Auto Racing
Sprint Cup champion gets a vote for the Hall of Fame
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – NASCAR is giving its Sprint Cup champion a Hall of Fame vote.
Officials announced it Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, adding other “significant changes” to the Hall of Fame selection process and eligibility rules will be revealed during Champions Week in Las Vegas next month.
The addition brings the total number of voters to 56. The group includes crew chiefs, Hall of Famers, media members, NASCAR officials, retired drivers, team owners and track representatives.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth or Kevin Harvick will get to cast a vote in May. They are the only three in contention for the Cup championship heading in Sunday’s season finale in Homestead.
Doctors tell Dario Franchitti to park, retire his IndyCar
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti reluctantly retired Thursday after doctors told him it is too dangerous to continue racing after the injuries he suffered in a crash last month.
Franchitti fractured his spine, broke his right ankle and suffered a concussion in the Oct. 6 IndyCar race at Houston, where his car made contact with Takuma Sato’s car on the last lap and sailed into a fence. Debris from the accident injured 13 fans in the grandstands and one IndyCar official.
The 40-year-old Franchitti, a four-time IndyCar champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, underwent two surgeries on his ankle and recently returned home to Scotland to recover.
Franchitti’s 31 victories are tied for eighth on the all-time list, and his 33 poles are sixth.
NFL
Cut by the Houston Texans, Reed signs with the Jets
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Rex Ryan bolted out of his office the moment he heard Ed Reed was cut. He wanted to make sure general manager John Idzik knew one of his favorite players was available for the New York Jets to pursue.
The Jets signed the nine-time Pro Bowl safety Thursday, bringing one of the NFL’s greatest playmaking defensive players to a secondary on a defense that ranks 24th against the pass. The 35-year-old Reed was released Tuesday by Houston, cleared waivers Wednesday and joined less than 24 hours later.
Suspended by the Dolphins, Incognito files a grievance
MIAMI – Richie Incognito filed a grievance Thursday against the Miami Dolphins over his suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Incognito was suspended by the team Nov. 3 for misconduct related to the treatment of teammate Jonathan Martin, who abruptly left the Dolphins late last month to receive help for emotional issues.
The NFL is investigating whether Incognito harassed or bullied Martin. Incognito has said the conduct all was part of the normal locker room environment.
Martin is scheduled to meet Friday with Ted Wells, the independent investigator hired by the NFL.
Tennis
Djokovic will have to carry the Serbs at the Davis Cup
BELGRADE, Serbia – With Serbia hit by injuries and suspensions, Novak Djokovic will carry the burden for his country when it plays defending champion Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final.
The second-ranked Djokovic is on a 22-match unbeaten run and now must do what he has done numerous times before – win both singles matches to give the Serbs a chance in the best-of-five series starting Friday.
On Thursday, Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic was ruled out of the final with a heel injury. Countryman Viktor Troicki is out because of a 12-month suspension for skipping a blood test in April.
Thursday’s draw pitted Djokovic against Radek Stepanek. Also, Tipsarevic’s replacement, Dusan Lajovic, will play Tomas Berdych in Friday’s opening singles. The doubles are Saturday and reverse singles are Sunday.
Associated Press
