Remember the name Carl Long?  You may remember his name from his famed flip at Rockingham in 2004.  On Wednesday, May 22nd, NASCAR driver Carl Long was fined by NASCAR.  Long was fined for rule infractions during his run in the Sprint Showdown at Lowe's Motor Speedway last weekend.  According to NASCAR, Carl Long and his team faced the following penalties...

CARL-LONG.COM

How did Carl do in the Sprint Showdown?  The car, with the refreshed engine, only lasted 3 laps because the engine expired!!

The car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-5.4A (engine exceeded the maximum engine size of 358.000 cubic inch displacement) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.

As a result, crew chief Charles Swing has been fined $200,000, suspended from the next 12 Cup championship events, suspended from NASCAR until Aug. 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Driver Carl Long and owner Danielle Long have been penalized with the loss of 200 driver and 200 owner points, respectively, suspended from the next 12 Cup Series championship events, suspended from NASCAR until Aug. 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

I doubt it is just me that believes that these penalties are extremely harsh!  $200,000??  This is the largest fine that NASCAR has ever issued!  Carl Long is a driver and owner that has been on the NASCAR scene for quite a few years.  He has never had the big break that he deserved years ago.  Long has been driving independently and now fields his own team in NASCAR as often as he can afford.

Think about the point of fines in NASCAR...is it to make people leave the sport?

So lets look at this situation...

How much money did he him in the Sprint Showdown?  A measly $5,000...while the winner won $51,525

Where does the money for this team?  Carl Long's pocket

What independent NASCAR team has $200,000 to pay a ridiculous fine?  NONE!  Who can pay this when it takes everything possible to just attempt a race?

Does is appear that NASCAR is in favor of the underdog?  um, no

Carl Long and his team are clearly being treated unfairly!  This type penalty could change the rest of Carl's career and his future racing plans!  NASCAR can completely rid the sport of underdog teams this way!  This is totally wrong!

I am asking you to join me in supporting Carl Long during this time of complete ridiculousness.

 Click above to visit Carl Long's official website.  On his website, you can get more information on this situation, more information on Carl, chat with Carl Long fans on the message board, donate money through PayPal to Carl Long Racing, and much, much more!  Visit today!

• "Long Suspended 12 races for rules violations at LMS" (NASCAR.com)
• "NASCAR imposes suspension, record $200k fine" (ESPN.com)
• Discussion on Jayski.com about the suspension and penalties (Jayski.com)
• Discussion on Carl-Long.com message board about the suspension and penalties (Carl-Long.com)
• more to come...updates regularly...