Press Box: Sports Recap
■ AUTO RACING: Looking to end the frustration and confusion that comes when caution flags come out late in its races, NASCAR is shifting to an unlimited greenwhite-checkered finish protocol and establishing an “overtime line” to determine the winner. The line will vary by track. If the race leader passes the line on the first lap under green before a caution comes out, it will be considered a valid green-white-checkered attempt. NASCAR previously had a limit of three tries to complete the race. ... Lennie
Pond, who raced for 17 years in NASCAR’s premier series, died Wednesday at 75.
■ BASEBALL: The Pirates signed former Padres pitcher Cory Luebke to a minorleague contract, including an invitation to spring training. ... The Braves signed former Mets reliever Carlos Torres to a minorleague deal with an invitation to spring training. ... The Padres hired Hideo Nomo as an adviser to baseball operations to help expand their presence in the Pacific Rim. ... The Yankees will dedicate a plaque for retired closer Mariano Rivera in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 14.
■ COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Suspended West Virginia F Jonathan Holton has been reinstated to the team. West Virginia went 2-2 in the four games Holton missed for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
■ COLLEGE FOOTBALL: California named Jack Spavital offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. ... The NCAA football rules committee proposed giving replay officials more authority to overturn incorrect targeting fouls and to call targeting penalties when they are missed on the field. The committee also agreed to allow conferences to experiment with NFL-style centralized video replay review systems in 2016
■ GOLF: Chez Reavie made an eagle on No. 16 and shot an 8-under 63 at Monterey Peninsula to grab the early lead at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif.
Freddie Jacobson made five birdies in a six-hole stretch and shot 7-under 65 at Pebble Beach, the only course to play over par (72.06). World No. 1 Jordan Spieth, who chipped poorly by his standards and three times failed to get up-and-down for birdies on the par 5s, opened with a 71 at Spyglass Hill, along with PGA champion Jason Day. ...
Justin Harding shot a 7-under 63 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the European Tour’s Tshwane Open in Pretoria, South Africa. Anthony Michael was second.
■ NFL: The Raiders agreed to a one-year extension to remain at the Oakland Coliseum.
■ NHL: The Blue Jackets signed D Ryan Murray to a two-year, $5.65 million extension. The 22-year-old Murray has four goals and 13 assists in 55 games this season. ... The Blackhawks will host the 2017 draft, the first time the franchise will serve as host. The 2016 draft is June 24-25 in Buffalo, N.Y.
■ ALSO: Kenya is being investigated for breaching the world anti-doping code, according to WADA, and could be declared non-compliant in a matter of weeks. The investigation relates to the Kenyan government’s failure to set up and properly fund a working national anti-doping agency, and also its failure to finalize new anti-doping legislation. ... A lawyer for Olympic goldmedalist skier Picabo Street said that she was defending herself during a December fight with her father and will demand a jury trial on domestic violence and assault charges.