For illegal car, NASCAR should flip Edwards' Sin City win

NASCAR giveth and then NASCAR taketh away.

Everything that is ... except a victory.

Carl Edwards gets to keep his Vegas trophy? How is this possible? (AP)

Carl Edwards got a gift win in Las Vegas last week when rather than being penalized for a loose wheel during a crucial pit stop, NASCAR was in a benevolent mood.

Because one of Edwards' crew members was obstructed by a cameraman in the No. 99 pit box, NASCAR ruled no penalty for the errant tire that rolled away during the stop.

Such an occurrence usually is grounds for a one lap penalty, which would have taken Edwards out of contention for what turned out to be his second straight series win.

"I thought we were going to receive another penalty," said Edwards, who earlier in the race was sent to the rear of the field for another pit road miscue. "But NASCAR made a judgment call in our favor that I believe was the right one. I'm very grateful for them giving that to us."

Edwards' crew chief Bob Osborne was also relieved at the no-call.

"When you think you didn't actually break a rule, you have to keep a level head," said Osborne, who literally leaped off the pit box to argue the situation with a NASCAR official.

"I wanted to go ballistic and yell and scream and kick and punch and do whatever I had to do to get my way. But I kept a level head and NASCAR reviewed it."

And they made a mistake in doing so.

It is Osborne's job to run his pit box, not NASCAR's. While the cameraman was clearly where he should have been, Osborne or one of the No. 99's crew members should have been responsible for ensuring their work area was operable as the team readied for the pit stop.

There have been other occasions where tires have hit objects in and around a pit stall, rolled out across pit road and penalties were enforced.

Sunday's circumstances with Edwards were no different and the No. 99 should have been punished.