Auto Racing
NASCAR’s Jason Leffler dies in dirt car race in New Jersey
BRIDGEPORT, N.J. – NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night at a dirt car event at Bridgeport Speedway.
The 37-year-old Leffler, a two-time winner on the Nationwide Series, was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m., New Jersey State Police said.
Bridgeport Speedway is a 5/8-mile, high-banked dirt oval.
Leffler finished last Sunday at Pocono in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start of the year.
Baseball
Japanese baseball switches balls without notice
TOKYO – Japanese baseball officials have been criticized for introducing a new ball this season without notifying players.
With nearly 60 games already played, Nippon Professional Baseball acknowledged this week for the first time that a new ball was being used. The new, livelier ball has resulted in more home runs.
NPB previously had denied this year’s increase in home runs had anything to do with changes to the baseball.
In the 2011 season, there were 939 home runs and 881 in the 2012 season. The number of home runs in the current season stood at 512 as of Tuesday, on pace for a season total of 1,297.
Basketball
USA Basketball invites 27, including Faried, Lawson
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, enjoying a strong NBA Finals, is one of 27 young players scheduled to attend USA Basketball’s minicamp in July.
Cleveland All-Star Kyrie Irving and Portland’s Damian Lillard, who succeeded him as Rookie of the Year, also were among the players announced Wednesday. Indiana’s Paul George and Jrue Holiday of Philadelphia were the other All-Stars to earn an invitation.
The players will train July 22-25 in Las Vegas, capped by an intrasquad exhibition game July 25 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
They’ll be coached by Mike Krzyzewski and his assistants Jim Boeheim, Monty Williams and Tom Thibodeau.
Also chosen Wednesday: Mike Conley (Memphis), Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson (New Orleans); Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried (Denver); Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson (Golden State); John Wall and Bradley Beal (Washington); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto); Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond (Detroit); Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward (Utah); Taj Gibson (Chicago); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers); Chandler Parsons (Houston); Larry Sanders (Milwaukee); Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller (Cleveland); and Kemba Walker (Charlotte).
Brooklyn Nets net Jason Kidd as their next head coach
The Brooklyn Nets have hired Jason Kidd as their coach, bringing the former star back to the franchise.
Kidd just retired after his 19th NBA season, and the Nets decided to hire him despite his lack of coaching experience.
The move reunites Kidd with the franchise he led to consecutive NBA Finals in 2002-03, when they played in New Jersey.
“Welcome home, Jason,” owner Mikhail Prokhorov says Wednesday in a statement.
Cycling
Kristoff wins Suisse Stage 5; Frank leads Tour de Suisse
LEUGGERN, Switzerland – Alexander Kristoff of Norway won a sprint finish, and Mathias Frank of Switzerland kept the yellow jersey after the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse on Wednesday.
Kristoff, riding for Katusha, outpaced rivals Peter Sagan, Arnaud Demare and Matti Breschel at the end of the 110.8-mile trek from Buochs to Leuggern.
BMC Racing’s Frank holds a 23-second lead over Roman Kreuziger (Saxo-Tinkoff) in the overall standings. Movistar’s Rui Costa is a further 12 seconds behind in third.
Associated Press
