ESPN Sprint Cup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR placed Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation for the next six weeks of Sprint Cup Series races after their postrace altercation in Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Busch instigated the sheet metal exchange when he used his No. 18 car to bump the driver's side of Edwards' No. 99 on the cooldown lap after Edwards took the checkered flag.

Edwards retaliated by spinning Busch out.

Busch immediately was called to the NASCAR hauler to discuss the incident with president Mike Helton, series director John Darby and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton.

They later talked to Edwards.

Although there have been financial penalties in the past, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the probation was consistent with the penalty given Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch for an incident during practice at Daytona.

"It was a postrace incident involving two highly competitive drivers, both of whom are in the midst of battling for a championship. The issue has been addressed with both drivers and they both know where they stand," Tharp said.

Busch and Edwards top the point standings heading into Sunday's race at California Speedway. Neither was immediately available for comment.

Neither driver was apologetic after the race.

"I feel like I was extremely justified to do what I did," Edwards said. "I needed to do it, and that's the way it went. Let's make it real clear, I'm not apologizing for it, and that's it."

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com.