Pattie Fined, Suspended, Placed on Probation for Rule Violations at Bristol

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2005) – NASCAR announced Tuesday that Brian Pattie, crew chief of the No. 41 Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson in the NASCAR Busch Series, has been fined $35,000, suspended from NASCAR until October 26 and for the next six NASCAR Busch Series events, and placed on probation until December 31, 2005 following rule violations at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 26.

Pattie was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 9-4-A (the crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members) and 12-4-GG (any possession of or use of one or more tires that have been altered externally by unauthorized treatment) of the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series rule book.

Additionally, Sorenson was penalized 50 NASCAR Busch Series driver championship points and team owner Chip Ganassi was penalized 50 NASCAR Busch Series owner championship points for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-GG.

The deductions reduce Sorenson’s driver point total from 3,412 to 3,362 and Ganassi’s owner point total from 3,322 to 3,272. Sorenson is third in the driver rankings while Ganassi is fifth in the owner standings.

Also, Brandon Stafford, a crew member for Sorenson, was suspended from NASCAR until October 26 and for the next six NASCAR Busch Series events, and placed on probation until December 31 after violating 12-4-A and 12-4-GG.

The suspensions for Pattie and Stafford begin this weekend when the NASCAR Busch Series competes at California Speedway and continue through the series event at Memphis Motorsports Park on Oct. 22.