Edwards understanding after chat with NASCAR.

Carl Edwards had the pleasure of taking a trip to the infamous NASCAR hauler after Sunday's Bud Shootout at Daytona after disagreeing with the race organisers over whether or not he should have served a highly debatable drive through penalty.

Edwards, who finished Sunday's 70-lap sprint race in16th position, had already been penalised by NASCAR once during the race for passing a car below the yellow out of bounds line when he came up several cars ducking onto pit road half way through the final 50-lap segment. Travelling at full chat through turn four, Edwards instinctively jinked to the infield to go round the slowing vehicles before regaining the track and losing several positions to those cars who weren't pitting in the process.

However NASCAR still gave the driver of the #99 Roush Racing Ford a drive through penalty for passing below the yellow line, even though the cars he passed were heading to pit road, he actually lost positions on the track to those who weren't pitting and his only other option was to plough into the rear of the two cars pitting at some 190mph.

On being informed of the penalty over the team radio Edwards initially refused to come in, a conversation that was also broadcast to the TV viewers at home and while he did eventually take the penalty (and a third subsequent penalty for speeding on pit road), NASCAR still insisted that both he and his crew chief Bob Osborne take a trip to the hauler to discuss the matter.

When he emerged, Edwards was certainly in a far calmer state of mind.

"We just went over the tapes, I was just doing the best job I could do to avoid those guys hitting the brakes and pitting," said Edwards. "The sun was right in my eyes and everything and I felt like I was doing the best I could. I was real upset about the penalty and I didn't want to pull in.

"Anyway, NASCAR asked me to come up there and they spent a great amount of time and energy explaining to me their position. I totally understand their position. They understand my position. The call was made and we're just gonna go on. That's all we can do. I respect what they tried to explain to me and I know exactly what they're saying. I didn't see that at the time and almost got myself in real trouble by not pulling in.

"But Bob Osborne really asked me to pull in and after listening to the NASCAR guys explain to me what they're trying to avoid and trying to explain to me that I should be watching for guys pitting a little more carefully and be cautious on that portion of the race track, and the fact that it isn't a points race, they were a little more harsh on the penalty just trying to prove a point. I can understand that and I can respect that, so we'll just move on."