(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Wednesday,May 20th, 2009
NASCAR handed down the largest monetary fine in its history Wednesday and suspended a driver and crew chief for using an engine that was too big.
Driver Carl Long was suspended for 12 races, docked 200 driver points and his crew chief Charles Swing was fined $200,000. Swing was also suspended until August 18.
Danielle Long, Carl’s wife and the person listed as the car owner was also suspended 12 races and docked 200 owner points.
All three were placed on probation until the end of the year.
NASCAR found problems after the team was forced to change the engine after last Friday’s practice for the All Star Showdown, a qualifying race for the All Star Race. The engine that was removed was sent to NASCAR’s Research and Development in Concord where it was found to have cylinders larger then what is specified in NASCAR’s rulebook.
Long finished 35th in the Showdown race making only three laps before retiring with engine failure. Long hasn’t raced in a NASCAR Sprint Cup points paying race since 2006.
The highest fine previously levied by NASCAR was $150, 000 to driver Robby Gordon’s crew chief Frank Kerr in March of last year.
The largest amount of points docked by NASCAR had been 100, which occurred several times over the last few years.
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