Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith took issue with NASCAR on several fronts during a wide-ranging question-and-answer session Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. National Post
Smith, the outspoken, multimillionaire, ripped NASCAR for choosing not to disclose the banned substance involved in driver Jeremy Mayfield’s suspension, for dropping record penalties on underfunded driver Carl Long and for the kind of racing created with the Car of Tomorrow.
Smith, whose company owns eight NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, was on hand to talk about the 50-year anniversary of the Coca-Cola 600. But he wasted little time taking the sanctioning body, the same one that helped build his fortune, to task on several hot topics.
He questioned the way NASCAR handled Mayfield’s situation. Mayfield was suspended indefinitely over a positive random test that remains clouded in secrecy. He was the first driver to be suspended under NASCAR’s new random testing policy, toughened up for this season after former driver Aaron Fike admitted using heroin — even on days he raced.
“I think we need some clarity on this,” Smith said. “NASCAR, in my opinion, should come forth and say what the substance is. Why do we want all this secrecy behind it? I don’t think you progress by being that secretive about something.” The Associated Press
On the 12-week suspension for Carl Long and the $200,000 fine for Long’s crew chief that NASCAR issued after the engine Long used in last weekend’s preliminary to the All-Star Race was found to be too big: “The fine is ridiculous,” Smith said. “Why would you fine this guy $200,000 for this engine that is just a little bit over? I’ve got to believe Brian [France] did not make that decision.”
Long, who has not qualified for a Cup points race since 2006, is appealing the penalty.
“When NASCAR does something that is so far out, like we mentioned with Carl Long, I think NASCAR loses a lot of fans when that happens,” Smith said. “That is something you don’t think would happen in this country. It’s too dictatorial. It’s not good. “We don’t need to be making enemies. We need to be making friends. We need to be fan-friendly.” ESPN
Long said there’s no chance he can pay the fine, and the suspension would prevent him from working his full-time job with another Cup team. Long appealed the penalties, allowing him to work until his June 2 hearing.
“I don’t know Carl Long, but there’s an injustice done there,” Smith said. “I hope he wins his appeal. He can’t race for 12 weeks? That’s so cruel to try to ruin this man. That would absolutely financially ruin him, and it’s just not right. I think you can prove your point a better way than that.” The Associated Press
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