Auto Racing
Vickers finally gets a full ride with Michael Waltrip Racing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brian Vickers has a full-time ride again on the Sprint Cup Series.
Michael Waltrip Racing announced Tuesday that the 29-year-old Vickers will drive the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota for a full Sprint Cup schedule beginning next season. Andrea Freeman, the vice president of marketing for Aaron’s Inc., said the sponsorship deal is for both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
First Papis, now Dillon to fill in for the injured Stewart
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Stewart-Haas Racing tabbed Austin Dillon to drive Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet this week at Michigan International Speedway.
Stewart continues to recover from a broken right leg suffered in a sprint car crash Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) continues to field his No. 14 Chevrolet SS in the Sprint Cup Series. It will be Dillon’s 10th Sprint Cup start.
The 23-year-old Dillon, who won the NASCAR truck series title two years ago, competes this year in the Nationwide Series and holds the points lead.
Max Papis drove the No. 14 to a 15th-place finish Sunday at Watkins Glen International.
No timetable has been established for Stewart’s return, but the three-time Sprint Cup champion was discharged from the hospital late Sunday afternoon and is at home.
Hockey
16-year-old Canadian player dies during junior training
BATHURST, New Brunswick – A 16-year-old prospect for a Canadian junior hockey team died Monday while skating during practice.
Photi Sotiropoulos of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League said Jordan Boyd felt some discomfort during a wind sprint on the ice.
The team, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, said in a statement that Boyd collapsed and was taken to a hospital. A first responder attempted to revive Boyd before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died, Sotiropoulos said.
An autopsy has been ordered.
The club said Boyd had a medical evaluation before training camp and didn’t appear to have health issues that prevented him from playing. Sotiropoulos said he was cleared to compete by the team doctor.
Soccer
Gandhi, Michael Jackson and John Lennon playing in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO – How’s this for a trio? A soccer team with Michael Jackson playing alongside John Lennon and Mahatma Gandhi.
Carlos Adriano, soccer director for the Brazilian Serie B club Atletico Goianiense, said the team signed a forward known as Michael Jackson – his real name is Carlos Adriano de Sousa Cruz.
Like many Brazilian players, he goes by a nickname rather than his family name or given name.
Jackson could play with a couple of famously named teammates: John Lennon, full name John Lennon Silva Santos; and Mahatma Gandhi, full name Mahatma Gandhi Heber Pio.
Tennis
Baker gets another chance at a comeback at U.S. Open
NEW YORK – Brian Baker received a wild-card entry into the U.S. Open, giving the oft-injured American another chance at a comeback after hurting himself at the Australian Open in January.
The USTA handed out eight wild cards into the main draw Tuesday, including to 102nd-ranked Ryan Harrison and 2010 NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn.
Last year, Baker won his first U.S. Open match since 2005, after a seven-year absence because of a series of operations to his hip and elbow.
Baker will be a long shot when the U.S. Open starts Aug. 26. On Monday, there were no American men in the top 20 for the first time since the ATP computer rankings started in 1973.
Associated Press
