Edwards, Busch placed on probation

Aug 27, 2008 - 6:08 PM DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Ticker) -- Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch clearly do not like each other. But the NASCAR stars will have to be on their best behavior over the next six weeks.

NASCAR penalized both Edwards and Busch - the top two drivers in the Sprint Cup standings - on Wednesday, placing them on probation for the next six races.

The penalties were levied four days after the drivers exchanged post-race bumps following the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, a race Edwards won by passing Busch with 31 laps remaining.

The race was not a typical Bristol demolition derby, but turned into one after Edwards and Busch crossed the finish line.

An agitated Busch hit the Ford of Edwards, who immediately retaliated, turning Busch's Toyota. Busch attempted to get back at Edwards, but NASCAR officials waved him to pit road.

"They keep talking about a rivalry," Edwards said after climbing within 215 points of Busch in the series standings. "We might have one."

Edwards took the lead for good courtesy of a bump-and-run move past Busch, who had led for 415 consecutive laps and was forced to scramble back for second place.

"That's one of those deals where I couldn't get by him and I couldn't get by him," Edwards said Saturday. "I just had to ask myself, 'Would he do that to me?' And he has before, so that's the way it goes.

"In the back of my mind, all I could think about was Richmond in a Nationwide race when he was trying to get through the field and he piledrove me. That's just the way it is. It's just racing."

Busch, who has dominated the Cup series with eight victories this season, did not agree with Edwards' explanation.

"Carl is gonna apologize the way Carl always does, Mr. Ed-like," Busch said. "We'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants to race."

The probation will begin at this Sunday's Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. The Chase begins September 14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.