NASCAR hands down suspension, record fine

[May 21, 2009]  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has suspended driver Carl Long for the next 12 Sprint Cup races and fined crew chief Charles Swing $200,000, the largest penalty in the sport's history.

Swing also was suspended until Aug. 18 for using an engine that was too big for NASCAR's specifications last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Long was docked a NASCAR-record 200 points. Additionally, Swing and Long were placed on probation until Dec. 31.

The record fine exceeds the $150,000 Robby Gordon's crew chief, Frank Kerr, received in March 2008. Several drivers and owners have been docked 100 points in recent years.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.