

Carl Long back at the track: Carl Long was happy to be back at a race track - even if he was working for a team instead of driving for one. Long, the part-time Sprint Cup and Nationwide driver, was penalized in May after his engine for the all-star qualifying race was determined to have a displacement of 358.17 cubic inches – 0.17 cubic inches more than NASCAR allows. Long's crew chief, Charles Swing, was also penalized $200,000. This weekend, Long returned to the track at Kansas Speedway, where he will work as a spotter for Front Row Motorsports Sprint Cup team with driver #34-John Andretti. "I've paid my debt to society," he said. As to when he will drive again, Long says that depends on his funding situation. A friend is putting together the "Lets Get Carl Back on Track" fundraiser for Oct. 18 at the Memory Lane Auto Museum in Charlotte. Long will sign autographs at the event, which will also feature door prizes and an auction. Information is available atwww.carl-long.com. If he plans to race, though, Long has to meet the requirements of his "payment plan" with NASCAR. "We'll keep digging at it," he said. "If we don't get it all, maybe I'll get enough to go run a couple of races. They gave me a payment program, but that's about $20 grand a race until it gets paid off." In other words, Long must pay $20,000 prior to each race he plans to enter. He's not complaining, though. Long is pleased to just be back in the garage after settling for working at the shop for weeks. "I'm just thankful to still have a job and be a part of the team," he said.(SceneDaily)(10-3-2009)
Carl Long still looking for ride: Carl Long wonders when he'll race again, as he washes someone else's Sprint Cup car. This might be as close as he gets to competing again in NASCAR's top series. His suspension served for an oversized engine, Long hasn't found a ride. The only offer was with a Nationwide team that wanted him to pull into the garage shortly after the start of the race. Start and park is what it's called. His own team isn't an option. It can't run until it pays NASCAR $200,000 to cover the fine. Long can't afford that. Donations from fans in 44 states and four countries cover only 1/10th of the fine. So, Thursday Long was at the Front Row Motorsports shop near Statesville, N.C., washing the #34 car John Andretti drove at Watkins Glen last week. The night before, Long helped put the decals on Andretti's car for Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway, another race Long will not compete. "Basically, the message to me is that NASCAR doesn't want me in Cup,'' Long says during a break about the fine."(see full story at the Roanoke Times)(8-17-2009)
