Stock Car Commission Needs To Show Guts In Long Appeal
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Let’s see if I understand this:
Carl Long essentially is given NASCAR’s version of the death penalty – essentially ending his career with the heavy-handed penalties he (minus 200 driver points plus 12-race suspension), his wife (minus 200 owner points and 12-race suspension) and crew chief Charles Swing ($200,000 fine, 12-race suspension and placed on probation until Dec. 31) received – for having an engine that was 0.17 of an inch larger than allowed.
The unprecedented penalties were not only the stiffest in NASCAR history, you could infer they at least in part contributed to Swing being hospitalized with chest pains shortly after the penalties came down – not to mention how Swing is potentially facing possible personal bankruptcy if Long’s appeal next week is denied.
Again, all that for “being over” by a mere 0.17 of an inch.
But yet on Wednesday, Robby Gordon gets penalized for having a rear axle housing whose toe-in/toe-out, according to NASCAR, “exceeded the maximum specified toe of plus or minus one degree.” For that, Gordon is docked 50 owner and 50 driver points, while crew chief Kirk Almquist was fined $50,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
Can someone tell me how 0.17 of an inch – I’ve seen hangnails that are bigger than that – is such a significantly more egregious violation than a toe-in/out of more than one degree?
But by penalizing Gordon significantly less than it did Long, did NASCAR just significantly weaken its own case against Long, particularly when he appeals the stiff penalties on June 2 in front of the Stock Car Auto Racing Commission?
I can’t see how the Commission can affirm Long’s penalty when the level of the infraction was minimal at best – and deserves a much lower penalty.
While the Commission is known for typically siding with NASCAR in appeal hearings, I’d like to see the commissioners who hear Long’s case – and ultimately decide his long-term fate in racing, if he is to ever have one again – show some guts and overturn the penalties against Long, his wife and Swing.
And then the commission should turn around, cite how relatively easy Gordon got off, and then penalize NASCAR itself for “actions detrimental to stock car racing.”
I mean, given the lunacy and disparity between Long’s and Gordon’s infractions, it would only be fair, right?
Posted by Jerry Bonkowski on 05/28 at 04:14 AMI agree completely. The commission needs to review Long’s case and adjust the penalty accordingly. In fact, the commission should review all penalties handed down by NASCAR, and adjust accordingly every time. You have an engine out of spec by .17 cubic inches, never used in a race, and a rear end, more than 1 degree out of spec. and used to finish third in a race. How can the penalties be so far apart?
I have an answer that goes back to a previous post of mine, Gordon has a full time sponsor, Long does not. If money really is where NASCAR’s at these days, then this is one of many differences between the two infractions. Like I wrote when Long was penalized, I can’t wait to see the next driver to get caught with an infraction. Any infraction that equals .17 cubic inches or greater, should result in a 12 race suspension. This type of penalty will never be handed out to a full time team, with a full time sponsor – EVER.
Not only should the commission rescind Long’s penalty, they should force NASCAR to compensate Long, and Swing, for lost business, and wages. NASCAR should be penalized using their rule, Section 12-4-A actions detrimental to stock car racing. They should also be forced to issue a full public apology for their actions. (This too is something that will never happen – EVER.)
If you agree that NASCAR’s penalty on Carl Long is too severe, please take 20 seconds to sign this online petition. You don’t have to register or anything!
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/carllong
Please pass the link along to your friends, websites & blogs as well! I will be sending this to NASCAR before Tuesday’s appeals board meeting.
I have a feeling that the ‘lower’ penalty for Robby ultimately gives the stock car commission ‘permission’ to decrease the penalties on Long to the same level.
It is interesting how Robby hasn’t really come out fighting NASCAR on this one (unless I’ve missed it), but if he was hit with $200k andall those points, I’m guessing that Robby’s reaction might have been very different.
