Johnson achieves 'Drive for Five' as Edwards dominates Homestead

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Johnson first driver in NASCAR history to win five straight Sprint Cup titles; Edwards wins second consecutive series race

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21) — NASCAR has a rock star — and perhaps after a fifth straight championship for unsinkable Jimmie Johnson, the sport will realize it.

Johnson ran second to Carl Edwards in Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to secure the first come-from-behind title in his skein of five championships.

Edwards’ victory was perfection. He led 190 of 267 laps in winning his second straight Sprint Cup race and the 18th of his career.

“Why didn’t you set the cars up like this before, Bob?” Edwards joked with crew chief Bob Osborne after the race. “That was the best performance down the straightaway I’ve had in a long time.”

The race for the championship was anything but perfection. And it wasn’t the high drama fans had anticipated from the closest Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since the introduction of NASCAR’s playoff format in 2004.

An early spin on the part of Denny Hamlin, the Chase leader by 15 points entering the final race, ultimately proved decisive. A pit road speeding penalty knocked Kevin Harvick (third in points) to the rear of the field just when he appeared ready to contend for the victory. Hamlin finished 14th; Harvick rallied to finish third.

Sloppy work in the pits on the part of Johnson’s “substitute” crew—borrowed from Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 team in the middle of the eighth Chase race (at Texas) and bound to Johnson thereafter—repeatedly cost the champion track position.

To call the final race a comedy of errors on the part of the title contenders may be harsh, but championship team owner Rick Hendrick did precisely that.

“It was like, ‘Who’s going to screw up the most?’ ” Hendrick said after claiming his 10th Cup title (five with Johnson, four with Gordon and one with Terry Labonte).

Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

In the afterglow of a fifth straight title, however, the flaws in the process didn’t matter.

“Jimmie, you are a rock star, my friend,” Chad Knaus radioed after Johnson crossed the finished line 1.608 seconds behind Edwards. “You have proven it time and time again. And you damn did it today, my friend.”

Johnson finished 39 points ahead of Hamlin and 41 ahead of Harvick.

Before the race was 25 laps old, Hamlin made a tough job much more difficult. His No. 11 Toyota, which had started the race 37th but had gained 18 positions in the first 23 laps, touched the No. 16 Ford of Greg Biffle as the cars sped through Turn 2 on Lap 24. Hamlin spun through the infield grass, damaging the front splitter and knocking the toe angle of the tires out of position.

Though his crew worked feverishly to repair the damage, the incident affected the handling just enough to keep Hamlin from making an aggressive run to the front. His troubles were compounded when he was trapped a lap down during a cycle of pit stops and had to take a wave-around to the tail end of the lead lap. At that point Hamlin was fighting Harvick for second in the final standings, not battling Johnson for the championship.

“I felt like, as soon as we dropped the green, I thought we could win the race,” Hamlin said. “Our car was really fast at the beginning—I mean, just unbelievably fast at the beginning—and I knew we had a car that could contend for a win, and obviously when we got in that incident on the back straightaway, it tore up the front and knocked the toe out, and obviously the car did not drive as well for the rest of the day.

“We just tried to patch it and work on it the best we could, but it just wasn't the car that it was at the beginning. It's just part of racing.”

Johnson restarted second on Lap 251 after Harvick dumped Kyle Busch, Hamlin’s teammate, into the inside frontstretch wall to cause the 10th and final caution on Lap 244. Johnson couldn’t catch Edwards over the final 17 laps, but he pulled away from Harvick to secure the title.

“I’m just beside myself,” Johnson said in Victory Lane. “Four was amazing. Now I have to figure out what the hell to say about winning five of these things, because everybody is going to want to know what it means. I don't know. It is pretty damn awesome — I can tell you that.”

Fast facts:

• With his fifth Sprint Cup championship, Johnson passes teammate Jeff Gordon (four titles) to take third on the all-time list of drivers with the most championships. Johnson follows Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. with seven each.
• Johnson's fifth title comes in his ninth full-time season of Sprint Cup competition. Dale Earnhardt Sr. claimed his fifth in his 13th season and Richard Petty in his 16th.
• Johnson won his fifth championship in 327 starts. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his fifth title in 390 starts and Richard Petty in 655 starts.
• Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports their 10th Sprint Cup owner's championship, breaking a tie with Petty Motorsports (9) to become the all-time leading team.
• Johnson is the first driver in Chase history to overcome a points deficit going into the season's final race and win the title. 
• He is only the third driver to overcome a points deficit in the last race and win the championship since 1975.
• Johnson joins the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Montreal Canadiens in winning five or more consecutive championships. He also joins Michael Schumacher, who claimed five straight F1 titles. 
• All five of Johnson's championship have come under the Chase.
• Johnson is the only driver to have made the Chase all seven seasons.

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Reid Spencer's story from NASCAR Media

Fast Facts compiled by Rebecca Kivak

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Carl Edwards dominates at Phoenix

What would have turned into a two-year losing streak for Carl Edwards ended on Sunday when he brought home the victory at the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Photo courtesy of Genna Short

While Edwards didn’t dominate the race, he did dominate the weekend. He started by winning the pole and setting a new track record of 136.389 miles an hour, snatching the spot from Kurt Busch, who was the first to break the six-year record.

A win on Saturday afternoon’s Wypall 200 added another award to Carl's growing award collection.

Edwards completed the weekend by taking the victory on Sunday afternoon.

The 99 car led the field to the green and had no problem holding his lead for the first six laps. Kurt Busch snatched the lead away from him by lap seven and the two chased each other back and forth until Denny Hamlin took the lead under green on lap 66.

The 11 car dominated the race, losing the lead during a caution but quickly gaining it back after the lap 105 restart. Hamlin had, at one point, opened up a 5.4 second lead over Jimmie Johnson and clinched the most laps led by lap 217, earning five crucial bonus points.

The final lead change for the win took place on lap 266. Hamlin was low on fuel and eventually had to pit for fuel on lap 298, just 14 laps short of the finish. He muscled his way from 19th back up to a respectable 13th place finish by the end of the race.

In the end, Denny Hamlin’s race dominance came to nothing but a top 15 finish, leaving him just 15 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson.

Meanwhile, Carl Edwards had his first taste of victory in the Sprint Cup series, breaking a winless streak which fell just one race short of two full seasons.

“It was a great day for us. The race started, I felt like we had the best car. Then here comes Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson. Really I think their cars were better in the middle part of the race. Bob (Osborne) made really good adjustments. The track came to us a little bit. “

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Carl Edwards wins the Wypall 200 at Phoenix

 

Carl Edwards outran the competition by a full five seconds during Saturday’s Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Starting second in the race, he quickly took the lead from Joey Logano and led a race-high 153 laps. It was his second consecutive win in the fall Nationwide race at Phoenix and his 29th career victory in the series. It was also his fourth win at the track overall in Nationwide.

"This is the best car I've ever had in the Nationwide Series," he told crew chief Mike Beam over the radio after the race had ended.

Although he ran second in practice and started second in the race, in the end, he came out first.

"I wouldn't have imagined this thing would be that fast today. A great day for us. Man, it's just unbelievable how fast this thing is. After three or four laps, I could do whatever I wanted with it. I'm really blessed to have the crew that I have."

Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Reed Sorenson rounded out the top five.

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Fashion in NASCAR

This morning, as I was pulling on my jeans, I wondered to myself, "Just what do the NASCAR drivers wear for clothes?" So, I went on a hunt for anything that would answer my question. I stumbeled upon an aritcle on NASCAR.com from February 2008.

Of course, the first person they interviewed was Sherry Pollex, girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr., and also the owner of Lavendar Boutique in North Carolina. Pollex is obviously high fashion and describes how excited she was when Chandra Johnson wore one of her purchases from Lavendar Boutique on pit road, but she also sells her clothing to the drivers.

Kasey Kahne is a guy you would think is just simple jeans and tee-shirts everyday, right? Wrong. The Budweiser driver said "I'm pretty picky about my jeans, I'll try on ten pairs and buy zero or some days I'll buy five." Then he goes on to say the most he has ever paid for jeans, which rings in at $190. However, he said that he does not pay attention to the fashion trends on pit road.

On the other hand, Carl Edwards had not been shopping awhile and said, "My assistant Angela picks out stuff for me, but I got these boots from a People Magazine shoot a long time ago, I wear them so much I had to have them re-soled,"


Kyle Petty, famed for his iconic ponytail, said that drivers wore what they could afford back in the times of Dale Earnhardt and also says, "[Fashion] adds zero to the sport, I don't have any energy for it. What do I care about fashion? I haven't had a haircut in 15 years. I'm ready for my plaid pants and stripped shirt phase." Will someone tell this guy that plaid pants are out?!

Sherry Pollex says, "Honestly for me, it's a respect thing as well. Like church on Sundays, when I walk out there, I have a sense of pride because I'm a reflection of Martin and what he does." I am sure that most NASCAR wives would agree.

One other person that comes to my mind is DeLana Harvick. Almost every weekend during the Sprint Cup race, the wife of the 29 driver is supporting her husband by wearing her own Pennzoil firesuit. Just one of the reasons I love DeLana and what she believes in.

When you are watching the races, look at some of the things that the mothers, girlfriends, and wives are wearing. This is just example of the way that women have shaped NASCAR.

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Source: http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/features/02/22/rswan.pit.road.fashion/index.html

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Edwards to Make 200th Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Start at Bristol

CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2010) – Carl Edwards, 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion, is set to make his 200th Nationwide Series start at Bristol Motor Speedway Friday, August 20 in the Food City 250.

“I’ve had an amazing opportunity to drive for Jack Roush for the past six years,” Edwards said. “We’ve had 27 wins in those 199 races. I consider myself lucky that I have had such great equipment and crews to work with. I didn’t realize that I had already run that many Nationwide races. It sure has gone by in a flash. I’m looking forward to strapping in at Bristol for my 200th start and I can’t think of a better place for such a milestone. I plan on running a lot more and hope to continue to have a lot of fun and success.”

Edwards’s first Nationwide start was in 2002 at Gateway International Raceway where he started 36th and finished 38th after experiencing mechanical issues. In 2005 Edwards ran his first season for legendary team owner Jack Roush. Edwards amassed five wins, 15 top-five finishes and 21 top-10 finishes in this first full season and would ultimately finish third in the series’ points standings.

In 199 starts Edwards has earned 27 wins, 99 top-fives, 137 top-10 finishes and 21 poles. He has completed 36,254 laps and led 3,836. Currently, Edwards is tied with Jeff Burton for the fifth-most wins in the series.

In addition to earning his 200th career Nationwide Series start driving the No. 60 Fastenal/Copart Ford Fusion Friday night, with a strong finish Edwards can also clinch his 100th top-five finish and potentially his 50th career NASCAR victory

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A Win At Home Again

This time last year Brad Keselowski, driver of the 88, wanted nothing more than to win at Michigan, his home track. Brad would end up winning for the first time at his home track, something he wanted to do for a long time.

Now it's 2010 and we're back at Michigan. Brad Keselowski, with new team Penske and the current points leader in the Nationwide Series, wanted nothing more than to win again at home. Brad would go on to win the pole Saturday in the 22 Discount Tire Dodge, which by the way, was the new car this race. It looked fast and great - it was sure to be a car to watch.

The race was green and that 22 was gone. Brad had every lap, and then green flag stops were under way. Brad’s first stop was clean and he still had the lead. It wasn’t till lap 64 that the first caution came out. Pit stops were under way, but problems arose for the 22 team.

Something was amiss with the clutch. The clutch wasn’t working right; it caused Brad to stall. Brad would lose the lead to Paul Menard. Was this clutch problem the end of the 22's chances to win at his home track? It may have seemed like Brad Keselowski’s chances were over. New leader Carl Edwards had taken the lead and now Brad was in second.

Before I knew it, Brad was side by side with Carl. It gave me chills of excitement but also made me shake in my boots. Just like that, the 22 was back to being our leader. However, green flag stops were under way, which meant Keselowski would have to pit. Would the car stall again?

Sadly the 22 did stall again, causing Brad to drop to third and Carl Edwards would pick up the lead. It looked like Carl would win, but Brad had a fast car and was now up to second. Could the 22 with clutch problems make up for lost time and close in on the 60 of Edwards? Could the hometown boy win for the second time?

Luckily a caution came out. Neither Keselowski or Edwards pitted; the two would start side by side. What would happen? Who would win? Would it be Edwards or the hometown boy? The green flag dropped and both Edwards and Keselowski raced clean. But Keselowski, fast like he had been all day, shot ahead of Edwards and was gone. Could Keselowski win - even with his clutch problems?

Brad Keselowski, small-town Michigan boy, overcame a clutch problem and won! Back-to-back wins at home. It was truly a great and wonderful day for Brad, to win at his home track back-to-back times. It was also a great feeling as a fan to see him win at his home track. Plus, Brad also won in the new car, the Dodge Charger.

It was truly an amazing race to see someone like Brad Keselowski, who has worked and thrived to get to where he is today. To see someone like Brad win at his home track again is just double the joy and double the greatness.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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Photo: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

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Edwards Closes in on Milestone 50th NASCAR Win

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 11, 2010) – Roush Fenway driver Carl Edwards, who will turn 31 Sunday, is closing in on another NASCAR milestone. Edwards’ next NASCAR victory will be the 50th of his decorated career. With his next trip to victory lane, Edwards will become one of just 13 drivers to accomplish the feat of 50 in the modern era (1972-present) and one of only seven active drivers to accrue 50 or more wins in NASCAR’s three-main divisions.

“I feel blessed to have had the opportunities that I’ve been given by Jack Roush, Ford all of my sponsors and everyone at the shop,” said Edwards who will have two opportunities at Michigan to get the win this weekend; first in Saturday’s Nationwide race and then on Sunday in the Sprint Cup race.

“I have been just fortunate to get to drive these race cars. I really didn’t have a clue I had 49 wins in NASCAR. I honestly did not realize we had been to victory lane that often and the next win will really be special. It will be neat to have 50 wins in NASCAR.”

Edwards will also join Mark Martin and Greg Biffle as the third driver to accomplish 50 NASCAR wins while driving for Roush Fenway Racing.

“Ten years ago when I was racing at the small dirt tracks I would not have imagined that (50 wins in NASCAR) to be a possibility,” added Edwards. “I’ve been very fortunate to be part of such a great team at Roush Fenway. It’s an elite group of individuals and they have made me look good and I appreciate that.”

Ironically one of Edwards’ shot at 50 wins will come in Sunday’s Carfax 400 Sprint Cup race at Michigan; the same event where he made his Sprint Cup debut back in 2004.

“Michigan is one of the best tracks we could be going to right now,” said Edwards. “This marks the sixth anniversary of my first Cup race so this race always reminds me of that day and what a great opportunity Jack Roush and Ford has given me.”

Edwards NASCAR Win Breakdown:
Sprint Cup Series 16
Nationwide Series 27
Truck Series 6
Totals 49

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Keselowski and Edwards Not Backin' Down

First we heard from NASCAR and their decision on penalties for both Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards. Now both drivers have said their peace in different media sessions in Indianapolis.

Just like always, these two racers see one incident in a very different light. What's even more confusing, Brad seems to be "happy" about NASCAR's decision to also place him on probation the rest of the year. Keselowski says it "takes away the pressure of retaliation." While I tend to agree with him, after hearing Edwards' comments in the media center I still believe this feud is far from over.


Brad's interview was pretty typical for a driver who is looking beyond Gateway and just ready to put it behind him. He was pretty adamant that he "slipped a tiny bit" getting into Carl, which seemed to give Carl justification for the retaliation he lashed out coming to the checkers. Brad also stands behind his actions, saying he wouldn't do anything differently as he clearly believes what he did was not intentional but just hard racing.

Carl's opinions on Saturday night's race could not have been more different. Carl insists he is not the one "initiating" the run-ins he has had with Keselowski. He also says he's "done a better job at keeping the car under control." He also feels that Brad's "slip up" was not a mistake but moreso intentional.

The irony in all of this is Brad was right in his interview on Saturday night when he said Carl would play the "good guy." This was displayed by Carl apologizing to all the teams involved that shouldn't have been when Brad went spinning. I was really even more confused when Carl said he would rather finish second than get a win the way he did Saturday night. I think I must've missed something, because the major events that took place Saturday night that he is so "sorry" for were caused by his revenge-seeking actions.

Either way, both the Nationwide and Cup series have moved on to Indianapolis and it's time to focus on the race at hand. However, I honestly believe we have not seen the last of the clashes between these two just yet.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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Photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

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NASCAR Draws A Line in the Sand: Keselowski and Edwards Penalties Announced

From the second Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards made contact Saturday night in the NASCAR Nationwide event at Gateway International Raceway we have been debating what NASCAR would do. Some people speculated that NASCAR would continue with their “have at it boys” stance while others were demanding Edwards be held accountable for his actions. Fans screamed that Edwards should be suspended while others took the stance that Edwards was just doing his job and that Keselowski deserved what he got.

Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, this is perhaps the most talked about rivalry we have seen in years and it’s one that will continue to unfold as Edwards and Keselowski battle for the Nationwide Series Championship.

But, both drivers are going to have to keep their tempers in check and their cars under control if they want to make it through the rest of the season without further action being taken against them.


It was announced on Wednesday that both Keselowski and Edwards would be held accountable for their roles in Saturday’s accident that left Keselwoski’s car in pieces while Edwards headed to victory lane.

According to NASCAR the actions of both drivers fall under section 12-1 of the rule book. Section 12-1 is defined as “actions detrimental to stock car racing/aggressive driving. The penalties are as follows:

• Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 for Penske Racing, has been place on probation until December 31, 2010 – This probation applies to all of NASCAR’s divisions
• Carl Edwards, driver of the #60 for Roush Fenway Racing, has been placed on probation until December 31, 2010. Like Keselowski's probation Edwards’ also applies in all of NASCAR’s series. Additionally Edwards was docked 60 championship points, and was fined $25,000.
• Car owner Jack Roush was penalized 60 owner points.

After the official word was announced NASCAR, via their Twitter account, had this to say in a series of Tweets explaining their ruling:

• Since putting the driving back in the hands of the drivers we’ve seen very exciting, side by side racing…
• …However, we also said that there is a line that a driver can cross and when that happens we will stop in and maintain law and order/
• Following Atlanta, we met with Brad and Carl to make it clear that racing hard doesn’t mean ruing other competitors’ days
• In our review of this most recent incident, Carl and Brad crossed the line.
• It is important to remember that this is not the first time these two have gotten into one another on the track – there is a history there.

Here at Skirts and Scuffs we have had wide range of views expressed on this issue and now we want to hear from you regarding the ruling. Is it fair? Should Keselowski have been put on probation? Is probation just a slap on the wrist? You tell us what you think.

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When "Have At It Boys" Goes Too Far

Rubbin' is racin', we're taking the gloves off, have at it boys. These expressions seem to completely define the 2010 season thus far, but what happens when the shaded gray area is crossed into and just flat out wrong?

Being a Brad Keselowski fan, it's very easy for me to say Carl was wrong, Carl wrecked him and any other negative thing I could come up with. It wasn't until I heard Reed Sorenson's comments on Sirius 128 when I decided I how I really felt about this issue. Reed said he "saw the 60 drive into the 22." After hearing Reed's comments, the anger I felt after witnessing this on Saturday was back in full force. Instead of yelling at my radio like I had my TV and tweeting some probably not very nice things about Carl, I started to think about some stuff.

There are three very clear issues coming out of Saturday night's melee at Gateway. The first issue is Brad Keselowski and his sometimes popular and sometimes very unpopular racing style, next is Carl Edwards and his temper, and the last a father's involvement in his son's racing career.

We all know Brad is well known for his belief in standing his ground and not being pushed around. This belief has led him to be compared to some of NASCAR's greatest, from Kyle Busch to Dale Earnhardt. I think it's safe to say thus far Brad has definitely left his mark in NASCAR. To me it goes a little further; these two drivers Brad has been compared to are champions. We don't see Jimmie Johnson on the track backing down to just anyone, so why aren't we criticizing him as much as we are Brad? Jeff Gordon has taken a similar approach to racing these days as well and he too is a champion. Point being, you can't go out there on the track and race like everyone out there is your best friend and expect to win. Brad has said it, Kyle has said it, even Dale Earnhardt said it; the main objective when they strap into that seat is to win. Brad made a comment earlier in the 2010 season that, "your competitors are only happy with you when they're beating you," and he's right.

Since Brad has made his move to Penske, I think we have seen a new side to him. He races with more patience and seems to carry a mature approach to incidents like these. I was very proud of Brad after his interview on Saturday night. How easy it would have been to trash Carl on TV. The better man will always win out in my book, and I believe the better man Saturday night was Brad Keselowski.

"Have at it boys" and how it's supposed to be done was center stage when Kurt Busch bumped Jimmie Johnson and Jimmie, deciding he wasn't OK with it, bumped him back. Jimmie could have easily put him in the wall like Carl did to Brad, but he didn't. He reacted as he should have to a minor incident.

Everyone has been talking about Atlanta and I have even heard Talladega being brought up ... again! The fact of the matter is Carl's anger issues run deeper than just Carl and Brad. Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, even Dale Earnhardt Jr. have had altercations with Edwards. I, like Brad, don't understand how this guy can go around and proclaim to be the "good guy'" when clearly the common denominator is Carl himself. If you want to settle something with another driver, going 200 mph on a racetrack on the straightaway is not the time or the place. I can respect the fact Carl can drive a racecar, but lately it seems his true colors are starting to seep through.

Finally, Bob Keselowski had some interesting words at the end of it all on Saturday night. At first I was bracing myself for another Tom Logano-ish type of interview, especially after the backlash Tom received after Pocono. I have to say by the time Bob had finished expressing his thoughts, I was ready to suit up and head out there with him! Like I said about Brad, Bob was in a position to completely trash talk Carl and he didn't do it. Saying Carl "flipped out" is not trash-talking; it's merely stating a fact. I agree with Bob. This has happened two times too many between Brad and Carl and it scares me to think what it's going to take to put an end to it. As a Brad K fan, I can honestly say I was proud of the way Bob expressed his emotions. It's obvious his respect for the sport was passed on to his son.

In the end, do I honestly believe Carl is out to "kill" Brad? No. At the same time I am well aware that accidents do happen, and when things like this take place on the track it's always a possibility. Atlanta should have been a lesson to Carl that you can't control how bad you wreck someone and wrecking someone at the front of the field is even more careless. In the end, I think it's fair to say Carl's reputation seems to have taken the biggest hit and rightfully so.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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How far should NASCAR’s “boys have at it” stance be allowed to go?

A rivalry that bordered on downright feuding seemed to brew between Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin back in 2008 NS carried over well into 2009, with Hamlin seeming to carry more of the bitter emotion. While the two never publicly mended fences, that rivalry seems to have cooled only for another one to take its place—a fireworks and bended sheet metal-filled rivalry between Keselowski and Carl Edwards.

The two drivers brought mainstream media attention, actually last sprint at Talladega, when the two got together on the final lap and parts of Edwards’ car showered the grandstands, but Edwards admitted fault, saying he tried unsuccessfully to block Keselowski, and the two drivers seemed to hold no ill will between them.

Fast forward to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway early this season, and Edwards was noticeably irked, to say the least, at Keselowski.

The two made contact early in the race that resulted in Edwards’ No. 99 car spending some 80+ laps in the garage for repairs. Returning to the track with revenge in mind, Edwards spun Keselowski intentionally (he admitted his intent on national television immediately after the race), sending Keselowski airborne and over, somewhat reminiscent of the final lap in the race at Talladega in 2009.

Again, an incident between these two gave NASCAR mainstream publicity, as it was discussed the following Monday on morning news shoes, including ABC’s Good Morning America.

To read more, visit AutoRacingDaily.com.

Photo of Brad Keselowski by Amanda Vincent

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Retaliation: How Far Is NASCAR Willing to Let It Go?

When you feel that someone has done you wrong, you find a way to show them how you feel about it. In NASCAR, that principle of retaliation is an underlying theme. Ask any NASCAR fan, and they can probably tell you of at least one confrontation their favorite driver has had with another due to getting payback for an on-track incident. So, just what caused the big commotion this time around? We’ve all seen drivers intentionally wreck each other before, but it seems that maybe the line was crossed on Saturday night.

On Saturday night, as the action unfolded during the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealer’s 250 at Gateway International Raceway, it was the last lap move for the lead that caused a big stir. Some fans cheered when the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge being driven by Brad Keselowski was wrecked by Carl Edwards in the No. 60 Aflac Ford. Other fans, like me, watched in disbelief. Crews anxiously waited for the smoke to clear to see if their drivers had made it through the melee. Team owners, one in particular I’m sure, couldn’t believe their eyes. I am a fan of both Edwards and Keselowski, and as I watched Edwards take the checkered flag, it almost made me sick.

Edwards blatantly turned Keselowski to take the lead coming off of turn 4, which set off a chain reaction. After Keselowski hit the outside wall, his car came back across the track, and he clipped the back of the No. 16 Ford being driven by Edwards’s teammate Colin Braun, which sent Braun spinning across the start/finish line before hitting the wall hard. Then Keselowski came to a stop next to the inside wall where he was hit by another driver.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched Braun, who is my favorite Nationwide driver, hit the wall. I still couldn’t breathe as the sheet metal flew as more drivers wrecked and Keselowski got nailed by a driver who couldn’t get stopped in time. It was a few seconds after the smoke started to clear that I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

Edwards could have gotten someone injured, or worse, killed, doing what he did. I thank God that all the drivers involved in that last lap crash were okay.

Before you start thinking I am viewing this from one side, let me say that I know Keselowski had gotten into Edwards prior to that, which is what caused Edwards to do what he did. However, I saw nothing wrong with what Keselowski did when taking the lead from Edwards after the white flag flew. He got into Edwards enough just to nudge him up the track. To me, that’s an example of the old “bump and run” right there. Or maybe it was an accidental bump caused by Keselowski’s car getting loose when he tried to pass Edwards on the low side. Either way, I immediately knew Edwards would not be happy with that move and would show Keselowski how he felt about it.

I guess what bothered me the most was that Edwards put Keselowski, as well as other drivers, in harm’s way. As he was being interviewed in Victory Lane, Edwards almost seemed proud of what he’d done.

Did NASCAR really want a driver like that standing in Victory Lane? I was secretly hoping they would penalize Edwards on the spot and say that the win would go to Reed Sorenson who finished 2nd. At least Sorenson didn’t try to wreck anyone to finish toward the front (and he had bigger problems than someone bumping him for position to finish where he did!).

Just how far is NASCAR willing to let Edwards go before they step in and do something? Twice this season Edwards has intentionally wrecked Keselowski. Both times the crashes have been a lot worse than what Edwards thought they would be. But what can he expect when wrecking someone at such high speeds?

I recall Edwards making a comment once that NASCAR was going to let someone get killed before they did something to get the drivers under control during races. It seems those words may ring true if Edwards and Keselowski have any more run-ins.

Then again, maybe the bottom line here is Keselowski himself. There is no denying he has an aggressive driving style. He’s had run-ins with pretty much every driver on the circuit at some point, whether it’s in the Cup or Nationwide series. It’s just how he is. He refuses to let other drivers bully him; he fights back. He’ll push the envelope during races to make passes or claim the lead. It’s a personality trait that just ruffles the feathers of the other drivers. Even the fans seem to dislike that about him too.

It was a little over a year ago that Keselowski wrecked Edwards to win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega. It was a move that put Edwards, other drivers, and fans too, in danger. So, yes, I know Keselowski has wrecked Edwards to get a win. Did I want the win taken from him then, like I wanted it taken from Edwards on Saturday? You bet your bottom dollar I did.

Of course, NASCAR’s “have at it” policy this season has led to some other on-track confrontations among different drivers. With lesser penalties for aggressive driving, I guess we’re all seeing the product of what can happen when NASCAR loosens the reigns just a bit too much.

The last time Edwards outright wrecked Keselowski, he was only put on probation for a few weeks. This time around, will Edwards be penalized for wrecking him again? Honestly, I will be surprised if he isn’t. I feel a penalty is definitely necessary this time. Not penalizing Edwards will be the closest thing to NASCAR directly saying it is okay to wreck another driver for the win with no regards for their safety or the safety of the other drivers.

A thought that crossed my mind after the race was that if it had been a driver other than Keselowski, would Edwards have wrecked them for the win? I say no. To me, it just seems like Edwards has a personal vendetta against Keselowski.

Getting even is okay when it is done within reason. Settling the score on-track is something that always leads to excitement and gives the fans and media alike something to talk about, but it can also be the reason things could one day go terribly wrong.

I’m afraid that this latest incident may cause Keselowski to seek his own revenge against Edwards in a later race. If he does, then Edwards will no doubt retaliate again. My biggest concern is that this rivalry will escalate and one day, either Edwards or Keselowski will indeed take things just a bit too far. Is that something NASCAR really wants to let happen?

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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In the Middle

I was up all night Saturday reading through arguments and discussions while at the same time having my own with a few respectful fans. The topic was Carl Edwards getting into Brad Keselowski at the NNS Gateway race. Throughout the night I felt like I was the only person who was standing on the middle ground in all of this.

My opinion is simple. First of all, I think we need to leave the past in the past. This wasn’t Atlanta, nor did it have anything to do with Atlanta, and that was a main argument point I saw on Twitter.com. Some fans think that this was payback again, but why bring a past race into it? It’s not that; it was the fact of Brad bumping Carl in the turns and taking the lead from him.

My second point is that no, I don’t necessarily condone wrecking someone last minute for a win, but isn’t that racing? You do what you have to do for a win - isn’t that what NASCAR is condoning by letting the racers “have at it?” What’s the point of saying “let let them be aggressive and get into each other” if when they do it, everyone is going to demand that NASCAR park or fine them? Yes, Carl could’ve bumped Brad, but no one knows what someone will do for a win. He wanted it and he got it. NASCAR let it slide, so fair must be fair in this case.

Now onto my third point, I find it absolutely ridiculous that NASCAR’s fan base insists on dividing themselves whenever someone wrecks another. Who cares about “teams” - when did NASCAR suddenly become The Twilight Saga? Why can’t we group together and have an intelligent conversation? I think we need to quit arguing, picking sides and thinking about what ifs and think about what did happen. Brad is alive and uninjured, and both drivers said positive things in their interviews.

I want to end this with two questions for you all to think about: 1) Would this topic be so controversial if fans would let go of the past, and 2) If Brad can have respect for good racing, why can’t the fans?

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

_________________
Photo: Carl Edwards poses with his winning car, which shows damage from a last-lap incident with Brad Keselowski, and trophy in victory lane at Gateway International Raceway. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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When A Line Is Crossed

Saturday's Nationwide race was filled with great racing all night long. It was clear that Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards had two great cars. The last lap was going to be great, you already knew. But I don’t think anyone was prepared for what would happen.

The final laps were in play. Entering the first two turns Brad’s car got loose and slid into the side of Carl, causing both to almost wreck. Brad and Carl have some rivalry when it comes to bumping one another. Brad’s unintentional bump would make Carl mad.

As Brad and Carl neared the final set of turns, Brad’s car became loose again. As Brad gained control of his car once again, Carl then turned left and rammed into Brad. Brad then went into the wall, causing a crash behind him.

Many say Carl had every right to do this, while many say Carl did a bad thing and should be fined. My feelings on this run deep. At first I said OK, maybe that was an accident. I watched the replays and studied it closely. As I watched, it was clear to me Carl turned left into Brad. But I still didn’t want to push any judgment on Carl; it wasn’t until Victory Lane that I knew it was done intentionally.

"I just couldn't let him take the win from me," Edwards said as he was being interviewed in Victory Lane, a clear sign that he did wreck Brad on purpose. Carl then went to say it was payback from the earlier bump in the race.

"We had a great restart. My guys built me a great car. We came to the checkered flag, and I hate to see stuff tore up, but we came here to win and he took it from us there in Turn 1.” Was it really right of Carl Edwards to do? No.

No, Carl Edwards crossed the line. There’s "boys have at it" and then there’s just wrecking someone. What Carl Edwards did was uncalled for. You may be thinking why and getting ready to throw stones at me, but here are my reasons.

Carl Edwards wanted the win; Carl knew Brad was going to win. Even Carl said he couldn’t let Brad take the win. I’m not saying Carl is a bad guy or bad racer; however, what he did was wrong. It’s one thing to bump someone, aka the "bump and run," but what Carl did was turn hard left into Brad and wreck him.

I am a huge Brad Keselowski fan, I won’t lie to you. So yes, I stand behind my driver on this. Brad has done some things in the past I wasn’t too happy about, but he has overcome them. Brad has become more mature in the past months of racing. He is more patient with his racing; he doesn’t need to run over people. Meanwhile, Carl, it seems, is showing his true colors. Atlanta was the first straw for me with Carl, but I overcame it because I hate holding grudges.

In all honesty, and I know the stones will come flying at me, I think Carl should be fined. He needs to realize that doing stuff like this is only going to hurt some or dare I say it, kill someone. This is the second time he has done it, and what’s worse is not only was Brad involved, but so were other Nationwide drivers who just wanted a good finish. I’m all for what goes around comes around, but Brad hasn’t touched Carl since the Atlanta race. In all honesty, Brad should be the one getting payback at Carl, but Brad hasn’t.

Seeing that was a shock, to say the least. Seeing Brad once again get wrecked by Carl is something I didn’t want to see, not in that way. I know it's racing, and I know with racing comes these accidents. Accidents in racing are scary as it is, but they are even scarier when they are done intentionally

.

Brad was later interviewed and wouldn’t you know, he was happy. He felt like it was fun racing; however, Brad did feel that Carl intentionally did wreck him.

"He turned left into me and wrecked me on purpose. I gave him the lane, and he still wrecked me," Brad said, and he did give Carl more than enough room. There was no reason for there to be any contact between the two.

I know I am going to make a lot of people mad at me for this. I know a lot of people won’t agree with me, but it’s my opinion for one, and I know what I saw during that race. If the roles were reversed and Brad had done to Carl what Carl did to Brad, I wouldn’t be very happy with Brad - I would feel what I feel right now.

I know NASCAR won’t fine Carl for this, but in a way I hope they do. Maybe it will open Carl’s eyes and he will see that wrecking people like he does to Brad is wrong and very uncalled for.

I hope someone sees my point of view and understands how I feel on this whole thing. Truly what Carl did was wrong, and Brad walked away again unharmed, but next time Brad or someone else may not be OK. I hope who all read this understand that they don’t have to agree with me.

Racing is racing, and in racing there is wrecking and crashes. However, there are some crashes that could be avoided - and Saturday's crash was one of them.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

___________________________
Photo: Coming to the checkered flag, Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski tangle in the battle for the victory during Saturday's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. (Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)

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Is Edwards Really to Blame for Last Lap Wreck?

Commentators were unsure, teams were angry, and fans were thrilled. After tonight's Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway, even NASCAR is unsure of whether the last-lap incident was intentional or just hard racing.

It seems that tonight's altercation went beyond just NASCAR and its fans as Carl Edwards was the number one trending topic on twitter.com--which I personally have never seen. As I was reading tweets about Carl and the incident, I realized most people either felt that Edwards did what was within his limitations in regards to NASCAR's rules--or they felt that Edwards had inadvertant plans to kill Keselowski. Brad's father, Bob, felt that the latter was true. I believe that Brad's father and fans have no right to blame Carl. Bob Keselowski made the comment that Carl nearly put Brad into the grandstands in Atlanta--but what about Talladega when Carl literally had pieces of his car fly into the grandstands? If Bob Keselowski wants to preach about safety and "killing" other drivers, he may want to direct his comments towards his son, Brad, as well.

The fact that fans can casually make comments about a professional racecar driver wanting to kill another is preposterous. No one driver wants to kill a colleague. Do they want to win races? Of course! The point of being involved in one of the most watched racing series in the world is to win races and win championships. If Brad had been nose to bumper with Carl leading coming out of turn 4, he wouldn't have budged. He may have made an even more controversial move, if you can imagine what that would be like.


If anything, Brad came out of turn 4 hot and trying to get everything he could--so he slid up and the back of his car slid against the left front of Edward's nose, sending Keselowski sailing--and Edwards to the front. It was the end of the race, it was to be expected. But no fan, no commentator, no driver could have expected the brief race on the front-stretch to the checkered flag to be so divided and controversial.


Tonight's incident would have been minute if the incident had happened further back in the pack instead of being at the very front. I've heard people say that the hit Keselowski took was what made Carl's controversial move "bad." Was that not the exact case last fall at Talladega? Not only did Keselowski take Edwards out, Ryan Newman got the brunt of it as well. There were drivers who were innocent bystanders in tonights race which made the incident all the more "horrific," but don't forget about last fall. In my mind, last fall was more horrific, considering fans were injured in the process. Atlanta was between Edwards and Keselowski, and although that was pure pay-back for Talladega--the fact that no fans or other drivers were involved was a blessing.

The incident at Talladega left Edward fans

in shock, and others notice Keselowski.

I will admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Keselowski--and am quite the ed-head... but putting my personal feelings aside, I will say that I think Carl's last-lap move was half desperation to win, and half payback for Keselowski's nudge on the prior turn. Everyone knows of the prior Edward/Keselowski incidents--first at Talladega, and then payback at Atlanta. I believe that both drivers put their differences aside following the horrific accident at Atlanta where Edwards intentionally wrecked Keselowski and sent him into the air. Of course this was prior to the spoiler being re-introduced into NASCAR... but nonetheless both Edwards and Keselowski have been sent sailing into the air by one another.

Carl's move was a black or white move. There was no gray area in it. He abided by the rules put before him and then got scolded. If NASCAR penalizes him for the incident, they will be setting a horrible precedent for races to come. Dave Burns, Rusty Wallace, and Ricky Craven, the commentators in the booth for the Nationwide Race, were unsure of whether or not the incident would be perceived as NASCAR getting back to it's roots, or just dirty driving. Some may say that in the past, Carl has made some dirty moves--but what driver hasn't? Earnhardt was known for his "Intimidator" persona, and applauded for it. Guys like Stewart and Harvick are known for their no bull attitude on and off the track... but they all do it within NASCAR's ruling.


There is no doubt that Carl is not 100% right in every move he makes on the race track, but is it not obvious that neither is Brad? The Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway was definitely a race fans will remember, but if NASCAR were to deprive Edwards of the win or points, they would be going against everything they've been preaching since February; Pre-Daytona 500 and Pre-Budweiser Shootout. By letting the boys race, you're giving them free reigns to make last-minute decisive moves such as the one that was made tonight. NASCAR was made famous because of the 1979 Daytona 500 fight--and for all we know, tonight's drama could be the next big incident to publicize why NASCAR racing is as intense as it is. And as with all other sports--by Wednesday, Keselowski and Edwards could have buried the hatchet.

The opinions in this article are of the author and do not reflect upon Skirts & Scuffs or other contributors.
Photo Courtesy NASCAR.com, Sports Illustrated, and PitRoadScene.com

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Carl Edwards named to President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

NASCAR driver one of 16 individuals chosen by President Obama to be on special panel

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 23, 2010) – First Lady Michelle Obama joined kids from the Washington, D.C. area Wednesday to launch the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and introduce the 2010 Council co-chairs and members.  

In conjunction with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, this year President Obama has broadened the scope of the Council, formerly known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, to include a focus on healthy eating as well as active lifestyles. Yesterday, the President signed an Executive Order outlining the Council’s new emphasis on both good nutrition and physical fitness.


The President has named Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympian and former U.S. national champion in women’s gymnastics, 2010 Council Co-Chairs.  Dawes delivered remarks at the event and Brees recorded a video message that was shown there.
Council Executive Director, Shellie Pfohl, was also in attendance. Joining Dawes and Pfohl at the event were 2010 council members Dan Barber, Tedy Bruschi, Allyson Felix, Michelle Kwan, Curtis Pride, Donna Richardson Joyner, Dr. Ian Smith, Cornell McClellan, Dr. Stephen McDonough and Carl Edwards. 

"It's a group that I'm honored to be a part of,” Edwards said. “I look forward to working with the Council, the President and First Lady to help kids better understand the importance and the fun of being fit and eating well."

Following the announcement, the First Lady, Pfohl and the council members joined the kids in participating in a series of activity stations.

“This year we’re expanding the work of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to include not just a focus on active lifestyles, but on healthy eating, too," Mrs. Obama said. “The Council will play an important role in our effort to help combat childhood obesity in this country and I am grateful to the athletes, chefs, doctors and nutrition experts who are volunteering their time on the Council to help make a difference.”

"This Council, as I said, is made up of everyone -- chefs, doctors, health experts, personal trainers," Mrs. Obama said.  "We’ve got our Olympic gold medalists.  We’ve got a NASCAR driver.  We’ve got NBA all-stars, tennis legends.  We’ve got it all because we know in the end, kids listen to these heroes in so many ways."

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition is a committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about opportunities to develop accessible, affordable and sustainable physical activity, fitness, sports and nutrition programs for all Americans regardless of age, background or ability. The Council’s mission is to engage, educate and empower all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition.  For more information about the Council and its members, visit www.fitness.gov.

In addition to its presidential advisory role, the Council promotes and maintains the President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards program (President’s Challenge) which encourages all Americans to include physical activity – 30 minutes per day for adults and 60 minutes per day for youth – in their daily lives.  For more information about the President’s Challenge programs, visit www.presidentschallenge.org.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition:

• Drew Brees, Appointee for Co-Chair, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Drew Brees is the 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.  During Mr. Brees’s nine year career, he has been elected to four Pro Bowls, named the 2004 Comeback player of the Year, a member of the 2006 All-Pro Team, the 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, the 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl XLIV Champion and MVP.  Mr. Brees and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 and have raised or committed more than $5.5 million to advance cancer research, care for cancer patients, and rebuild schools, parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields in New Orleans, San Diego, and the Purdue/West Lafayette, Indiana communities.  He attended Purdue University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the Krannert School of Management while lettering in football from 1997-2000.

• Dominique Dawes, Appointee for Co-Chair, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Dominique Dawes is an Olympic gymnast who competed in three Olympic Games and has a permanent place in the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. She was a member of the gold-medal-winning team at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where she also won a bronze medal in the floor exercise, becoming the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal. Now retired after dedicating 18 years to the sport, Ms. Dawes commits her time to motivational speaking, hosting gymnastics clinics, and serving as a spokesperson for several organizations that support the physical and emotional health of youth and women. She is an accomplished motivational speaker, speaking to audiences on topics focusing on leadership, teamwork, physical and emotional health, fitness and overcoming obstacles.

• Dan Barber, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Dan Barber is a New York-based chef and co-owner of Blue Hill restaurant where he features locally and sustainably grown foods. An advocate for local foods and good nutrition, Mr. Barber has addressed these issues through op-eds in the New York Times and articles in Gourmet, Saveur, and Food and Wine Magazine. His writing has appeared in the annual “Best Food Writing” anthology for the past five years. He has also teamed on projects with Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, and New York City’s Greenmarkets. In 2009, Time Magazine recognized him as one of the world’s most influential people of the year and he was named the top chef in America by the James Beard Foundation.

• Tedy Bruschi, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Tedy Bruschi is a former football player who spent 13 years playing for the NFL’s New England Patriots, claiming three Super Bowl rings. Mr. Bruschi is a spokesman for the American Heart Association and serves on the Board of Trustees of Partners Continuing Care.  He is a founder of Tedy’s Team, a foundation that aims to raise funds for stroke research, inspired by Mr. Bruschi’s own experience. A stroke after the 2005 season left Mr. Bruschi with partial paralysis and uncovered a congenital heart defect. After making a full recovery, he returned to form on the field, leading his team in tackles for two seasons after his recovery.  Mr. Bruschi played in the Pro Bowl in 2005 and twice won the Ed Block Courage Award, presented to those who are voted by their teammates to be role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. In 2006, he awarded with the Senator Paul E. Tsongas Award for Exemplary Public Service.

• Carl Edwards, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Carl Edwards is a championship NASCAR driver and currently in the top 10 in the overall standings for both the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. In the first 10 years of his career, Mr. Edwards has accumulated two NASCAR sanctioned track championships, three Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and more than 75 feature wins while racing on both dirt and pavement tracks across the country. In 2008, he won the Tag Heuer Top Racecar Driver of the Year Award, the NASCAR.COM Driver of the Year, and the National Motorsports Press Association voted him as the Richard Petty Driver of the Year.  He also supports charities including the Speedway Children’s Charities, Dream Factory, and Victory Junction Gang Camp.

• Allyson Felix, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Allyson Felix is an accomplished Olympic gold medal track and field sprint athlete who helped the U.S. women’s 4x400 meter relay team secure victory in the Beijing 2008 games. In the 200 meters, she is also a two-time Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World Outdoor champion, and a five-time USA Outdoor champion. When Ms. Felix won the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, she made history as the first woman to ever win three world 200-meter titles. She additionally has won two gold medals with the World Outdoor 4x400 meter relay team and another in the World Outdoor 4x100 meter relay. Ms. Felix’s speed helped her become the World Junior record holder in 2005 when she clocked 22.18 in the 200 meters as an 18-year old.

• Grant Hill, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Grant Hill is a professional basketball player with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. He has made seven appearances in the NBA All-Star Game and won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team. On the court, he is lauded as one of the best all-around players in the game, recognized for his skill and sportsmanship. He has won the NBA Sportsmanship Award three times, the only person to have received the honor more than once.  He and his wife, Tamia, are dedicated to multiple service organizations, including the Tamia & Grant Hill Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Grant and Tamia Hill Athletic Scholarship Endowment Fund.

• Billie Jean King, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Billie Jean King won 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon. She left a mark on the sport and the women’s movement during the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match, in which she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former number one player in the world.  Ms. King founded the Women’s Tennis Association, the Women’s Sports Foundation, and co-founded World TeamTennis, a co-ed professional tennis league. She was named a “Global Mentor for Gender Equality” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2008, received the NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award in 2009 for her contributions to improving higher education and intercollegiate athletics, and earlier this year was honored with the Beacon of Change Award from Major League Baseball. In August 2009, Ms. King was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor.

• Michelle Kwan, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Michelle Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.  She has won five world championships, nine U.S. national championships and silver and bronze Olympic medals.  In 2001 she received the Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in America and in 2003 she was awarded the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Woman of the Year.  Ms. Kwan currently serves as a public diplomacy envoy, an unpaid position with the U.S. State Department, charged with engaging young people in dialogue on social and educational issues. She is also pursuing a master’s in international affairs at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, having graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in international studies in 2008.

• Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey is the President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization devoted to improving health and health care. She is the first woman and the first African American to lead the $8 billion Foundation. Among its major efforts to improve the nation’s health, the Foundation has committed $500 million toward rolling back the epidemic of childhood obesity.  Before joining the foundation, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey was a leader in academic medicine, government service, and her medical specialty of geriatrics. During her tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, she served as a professor and the director of the University’s Institute on Aging. She also served as the deputy administrator of what is now the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and her M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. In 2009, Forbes named Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey one of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

• Cornell McClellan, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Cornell McClellan, the owner of Naturally Fit, Inc., is the fitness consultant and personal trainer for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. A black belt in Karate, Mr. McClellan has managed a youth fitness program and coached many young athletes in his more than 30-year health and wellness career. He has also helped train several weight lifting enthusiasts who earned the titles of Mr. Illinois, Mr. U.S.A., Mr. America and Mr. Universe. Additionally committed to good nutrition, Mr. McClellan educates clients about food and has served on the international board for Earth Save, an organization that promotes healthy eating choices and helps people transition toward healthy plant-based diets. He contributes weekly to the Chicago Sun-Times, writing on issues of health and physical fitness.

• Dr. Stephen McDonough, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Dr. Stephen McDonough has worked for 30 years as a pediatrician in North Dakota.  Dr. McDonough spent more than fifteen years in senior positions at the North Dakota Department of Health.  During his time at the Department of Health, Dr. McDonough led efforts to prevent smoking and combat childhood obesity in North Dakota.  A longtime faculty member at the University of North Dakota Medical School, he has also published articles in the New England Journal of Medicine and Pediatrics, authored a book on the history of public health in North Dakota, and worked for more than a decade with Boy Scouts of America. Dr. McDonough graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his pediatric residency at the University of Colorado in Denver.

• Chris Paul, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Chris Paul is a professional basketball player and team captain for the National Basketball Association’s New Orleans Hornets. In 2006, Mr. Paul was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006 and won an Olympic Gold Medal with the United States national basketball team. A native of Winston-Salem, NC and an All-American at Wake Forest University, Paul currently holds the NBA record for consecutive games with a steal (108). He was a 2008-2009 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and 2009-2010 Second Team selection. Off the court, Mr. Paul started the CP3 Foundation with his family in 2006 to support his philanthropic efforts in both Winston-Salem and New Orleans, which include refurbishing basketball courts and establishing scholarships.

• Curtis Pride, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Curtis Pride is the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and a retired Major League Baseball player.  In 1996 as a member of the Detroit Tigers, Mr. Pride became the first regular full-season deaf player in the modern history of major league baseball. At the close of his career in 2008, he had played 421 games, achieved a .250 career batting average, 20 home runs, and 82 runs batted in. Prior to his professional career, his athletic proficiency spanned several sports. In high school he was a member of the U.S. soccer team that participated in the Junior World Cup in Beijing. In college he played part-time professional baseball for the Mets organization while also attending the College of William and Mary as a four-year starting point guard in basketball. In addition to coaching, Mr. Pride is active in the community, particularly with his Together With Pride foundation which aids hearing impaired children.

• Donna Richardson Joyner, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Donna Richardson Joyner is a fitness instructor who has spent more than 20 years working to educate, empower, and energize children, women, and families about living healthy lifestyles. She has starred in more than 25 award-winning fitness videos, including “Sweating in the Spirit,” and “Body Gospel.” Ms. Richardson Joyner has served on the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Trustees, is an advisory board member for the Boys and Girls Club of America, and serves on the national advisory board of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity.  She has lectured and conducted wellness seminars at schools and community centers in more than 30 countries. In 2006 Ms. Richardson Joyner was inducted into the Fitness Hall of Fame and named by Essence Magazine as one of the 25 most inspiring women in America.

• Ian Smith, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Ian Smith is a prominent healthy-living advocate. He is best known for his promotion of the 50 Million Pound Challenge and his contributions to TV and radio programs including “Rachael Ray”, “The View”, “Celebrity Fit Club”, and HealthWatch. Dr. Smith is also the author of seven books which include three New York Times bestsellers on nutrition. He currently serves on the national advisory board for the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Smith attended Dartmouth Medical School before completing the last two years of his medical education at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. He received his master’s in science education from Teachers College of Columbia University and undergraduate degree from Harvard College.

PHOTO FROM NASCAR MEDIA

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Roush-Fenway and Pixar Team Up for Toy Story 3 Paint Scheme

COLUMBUS, Ga., June 16, 2010 – Aflac today announced the creation of a special Toy Story 3 paint scheme for the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion that will be driven by Carl Edwards at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 20.

The paint scheme reflects a collaboration between the Georgia-based insurance company and Disney^●Pixar, following the release of a television commercial using Pixar’s unique brand of animation. This marks the second time Aflac and Disney^●Pixar have worked together for cross-promotion.



The commercial features the Aflac Duck and movie characters from the anticipated summer blockbuster Toy Story 3 demonstrating how Aflac policies provide protection when life presents challenges. The ad, which began airing nationally on May 17, will be televised nationally on TNT during the race.

“Aflac is pleased to once again team up with Disney^●Pixar to help drive awareness for our brand and demonstrate the benefits of our products and services,” said Danny Fleishman, vice president of sponsorships and emerging markets at Aflac. “Whether on or off the track, life can be unpredictable, which is why Aflac offers policies to help keep you protected when you need it most.”


Toy Story 3 welcomes Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (voice of Tim Allen), and other characters back to the big screen as Andy prepares to depart for college and his loyal toys find themselves in daycare. The untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one and one for all as plans for the great escape get underway. A few new faces—some plastic, some plush—join the adventure, including iconic swinging bachelor and Barbie’s counterpart Ken (voice of Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voice of Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (voice of Ned Beatty).

The ad places the Aflac Duck in the daycare center with a narrator talking about how life can be difficult from time to time and how Aflac is there to protect you.

In May 2009, Aflac and Disney^●Pixar collaborated for the release of the summer blockbuster Up. To support the release, Aflac created a special Up paint scheme for the Southern 500 race at Darlington Speedway and hosted a VIP screening event for NASCAR families.


About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast.  For 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For four consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, and Forbes magazine named Aflac as America’s Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. In 2010, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the twelfth consecutive year and also included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the ninth time. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

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Another Opinion on the Harvick-Edwards Feud

It started with one comment and it snowballed from there. When NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick originally used the word, “fake” in talking to reporters about fellow driver Carl Edwards, the odds are good that he didn’t know what would come later. Now both fans and commentators are divided on the issue, some even calling him the new Tony Stewart.

Fans of Harvick recall the old days when Harvick ran his mouth off the track, but backed it up on the track. Remember the infamous fight between Harvick and Biffle in 2002 in Bristol? Or what about the incident with Ricky Rudd in 2003 at Richmond? Then there was the minor fight with Montoya in 2007 and of course more recently, his skirmish with Joey Logano. To us, this is one more example of “Happy” Harvick, the guy who was all smiles, but didn’t shy away from telling you exactly how he felt.

To others though, it’s a reason to hate him. Carl Edwards has more wins in the Cup Series (though he still needs to catch up in wins and championships in the Nationwide Series) and some might argue that he also has more fans. It definitely seems that way judging by the reactions and reports found in blogs.

The one thing people don’t realize is that Harvick and Edwards are very much alike. They both race hard on the track and aren’t afraid to push people out of the way; they just don’t agree on what comes later. Harvick isn’t above admitting that he did something intentionally and remember that he’s the only driver suspended for a Cup race based on something he did in another series. Edwards kind of takes the blame, sometimes, but then says he didn’t mean to do it.

For those on the Edwards side of the feud, remember that he didn’t have so many nice words himself. He did say (about Harvick), “I don’t like him” that his actions on the track were, “devious and underhanded and cowardly”. The next time Edwards smiles sweetly at the camera and plays the, “aw shucks” card, just remember that every action has a reaction.

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Image courtesy Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

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The Lugnut Report: Amid Controversy, Carl Edwards Finishes Top Ten at Bristol

What a week it has been for Carl Edwards.

Two weeks ago, Cousin Carl had the NASCAR world raging in debate after he intentionally spun Brad Keselowski, sending the No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge airborne. Edwards was subsequently put on probation for three races, and he and Keselowski seemed to put the controversy behind them.

However, with the ending of this rivalry came the ignition of one long left in the past. This past week Kevin Harvick told Bubba the Love Sponge on his radio program that he thought Edwards was "fake as hell". During his media center appearance on Friday, Harvick reiterated his feelings, saying of the Roush Fenway driver "you can't be the nice guy, you can't be the good guy, and you can't be the bully."

Edwards responded with a statement, saying he had "no respect" for Harvick and that "he's a bad person." The issues between the two began in 2008, after an incident in Talladega.

And all this before cars even hit the track on Friday.

On Saturday, after a more than forty minute meeting with NASCAR, Edwards qualified his Copart Ford fourth, and then put his Sprint Cup car 18th and ninth on the speed charts.

Edwards battled in the top five for the majority of the race, taking the lead from Kasey Kahne on lap 123, but lost the lead when he over shot his pit stop on lap 148. He would not lead again.

With the fourth place effort, Edwards remains 41 points ahead of Keselowski in Nationwide Series points standings.

Despite the noise he'd caused earlier in the week, Edwards had a fairly quiet Food City 500. Starting eight blah blah. He and Keselowski did, however, meet on lap 336 as they raced for 17th position, making sure to give each other enough room. Six laps later, Edwards received minor damage after Greg Biffle ran Mark Martin into the wall, causing the field to bottle neck.

In the end, Edwards finished sixth, and jumped seven spots to 13th in points.

Next week, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody's Pain Relief 500. The race starts at one P.M. Eastern time live on FOX.

Thanks to NASCAR on FOX, SBNation, and the USA Today for the information and quotes used in this post.

For more information on Carl Edwards, click here for his official website and here for his Facebook page. For Patti Rodisch's Lugnut Report on Casey Mears, click here.

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Why My Family Will Always Love Carl Edwards

Let me start off by saying I'm a Brad Keselowski fan. When Carl hit Brad in Atlanta, I was in a bit of a haze coming off a nap and thought I was dreaming and couldn't believe what happened. When I finally realized what really did happen, I was in shock. How could Carl Edwards, the sweetheart of NASCAR who just became a dad, do such a horrible thing? After rationalizing the action versus what happened (we all know it wasn't his intent to make Brad's car fly...), and looking back at his past actions and that racing will always have an element of payback, I got over it – sort of.

But Carl Edwards has a sentimental value in my family. And since this is a website by women and somewhat for women, I feel I can share my story with you.

I was already a NASCAR fan when I was living in Michigan when the August 2008 race was coming up. My mom, not much of a fan, wanted to visit for her birthday, which happened to be the weekend of the race. I told her she could either come to the race with me or come a different weekend. She said she was interested in experiencing a race and we went all out, booking a travel package with RaceTravel, staying in a hotel with other fans and getting garage passes.

At this time, she hadn't picked a driver but I was a Dale Jr. and Brad fan, decked out from head to toe. She didn't even have a smile on her face when we got to the track. But that all changed the moment we stepped out of car in the parking lot. The tailgating, the camaraderie, the different festivities in the fairgrounds … she loved it all. She bought a plain Michigan International Speedway shirt to not “brand” herself and wore a Bon Jovi hat.

We went into the garage, a first for the both of us. We saw all the haulers and drivers walked by us here and there. Then a driver walked towards us who didn't have much of a crowd around him. My mom asked who he was and I told her it was Carl Edwards. She said “he looks nice, I want his autograph.” So she went up to him and asked for an autograph. He said “sure, how are ya doin?” She felt like a rock star. At the end of our garage visit, she picked him as her driver. When we took our seats in the stands to watch the Nationwide race, she opened the program and found out they shared the same birthday. She said it was meant to be that he became her favorite.

He went on to win the race and do his back flip in front of us. Thanks to our passes and Michigan's rules, we were allowed in to Victory Lane to celebrate with my mom's new favorite driver. We drove back to the hotel and she couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had that day and how excited she was for the Cup race the next day. She hit up the Carl souvenir hauler and decked herself out in his then-sponsor Office Depot gear. Again we took our seats and watched Carl win the Sprint Cup race. My mom cheered as loud as she could. She left that weekend a changed woman – she was a NASCAR fan. More importantly, she was a Carl Edwards fan.

A few weeks later, I received a call that my mom had been rushed to the hospital back home and they didn't know what was wrong. I immediately flew back and would find out she had a brain tumor. It had been there for a while but went undiagnosed. She spent 16 long days in the hospital, going from floor to floor, different ICUs and in and out of consciousness and eventually had the tumor removed (it was benign, thank goodness). When she was awake, her one demand was the TV in her room carried the NASCAR races. She watched two races while in the hospital – one while in the ICU and one while in rehab.

Watching a NASCAR race while in the ICU is like having to watch it in the library. And what race did we get to watch there? Talladega Fall 08 – yes, the one with the Tony Stewart vs. Regan Smith ending. At this point, my mom's heart had been effected by the tumor and she couldn't really focus so I sat next to her and would tell her what was happening. I was like her private DW! In rehab, her roommate was a NASCAR fan and they both put on their TVs and felt like they had surround sound. At this point, she had already had the tumor removed and was going through some tough rehab days so the race kept her going.

She was finally released and I moved back home. Then was allowed to go back to work, during the offseason. One day, a few weeks after she went back, a package arrived for her from Roush Fenway Racing. It was a personalized autograph from Carl saying “To Fern, Feel Better, Thanks for being a fan, Carl Edwards.” See, what none of us knew was that when my mom was sick, my dad had written RFR about her situation and asked for a phone call. Obviously, they were in the heat of the Chase and couldn't do that, but the letter was enough. I had it framed for her as a reminder of what she lived through.

When the Vegas race rolled around in the beginning of 2009, she had managed to break her foot but that didn't keep her from running around the garage. She had a special moment with Carl in the garage but what really made her happy was getting to have a conversation with him right before the Nationwide race and him remembering her as being his “birthday twin.” (That's where the above picture comes from.) She said if she died that day, she had done everything she wanted. She doesn't even remember that race (honestly, neither do I...) because all she could think about was having met Carl.

On her next birthday, one year after she had visited me in Michigan, we had a surprise NASCAR-themed party, including a life-size cutout of Carl (he had a birthday hat for himself, too!), fake pit passes, and a cake with the picture of her and Carl on it, which she ate in her own “Victory Lane.” And as my surprise to her was a memorabilia piece from his MIS 08 win (one of those you can buy on nascar.com that include a piece of the tire). It not only a reminder of the race we shared, but it reminded her of the fact that she survived the year.

So I might get mad at Carl for hitting my favorite driver, but I can never be mad at him for giving my mom the strength to carry on during the hardest fight of her life. It sounds cheesy, but my mom's love for NASCAR – and her favorite driver – truly got her through that dark period of time. In the hospital, while recovering, and any bad day she still has … she looks at the picture of her and Carl or thinks back to that first day in the garage, and she is thankful for every day she has.

When I asked my mom if she was mad at Carl for hitting Brad last week, she said “I can't. I just can't.”

I want to dedicate this post to my mom, the strongest person I know.


Photo courtesy of Farrah Kaye.

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not reflect those of this site or its other contributors.

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