council had reacted.
Stewart, by the way, finished 19th in his return from back injuries suffered while goofing around with other drivers in all-terrain vehicles near San Diego, California, on Jan. 31.
Before the race, he told Fox Sports, "Here's the thing. I understand what NASCAR is trying to do, but I'm always going to speak my mind. I don't know what the keyword or key phrase was that got me fined, but when it comes to safety, I'm not going to hold back.
"That's $35,000 well invested if it makes it safer for these guys."
According to Section 12.8.1 of the NASCAR rule book, actions that could result in a $10,000-$50,000 fine include disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR's leadership, or verbal abuse of a NASCAR official, media members and fans.
"Disparaging" is a strange way of referring to a driver who made his criticisms in the name of safety.
The memory of fans is often short. Edwards came to the rescue in more than one way. His victory was rousing as he bumped his way by teammate Busch on the final lap.
In his post-race media conference, Busch ignored two questions about being cuffed around by his teammate. The answers had nothing to do with the questions.
To one, Busch said, "Our Banfield Camry was real awesome today. We had a great race car. My guys made some awesome adjustments to it. It was really good for us to have an opportunity to run and race for the win like that."
To another, he said, "My guys give me great race cars each and every week. We continue to have fast Camrys. We'll be continuing to run up front and race for wins."
Then, after he fielded a question about whether he liked racing in the daytime or at night better, the moderator said "thank you very much," and Busch was out of there.
The owner of the team, Joe Gibbs, is as chronically happy as Edwards, who takes a two-race win streak to Talladega.
Regarding the tiff between teammates, Gibbs said, "It's one of those things that we're going to work our way through. We've got great teams, great crew chiefs, great drivers. I'm thrilled just to be a part of it."
Between Edwards' blasts and Gibbs' thrills, they could star in a new version of Howdy Doody.
Stewart was the throwback to the days when race drivers were rugged individualists who didn't bow down to anyone. Edwards and Gibbs are part of the new generation of figures indoctrinated by NASCAR to believe that the best example is to stick to the message, the talking points, in order to advance "the brand."
The new NASCAR lives in a world where "disparaging" is a sin.
One battle was between Edwards and Busch. Another was between Stewart and a sport in denial.
Follow @montedutton on Twitter.
All quotes are taken from NASCAR media, team and manufacturer sources unless otherwise noted.
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