Big Carl Long Fine

[muggle not]

I gotta disagree with y'all. Long was in it to make a few bucks and that was the only reason. Through 2006, according to NASCAR.com, Carl made a total of 1,478,168 dollars. He made over a half mil in 2005 in 9 starts.

The illegal engine could help him improve his position in the race a few places and that meant more money for him. No sympathy from me, sorry.

[oldhippie]

Carl Long races with liitle money
my sympathy for him is that he bought the engine thinking it was good to go
the person who sold the oversize engine should be penalized not Carl Long
it seems so unfair to be fined points and big money for an engine that blewup anyway in a non points race

anybody remember T-Rex?
Evernham threw exotic metals and chassis tweaks because it was a nonpoints race
Jeff Gordon dominated and won the Winston walking away with the big check
nascar said to never bring T-Rex back but there was no fine or points penalty

can anybody explain the double standard for a nonpoints race?

[call_me_andrew]

Evernham didn't actually break any rules. NASCAR never said you had to use certain metals and can only build the suspension a certain way. The car still conformed to the letter of the rules. An engine with a displacement of 358.17 inches against a limit of 358 inches does not conform to the letter of the rules.

[Jag_Warrior]

Carl Long is an independent owner/driver who races on a limited schedule.
(He is usually unsponsored.)
Long attempts a few Cup races a year but is usually a DNQ.
Carl Long operates on a very low budget, a $200,000 fine will likely shut him down.

Does NASCAR have the legal authority to collect the money if he decides to just hang it up and stop racing?

I understand the need for rules and penalties, but this is overkill to an extreme. Max Mosley might be working for NASCAR part time now.

[call_me_andrew]

I'm sure the entry form includes information about being responsible for penalites and fines. NASCAR can sue for breach of contract.

Of course if they go that route, they risk exposing the rule book to public record.

[Jonesi]

Does NASCAR have the legal authority to collect the money if he decides to just hang it up and stop racing?

I understand the need for rules and penalties, but this is overkill to an extreme. Max Mosley might be working for NASCAR part time now.

No, if he decides to leave Nascar they have no recourse to collect the fine.

[RaceFanStan]

... it seems so unfair to be fined points and big money for an engine that blewup anyway in a non points race ...

Yeah, it makes little sense to issue a points penalty for a non-points event.
As to the money the fine seems extremely excessive IMO.

[youtellme]

There's more on Jayski about it now. Bought the engine from a builder, had no idea it was 358.17.
(Is 0.17 too much, even an overbore? Seems more like someone honed a tired engine block too much.) ...

if my math is correct, that equates to .001 - .0015 inch per cylinder in added bore size. cylinder walls within the block do indeed enlarge with wear and tear that does create a slighty larger bore.

throw in the fact that the thing could have torched a head gasket when it got hot, it would be realtively easy to explain the slightly larger bore size.

this fine and suspension is B.S.

nascar has taken a page from bill clinton's play book. when monica and bill were in the news, bill offered up a distraction to divert attention. same thing here with carl long............

[youtellme]

SEE what they did today:

CONCORD, N.C. (AP)—NASCAR randomly drug-tested 10 crew members from 10 teams during the rain delay at the Coca-Cola 600, an apparent tweak to the first three months of in-season testing.

Prior to Sunday night, crew chiefs said NASCAR typically informed them when the garage opened if a team member had been selected to give a sample. The individual had four hours to report to testing. Drivers can be tested on any day of the race weekend.

[RaceFanStan]

I wonder if anyone failed their drug test ...