Rudd announces he’ll stop full-time Nextel Cup racing
After 31 seasons and 786 consecutive starts, Ricky Rudd is just about done racing.
Rudd said Tuesday he’s stepping aside from full-time Nextel Cup racing after this season, bringing an end to an “Iron Man” streak of starts that began in 1981.
“I have not taken a vacation or sick day in nearly 30 years of racing, and with my contract with the Wood Brothers expiring at the end of this race season, it seemed like the perfect time to step back and take a break,” said Rudd, 49.
Rudd said he made up his mind to leave the No. 21 Ford fielded by the Wood Brothers at the end of this season.
Recent talks with car owner Roger Penske had left him open to driving one more year. Penske no longer needed Rudd, however, when Kurt Busch received a release from his contract with Roush Racing.
Drugs in sports
Backers ease proposed penalties
Aiming for a Senate vote on steroid legislation this week, lawmakers eased the proposed penalties, calling for a half-season suspension the first time an athlete tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., and John McCain, R-Ariz., contains a one-season ban for a second steroid offense and a lifetime ban for a third. It would apply to Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and baseball’s minor leagues.
Men’s basketball
Syracuse opens with win
Terrence Roberts had 15 points, Demetris Nichols added 11, and No. 16 Syracuse beat Bethune-Cookman 68-37 in the first round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic at Syracuse, N.Y.
“Tenth-ranked Arizona will play the first part of the season without sophomore swingman Jawann McClellan, whose appeal from academic ineligibility was rejected by the NCAA.
“Wright State (Ohio) coach Paul Biancardi suspended players Tyrone Scott and Robert Eldridge, accused of shoplifting movies from a suburban store.
“Indiana forward D.J. White, injured during Friday’s exhibition win over St. Joseph’s, is expected to miss six weeks with a broken left foot.
College football
Southern Miss takes OT victory
At Huntington, W.Va., Darren McCaleb kicked a 34-yard field goal in overtime to lift Southern Mississippi (5-3, 4-1 Conference USA) to a 27-24 victory over Marshall (4-5, 3-3).
Southern Miss blew a double-digit lead for the second straight game. Unlike a 21-17 loss at North Carolina State on Oct. 29, the Golden Eagles recovered.
“Kentucky coach Rich Brooks will be back next season to lead the Wildcats’ struggling program, athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced.
The Wildcats are 2-6 this season and 8-23 in three years for Brooks, the former Oregon coach.
Miscellany
UConn coach will make Hall
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma leads the list of those to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this spring.
The other inductees are former Texas All-American Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil, Louisiana Tech star Janice Lawrence Braxton, former Georgia All-American Katrina McClain Johnson, Bentley College coach Barbara Stevens and Brazilian Olympian Maria Paula Goncalves da Silva, a person with firsthand knowledge of the induction process told the Associated Press.
“Two-time champion Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from the Masters Cup in Shanghai because of the pending birth of his first child and was replaced by ninth-ranked Gaston Gaudio.