Hendrick released from Charlotte hospital
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick has been released from the hospital, a week after he was injured when his private plane ran off the runway during a landing.
Hendrick was released Monday afternoon.
An evaluation in Charlotte last Tuesday showed Hendrick had four broken ribs and a broken shoulder. He was admitted to the hospital to better manage his pain.
Hendrick, his wife and two pilots were on the Gulfstream G150 that had brake issues upon landing Monday night at Key West International Airport. The plane was co-owned by Jimmie Johnson and normally shuttled the five-time defending NASCAR champion and his family to and from races.
Linda Hendrick sustained minor cuts and bruises. The two pilots were not injured.
Mississippi’s Nutt will resign at end of season
OXFORD, Miss. — Houston Nutt came to Mississippi with the goal of becoming the first coach to lead the Rebels to the Southeastern Conference championship game.
It didn’t happen, far from it. Over the past year, the Rebels couldn’t win a single SEC game.
The Rebels have lost 12 consecutive Southeastern Conference games, including Saturday’s 30-13 loss to Kentucky. Mississippi is 2-7 this year, 0-6 in the SEC. Nutt is 24-23 in his four years in Oxford.
He’ll stay to lead the Rebels for the season’s final three games, beginning with a home contest against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
Uncle Mo retired after elevated enzyme level
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Uncle Mo’s racing career is over.
Two days after finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, the 3-year-old colt was retired and arrived at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. on Monday.
Mike Repole, who owns the 3-year-old colt, said blood tests Sunday revealed an elevated enzyme level. It’s the same enzyme that was elevated in the spring, knocked Uncle Mo out of the Triple Crown races and led to the diagnosis of a life-threatening liver disease.
Repole said his 2-year-old champion does not have a recurrence of the disease, but the enzyme level is the highest it’s been since the colt was returned to trainer Todd Pletcher’s care in July.
Uncle Mo won five of eight races and earned $1.6 million.
Baltimore may drop Grand Prix contract
BALTIMORE — Officials threatened Monday to terminate the city’s five-year contract with organizers of the Baltimore Grand Prix if the group doesn’t restructure and pay its debts to the city and vendors.
A recent economic analysis showed that the event has potential for growth after its first year, said Kaliope Parthemos, deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development, in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. But Parthemos said Baltimore Racing Development must restructure itself immediately “to make that a reality.”
BRD organized the three-day Labor Day weekend event and owes the city more than $1.5 million for services it provided, parking, admissions and amusement tax revenues, and a race event fee, she said. The city is asking to be reimbursed for $750,000 in city services. That’s $250,000 more than a fee cap in the contract because it includes required services that BRD was supposed to provide.
Former NASCAR driver Mayfield indicted
CATAWBA, N.C. — A grand jury in North Carolina has indicted former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield on charges of possessing methamphetamine.
Monday’s indictment comes about a week after Mayfield was arrested following a raid at his rural mansion that turned up 69 guns and what authorities allege were $100,000 in stolen goods from at least two businesses.
During the search, deputies also said they found goods stolen from at least two businesses and about 1.5 grams of meth.
Twins dismiss GM, return Ryan as interim
MINNEAPOLIS — The fallout from a 99-loss season for the Minnesota Twins has started with the firing of general manager Bill Smith.
Smith was dismissed Monday, when the Twins returned Terry Ryan to the role on an interim basis. Smith was Ryan’s top assistant when Ryan stepped down in 2007, citing burnout, after holding the job for 13 years.
Widely recognized for their stability, class and ability to make the most out of a medium-range payroll, this was a startling move for the Twins despite the embarrassment and deep disappointment of the 2011 season following two straight AL Central titles.
Nebraska’s Cook to face hit-and-run charges
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska volleyball star Lauren Cook will be charged in last month’s traffic incident that left two people injured in what authorities called a hit-and-run accident.
Lancaster County Deputy Attorney Patrick Condon said his office planned to charge Cook, but declined to say what charge or charges she would face. Her arraignment is Tuesday.
Cook is the daughter of Nebraska women’s volleyball coach John Cook. She was suspended for this past weekend’s matches, and coach Cook said Monday that her status was unchanged for the No. 2 Huskers, who play Indiana and Purdue this weekend.
Cook was driving an SUV that authorities say hit a motorcyclist in Lincoln on Oct. 30. Cook was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an injury accident and ticketed for driving on a suspended license. The driver of the motorcycle broke his leg, and his passenger was scraped up.
Andretti Autosport to test developmental drivers
INDIANAPOLIS — Andretti Autosport will test two developmental drivers Thursday at Palm Beach International Raceway.
James Davison of Australia and Colombian driver Gustavo Yacaman will both test the No. 27 IndyCar.
The test is designed to give both drivers seat time in an IndyCar.
There was no indication the test is a tryout for a spot in Andretti’s IndyCar lineup.
The team had a four-car lineup last season, but has so far only confirmed Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay for 2012.
Dan Wheldon had agreed to replace Danica Patrick the morning he was killed in the Oct. 16 finale at Las Vegas. There’s been no announcement on driver Mike Conway’s future.
Andretti has not said who will replace Wheldon.
— From Wire Reports
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