Gateway hires interim boss

Terry Harmeson has been named interim vice president and general manager at Gateway International Raceway, Dover Motorsports president and chief executive officer Denis McGlynn announced Thursday. Harmeson replaces Lenny Batycki, who resigned at the end of September. Harmeson, who has 35 years of operational experience, had been vice president of design and construction with the parent track in Dover, Del., for seven years.

"We are pleased that Terry has agreed to take the reins at Gateway," McGlynn said in a statement. "Terry possesses the organizational, management and leadership skills we seek for Gateway as we expand the major event schedule and streamline our operations there."

GIR recently added a second NASCAR Nationwide Series race, on Oct. 23, 2010, after Dover closed Memphis Motorsports Park on Oct. 30. That gives the Madison track three NASCAR races, including the July 16-17 doubleheader with the truck series and Nationwide cars. The dragstrip hosts the NHRA Midwest Nationals April 30-May 2, 2010.

(Ken Roberts)



Woods is tied for lead —Tiger Woods putted for birdie on every hole but the last one. He birdied all the par 5s and despite a bogey on his final hole in Melbourne, he put together a round of 6-under 66 to share the Australian Masters lead after one round with James Nitties and Branden Grace.

Tournament officials said 21,356 people came through the turnstiles, an enormous crowd for the size of this golf course. Most of them scooped up tickets months ago after learning that Woods, the world's No. 1 golfer, would compete in Australia for the first time in 11 years. (AP)



Also in golf — Justin Rose shot a 7-under 65 to take a 1-stroke lead over Rickie Fowler, Greg Owen and Casey Wittenberg after the first round of the PGA's Children's Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. ... Song-Hee Kim shot a 7-under 65 to take a 2-stroke lead over Jiyai Shin, Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe after the first round of the LPGA's Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. (AP)

Tyson could go to jail — Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who was arrested in a scuffle with a photographer, could be sent to jail if he's found to have violated probation from a 2007 drug case, officials said. Tyson and a photographer, Tony Echeverria, made citizens' arrests of each other following a confrontation at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport. Each man claimed the other struck him.

The men were taken away for booking on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. They were fingerprinted and photographed, then released without bail. The city attorney will decide whether to file criminal charges. (AP)



Elsewhere — Andy Murray lost to Radek Stepanek 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Rafael Nadal survived another three-setter to beat Tommy Robredo 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the third round of the Paris Masters tennis tourney. Novak Djokovic and defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced. ... Chiney Ogwumike, rated as the top prospect in women's college basketball and the younger sister of Cardinal sophomore Nnemkadi Ogwumike, signed a letter of intent to play at Stanford starting in the 2010-11 season. (AP)