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)
