Speeding In The Pits: 2011 Year In Review: Carl Edwards' Penalties

Monday, December 19, 2011

2011 Year In Review: Carl Edwards' Penalties

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Carl Edwards came so close to winning the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup. As close as any driver could come to winning it. For now and perhaps forever, Edwards will be recognized as the driver who came the closest to winning the Sprint Cup. Certainly there is no dishonor in finishing second, especially when the guy who beat you was Tony Stewart, but Carl Edwards would likely be the first to tell you second place is nothing like first place.

Edwards scored just one win in 2011, surprising given how strong he ran all year long, particularly in the final 10 races. Edwards and his Aflac Ford race team scored their only victory of the year in the third race of the year at Las Vegas in the Kobalt Tools 400. Despite having one win in 2011, Edwards posted mind boggling stats. The Roush Racing driver posted 19 top 5s and 26 top 10s, had an average starting spot of 9.4 and an average finish of 9.3. Edwards' worst finish in the Chase was 11th and he rounded out the season with three straight second place finishes. In almost any other year, Edwards would have won the Sprint Cup handily. 2011 just wasn't his year.

Edwards and his crew only had one penalty all year long but it proved to be a major factor in determining who would be 2011 Sprint Cup champion. Edwards was dominant in the AAA 400 until he was caught speeding in the pits by NASCAR under green flag conditions at the race's halfway point. Edwards had to serve a drive through penalty under green, costing him major track position. While Edwards was able to recover and finish third, it's very possible that he would have won the race had he not lost valuable track position due to the penalty. If Edwards had even placed second in the event, it would have been enough for him to take the 2011 title.

2011 Statistics For Carl Edwards
Second in Sprint Cup standings
1 win (Kobalt Tools 400)
19 top 5s
26 top 10s
903 laps led

Penalty Report For Carl Edwards
Race 1 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 2 - Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
Race 20 - Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Race 29 - Speed-Exiting pits, Pass Thru

Penalty Color Key

Pink - Pre-race Penalty
Orange - Penalty For Pitting Before Pit Road Is Open/Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area
Red - Driver Induced Penalty
Green - Pit Crew Induced Penalty
White - Verbal Abuse Toward Official/Safety Violation

Red, green and white designated penalties are considered to be "serious" penalties as they have a more significant affect on the outcome of a driver and team's finish than pink and orange designated penalties.

Please note that NASCAR does not have different designations for penalties. The color designation is for the purpose of this website only.

NASCAR's Race Penalty Procedures

* Driver change before start of the race
PENALTY: Start at the tail of the field

* Use of a backup car after qualifications
PENALTY: Start at the tail of the field

* Engine and/or transmission change after qualifications
PENALTY: Start at the tail of the field

* Adjustments made to car after impound
PENALTY: Start at the tail of the field

* Miss driver's meeting/driver introductions

PENALTY: Start at the tail of the field

* Impeding a competitor during qualifying
PENALTY: Qualifying lap disallowed

* Pitting before Pit Road is open
PENALTY: Restart at the tail of the field

* Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Pitting out of order
PENALTY: Restart at the tail of the field

* Car must enter pit road in single file
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Speeding - Entering/Exiting pits
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* All passing on pit road must be to the outside on entry
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Driving through more than 3 pit boxes
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Car pitting out of the assigned pit box
PENALTY: 1 lap

* Crew member interfering with another team's pit stop
PENALTY: NASCAR Discresion

* Running the stop & go sign/light
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Going above the blend line exiting the pits
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Passing the caution car/truck
PENALTY: 1 lap

* Pulling up to pit (drivers must maintain position in relation to field or face penalty)
PENALTY 1 lap

* Jumping the start/restart
PENALTY: Pass through pits

* Passing after turn three (3) on "One to Go''
PENALTY: Pass through pits

* Passing on a start or restart (before start/finish line)
PENALTY: Pass through pits

* Disobeying NASCAR request
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Intentionally causing a caution
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Disobeying Black Flag
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Commitment Line Violation
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Passing under the double yellow line (at Daytona or Talladega)
PENALTY: Must pass through pits

* Blocking a driver under the yellow line (at Daytona or Talladega)
PENALTY: Must pass through pits

* Disqualification of qualifying time
PENALTY: Start at tail of the field

* Use of extension poles are limited/not self illuminated
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Crew member(s) over the wall too soon
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Crew member(s) returning from equipment side of wall
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Front air wrench must be carried back to pit wall side of car
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Using more than two (2) air wrenches during one pit stop
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Non-Compliant refueling
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Tossing or throwing the fuel filler/equipment
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Tire violation-Removing outside tire acceptable/Rolling a tire(s) beyond the center of pit road
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Unapproved adjustment to car
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Removing equipment from assigned pit area
PENALTY: Stop and Go

* Running over/under equipment
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Hand pushing car more than 3 pit boxes
PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow

* Refueling car before the affected car receives the green flag on the race track or does not complete the designated race distance (competition yellow)
PENALTY: Minimum 1 lap

* Verbal abuse to a NASCAR official
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion

* Safety violation
PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion