Daytona Beach, FL (Best E Casino) - Carl Edwards avoided suspension but received a three-race probation period from NASCAR after intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski in last Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR President Mike Helton addressed the seriousness of the Edwards- Keselowski incident, in which Keselowski's car went flying upside down into the frontstretch wall after Edwards deliberately hit him from behind in the closing laps at Atlanta. Helton also said NASCAR officials had several discussions internally as well as conversations with the stakeholders of the situation, including team owners Jack Roush (Edwards) and Roger Penske (Keselowski), before making their decision to place Edwards on probation for the upcoming races at Bristol, Martinsville and Phoenix.

Edwards was neither fined nor penalized with a points loss for the incident.

Both drivers had an earlier encounter at Atlanta when Keselowski clipped Edwards and shot him up the track, sending him and Joey Logano into the wall. Edwards spent more than 150 laps in the garage for repairs, but retaliated shortly after he returned to the track.

NASCAR took action immediately when they parked Edwards and ordered him to the sanctioning body's hauler for a discussion on the matter.

"We made it very clear to [Edwards] that these actions were not acceptable and did go beyond what we said back in January about putting the driving back in the hands of the drivers," Helton said. "I believe [Edwards] understands our position at this point."

Prior to the start of the 2010 season, NASCAR essentially told Sprint Cup Series drivers, "Boys, have at it and have a good time." NASCAR adopted a more hands-off policy.

"We were willing to put more responsibility in the hands of the drivers, but there is a line you can cross, and we will step in to maintain law and order when we think that line is crossed," Helton added.

NASCAR does plan to meet with both drivers and team owners next week at Bristol to resolve the latest in an on-going feud between Edwards and Keselowski.

The issues between the two began last April when Keselowski hit Edwards from behind on the final lap at Talladega. While Keselowski drove on to his first Sprint Cup victory, Edwards' car spun and then sailed into the safety fence along the frontstretch. Eight race fans sustained minor injuries after being struck by debris from his car.

Later in the season, both drivers tangled in a Nationwide Series race at Memphis, with Keselowski turning Edwards around in the closing laps.