NASCAR apologizes for mistake

Elwood · May 27, 2004

NASCAR apologizes for mistake in truck race

May 26, 2004

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR apologized to driver Carl Edwards and team owner Jack Roush for unintentionally turning on the caution lights at Lowe's Motor Speedway last Friday, costing Edwards a victory in the truck race.

Edwards slowed down, giving up the lead to eventual winner Dennis Setzer, after he saw the caution lights blink on four laps from the end of the race.

``We made a mistake on this one,'' Wayne Auton, director of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, said Wednesday. ``It is regrettable and we're doing everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen again.''

But Auton said the official results will stand.

Edwards said he understands NASCAR officials have a tough job and accepts the decision.

``I have personally seen how much goes on and how fast decisions must be made by race control officials,'' Edwards said. ``They made a mistake in the heat of the moment that turned out to be a critical one for me and I lost a race on account of the mistake.

``I appreciate that they accepted responsibility for the mistake in a public way.''

Edwards appeared to be headed for an easy win when he passed Setzer for the lead with six laps remaining and began pulling away. On lap 130 of the 134-lap Infineon 200, as he headed down the backstretch on the 1 1/2 -mile oval, Edwards pulled toward the inside and slowed enough for Setzer to power by on the outside.

The damaged truck of Chad Chaffin was moving slowly back to the pits on the bottom of the banked track, and several drivers reported seeing the caution lights blink on momentarily. Edwards got back up to speed quickly, but lost the race to Setzer by about 10 car-lengths.

Confirmation that the lights had blinked on did not come until NASCAR reviewed in-car camera footage that became available Monday. Officials concluded the switch that controls the lights from the flagman's stand was momentarily triggered.

Waltrip and Schrader had both already come out and said that they saw the lights come on. Glad to see NASCAR stepped up admitted it. But alot of good it does Edwards, they can't go back and change it, so he still gets second and nothing changes. I would be ticked.