NASCAR penalizes Newman race teamCHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR levied harsh penalties against Ryan Newman's race team after determining Richard Childress Racing manipulated the tires Newman used at Auto Club Speedway in California.There had been rampant speculation throughout the Sprint Cup garage that teams were drilling tiny holes in their tires to allow air to escape during a race. The process is known as “bleeding tires” and NASCAR last week at Martinsville Speedway warned crew chiefs about the penalties that would be levied against any team caught.Newman's crew chief Luke Lambert was fined $125,000 and suspended for the next six races.

Fired Texas coach lands at TennesseeKNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When he gave his farewell press conference after an unwanted exit from Texas, Rick Barnes predicted he'd be coaching again “quicker than you probably think.”Barnes' move from one shade of orange to another became official Tuesday when Barnes was introduced as Tennessee's new men's basketball coach.Barnes agreed to terms on a six-year contract that will pay him $2.25 million annually. The 60-year-old will be Tennessee's fourth coach in six seasons.

Butler grad Fennell Hitter of WeekCALIFORNIA, Pa. — Butler graduate and California (Pa.) University junior outfielder Mick Fennell has been named PSAC West Hitter of the Week.Fennell had nine hits in 17 at bats in helping the Vulcans win three of four games. He scored six runs, collected four RBI and homered for the lone run in a 1-0 victory.Fennell ranks fourth in the PSAC with a .446 batting average this season, is among the league leaders with 28 runs scored and is riding a 19-game hitting streak.

SRU names Griggs women’s soccer coachSLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University has named Jessica Griggs as its new head women’s soccer coach.A former Shippensburg assistant coach, Griggs led Division III Northland (Wisc.) to an 11-9-1 record in her lone season as head coach there last year.Griggs replaces Noreen Herlihy, who accepted a Division I coaching post at Akron after spending 20 seasons at The Rock.

SRU’s Taylor named Field Athlete of WeekSLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University javelin specialist Sam Taylor has been named PSAC Female Field Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week.Taylor won the javelin — among a field of Division I throwers — at the Adidas Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State University. Her winning throw of 152 feet, 10 inches is the best in the PSAC this season by more than 11 feet.