Carl Long's appeal rejected

Who saw this coming? An independent, unsponsored, part-time driver/team owner win an appeal against NASCAR? Righhhtttt. Color me surprised at this verdict...not.

"NASCAR driver Carl Long says he has lost his appeal of a 12-race suspension and penalty.

The National Stock Car Racing Commission denied Long's appeal at a hearing Tuesday, the driver told The Associated Press. The commission isolated Long's suspension to the Sprint Cup Series, meaning he can find work in one of the sport's lower levels. However, Long's full-time job is working with the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Chevrolet in the Cup series.

The commission also told Long the $200,000 fine levied against crew chief Charles Swing would not fall to Long if Swing can't pay it."

Mighty nice of the committee to say Carl doesn't have to pay his crew chief's fine if Swing can't afford it. Of course, the article doesn't detail the ramifications if Long can't pay his OWN 200G fine - spare change I'm he's just got laying around.

I wonder if the subject of "quit picking on the little guys" came up during last week's town hall "open" forum in Mooresville.

TMC

Carl Long suspended

Part-time, underfunded, journeyman driver Carl Long was busted by NASCAR for having an oversized engine in the all-star hooligan race last weekend. NASCAR successfully killed a fly with a sledgehammer by laying down the following penalties:

• A 12 race suspension - even though Carl hasn't entered a Cup points paying event since 2006
• A 200 point fine - hmmm, I guess Carl won't make the Chase now. A real shame - he was sooooo close.
• A $200,000 fine - NASA just begin recycling urine into water. Maybe they can help NASCAR figure out how to get blood out of Carl's turnip.

NASCAR's legacy has always been to bust the little guy and then use his carcass as a message to the big guys. They put on a big display to the media saying "see this? we're not afraid to flog anyone else". In reality, we all know a blind eye is turned to infractions amongst the heavily funded teams who put butts in seats and t-shirts on backs.

Am I the only one who finds humor in NASCAR's busting a guy named Long for being oversized? I hope while Carl Long is benched he successfully lands Enzyte as a sponsor for a future race.


I bet NASCAR's inaugural rookie of the year from 1959 - Shorty Rollins - was never busted for such an infraction.


TMC