“I swear it was not an intentional thing,” Edwards said. “It doesn’t change what I’m gonna do; I just drive the race car as fast as I can. It’s not my responsibility to tighten that bolt.”
Earlier in the day, nearly every fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup driver or owner who was asked about the penalty condemned Edwards and his Roush Fenway team for intentionally loosening the lid.
“You can tell a lot about people by the way they act,” Edwards said. “People get worked up about it; we’ve got ‘em where we want ‘em. It’s not a big deal to me personally; it’s almost comical.”
For owner Jack Roush, it’s certainly not a laughing matter. While he wouldn’t rule out appealing the decision, he did say he’d made a certain peace with what had transpired.
“If NASCAR’s decided that your car is out of variance, regardless if you’re culpable or did it with intent, and then there’s a penalty … that’s fine, just do it every time,” Roush said.
UPS, TOYS FOR TOTS ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PROGRAM: UPS and Toys For Tots will launch a new Literacy Program, officials from both announced Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The mission of this new program is to give books to lower-income children in order to help them succeed in life.
David Reutimann, who will take over the No. 44 UPS Toyota later this month, will also pilot a special Toys For Tots paint scheme at the California race on Labor Day weekend.
“Women like to buy shoes; I like to buy helmets,” Reutimann said. “We get a new paint scheme and I get to buy a new helmet.”
As a father, though, Reutimann also recognizes the importance of the new Literacy Program.
“I think about the simple pleasure of sitting and reading to my daughter, and it’s said to think that some children don’t have that,” Reutimann said. “I’m glad we’re going to be able to give that to them and glad to be able to get a new helmet.”
OVERHEARD: One former NASCAR champion, when asked about the loose oil tank lid on Edwards’ car, quipped, “Nothing that comes loose ever hurts your car. Amazing, isn’t it?”