NASCAR Goes Easy on Edwards. Sportsbook had the attention this past weekend on the wreck that Carl Edwards caused involving Brad Keselowski. Kurt Busch won the Atlanta race in odds at the offshore sportsbook but Carl Edwards wrecking Keselowski is what people remember. NASCAR took the easy way out on Tuesday and placed Edwards on three weeks probation.
Sportsbook odds will still have Edwards on the board because NASCAR is allowing him to race. NASCAR president Mike Helton said that Edwards did not cross the line in his actions but they were not happy. “We made it very clear to [Edwards] that these actions were not acceptable.” Helton said. “We believe [Edwards] understands our position at this point.”
Many people believe that NASCAR should have suspended Edwards especially since Edwards pretty much admitted that he intentionally wrecked Keselowski. Even though Keselowski was wrecked, he supported NASCAR’s decision. “They are not in an enviable position when it comes to these matters, but they do an outstanding job,” he said.
In past years, Edwards probably would have been suspended. NASCAR is suffering from a ratings and fan decline though and earlier this year they said that drivers could got at it more than in the past. If they had suspended Edwards then they would have ended that type of racing. “The clear message, I think, we sent in January was that we were willing to put more responsibility in the hands of the driver,” he said. “But there is a line you can cross and we’ll step in to maintain law and order when we think that line’s crossed.”
NASCAR really took the gutless way out and many around the sport agree. NASCAR obviously got to Keselowski but they didn’t manage to shut up other drivers. “I think there’s a too far in everything and that was too far. Bottom line. Simple as that,” Clint Bowyer said. “That was a pretty scary incident that could’ve been a lot worse.”
NASCAR betting at the sportsbook has also seen a drop as the ratings on Fox and other networks have fallen. The races take too long, there are too many cautions and NASCAR does not know how to regulate the sport. They proved that once again on Tuesday. The odds at the offshore sportsbook will be on the board for next week’s race at Bristol and Edwards will be one of the contenders.