NASCAR hands down fines and docks points for Pattie and team

NASCAR came down hard on NASCAR Busch Series crew chief Brian Pattie for the illegal tires at Bristol.  NASCAR fined Patties $35,000, suspended him for the next six Busch Series races and put him on probation until December 31st.  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.

Brandon Stafford, the tire specialist, was also suspended for six races and put on probation until December 31st for violating 12-4-A and 12-4-GG.

The worst part was that Reed Sorenson, driver of the #41 got penalized 50 points, along with Ganassi being penalized 50 owner points for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-GG.

I agree with the crew chief and tire specialist fines and penalties and can even see them docking Ganassi points, maybe not 50, but some points.  I don't understand why Sorenson, who had nothing to do with it, he didn't even know anything about it until Pattie and Stafford were escorted out of Bristol, why did he have to lose points?  And why was it 50?  I've never seen them dock someone that much, especially for something he had nothing to do with!

I've never agreed with them taking points away from drivers when they had nothing to do with it, owners okay, but not the drivers, only if the driver did something should he lose points.  And then for it to be 50, I just don't get it.

Thanks to his crew chief, Sorenson can kiss any hopes that were still alive for the championship.  I hope Ganassi takes a good hard look at what Pattie did and deals with it correctly, like fire him, because I sure don't want him around to help screw  Sorenson over again next year.