IRMINGHAM, Ala. - Carl Edwards has gone from one of NASCAR's golden
boys to one of the sport's "bad boys," struggling on the track and
tangling with fellow drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. off it.

Don't expect him to apologize or to make excuses. If he loses his
temper -- and he has at times this year -- Edwards says it's about
passion not petulance.

"I worked awfully hard to get here," Edwards said Wednesday. "I think
that maybe what people are seeing is hopefully they understand that I
really care about what I'm doing. I'm going to stand up and point out
when I think something is wrong."

If he has to, Edwards, a Columbia, Mo., native, will ram the point
home. Just ask Earnhardt.

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NASCAR fined Edwards $20,000 on Tuesday and placed him on probation for
the rest of the year after he intentionally rammed the side of
Earnhardt's car on the final lap of last Saturday's Busch race at
Michigan International Speedway.

Edwards, 26, was leading the race when Earnhardt spun him out of his
way with one lap to go en route to a victory under caution. It was the
latest dustup for Edwards in a disappointing follow-up to last year,
when he won four races and finished third in the Cup points race.

He's not complaining about the penalty, says he isn't holding a grudge
against Earnhardt and insists he's focused on racing not his image.
That doesn't mean he's entirely comfortable with some public perception
going the other way after last season's feel-good story line of a
former teacher turned star in his first full season in NASCAR's top
series.

"It's a little bit frustrating to read or hear what some people say or
how they perceive me," said Edwards, who was in Alabama on Wednesday to
publicize the race in October at Talladega Superspeedway. "I think that
some of the things that have happened lately, it would be like, What am
I supposed to do? Just stand there and take it when somebody wrecks me
on purpose?

"I don't really strive for any certain type of image. I'm just going to
do whatever I feel like is the right thing."

Even if that means standing up to fan favorite Earnhardt, who received
a rare round of boos on Victory Lane in Michigan. Edwards and Earnhardt
also had a heated argument in Victory Lane.