In May, independent owner and driver Carl Long was penalized by NASCAR with the heftiest fine in NASCAR's history--and all because an engine inspected was found to be .17 hundredths of an inch over the maximum size allowed when being inspected for a non-points, all-star event. Never mind the fact that this infraction is so incredibly miniscule as to not give even .17 hundredths of an advantage to a car. That Carl Long should be hit with a whopping $200,000 fine -- and an additional $200,000 fine was levied against his crew chief, Charlie Swing -- is utterly flabbergasting and abominable. The 200 owner points and driver points also penalized are virtually meaningless in comparison to these fines. These amounts are obviously intended to drive an independent owner and racer out of NASCAR.

NASCAR has become the playground of the multi-millionaire, whether it's the driver or car owner. There is no other possible explanation for such a hefty, back-breaking fine. NASCAR's stance is 'a rule is a rule.' What a whiny, self-serving, unilateral attitude. Apparently there is not a lot of thought in NASCAR's rhetoric. The folks running (and perhaps ruining) this sport and still entirely out of touch with reality. This is yet another prime example of why fans are disgusted with the sport, disgusted with its management and finding other things to do on Sunday afternoons than watch millionaire prima donnas 'go around in circles.' After all, if one wants to do that, there is always F-1 racing. But, I digress.

One NASCAR Cup driver, David Reutimann, has shown the class and courage to rally to Long's support, pledging $5,000 to go towards the fine. Fans are starting to contribute whatever they can, and as of Sunday, June 7, over $13,000 has been donated ( www.carl-long.com ) to help pay this fine. NASCAR's top money drivers and owners should be chipping in as well--and if they don't have the guts to have their name listed--then make an anonymous donation!! They can afford it. It's not like a $10,000 donation would be a drop in the bucket to any of the top-35 owners or drivers in the Sprint Cup Series. Last year, Kyle Busch showed a lot of class and caring by donating $100,000 to help pioneer racer Sam Ard with his medical bills. Back when Ard raced, there were no million dollar purses. Heck, there were no $100,000 purses. Heck, there were no $50,000 purses. You get the idea.

The reason you, the fan, should care even if you have never heard of Carl Long is that there are very few independent owners and drivers left in racing. Once the backbone of the sport, the Alan Kulwicki's, Ricky Rudd's and Geoff Bodine's have gone the wayside of the big, multi-million dollar, multi-corporate sponsor teams. Just watch CMT's Cribs to see the lifestyles of the young NASCAR drivers. Carl Long has worked to get to the level he's at to even be able to field a car for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. He didn't have his fortune handed to him by corporate sponsors or teams looking for the next young wunderkind. He has made his way to this point in the sport the way the original drivers in NASCAR did, a step at a time, working his way up the rung to try and achieve some success in stock car racing. When you see Carl Long, you see a flashback to the early days of racing, when Junior Johnson, Richard Petty, the Allison brothers, Darrell Waltrip, the Wood brothers, the Flock brothers, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Benny Parsons, Ralph and Dale Earnhardt, Bill and Ernie Elliott, Ned Jarrett, Wendell Scott, David Pearson--you get the idea; I could go on and on and on--who came into the sport with a dream to race and stuck with it through thick and thin until they finally achieved a measure of success the hard way often losing homes, families and marriages along the way as they fought to survive and drive in the sport.

In NASCAR's history, this is a far cry from the time of the 'little guy' who can make it on a dream, a wing, and a prayer. This fine will literally bankrupt a Carl Long. He can't write it off to his sponsors--he's still trying to make his way -- one race at a time. He works as a spotter for another Nationwide Series team. He works in a shop for yet another team to pay the bills. Carl Long is trying to live the American dream--and big money corporate NASCAR is determined to stomp out the independent driver. At least that's how it's looking to the fans of this sport.

I have never met Carl Long, personally. I know of him. I know of his type of shop, his work ethic, his dream. I have met many Carl Longs in ARCA, in Hooter's Pro Cup, and in the Busch (now Nationwide) Series. I intensely admired Alan Kulwicki--the last independent team owner/driver to win a Winston Cup. Alan's drive, his temper, his talent, his work ethic and his love of racing was well known. Alan loved racing and he was one of the best drivers in the sport. Is Carl Long an Alan Kulwicki? I don't know the answer and neither do you. And, if NASCAR has its way, we'll never know.

Carl's appeal of the penalty was denied, of course, by NASCAR. After all--they gave out the penalty so why would they rescind it? Admit they were wrong? NASCAR, wrong???

If the NASCAR appeals board had any decency, they would have certainly reduced the amounts fined. It's not like they need the money to keep afloat. But, Carl Long does. NASCAR appears to be trying to drive the independents out of the sport. That will ultimately leave only the multi-car big teams out there. Do fans really want to see a super series with only the Hendrick, Roush and Gibbs teams running? That's what NASCAR is starting to look like in the future, with the current economic situation, car factories closing, and manufacturers and sponsors bailing out. And, perhaps, should they hold on, there will still be a few marginally smaller teams like Richard Childress Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Penske Racing, Earnhardt/Ganassi, and Richard Petty Motorsports (which had to merge with Gillette-Everham Motorsports and recently laid off personnel). At least they should still be in the sport for awhile. It looks like this scenario is NASCAR's scheme and where they think the big money and the fans are. They could not be more mistaken. Once again, the Daytona folks running the show have completely ignored the very roots of the sport that have blossomed NASCAR to the glorious moneymaker it is today. One cannot imagine Big Bill France condoning this type of situation--a humongous fine for a most arguably miniscule penalty. After all, there should certainly be a tolerance for the heat factor and molecular structure which caused a .17" overage. It's pretty amazing that NASCAR could even measure this.

Every driver and owner in professional NASCAR racing should be looking at this issue and stepping up to the plate to help out Carl Long. There are plenty of huge NASCAR charities (which are also huge tax write-offs, by the way) which rake in millions of dollars a year via donations from these drivers and owners. And, do not mistake me--those are all worthy causes. Carl Long's career and reputation in NASCAR and racing is also a worthy cause, and in many ways, this may well prove to be a watermark in this sport, for good or for ill. I challenge each and every driver, owner and crew chief in NASCAR to make a donation to Carl Long's penalty fund. And, if you don't have the guts to use your own name--then do it anonymously. The money NASCAR collects in penalties is divvied up at the end of the year among the top 25 owners, anyway, so a portion of it will even be refunded.

NASCAR has always claimed to be one big family. Well, NASCAR folks--one of your family members needs help to keep his livelihood and career alive. They say 'Charity begins at home.' Here's your chance to show you care about one of your own.

Visit http://www.carl-long.com and put your money where it counts--to help out a man who has dedicated his life to NASCAR racing and who needs you to pitch in. Fans who wish to donate even $1 are appreciated, and there is a list of those who have donated on the website. Whether you can give $1, $5, $10 or more, it is truly appreciated by Carl. He has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support for the 'little guy' in racing. That's the grassroots of stock car racing, after all, the driver with the dream. Let's not let NASCAR's out of touch billionaires running the sport kill this dream.