OK, so Carl Edwards has been put on probation for the next three races thanks to his "aggressive driving" which resulted in Brad Keselowski sliding down the front stretch of Atlanta Motor Speedway on his roof. NASCAR had to make an example out of Edwards, I get it. Of course, Carl did himself no favors during his post-race interview to as much as admit to the fact that what happened was "between Brad and himself," but Carl knew well-enough that NASCAR wouldn't see it that way. He owned up to it like a man. If only Keselowski would do the same.

It should be obvious that NASCAR is singling Edwards out because he's Carl Edwards. NASCAR knows that Carl will take his punishment as the seasoned veteran that he is. But why does NASCAR insist on the "kid gloves" treatment for Keselowski, who as much as admits that he is out there to prove that he can "run with the big boys." Wrecks are a part of the sport, everybody acknowledges this, but why isn't it being pointed that Keselowski seems to be involved in a disproportionate number of them? How many wrecks did Joey Logano cause last season? Or Scott Speed? Both of these rookie drivers apparently understand that you won't be a Sprint Cup champion your first year. They were both content to drive the races and learn the ropes from the veteran drivers. Keselowski on the other hand has a huge ego and a chip on his shoulder to match and talks and acts like winning the race is the only thing that matters. He has a lot to learn about racing...and life.

At the same time however, NASCAR is in desperate need of guys like Keselowski and Kyle Busch. Every sport needs to have guys wearing black hats and making life miserable for the white hats. Dale Earnhardt was hated before he was loved, and it's guys like this that keep the sport exciting. If all we have to look forward to this season is yet another Jimmie Johnson championship, then you can put me down as "not interested." The fans of NASCAR are optimistically hoping that there is something better in the future of racing than yet another historic season for the 48 team. I applaud NASCAR for allowing arrogant guys like Keselowski to race hard, but don't only punish the "nice guys" when racing hard ends in a wreck. When Denny Hamlin put Keselowski into the wall during the final Nationwide race last year, he received a standing ovation from pit road. NASCAR cannot ignore this. Like it or not, a code of conduct exists among the drivers and those who violate the code are going to get wrecked. Punishing Edwards and not Keselowski does not honor this code; and it doesn't honor the sport we all know and love.