Carl Edwards on Top, For Now . . .

For the first time in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career, Carl Edwards is sitting atop the Championship Point Standings. But don't get too excited Edward fans. This could be one of the shortest reigns, as his #99 Ford Fusion failed to pass post race inspection following last Sunday's UAW-Dodge 400. The crime, a loose fitting oil reserve cap. It may not sound like a big deal, but NASCAR handed down some stiff penalties to several Nationwide teams for similar violations after the Camping World 300 at Daytona two weeks earlier. Those penalties threatened hefty point deductions and six week suspensions for the offending crew chiefs. In Edwards's case, he will likely keep the win, but could lose 25 championship points, dropping him back to second place behind Kyle Busch. The good news, late Tuesday afternoon NASCAR amended the Nationwide penalties, reducing some of the sentences by four weeks. Can Edwards afford to lose Bob Osborne even for a week and still have a shot at the title? Can you say Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus? Finally, a very big tip of the cap to Mark Martin. No, not for extending the mark for all-time Nationwide Series wins to 48 in Las Vegas last weekend. Equally impressive was the class he exhibited in victory lane. In the final laps of the Sam's Club 300 Martin got a run on Carl Edwards on the low groove, sending Edwards up the track and into fellow JR Motorsport teammate, rookie Brad Keselowski. The crash took both Edwards and Keselowski, who was vying for his first Nationwide win, out of contention. Martin fought off Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer to take the checkered flag, but this victory wasn't as sweet. Immediately upon exiting his car, before he could celebrate, Martin said he needed to apologize for not getting out of the gas and wrecking the two front runners. The Tony Stewarts of NASCAR could certainly learn a lesson in manners from the likes of Mark Martin.