NASCAR to crack down on rule-breakers
NASCAR announced Monday that it will disqualify race-winning cars that break the rules this season, confronting its longtime culture of cheating with a stringent new penalty system.
“If you are illegal, you don’t win the race,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief racing development officer. “Race vehicles are expected to adhere to the rule book from the opening of the garage to the checkered flag.”
Inspections will now be completed at the track, a process that should take about 90 minutes, and the winning team will lose its victory if it fails.
Under the new system, the runner-up will be declared the winner and the team with the illegal car will receive only one championship point.
Baseball
The Cleveland Indians acquired right-hander Nick Wittgren from the Miami Marlins in exchange for right-hander Jordan Milbrath. Wittgren, 27, made 32 appearances for Miami last season.
• Reliever Chris Devenski and the Houston Astros agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,525,000 and avoided arbitration. Devenski was 2-3 with a 4.18 ERA last year, striking out 51 and walking 13 in 471 ⁄ innings, and was on the disabled list from July 27-Aug. 30. Starter Gerrit Cole remains scheduled for a hearing and is seeking a raise from $6.75 million to $13.5 million. Houston has offered $11,425,000.
College football
Syracuse will retire the No. 72 worn by defensive lineman Tim Green, who is stricken with a slowprogressing version of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, at halftime of next season’s home opener. Green is the Orange’s career sacks leader with 45.5, and he played eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after being drafted in the first round in 1986. Syracuse has retired eight other numbers.
Boxing
The Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League will stage Golden Gloves bouts Saturday at the Royal Place, 2660 Library Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with first bell at 7. For tickets, call 412-576-9285.
Soccer
Liverpool’s English Premier League title challenge faltered again, drawing at West Ham, 1-1, to hand Manchester City a chance to go on top Wednesday. Liverpool’s lead has been trimmed to three points, and Manchester City, the defending champion, has a superior goal difference.
Winter sports
Selina Joerg of Germany captured gold by beating Russia’s Natalia Soboleva in the final of the women’s parallel giant slalom at the world championships in Park City, Utah. Dmitry Loginov of Russia won the men’s race over Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak.