Free Republic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR will not suspend Carl Edwards for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski's car during last weekend's race at Atlanta. There had been a loud cry for NASCAR to punish Edwards for returning to the track Sunday after an earlier wreck with Keselowski and then deliberately causing a crash. The contact sent Keselowski's car flying into the air, and it bounced on its hood off a retaining wall. No one was injured. A person familiar with NASCAR's discussions said Edwards will not be suspended for his actions.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) -Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver. He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires. "We worked really hard, but we were never close,'' Earnhardt said of negotiations with DEI. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead.'' Earnhardt had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team...

BERLIN (AFP) - Seven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher of Germany has donated 10 million dollars to the victims of last week's Asian tsunamis, his manager Willi Weber said during a German telethon. "The dawning of the New Year has not been as joyful for us this year because of the catastrophe in Asia. We sympathise with the victims in their grief," Schumacher said. The death toll from the massive December 26 earthquake and resulting tidal waves around the Indian Ocean neared 146,000 Tuesday.