Michael Waltrip wins NASCAR truck race at Daytona

By Staff and wire reports

Feb. 18, 2011 12 AM PT

Michael Waltrip won at Daytona International Speedway Friday night on the 10-year anniversary of his first NASCAR victory, the one marred by the death of Dale Earnhardt.

Waltrip passed Elliott Sadler in the closing stretch of the season-opening trucks series race, then celebrated an emotional victory a decade after his car owner died on the last lap of the Daytona 500.

Waltrip, who became the 22nd driver to win races in each of NASCAR’s top three series, had tears in his eyes as he talked about what the win meant.

“This day was hard,” Waltrip said. “I’ve been emotional all day long.”

---

Dennis Rodman, Jamaal Wilkes and Tex Winter were among 12 finalists announced for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rodman was the flamboyant rebounder who won five NBA titles with Chicago and Detroit; Wilkes won four NBA titles with Golden State and the Lakers after starring at UCLA; and Winter was the architect of the triangle and triple-post offense.

“I am truly humbled, privileged and honored,” said Wilkes, who attended the announcement in Los Angeles, site of this weekend’s All-Star game.

The other finalists are former NBA stars Maurice Cheeks, Chris Mullin and Ralph Sampson, five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards, Stanford women’s Coach Tara VanDerveer, former NBA coach Dick Motta, Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee, college referee Hank Nichols, and Al Attles, the current vice president and assistant general manager of the Golden State Warriors.

---

The NFL and its players’ union met for about six hours with a federal mediator. Friday’s session included NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and union Executive Director DeMaurice Smith.

It is the sides’ first meeting in front of George Cohen, the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency.

---

Andy Roddick overcame a shaky start and beat Lleyton Hewitt, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships at Memphis, Tenn.

The top-seeded Roddick needed 2 hours 13 minutes to win his sixth straight match against the Australian and leads their all-time series, 7-6. He will play Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who beat American Michael Russell, 6-4, 6-2.

American Mardy Fish was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over defending champion Sam Querrey.

---

Caroline Wozniacki regained the No. 1 ranking after beating Shahar Peer of Israel to reach the semifinals of the Dubai Championships.

---

Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic broke her own world record in winning the women’s 5,000 meters at a speedskating World Cup event at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.

Inoke Breckterfield, who coached at Montana last season, has been hired as UCLA’s defensive line coach. Breckterfield, 33, spent last season as the defensive line coach at Montana. He previously worked one season at a Weber State and spent three years as a graduate assistant at Oregon State.

— Chris Foster

Russ Cochran and Bernhard Langer shot eight-under-par 64s and shared the lead after the first round of the ACE Group Classic at Naples, Fla.

---

A woman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for threatening to reveal a sexual tryst with basketball coach Rick Pitino unless he paid her millions in cash, luxury cars and a house.

Karen Cunagin Sypher cried intermittently and gave a short, incoherent statement during the hearing before being sentenced to 87 months in prison.

Vladimir Guerrero signed an $8 million, 1-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

---

Dave Duerson, a four-time Pro Bowl safety who played with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, has died. He was 50. See obituary, AA6.