NASCAR gives driver Carl Edwards 3-race probation | Auto racing

LOS ANGELES — The concept seemed simple enough: NASCAR would let its drivers race a bit more aggressively and give the fans a better show this season.

But thanks to Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and some unexpected physics, that idea has become muddled.

NASCAR on Tuesday put Edwards on probation for the next three races but did not suspend the Sprint Cup Series driver for an apparent payback bump that sent Keselowski's car airborne at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday.

How NASCAR chose to penalize Edwards was watched closely, because NASCAR said in January it would ease rules to promote more exciting racing.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, explained the purpose was to put racing "back in the hands of the drivers, and we will say, 'Boys, have at it.' "

That tenet remains in place, but Edwards' action in his No. 99 Ford "did go beyond" NASCAR's intention and "there is a line you can cross, and we'll step in to maintain law and order when we think that line is crossed," NASCAR president Mike Helton said Tuesday.

NASCAR also "made it very clear to (Edwards) that these actions were not acceptable," Helton said.

Longtime driver Kyle Petty, who is an analyst for SpeedTV, said of the probation: "I would cry, but it's laughable; that's a laughable punishment."

In a statement released by Penske Racing, Keselowski said, "I support NASCAR in the decision they communicated today."

Edwards appeared to intentionally bump the rear of Keselowski's No. 12 Dodge late in the race, which sent Keselowski's car flying into the air. The car smashed on its hood but ultimately landed on its wheels and Keselowski was not injured.

The two had tangled earlier in the race, which sent Edwards' car to the pits for lengthy repairs. Edwards and Keselowski also were involved in a spectacular wreck last year at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway; Edwards' car went airborne that time and crashed into a grandstand fence.

Why did Keselowski's car get airborne in Georgia?

That event "to us is a much more serious topic" because an airborne car on the 1.5-mile track is something "which we typically don't see," Helton said.

NASCAR technicians were studying the crash to find ways to limit that from happening again, Helton said.