auto racing

NASCAR hands out penalties, suspensions to Gibbs Racing team

NASCAR suspended seven crew members of Joe Gibbs Racing and stripped drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano of 150 points each Wednesday for cheating after last weekend's Nationwide Series race.

Crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers were suspended indefinitely and fined $50,000 each, but NASCAR decided not to bar the cars from future races.

Owner Joe Gibbs said he would not appeal the penalties, and added he would also personally fine the crew members involved and suspend them through the end of the season.

No. 18 car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow and No. 20 car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek also received indefinite suspensions. JGR was docked 150 owner points for each car and the teams were placed on probation for the rest of the season.

Transporter with primary IndyCars burns: A Team Penske transporter, carrying the primary cars for Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe to Infineon Raceway for this week's IndyCar Series race, caught fire on Interstate 80, west of Cheyenne, Wyo.

The two drivers escaped injury and were able to save the tractor, but the lower level of the transporter, containing crew member uniforms and a variety of equipment was destroyed. A team spokesman said the No. 3 and No. 6 Dallara-Hondas that were on the upper level of the transporter had extensive water, smoke and heat damage.

Kyle Busch wins O'Reilly 200: Kyle Busch earned his third win in the Craftsman Truck Series by dominating the O'Reilly 200 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

pro football

Rams' Jackson will end holdout

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson ended his holdout while his agent continues negotiations for a new contract.

Jackson, the centerpiece of the team's offense, is entering the final year of a deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004.

Hasselbeck still out: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck did not practice again because of a stiff back, and he may also miss his second consecutive preseason game against San Diego.

Coach Mike Holmgren is trying to ensure Hasselbeck is ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo.

college football

New Mexico program placed on probation

The NCAA put New Mexico's football program on three years of probation and cut five scholarships as punishment for academic violations involving two former assistant coaches.

The sanctions imposed by the NCAA's infractions committee went beyond the university's self-imposed penalties, which included two years of probation and fewer scholarship reductions.

Burke transfers from N.C. State to Louisville: North Carolina State quarterback Justin Burke will transfer to Louisville, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe said.

The redshirt sophomore played in three games for the Wolfpack last season, completing 2 of 3 passes for 15 yards and an interception. Burke will sit out the season under NCAA transfer rules and be eligible to play in 2009.

tennis

Mauresmo reaches Pilot Pen quarterfinals

Amelie Mauresmo showed no signs of the nagging injuries that sidelined her for several weeks, defeating fifth-seeded Patty Schnyder in a third-set tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the second round of the Pilot Pen at New Haven, Conn.

Mauresmo will face fourth-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary in the women's quarterfinals. The two have never played each other.

Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze also moved into the quarterfinals, rolling past Casey Dellacqua of Australia 6-4, 6-4 despite 11 double faults in her second round match.

Luka Gregorc of Slovaki upset the men's No. 2 seed, Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 in their third-round match.

American Robby Ginepri's run at the Pilot Pen also ended. Mischa Zverev of Germany defeated Ginepri 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in their third round match.

golf

Tway's son advances at U.S. Amateur

Kevin Tway took another step toward establishing himself, while a former NCAA champion made an earlier-than-expected exit from the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, N.C.

The son of former PGA champion Bob Tway defeated Philip Francis 2-up in the first round of match play, winning a matchup of former U.S. junior amateur champions on the renowned No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort.

Meanwhile, 2007 NCAA medalist Jamie Lovemark is headed home early after being eliminated 1-up by Matt Hill of North Carolina State.

Lovemark, a 20-year-old junior at USC, held a 1-up advantage on Hill through 16 holes, before Hill birdied the 17th and parred the 18th to eliminate Lovemark, who earlier this summer at Pinehurst finished second at the North & South Amateur.

Soccer

Rapids coach Clavijo leaves team

Fernando Clavijo is resigning as Colorado Rapids coach due to personal reasons and assistant Gary Smith will take over as interim coach.

Clavijo left the team last week to go to his native Uruguay for a family medical emergency.

college basketball

Delle Donne released from scholarship

Connecticut has officially released Elena Delle Donne from her basketball scholarship, a move that could allow the former top-rated recruit to play at Delaware.

Delle Donne announced last week that she would not be playing basketball at Connecticut or enrolling at the school.

UConn released Delle Donne on Wednesday from the letter of intent she signed last year, contingent on her enrollment at Delaware.

UConn says its release includes a consent allowing Delle Donne to play any sport this school year, including basketball for the Blue Hens.

Delle Donne would be eligible to play volleyball immediately at Delaware, but would need to get permission from the NCAA to play basketball this season, because she spent two days in summer school at UConn in June, and could be considered a transfer student.