Petty sells control of family business

Petty Enterprises, the venerable NASCAR team led by Richard Petty, sold control of the family business Wednesday to investment firm Boston Ventures.

Once one of stock car racing’s most powerful teams with “The King” himself at the wheel, Petty Enterprises fell into mediocrity during the last two decades and hasn’t won a race since 1999.

Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed, but the deal is only the latest in which NASCAR teams have sold ownership stakes to outside investors for added cash to stay competitive.

•NASCAR chairman Brian France denied that a former official complained to her supervisors about racial and sexual discrimination, claims she alleged led to her eventual firing.

Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR on Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination. Grant, who is black, worked as a technical inspector for NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series.

Basketball

Sonics pull switch

The Seattle SuperSonics’ NBA Developmental League affiliate was changed from Boise to Tulsa, Okla.

The NBA announced an expansion and realignment of the minor league circuit, including a change that will associate the Sonics with the Tulsa 66ers instead of the Idaho Stampede.

•Curtis Watkins, a member of DePaul’s 1979 Final Four basketball team, has died. He was 51.

Watkins died Monday night, the school said. His daughter, Monique, told the Chicago Sun-Times that he died of a blocked artery at his home in the Chicago suburb of Harvey.

Hockey

Linden retires

Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden retired from the NHL 20 years to the day after the team drafted him into the league.

•Dallas Stars defenseman Mattias Norstrom retired, ending a 14-year career.

College football

Curry named coach

Almost 50 years after he began his college playing career at Georgia Tech, Bill Curry will become the first coach of Georgia State’s new program.

•Former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen was recuperating a day after having triple heart bypass surgery.

Miscellany

Tour bans Boonen

Former world cycling champion Tom Boonen was barred from this year’s Tour de France after testing positive for cocaine.

Tour organizers said the rest of Boonen’s Quick Step team remains eligible to compete in the race.

•American teenage striker Jozy Altidore signed a six-year contract with the Spanish soccer club Villarreal worth close to $10 million.