NASCAR hands Carl Long and crew chief record penalties

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) - NASCAR has suspended driver Carl Long for the next 12 Sprint Cup races and fined crew chief Charles Swing $200,000, the largest penalty in the sport's history.

Read the rest here.

I know rules are rules, but this is heartless.

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on May 22, 2009 at 4:32pm

You're right - I don't know if that comment I quoted here is true or not, but it is consistent with the statements made by Long. Given NASCAR's record on penalties over the last couple of years, I'd tend to side with the likes of Carl Long and Jeremy Mayfield. NASCAR has consistently shown that they will jump at a chance to make an example of a small team over the most trivial of infractions - Robby's bumper cover, for example.

NASCAR could easily become more credible in these cases by providing much more detail than what they do. Instead, they choose to cite the number and verse of thier rule book and expect us to nod in agreement.

I'll be very interested to see how the appeal board rules.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Hunt on May 23, 2009 at 10:48am

Alan, I think you're right about the primary engine (the one in question) being from Ernie Elliott. The backup was from BDR. I think you're spot on about NASCAR trying to make an example out of the small teams, and makes me think there may be something more to this Mayfield deal too. However, this is even more heinous than Robby's deal (as ridiculous as that was). There is no way Carl could realistically pay the fine (nor would he as he has said). Long can't even work at his job with Front Row Motorsports if the decision is upheld. This action is just another example of Brian France and NASCRAP'S blatant disregard for its tradition (i.e. shit on the small teams and independent racers who made the sport, cookie cutter 2 mile oval tracks, removing dates from classic tracks, etc). If I didn't have to watch the race for my job, Robby and the Wood Brothers would be the only thing keeping me from tuning out this corporate circus completely.

I'm off the soap box now, lol.

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on May 22, 2009 at 6:23pm

WTF, A worn bearing nad clyinder could have caused this measument.....

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Permalink Reply by Chet Raschka on May 21, 2009 at 5:02pm

They need to add a warning to their ligitimate parts list: !WARNING! Some combinations of these parts may cause dizziness, headaches, loss of Cup points with high dollar fines from NASCAR.

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Permalink Reply by rick on May 21, 2009 at 5:32pm

That what is says on the warning label from Claritan-D

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sweeney on May 22, 2009 at 4:43pm

And/or suspension from NASCAR

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on May 21, 2009 at 7:46pm

We have seen this before with Robby in 2005 Daytona where TRD/Menards put the wrong manifold on the engine. I think that the owners need to come up with Certified parts distributors where the builder gets hit with the penalty. Too many hits and they can't supply the parts. Of course, NASCAR would never go for it as they like the smoke and mirrors.

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Permalink Reply by HazMat870 on May 21, 2009 at 9:05pm

What happens if they do not pay Nascar? Other than never being able to race in a Nascar sanctioned event what can they do to them? It would take years of starting and parking for them to make that money back. If it was me I would tell them to kiss my ass and I would go home.

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on May 21, 2009 at 9:14pm

Yeah, except Carl's full-time job is with the Front Row Motorsports Nationwide team, so as long as he's banned from the tracks, he's out of work.

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Permalink Reply by HazMat870 on May 21, 2009 at 9:35pm

So he pays $200k to keep a job that he maybe makes $100k at. How does that make sense? Look at it as a business. What would be his return on investment? If he “invests” this $200k how long until he starts to show a profit again? Whatever he does for the Nationwide team I am sure he could get a job only working in a shop and never going to the track.

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Permalink Reply by AZBadseed on May 21, 2009 at 10:24pm

well f**k NASCAR...How about some SAVE CARL LONG shirts!
this is just like when RGM got the wrong nose for the dodge. We were all so happy that he got the points back, which was what he needed.
Carl ought to get the money back, which he needs, AND no suspension. WTF!

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Permalink Reply by Alex on May 22, 2009 at 3:38pm

I think NASCRAP was getting board so they decided to give out huge suspensions to teams that people dont know that much about so they wouldnt be as fired up. Untill Na$car can give me sufficient facts that the 46 team really cheated and what "drug" Mayfield used i dont believe them. Does it not seem Nascar is the most controversial "sport" when it comes to handing out penalties. In MLB, NBA, NFL, and even the NHL suspensions arent nearly as controversial. Has to make you question the leadership. IE- Helton and Pemberton.