Auto Racing
Stewart will skip his third Sprint Cup race in a row
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tony Stewart will not race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third Sprint Cup race he’s skipped since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during a sprint car race.
Stewart’s decision was announced Wednesday, and Jeff Burton once again will replace him in the No. 14 Chevrolet. Burton also drove Stewart’s car at Michigan last weekend.
Stewart-Haas Racing is allowing Stewart to take the time he needs away from the track, and the team statement indicated the three-time NASCAR champion is taking it week-by-week. Stewart will not have to decide on another race until the Aug. 31 event at Atlanta. Stewart has been in seclusion since the Aug. 9 incident at an upstate New York dirt track.
College Football
Kent State starting center, Bitsko, dies at 21
CLEVELAND – Kent State football player Jason Bitsko, who was slated to start at center for the Golden Flashes this season, died Wednesday.
Police believe he passed away from an undetermined medical issue, the school said. The school said in a release the 21-year-old Bitsko was found unresponsive in the bedroom of his off-campus apartment shortly before 9 a.m.
When Bitsko failed to show up at practice, calls were placed to Bitsko’s roommate, who called 911 after finding Bitsko in his bed. Brimfield Police arrived on the scene within three minutes of the call.
NHL
NHL draft lottery will change to prevent tanking teams
NEW YORK – Forget about tanking in the NHL. Bottoming out in the standings might not get you to the top of the draft.
The weighted lottery will change a bit next year and even more in 2016, the NHL said Wednesday, in order to “more appropriately reflect the current state of competitive balance.”
The 14 teams who fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs will be in the mix for the No. 1 draft pick.
Next year, the team that finishes with the fewest points will have a 20-percent chance – down from 25 – the second-fewest will have a 13.5-percent chance – down from 18.8 – the third-fewest will drop to 11.5 percent from 14.2, and the fourth-lowest will go to 9.5 percent from 10.7.
The next year, the lottery will include the first three picks of the draft instead of just the top choice, meaning the team with the fewest points could end up as low as the fourth selection.
Soccer
USA women get 4 goals and beat Switzerland by three
CARY, N.C. – Megan Rapinoe scored just three minutes into the game, and the United States got three goals in the second half to beat Switzerland 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Carli Lloyd made a penalty kick early in the second half, Christen Press scored in the 77th minute, and Abby Wambach got her 168th career score in the 87th.
Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic scored on a penalty kick in the 70th minute for Switzerland. It came on the Swiss’ only shot on goal and ended Hope Solo’s bid to set a new shutout record for the U.S. women. Solo remained tied with Briana Scurry for the team mark with 71 shutouts.
Tennis
Serena Williams is the No. 1 at this year’s U.S. Open
NEW YORK – Top-ranked Serena Williams is seeded No. 1 as she seeks her third consecutive U.S. Open title.
The U.S. Tennis Association followed this week’s WTA rankings Wednesday in announcing the seedings.
French Open runner-up Simona Halep is seeded second, Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova is seeded No. 3, with third-ranked Li Na out because of a knee injury, and Agnieszka Radwanska moves up to No. 4. Five-time major champ Maria Sharapova is seeded fifth.
The draw is Thursday.
Associated Press
