Is anyone else absolutely baffled by Carl Edwards threat to HIT his teammate on Sunday? Not only to hit him...but to hit him after interrupting a television interview that was being conducted between Kenseth and Speed TV by pushing kenseth away from the interview to confront him. And then, instead of walking away from what was already an embarrassing situation, he turned and threatened to pop kenseth in the kisser...also caught on TV.

Shocking? Just a bit. unheard of? Not for Edwards.

It was only a year ago at Michigan when Edwards imposed his muscular self in victory lane after Dale Junior won a Busch race in a face off with Edwards that Carl too exception to. Edwards, who had no place being in victory lane in the first place unless he was coming to congratulate Junior, not only came in to the celebration, he started poking Junior in the chest, and actually grabbed him by the uniform.

Carl really needs to take a step back and look at what is happening. Everyone knows how muscular he is, and what good shape he is in. He's been portrayed as the "good old boy" from the midwest, with the goofy smile and "gee golly" attitude.

But getting pissed and threatening to punch not one but TWO drivers is stepping out of line.

In a teleconference today, Edwards tried to apologize.

"The atmosphere at Roush Fenway Racing is tough. It is really important that I let everyone know what happened after the race. First of all, I was wrong to show my anger and put on an aggressive display towards Matt kenseth. I want to apologize to my fans, to Matt, to Roush. What i did was wrong. I read an article by Jenna Fryer this morning, and she was exactly right. We don't have a good team atmosphere at Roush. What happened Sunday was not just a one day incident. As a team we need to work better together. I have won three races this year, and when I win, I have people calling me, they just arent the right people. I have Jimmie Johnson calling me, but not my teammates. but I admit, I am just as guilty as they are. I feel bad about what I did. I think we have gotten off what is important lately, and I know for me personally, I want to get back on track."

Maybe we have gotten spoiled by thinking teammates are supposed to get along. Jimmie-Jeff-Casey BFF feeling permeats at HMS. Truex and Junior have been great pals for years, with Truex actually renting a room from Junior when he was driving for his Busch Championships. Back when Michael Waltrip and Steve Park drove for DEI, they all seemed to get along just fine with Junior....better even, apparently, than Junior did with his own cousin some days.

But strife isn't all that uncommon in NASCAR. Look at Rusty Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield.  Or Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman. (wait, I see a trend...) Dale Senior and Mike Skinner weren't best buds when both ran for RCR.

That said, it is usual to see teammates threatening to do physical harm to each other out of the car. And to do so on national television is not only embarrasing to the person initiating the conflict, but to the team he represents.

On Inside Nextel Cup Monday night, Fellow Roush Fenway driver (and Newlywed) Greg Biffle made it clear he was not impressed by his teammate or his actions.  Biff pretty much threw Carl under the bus, saying it was Carl who started the problem by door slamming Matt and then pushing him into the wall, and if he wants to dish it out he has to be able to take it when Matt taps him to move him out of the way. He then said "I think the true colors are coming out....It doesn't look good for all the fans wearing the Carl Edwards 99 shirts...maybe they need to second guess...you know?"

Sounds like Greg has no love for Carl.

Even Kenny Schrader said "They need to sit down and get over...Carl didn't handle that right at all".

Not that I have ever claimed to be a fan of Carls, but I have lost a whole lot of respect for him this week. If you have a beef with a teammate, don't air your dirty laundry for the NASCAR world to see. Take it behind closed doors and hash it out. Showing there is strife in your ranks, especially when you belong to one of the most recognizable teams in NASCAR, is not only unprofessional, it is just plain uncool.

Ii am not so hypocritical to think that these guys are perfect and don't have their issues between each other. I say a little strife can be good. But it was the way it was handled...both confrontationis were handled...that I see as unprofessional. And uncalled for. At this rate, Carl is going to gie Tony Stewart a run for the "Bad boy of NASCAR" title...and no amount of Opie-esque smiles and "yes ma'am" and :no sirs" can forgive threatening to punch a man on national teleision.

You have talent as a driver. Don't let your anger overshadow what you can do on the track.