KANSAS CITY, Kans. – Carl Long’s return after an eight-year banishment in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition didn’t come without controversy Friday after NASCAR forced the team to pull the logo of their primary sponsor for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway.
Before Friday’s Cup Series practice, Long was forced to pull the logo of a Denver, Colorado-based marijuana-vamping company. According to NASCAR, the sponsor had not been vetted and approved.
The company, Veedverks, however, responded and said its sponsorship and logo were approved and provided confirmation by posting an email from a NASCAR representative who allegedly approved the partnership on their Facebook page.
“They approved it, we spent the money, then they stripped our logo off the car without so much as an apology. We are still sponsoring Carl because our word is our bond. Go Carl! No. 66,” Veedverks said in a statement.
According to its rule book, NASCAR can prohibit any potential sponsorship that they feel may be detrimental to the sport.
Section 7.6.2.an of the NASCAR rule book says: “NASCAR may refuse to permit a Competitor to participate in an Event if NASCAR determines that any advertising, sponsorship, or similar agreement to which the Competitor is or will be a party, is detrimental to the sport, to NASCAR, Series Sponsor, or to the Promoter for any reason, including without limitation, the public image of the sport.”
According to Yahoo Sports, Veedverks, a medical marijuana-like company claims its products are legal in all 50 states, its three types of cartridges contain trace amounts of THC, the principal psychoactive in marijuana.
“It was a last-minute deal,” Long told Yahoo Sports. “We submitted everything to NASCAR. The company makes a vape solution for electronic cigarettes and stuff. But their product, NASCAR said they needed to go back and review it a little more because I think it’s a hemp-based product. It’s legal in 50 states according to — honestly, I didn’t do a whole lot of research.
“They said this is a legal product, I sent the stuff to NASCAR. The people down there said, ‘Great Carl, good to see you back let’s get over here.’ So now they want to investigate and make sure this isn’t anything that is marijuana based and so forth.”
NASCAR told the Associated Press on Friday that Veedverks will remain absent from the No. 66 Chevrolet for the remainder of the weekend.
In 2009, Long made headlines when he was fined with $200,000 for an oversized engine (0.17 inches too big) following the 2009 Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At the time, it was the largest penalty in NASCAR history. The sanctioning body also banned him from any Cup Series activity until the fine was paid.
Before the 2017 season, the 49-year-old driver / owner satisfied his requirements regarding the fine, according to NASCAR, and was allowed not only back in the Cup garage, but once again compete.
With 40 drivers pre-entered for the 11th Cup race of the season, Long was guaranteed to make the Go Bowling 400 starting field. However, Long was one of 11 drivers who failed to get their vehicle through pre-qualifying inspection and missed the opportunity to participate in time trials.
Long who last started a points-paying Cup race in 2006, however still earned a starting position and will start shotgun on the field in 40th.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email [email protected]
