Carl Long hit with record fine for oversized engine
Carl Long is a part-time NASCAR driver who makes his living as a mechanic and crewman. He might soon lose the ability to do both. NASCAR levied the biggest fine in its history – $200,000 – on Long’s crew chief because the engine Long used in the Sprint All-Star Race practice May 15 had a displacement of 358.17 cubic inches – 0.17 cubic inches more than NASCAR allows.
Long is appealing the penalty, which included a 12-week suspension for him, his wife and team owner DeeDee Long and crew chief Charles Swing, and 200 driver and owner points as well.
In addition to being the owner/driver of Carl Long Racing, Long works for Front Row Motorsports. If the penalty is upheld, Long said he wouldn’t be allowed inside the garage until the fine is paid. His crew chief can’t afford it, he said, so it would fall on Long and his wife to pay the fine.
“I could never pay it,” Long said May 21. “It won’t ever happen. I’ll cease to have a NASCAR license.”
Without a license, Long can’t work on a car, work as a spotter or do anything on a race weekend at the track.
“Before I can walk through that [garage] gate and do any kind of work, I have to be straight with NASCAR,” said Long, who added he bought the Dodge engine from a prominent engine builder, whom he declined to name.
Long uses whatever money he earns to race. His No. 46 team has entered two Cup races this year, with Long failing to qualify for the Daytona 500 and Dennis Setzer not racing after rain washed out qualifying at Martinsville.
Long, who has 23 career Sprint Cup starts, last competed in a race in 2006.
“I struggle to pay my house bills every week and every time I get a little extra, get a sponsor, we go race,” he said.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said that it doesn’t matter whether the team is a small one or a big one when it comes to such a fine. In 1991, NASCAR parked Junior Johnson’s team for four weeks (reduced from 12 on appeal) for an oversized engine.
“You have to separate the personalities from the rules and regulations,” Darby said. “Same scenario, same engine in Tony Stewart’s car last Saturday night [in the all-star race], for example, you would have never, ever convinced Matt Kenseth that is why he lost the race.
“Unfortunately, even if there was some emotion attached to it, when it comes down to the black and white of enforcing the rulebook and writing the penalties accordingly, you have to remove the [emotion].”
Long’s appeal is set for June 2.
“I just hope the people in the hearing – common sense has got to take place,” Long said. “I’m just waiting for the hearing.”
