Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Juan Pablo Montoya is still smarting from Mark Martin’s late-race strategy that prevented Montoya from winning at New Hampshire.
Martin led all three laps of a final sprint to the finish and slowed his car in front of Montoya’s to block a potential race-winning pass with two laps to go.
Montoya was upset with the strategy ó he accused Martin of “stopping” his car as they cleared the first turn.
“I wasn’t the happiest guy,” Montoya said. “It’s fun when you do it to someone else, but it’s (not) when they do it to you. It’s part of it.”
n WELCOME ó A tire changer for Casey Mears will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot sustained during a pit stop at New Hampshire. Clint Pittman was changing Mears’ rear tires when Denny Hamlin ran over his right foot.
n CHARLOTTE ó The maker of Jim Beam Bourbon will stop sponsoring Robby Gordon’s Sprint Cup team next season.
n CHARLOTTE ó Kurt Busch said it was business as usual Tuesday, the only day of the week his crew chief is allowed inside the race shop.
Penske Racing has asked Pat Tryson to only visit the race shop during the weekly competition meeting because he’s leaving at the end of the season, and the team does not want him part of 2010 planning. Tryson is moving to Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of the year.
n DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ó Kyle Busch has been docked 25 points and his crew chief fined $25,000 for failing post-race inspection at New Hampshire.
NHL
RALEIGH ó The Carolina Hurricanes have reduced their training camp roster.
Those sent down to their AHL affiliate in Albany were forwards Drayson Bowman and Steven Goertzen, defensemen Bryan Rodney and Brett Carson and goaltender Justin Peters.
NBASAN ANTONIO ó Keith Bogans is set to sign a one-year deal with the Spurs.
n DENVER ó The Nuggets acquired swingman James White from Houston in exchange for the rights to Axel Hervelle.
TENNISBRUSSELS ó Justine Henin is seeking the elusive Wimbledon title in her return to the WTA Tour. It’s the only Grand Slam the former top-ranked player hasn’t won.
And it loomed large in her decision to end a one-year retirement from the sport.
“It is a dream of mine,” Henin said. “I want to work to get it. I make it a priority.”
Barely a week after compatriot Kim Clijsters capped her comeback from retirement with a second U.S. Open title, Henin announced her return on Belgian TV.
“Subconsciously, it might have had an impact,” Henin said. “But it certainly was not the most important reason.”