Earnhardt Jr. in NASCAR HOF

Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the most popular race car drivers in history, was inducted into the

NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday night, joining his late father.

Late-model driver Red Farmer and modified driver Mike Stefanik were also inducted into the

Hall of Fame’s 12th class. Ralph Seagraves was named as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The group was selected in 2020, but the induction ceremony was postponed more than a year due to the pandemic.

Known around the pits simply as “Junior,” the younger Earnhardt won 26 races during his Cup career, including two Daytona 500s and the 2001 Pepsi 400, which came four months after his father’s death at the same track.

“To join Dad in the Hall of Fame is probably as good as it is ever going to get,” Earnhardt said.

Jones rejects offer to return

Former Hawaii football coach June Jones has declined a proposal to return to lead the program for a second time.

The school’s wins leader in Division I, Jones met Friday with the athletic director David Matlin, the Honolulu StarAdvertiser reported, and rejected the offer when he learned it would only be for two years and Matlin would have to approve the assistant coaches.

Jones took to social media to voice his displeasure with the terms.

“I am still interested in this job for the people of Hawaii, but the job offered me today, there is no way I could accept with the conditions offered me,” the 68-yearold tweeted. “No coach in their right mind would accept!

“Dictating who can be on my staff and only 2 year contract . what recruit would come if I was here for 2 years?. This has never been about money — but it is about giving me the ability to turn our program around and not have people tell me who is on my staff or how to coach my team.”

Auburn replaces defensive coordinators:

Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason has stepped down and has been replaced by Jeff Schmedding.

Schmedding had been assistant head coach/ linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator after running Harsin’s defense for two seasons at Boise State.