Press Box: NASCAR reveals 2014 schedule
The 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule released Tuesday includes the traditional 36 points races and five non-points races.
The season opens with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23, and the "regular season" concludes at Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 6. The 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins the following weekend at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 14, with the finale scheduled for Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The biggest change to the weekly race lineup is Darlington Raceway's weekend moving up one month to April. 12. Kansas Speedway's event shifts from late April to May 10 and switches to a night race for the first time.
NASCAR also announced the Air Titan track-drying system will be required to be on site at every track in 2014. The system made its debut at Martinsville Speedway in April and was available at eight races this year.
BASEBALL
Manager Walt Weiss, who guided the Colorado Rockies' 10-win improvement this season, agreed to a three-year contract extension Tuesday.
"I am very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to lead this club as we work toward building a championship level team," Weiss said.
Weiss took the job last Nov. 8 under a one-year contract. The Rockies were a surprise contender in the National League West through the first three months of the season and were in first place as late as May 27 before key injuries were too much to overcome. Their 74-88 final record left them last in the division for the second straight year -- the first time in club history the Rockies posted consecutive last-place finishes.
--Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn underwent minor surgery on his left hamstring. Bourn initially injured the hamstring while attempting to steal second base during the regular-season finale on Sept. 29. He played three days later in the Indians' wild-card loss to Tampa Bay.
Bourn is scheduled to begin rehabilitation in his home town of Houston this week and to begin his offseason training program in four to six weeks.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
With the University of Kansas off to an 2-3 start (0-2 in Big 12 play), head coach Charlie Weis announced changes in the responsibilities of his staff Tuesday.
Weis will continue to serve as his own offensive coordinator, but he is delegating portions of the role. Tight ends coach Jeff Blasko is now in charge of the running game and blocking, while quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus will head up the passing game.
