Edwards, Keselowski smiling after meeting

BRISTOL, Tenn.

For the second time in less than two weeks, Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski found themselves in the NASCAR hauler — the sanctioning body’s mobile version of the principal’s office.

The 35-minute meeting between NASCAR President Mike Helton, Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton, Sprint Cup Series director John Darby, Keselowski, Edwards and their respective owners Roger Penske and Jack Roush, covered an array of topics — and emotions.

Edwards, who initiated the contact that sent Keselowski’s car flying at Atlanta and prompted the tete-a-tetes, said the meeting went “really well.”

“The biggest thing coming out of that meeting is that now Brad and I understand one another a little better,” Edwards said. “I think we’re gonna be able to just go forward and go racing, and that’s what this is all about.

“It was really cool to be able to talk with Jack and Roger and Brad all at once. We laughed. We cried. In the end, I think it’s gonna be good.”

Keselowski said he still has respect for Edwards, just maybe not to the same degree as before the March 7 incident when he was punted from behind at approximately 190 mph. Keselowski believes the rivalry could stem from the two racers sharing too similar of a background.

“You have to understand that Carl and I have a mutual respect, because, in a sense, we’re almost the same people,” Keselowski said. "We come from similar backgrounds and drive the same way. I had a lot of respect for him before and after the accident, so hopefully that will stay the same.”

Roush said he “did not condone” Edwards’ actions at Atlanta, however he did “understand it." After years of racing in sports cars, dragsters and stocks, Roush realizes the animosity that develops among rivals but feels the priority must be safety.

“The ultimate responsibility that we all have — that NASCAR has, the owners have and the drivers have — to keep everybody safe in this business,” Roush said. “It’s a sport that needs to be contentious, but it needs to be safe too and we’ve got to be careful to respect that line.

“Carl and Brad both said things that would indicate that they’re willing to put it behind them and let bygones be bygones, to give one another racing room, and that’s what’s needed. They need to give one another a little extra room for a while ... but I think that they will give one another enough respect that we won’t see another occurrence like that.”

Roush felt that he and Penske were “on the same page” when it came to handling the situation between the drivers moving forward. Penske concurred that it was best for the drivers to “give themselves some room on the racetrack so we don't become the poster boys every weekend on what's happening.”

Despite Keselowski’s reputation for being overly aggressive on the track and reiterating that he won’t temper his style, Penske remains in full support of his driver.

“He's a terrific talent,” Penske said. “I don't tell my drivers to run hard or run soft. I think he knows what he has to do on the racetrack with his peers, and quite honestly, he isn't making any statements about what he's going to do or not do. What I want him to do is run fair on the racetrack and be competitive. But again, the other drivers have to respect him.

“I think Brad's raced with his peers in the Nationwide with many of these people, and I think he knows how to race. I have all the respect for him. He'll earn that respect in the garage area by winning and finishing strong. We have to put this behind us.”

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp insists that the sanctioning body doesn’t want anyone to lose that competitive edge, but it won’t be afraid to act if a situation needs to be addressed — particularly this weekend.

“Our drivers know you’re going to have contact at Bristol,” Tharp said. “It’s a small racetrack. It’s a bump-and-grind racetrack and you’re going to have cars getting into each other. But when you cross the line — and I thing our drivers know what that is — if necessary, then we’ll step in.”

Though cooler heads prevailed in the NASCAR hauler, Keselowski might not be ready to put the episode in his rear-view mirror — completely. Most drivers have long memories.

“The only way you’re going to be satisfied if we could back it up two weeks and it would have never happened,” Keselowski said. “Anything besides that is just what it is.

“I’m satisfied where we’re at to move forward. But I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied with the whole situation, no.”

And could we see remnants from the Atlanta Cup ordeal carry over in the Nationwide Series?

“A race is a race,” Keselowski said. “If we were racing go-karts, it would bleed over to that.”