Associated Press
MOORESVILLE ó Ryan Newman, projected as a possible teammate for Tony Stewart on the two-time NASCAR champion’s new team, will leave Penske Racing at the end of the 2008 season.
Newman’s impending departure was announced Monday in a release from the Penske team.
“We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years,” team owner Roger Penske said in a statement. “We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we’ll continue to focus our efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season.”
Newman expressed his appreciation to Penske and to the team in a statement, but gave no indication where he will be racing in 2009.
Newman has been with the Penske team since making his Sprint Cup debut in 2000. He got a full-time Cup ride in 2002 and has notched 13 victories, including this year’s Daytona 500.
The 30-year-old Newman, known as one of the best qualifiers in NASCAR history, won 11 of his 43 career poles and eight races in 2003 and finished no worse than seventh in the season points from 2002 through 2005. But Newman went winless in both 2006 and 2007 and slipped out of the Chase for the championship, finishing 13th and 18th.
NFL
INDIANAPOLIS ó Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure Monday to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.
Colts president Bill Polian announced the procedure, described as routine, on Monday night. Polian said the team’s medical staff expects Manning to have “a full and complete return to action” in four to six weeks. Colts training camp begins July 25.
– CINCINNATI ó Prosecutors dropped an assault charge against former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry on Monday, clearing the way for him to apply for reinstatement by the National Football League.
The 25-year-old Henry was accused of punching an 18-year-old University of Cincinnati student in March and of breaking his car window with a beer bottle.
LOWE’S SON
GREENSBORO ó The son of North Carolina State basketball coach Sidney Lowe pleaded guilty to dozens of charges connected to a March 2007 home invasion.
A sentencing hearing for Sidney Lowe II began Monday and is expected to end Tuesday in Guilford County Superior Court.
NBA
NEW YORK ó Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy made more than 100 phone calls to a fellow official at the same time he was providing information to gamblers during the 2006-07 season, Fox News reported.
Citing court documents and phone calls, Fox reported Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster between October 2006 and April 2007, the period during which he has confessed to betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers.
CYCLING
HAUTACAM, France ó Leonardo Piepoli of Italy has won the 10th stage of the Tour de France. Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg was set to lose the yellow jersey he had worn for four straight days. It was not immediately clear who would take it Monday ó Cadel Evans of Australia or Frank Schleck of Luxembourg.