Russell’s Widow Files Suit Against Goodyear, NHRA

The widow of top fuel drag racer Darrell Russell filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in Comal County District Court in New Braunfels, Texas, against the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the National Hot Rod Assn., and Simpson Helmets.

Russell died from a head injury on June 27, 2004, after the left rear tire on his dragster exploded at more than 323 mph and he crashed during a race at Madison, Ill.

Julie Russell seeks unspecified damages in her suit, claiming that the NHRA and its exclusive tire supplier, Goodyear, mandated a defective tire for use in its top fuel class without sufficient testing, provided no alternative when the tire’s defective properties became known, and participated in a cover-up that has prevented the cause of the crash from being made public. She also claims the Simpson helmet worn by her husband was defective.

The complaint alleges that days before the accident Russell’s crew chief, Wayne Dupuy, met with NHRA officials and was told the tire was safe and must be used when he asked whether they were going to recall the tires or wait until someone was injured or killed.

Goodyear and the NHRA had no comment. The tire model has not been used in the NHRA since the accident.

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Martin Henderson

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Tony Stewart skipped qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., after crashing hard in practice and being examined at a local hospital.

Because he didn’t qualify the car, Stewart will have to fall from the 13th spot on the grid to the rear of the 43-car field. J.J. Yeley qualified the Chevrolet in which Stewart will try for a third consecutive series victory.

Nextel Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson won the pole with a fast lap of 188.147 mph. Johnson, who drove a Chevrolet, and Ryan Newman led six drivers who surpassed Jeff Gordon’s year-old track qualifying record of 186.942.

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Newman won the pole for today’s NASCAR Busch Series USG Durock 300 in Joliet. He went 186.438 mph. Kasey Kahne was second at 184.989, giving Dodge the front row.... Paul Tracy won the provisional pole for Sunday’s Champ Car World Series Indy, turning a fast lap of 58.887 seconds in a Lola-powered Ford Cosworth around the 1.775-mile, 11-turn temporary street course on the edge of downtown Toronto.

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Pro Basketball

Free agent Larry Hughes informed the Washington Wizards that he’s leaving them to join the Cleveland Cavaliers, the guard’s agent said.

The Boston Celtics and free agent forward Brian Scalabrinehave agreed to terms on a five-year contract. The Boston Herald reported that the deal was for just under $15 million. Scalabrine, a former USC product, spent four years with the New Jersey Nets.

The Milwaukee Bucks hired Terry Stotts as coach. An assistant with the Golden State Warriors last season, he coached the Atlanta Hawks for 1 1/2 seasons.

The Lakers’ request to talk to New Orleans Hornet assistant coach Jim Cleamons was denied by the Hornets, effectively eliminating him from consideration as a member of Phil Jackson’s staff.

Chris Bodaken, a Laker assistant coach who was let go after the season, will be brought back in an unspecified position that will probably include video coordination and scouting.

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Track and Field

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin ran his fastest 100 meters of the season, winning in 9.96 at the Golden Gala meet in Rome. Following Gatlin were Aziz Zakari of Ghana in 10.06, and American Leonard Scott in 10.11.

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Pro Hockey

Former Mighty Duck Coach Mike Babcock is a step closer to becoming coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

Dave Lewis, Detroit’s coach the last two seasons, will not return, Red Wing General Manager Ken Holland announced at a news conference.

Babcock, who turned down a one-year offer by the Ducks on Wednesday, is in negotiations for a multi-year deal with the Red Wings, a source familiar with the situation said.

Representatives of the NHL and the players’ association will reconvene today in New York to resume work on a new collective bargaining agreement, a league spokesman said on Friday during a break in negotiations.

Sources said negotiators today will finish the few remaining additions to what they’ve agreed upon in principle. Discussion of proposed rule changes and transitional rules that will take the NHL from its old labor deal to a dramatically new agreement were at the forefront the past few days.

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Tennis

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal beat fifth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the semifinals at the Swedish Open at Bastad. He will play third-seeded Tommy Robredo, who rallied to defeat sixth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Second-seeded Gaston Gaudio needed eight match points to defeat Andreas Seppi, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5), and reach the semifinals of the Swiss Open at Gstaad. He will play seventh-seeded Nicolas Massu, who beat Luis Horna, 6-4, 6-4.

Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will be the only highly ranked American representing her country this weekend when the U.S. plays defending champion Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals at Moscow. Williams is ranked eighth in the world, two spots behind her sister, Serena.

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Miscellany

Security will be tightened for Sunday’s cricket international between England and Australia, and the Formula One British Grand Prix after more than 50 people were killed in Thursday’s bomb blasts in London.

A spokeswoman for the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that the match at Lord’s in central London would go ahead with metal detectors employed to search spectators.