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Reaffirming its stance that drivers police themselves, NASCAR did not suspend or fine Carl Edwards for wrecking Brad Keselowski on Sunday at Atlanta.

Instead, NASCAR placed Edwards on probation Tuesday for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup races. NASCAR also plans to meet with Edwards and Keselowski sometime before the March 21 Cup race at Bristol.

NASCAR President Mike Helton suggested that no further penalties were needed after officials parked Edwards for causing the incident that sent Keselowski's car airborne and met with Edwards after the race.

"We made it very clear to him 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, referring to the sport's unofficial motto of "Boys have at it."

Even so, not all drivers seemed convinced.

Kevin Harvick wrote on Twitter: "Huh! Surprised by the penalty or lack there of ... "

Clint Bowyer, participating at a tire test at Darlington, told The Associated Press: "I think there's a too far in everything and (the incident) was too far. Bottom line. Simple as that. That was a pretty scary incident that could've been a lot worse."

Robby Gordon on Twitter: "Just heard the news. I wonder what would of happened to me in that situation? Hmmm someone playing favorites? :)"

NASCAR parked Gordon for a race at Pocono in 2007 for disobeying their directives the day before in a Nationwide event at Montreal.

Keselowski, though, backed NASCAR's decision even after suggesting Sunday that officials should suspend Edwards.

"I support NASCAR in the decision they communicated today," Keselowski said in a statement issued by Penske Racing. "They are not in an enviable position when it comes to these matters, but they do an outstanding job. The unfortunate part about what happened on Sunday is that it has overshadowed a win by (teammate Kurt Busch) and an overall solid performance by Penske Racing at Atlanta.

"Hopefully we can move past this and get ready for Bristol. It is a track where Penske Racing has had a lot of success in the past. I feel 100 percent and I am looking forward to getting back to competition."

NASCAR's decision, though, could enhance a wild-west image with drivers allowed greater leeway in exacting revenge for previous incidents. The series races next at Bristol, Martinsville and Phoenix — all tracks 1 mile or less in length where bumping and beating is more likely.

So, where is the line when NASCAR has to step in after an incident?

"I think we see it when we see it," Helton said. "And us stepping in to maintain law and order isn't always just a result of a penalty being issued or a public reaction from us. There are a lot of things that we do behind the scenes with owners and drivers to balance these type of things out."

Helton stressed concern for Keselowski's car getting airborne at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway — a rarity at such similar-sized tracks.

"That's something that is very important to us and we want to study very closely to figure out things that we can do to help prevent this very quickly in the future," he said.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com