BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) – Two members of Reed Sorenson’s crew were thrown out of Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday after NASCAR officials caught the Busch team rubbing an unapproved substance on its tires.
Brian Pattie, crew chief for the No. 41 Dodge, and team member Brian Stafford were removed from track property and not allowed to participate in Friday night’s Busch race.
Sorenson, who came into Bristol third in the Busch points standings, was not allowed to qualify for the race and ordered to start at the back of the field.
The tires were taken from the Chip Ganassi Racing team, and Busch Series director Joe Balash said the team would have to purchase new rubber from Goodyear to use in the race.
“There was an official that was just doing his job and saw that there were some substances being rubbed on a tire,” Balash said. “Instances like this have happened in the past, but we have not seen it recently.”
Balash said additional penalties would be handed down against the team next week.
Using any sort of substance on a tire – a practice called “soaking tires” – is done to increase grip and speed.
Ganassi officials were not immediately available for comment.
AP-ES-08-26-05 1601EDT
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