NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Long Pays Steep Price
Carl Long was hit with the biggest fine in NASCAR history for one of the least-oversized engines ever...
Larry Woody  | http://www.RacinToday.com  |  Posted June 04, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Carl Long entered the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in Atlanta but failed to qualify. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Perhaps the great philosopher Gomer Pyle put it best:

“Surprise! Surprise!”

And:

“Gawleeeeeee!”

Everyone who thought the National Stock Car Racing Commission might do Carl Long justice and throw out the absurdly-harsh penalties recently meted out by NASCAR, please raise your hand.

www.RacinToday.com

I’d like get with you later to discuss some beautiful beachfront property in Death Valley.

Long went to the Commission seeking justice and all he got was another kick in the teeth. The journeyman driver last month was given a virtual career death penalty for having a broken tail light.

In a non-points event at Charlotte – a qualifier for the all-star race – Long’s beat-up old rebuilt ARCA engine was found to be over-sized by a gnat’s eyelash.

The powerful motor certainly gave Long a mighty edge – it lasted three whole laps before it blew sky-high.

And for that, he was kicked out for 12 races, his crew chief suspended and fined $200,000, docked 200 Sprint Cup points (even though the infraction didn’t occur in a Sprint Cup points race) and other judicial overkill.

Long appealed his case to the National Stock Car Racing Commission and on Tuesday it announced that (hope you’re sitting down!) it was upholding most of the severe penalties.

Somebody, with a straight face, tried to justify the action by explaining that an over-sized engine is a most egregious transgression in NASCAR.

Really? So how come Richard Petty wasn’t suspended for 12 races when he was caught with one? After winning a race? A win, incidentally, that he was allowed to keep?

I’d like the Commission to explain that.



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Larry Woody

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