Carl Edwards has been penalized 100 championship points for an infraction, as the #99 car failed the post-race inspection after his recent victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In addition to the 100-point docking, Edwards would also lose the 10 bonus points that he would have received if qualifying as a part of the Top 12 come the time of the Cup Chase. The 10 point bonus, often lost in the discussion of this penalty, likely will be much more painful for Edwards and the #99 team.

Still, I ask you this...

Would Dale Earnhardt Jr. have been fined 100 points for this infraction? Would Jimmie Johnson have been fined 100 points? How about Jeff Gordan? Tony Stewart perhaps?

Well?

Sure, Carl Edwards is a solid contributor in NASCAR, but I don't consider him as high profile as the aforementioned quartet, and therefore not a make-or-break necessity for the Cup Chase at the end of the year... at least from an executive's standpoint. Honestly, if you want to see back flips, you can go and check out a gymnastics meet on TV. Heck, the Olympics are coming soon. Seriously though, if you're in the France family, you want to maximize your ratings come Chase time. If that's what you seek, then you want the attention grabbers like Earnhardt Jr., Johnson, Gordon, and Stewart as a part of the Top 12.

From what I've read in the media recently, it's no secret that NASCAR's ratings and popularity have dropped in recent years, and there is desperate hope to try and rejuvenate the sport, starting this year. It's also no secret that NASCAR was hurting for ratings when Earnhardt Jr. didn't make the Cup Chase Top 12 last year. Considering he is the most popular driver in the sport, that ratings dip makes a lot of sense.

Because of that point alone, it also makes sense that NASCAR would tend to go a little easier on its higher profile "superstars", that being Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, Stewart, and Johnson.

Put the consistencies of the past penalties aside. Put all those numbers and thoughts aside. It all comes down to ratings and saving the sport.

Therefore, I ask you again, would we have seen such a stiff penalty at the hands of one of the sport's biggest names?

I don't think so. Maybe 25 or 50 points (instead of 100), but certainly not the 10 point Cup Chase bonus. Let's face it, every sport is guilty of coddling its superstars, because after all, their successes aid in preserving the sport, while also helping it flourish.

Think about it.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Tim Duncan... you don't think they get a few calls go their way on a regular basis? Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols... you don't think they get a wider strike zone than most "Average Joe's" stepping up to the plate? Johan Santana, Josh Beckett, and Mariano Rivera... you don't think guys like them get the benefit of the doubt when a ball hits near the outside corner?

Let's not kid ourselves.

No one is disputing the fact that Carl Edwards and his team were guilty, and the #99 team definitely deserved some kind of slap on the wrist after failing to pass the post-race inspection.

Still, from what I've seen in the past, I still think 100 championship points (plus the 10 point Chase bonus) is a smidge too steep... and I think that perhaps one of the sport's superstars wouldn't see anything near this kind of penalty.

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it isn't. I will say this, it wouldn't be a shock to my system if it was just me, because I'm still absorbing in a great deal of the NASCAR world. Consider me a rookie to the circuit, if you will. Therefore, if I'm as nuts as a Planters farm, I wouldn't be surprised. It's just that being a hardcore sports guy, I still hear about NASCAR... and I know who the more popular racers are.

When it all comes down to it, the news of the latest NASCAR penalty didn't make me want to do a back flip. That much is true.