Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — MOTOR SPORTS

Hamlin fined for criticism

Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 by NASCAR on Thursday for criticizing the new Gen-6 race car after last week’s race at Phoenix, and the furious driver said he won’t pay. Hamlin compared the new race car unfavorably to last year’s car after his third-place finish, angering NASCAR officials who are concerned about the Gen-6 car’s public perception. Although Hamlin’s brief comments were barely noticed last weekend, NASCAR leveled a significant fine against him before Thursday’s open test of the new car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “Ultimately, I’m not OK with it,” Hamlin said outside his hauler after the morning test. “This is the most upset and angry I’ve been in a really, really long time about anything that relates to NASCAR. The truth is what the truth is, and I don’t believe in this. I’m never going to believe in it. And so as far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to pay the fine. If they suspend me, they suspend me at this point.” According to NASCAR rules, unpaid fines may be deducted from a driver’s purse or point fund earnings. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said Hamlin is allowed to appeal his fine.

BASKETBALL Steele tears ACL Mississippi State’s Jalen Steele will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee. The 6-3 junior injured the knee while driving to the basket late in the second half of the Bulldogs’ 79-72 loss to South Carolina on Wednesday.Steele has appeared in 18 games this season, starting 11. He is Mississippi State’s leading scorer with 10.1 points per game.

GOLF Woods tied for lead

Tiger Woods made nine birdies on the Blue Monster at Doral for a 6-under-par 66 in the Cadillac Championship in Doral, Fla., that put him in a five-way share of the lead with Masters champion Bubba Watson, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia and Freddie Jacobson. Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan were among those one shot behind. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy hit only three fairways and made six bogeys in a 73.

Andres Romero made two late bogeys Thursday to drop into a tie for the Puerto Rico Open lead with Cameron Percy at 7-under-par 65. Romero, the Argentine player who won the PGA Tour’s 2008 New Orleans event and the European Tour’s 2007 Deutsche Bank tournament, had an eagle and seven birdies on his first 15 holes to reach 9 under, then fell back with the bogeys on the par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth. Percy, from Australia, had nine birdies and two bogeys on the Trump International course in Rio Grande. Blayne Barber and Jon Curran were a stroke back, and two-time major champion Angel Cabrera opened with a 67 to match Bill Lunde. Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 68 with five birdies and a bogey. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) and Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) were at 70. Daly had five birdies and three bogeys. Ridings had an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had a hole in one on the 11th hole, two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

FOOTBALL Giants rework contracts

New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster and center David Baas have re-worked their contracts for the 2013 season with the team, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Giants haven’t announced the deals, told The Associated Press that the starters and the team just finished work on the contracts. NFL Network first reported the agreements and said Webster took a $3 million pay cut. He will earn $4 million in the final year of his contract. NFL Network also said Baas re-structured his five-year contract. He still will earn $4.25 million in his third year but his base pay was lowered to $1.25 million. The other $3 million will come as a signing bonus.

The San Diego Chargers have released linebacker Takeo Spikes. The 36-year-old Spikes has played 15 NFL seasons, including the past two with San Diego. He has started 215 of his 219 career games played, including all 32 with the Chargers. He has 1,737 career tackles, including 218 with the Chargers.

BASEBALL Furcal to have elbow surgery, miss season

JUPITER, Fla. - St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal will undergo ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow and expects to miss the 2013 season.

Furcal made the decision after visiting Dr. James Andrew’s clinic in Pensacola, Fla., on Wednesday.

“It’s very disappointing,” Furcal said. “I worked so hard in the off season to get everything straight, working hard with the doctors, the training team, we did anything we could do to get ready for spring training, ready for the season.”

Furcal strained the elbow ligament near the end of last season, keeping him out of the final few weeks and the Cardinals’ playoff run. There was a concern then that he’d have to undergo off season Tommy John surgery, but Furcal chose to try rehab instead.

When healthy, Furcal has one of the strongest arms among major league shortstops. He did participate in some Cardinals fielding drills during spring training, but never threw at 100 percent.

A bone spur in his elbow complicated Furcal’s rehab. He expects the bone spur will be removed at the same time he undergoes Tommy John surgery. An appointment for the operation by Andrews is not yet scheduled but Furcal and the club believe it will happen next week.

“I feel for him just knowing that it’s not something that he obviously wanted to go through,” St. Louis Manager Mike Matheny said. “He tried to do everything he could to stay away from this alternative Now we just hope everything goes well and he gets back as quick as he can.”