Overaggressive Carl Edwards sorry for pushing Kasey Kahne into wall

Contact between Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards ended Kahne’s bid for victory and Edwards’ strong run in the Kobalt 400 Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The two were racing for position when Edwards squeezed Kahne into the wall off Turn 1. An unrelenting Kahne stayed alongside Edwards entering Turn 1 where Kahne then moved up and into Edwards, who spun.

Both drivers sustained damage with Edwards suffering the most significant damage. He went to the garage for repairs and finished 42nd. Kahne, who was one of the few to keep pace with eventual winner Kevin Harvick, fell a lap down and ended 17th.

“(Edwards) just stayed in the gas,” Kahne said. “We just needed a full another car worth of racing room there, and [he] just plowed us into the wall. That was discouraging.”

After the race Edwards sought Kahne out to apologize for the initial contact. Edwards admitted he should have been more patient, but was excited about racing up front. Las Vegas was just his third race with Joe Gibbs Racing after making a high-profile switch from Roush Fenway Racing over the offseason.

“I was being too aggressive on that restart,” Edwards said. “Kasey got on the outside of me and he got just the right position. I started to slide up and I should have backed out of it way earlier. That’s completely my fault and that’s what ruined our day.

“I feel bad for Kasey Kahne’s team. That’s not something I normally do, so I have to make it up to everybody next week at Phoenix.”

But while Edwards was apologetic, Kahne still wasn’t pleased.

“Carl just came down and just apologized and said he feels like he hasn’t done that before to anyone,” Kahne said. “He just never lifted and run me just right into the wall and ruined his day as well. He just apologized for that.”