Newsmakers

Died NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night at a dirt car event at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway. The 37-year-old Leffler was a two-time winner on the Nationwide Series. Bridgeport Speedway is a 5/8-mile, high-banked dirt oval. Leffler finished last Sunday at Pocono in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start of the year.

Announced Montana men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle has announced the signing of 6-foot-5 shooting guard Jack Lopez of Bankstown, Australia. Lopez has played internationally for three years, two with the New South Wales Under 20 national team and one with the Under 18 team.

• The top administrator for an eastern Idaho high school says the school will drop its longtime Redskins nickname, logo and mascot in a move to show respect for Native Americans. Superintendent Monte Woolstenhulm announced that Teton High School in Driggs will begin searching for a new nickname and mascot. He says the decision was motivated by the need to teach students to see beyond skin color and assumptions based on appearances.

• The University of North Dakota football team has lined up a 2018 matchup with the University of Washington. The Grand Forks Herald reports that UND is guaranteed $500,000 for the game.

• An autopsy has found that a Nigerian man who collapsed and died after a mixed martial arts match in Port Huron, Mich., was killed by cardiac arrhythmic disorder. The St. Clair County medical examiner’s findings were released into the death of Felix Nchikwo. The cardiac arrhythmic disorder resulted in sudden cardiac death.

Agreed The Pittsburgh Penguins and coach Dan Bylsma have agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2016. Bylsma is 201-92-25 in four seasons.

Filed A tax fraud lawsuit has been filed against Barcelona star Lionel Messi for $5.3 million in unpaid income tax. A Spanish state prosecutor of Catalonia lodged the complaint.

Refused Togo players are refusing to play a World Cup qualifier in Libya after recent violence there led FIFA to move Friday’s game from Benghazi to the capital, Tripoli. Alexis Romao of Marseille and Jonathan Ayite of Brest flew back to France from Togo, citing security worries for not wanting to travel to Libya.

Acknowledged Japanese baseball league officials are being criticized for introducing a new ball this season without notifying players. The new livelier ball has resulted in more home runs. NPB instructed the ball’s manufacturer, Mizuno Corp., to say no changes were made if anyone asked.