Junior will drive rarely used No. 3

Auto racing: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive a replica of his father’s No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona in July.

The car unveiling was done Thursday at JR Motorsports on what would have been the seven-time NASCAR champion’s 59th birthday. He was killed in a 2001 accident at Daytona, and his number has not been used in the Sprint Cup Series since.

Earnhardt Jr. drove the No. 3 twice in 2002 in NASCAR’s second-tier series, and Richard Childress, who controls the number, is allowing his grandson, Austin, to use it in the Truck Series this season.

“This was an idea that came up as a way to pay tribute to my dad,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The Wrangler car is definitely in the top 10 of coolest cars that have ever been on the race track. A lot of people identify with it, and I can’t think of a better way to honor my dad and celebrate his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame than to bring the Wrangler colors back with the No. 3 on the side.”

Earnhardt will be inducted as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class on May 23.

Associated Press

Chiefs pick defenseman

Hockey: The Spokane Chiefs selected defenseman Tyler King-Cunningham with their first-round pick, 17th overall, in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft in Edmonton, Alberta.

King-Cunningham played for the Notre Dame Bantam team in Saskatchewan last year and scored 14 goals and 43 points in 25 games. He added five goals and 13 points in seven playoff games.

“We had Tyler rated higher than we selected him and we were excited to see him at 17,” said Chris Moulton, the Chiefs’ director of player personnel. “He’s a good skater who is steady and responsible. He’s not afraid to jump up offensively and is very good in all three zones.”

The Chiefs did not have a second-round pick, traded to Medicine Hat in 2008 as a part of the deal that brought defenseman Trevor Glass to Spokane.

King-Cunningham is the second defenseman in as many years and third in the last five to be taken with the Chiefs’ first-round pick. Jared Cowen was selected first overall in 2006 and Reid Gow was taken 16th overall last year.

The Prince George Cougars made center Alex Forsberg of Waldheim, Saskatchewan, the first overall pick.

For the entire list of players picked by the Chiefs, see page B6.