Notebook: Sunday off relieves the tension

            Wonder what the effect of an off week is on the Conflict of Carl and Kez?

            To recap briefly, Carl Edwards drew a lenient judge – or at least NASCAR was in a lenient mood – after he intentionally wrecked Brad Keselowski near the end of the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 7 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The main difference between three races’ probation in NASCAR and probation in the real world is that Edwards isn’t going to have to check in with his parole officer.

            But, if Bristol’s Food City 500 was Sunday and not a week away, then the pressure, particularly on Edwards, would be intense. It won’t be tepid when Edwards and Keselowski arrive at NASCAR’s most frantic track.

            But the world can’t fixate on this forever.

            Can it?

            What else? The Atlanta tire controversy, largely obscured by Edwards and Keselowski (not to mention NASCAR), will die down at least until the next time tire failures plague a race. It varies track-to-track and is unlikely to recur at Bristol.

            Bristol Motor Speedway has narrowed its surface – three feet are significant at tight tracks like Bristol and Darlington – to accommodate additional SAFER barriers. Most drivers seem to think it will require some adjustment but don’t seem overly concerned.

            Most expect NASCAR to replace wings with spoilers on the rear of the Sprint Cup cars at Martinsville on March 28. The effect will be minimal at the Virginia short track … and if the change somehow affects the balance of power, it might not be detectable until Texas on April 18.

            Thumping the tub -- Speaking of Texas Motor Speedway, opportunistic president and general manager Eddie Gossage has attempted to use the Edwards-Keselowski incident to boost ticket sales.

            Billboards started appearing in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with depictions of the Atlanta crash accompanied with the slogan “have at it, boys!” and an “approved” stamp.

            This may shed some light on Gossage’s sympathetic view of Edwards’ light sentence from NASCAR.

            Home office -- Rick Humphrey, once a Gazette staffer, has been promoted to new duties at International Speedway Corporation.

            Formerly president of Talladega Superspeedway, Humphrey, 41, will become Managing Director of Business Operations at ISC, working under Joie Chitwood III. The new job description lists Humphrey as “responsible for driving operational excellence across all ISC race tracks …”

You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.