Carl Edwards raises a red flag on NASCAR team orders

Carl Edwards

There are no team orders in NASCAR. At least that is what everyone says publicly.

Then what are they?

Suggestions? Bullet points? Procedures?

There has to be something, because what else possibly could lead Carl Edwards to conclude that Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle – who was leading – was expected to drop back 20-plus car lengths with 35 of 200 laps left in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Michigan to help clean debris from the grille of Edwards’ car?

I seriously doubt Edwards came up with the idea himself.

In fact, immediately after the race, when asked why he was mad Biffle elected not to help, Edwards told The Sporting News, “It’s his job to help me."

Clearly, the idea that Biffle should be expected to help in that situation was ingrained in Edwards’ thinking.

Both drivers have worked for Jack Roush for several years. Roush adamantly proclaimed after the race, “There are no team orders," and said he agreed Edwards should not have expected Biffle to help in that situation.

Yet Edwards clearly thought so.

Such a move seems ridiculous on the surface. Biffle, who had yet to win this season, held a large lead as the race was drawing to a close. Why would he possibly want to give up that lead to anyone, including a teammate?

Yet Edwards clearly thought he should.

There might not be team orders, but Sunday teammates were on opposite sides of something. A Policy? Edict? Telepathic suggestion?

Whatever it is, it isn’t anything that should be found in NASCAR. Thatsracin.com