Auto Racing
Edwards and the No. 19 car signs with Joe Gibbs’ team
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Carl Edwards scrolled across a stage at Joe Gibbs Racing and jokingly yelled, ‘Surprise!’
There was no surprise whatsoever about his formal introduction Tuesday as a fourth driver in the JGR Sprint Cup lineup. The move had been expected since at least May and intensified last month when Roush Fenway Racing said Edwards was not returning in 2015.
Edwards, who has driven for Roush for 12 years, will join a new fourth Toyota team for Gibbs next season. The No. 19 will be sponsored by Arris, a telecommunications company, in 17 of the races.
JGR has been at three cars since 2005 and has held off expanding to the NASCAR-maximum of four full-time entries.
Edwards, currently ninth in the Cup standings with two wins, saw an opportunity for consistency and stability as a teammate to Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth.
JGR also announced Tuesday that Daniel Suarez will run a full Nationwide Series program and part-time Truck Series schedule 2015. The truck entry will be fielded by Kyle Busch Motorsports. Suarez becomes the first full-time Mexican driver in NASCAR.
College Football
No. 5 Ohio State loses its starting QB to injury
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State said quarterback Braxton Miller will miss the 2014 season after reinjuring his throwing shoulder.
Miller, a two-time Big Ten player of the year, left practice in pain Monday after making a throw.
Ohio State said Tuesday that Miller will require surgery.
It’s a huge blow to the nation’s No. 5 team, which already has several major holes to fill on offense.
The senior and three-year starter partially tore the labrum in his right shoulder in a loss to Clemson at the Orange Bowl. He had surgery, did not face contact in spring practice and was held out of several practices this month because of soreness.
Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett is Miller’s top backup and likely will be the starter in the Aug. 30 opener against Navy in Baltimore.
Cycling
Basso rejoins Tinkoff-Saxo for two more years
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – The Tinkoff-Saxo cycling team signed two-time Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso.
The 36-year-old Basso, who served a two-year doping ban from 2007 to 2009, signed a two-year contract with the team.
American cyclist suspended two years for missing test
COLORADO SPRINGS – American cyclist James Martin was suspended two years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for missing a test earlier this year.
The 40-year-old resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was punished for the rules violation committed when he failed to provide a testing sample at the New Jersey Criterium Championships on May 18.
Tennis
Djokovic is ranked No. 1; Federer ranked No. 2
NEW YORK – Top-ranked Novak Djokovic is seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open, and five-time champion Roger Federer is No. 2, meaning they only could meet in the final.
Djokovic beat Federer for the title at Wimbledon last month.
The U.S. Tennis Association followed this week’s ATP rankings in announcing the seedings Tuesday.
Federer moved up one spot from his No. 3 ranking because 2013 champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from the year’s final Grand Slam tournament with an injured right wrist. The 33-year-old Federer is seeded at the U.S. Open for the 14th consecutive year, tied with Ivan Lendl for the longest streak, trailing only Jimmy Connors’ record of 18.
Federer won the hard-court tournament every year from 2004 to 2008, part of his record 17 Grand Slam titles.
The women’s seedings will be announced Wednesday, and the draw is Thursday. The tournament will start Monday.
Associated Press
