Stock Car Owner Hendrick Facing Bribery Charges

Rick Hendrick, whose cars have won the last two NASCAR Winston Cup championships, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in Asheville, N.C., on federal charges of conspiring to bribe Honda executives to get more Honda cars and dealerships for his auto empire.

Hendrick Motorsports fields three NASCAR teams, which have won more than 60 races since 1984. Jeff Gordon won the Winston Cup title last year and Terry Labonte did it this year, with Gordon finishing second.

Hendrick, 47, owns or controls 66 auto and truck dealerships. He was indicted on 13 counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud.

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In opening arguments in U.S. District Court in Detroit, federal prosecutors said former Tiger pitcher Denny McLain and a business partner ran a scheme to take $3 million from the pension fund of a meatpacking plant for business debts and personal use.

But attorneys for McLain and his partner, Roger Smigiel, said they were used as fall guys by financial advisor Jeffrey Egan, who is aiding the prosecution.

Baseball

Baseball’s proposed labor deal hit snags involving bonus money and free agent rules, causing a delay of a ratification vote.

Lawyers worked to try to resolve problems in two areas: a $2.5-million dispute in 1996 postseason bonus money and deadline dates for 14 players who will gain free agent rights.

Union head Donald Fehr said he expected a ratification vote today.

The Baltimore Orioles offered arbitration to left-handed pitcher David Wells. . . . The Cleveland Indians are expected to offer arbitration to relief pitcher Eric Plunk but not to veteran pitchers Dennis Martinez and Kent Mercker, catcher Tony Pena or first baseman Mark Carreon. . . . Willie McGee, 38, agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . Montreal Expo Manager Felipe Alou, 61, underwent an outpatient procedure to correct an enlarged prostate gland. . . . Outfielder Thomas Howard, released last week by the Cincinnati Reds, agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with the Houston Astros. . . . The Boston Red Sox acquired hard-throwing Dominican pitcher Robinson Perez Checo from Japan’s Hiroshima Toyo Carp for cash.

Tennis

Andre Agassi, who has struggled for about three months, gave himself six weeks off after losing, 6-3, 6-4, to Mark Woodforde in the Grand Slam Cup in Munich, Germany.

Agassi won the gold medal at the Olympics and reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open in September, but his record since is 2-4. He has already said he will skip the Australian Open in January.

Two weeks ago, he showed up at the ATP Tour World Championship in Hanover, Germany. He lost to Pete Sampras, 6-2, 6-1, and then dropped out, saying he was sick.

Boxing

Dino Duva, promoter for World Boxing Council welterweight champion Pernell Whitaker, said no contract has been signed but “as far as I’m concerned the deal is done” for Whitaker to fight WBC super lightweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in May if the two get past earlier opponents.

Volleyball

USC defeated Southeast Missouri State, 15-2, 15-5, 15-1, at the Lyon Center in the first round of the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament.

Vesna Dragicevic had 13 kills and Jennifer Kessy 10 to lead the Trojans (20-8), who play at South Florida (27-4) on Saturday in the second round.

Miscellany

Soccer’s world governing body is considering a proposal to pull the men’s game out of the Olympics and set up an under-23 world championship.

The issue goes before FIFA’s executive committee meeting Saturday in Barcelona and could eventually wipe the men’s game from the Olympic program.

DuPont has ended its seven-year involvement with the Tour duPont bicycle race, leaving the 1,100-mile event next May without a title sponsor and perhaps in jeopardy.

Names in the News

The four participants of the JCPenney/LPGA Skins Game on May 24 at Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas, have been announced. They are defending champion Laura Davies, Dottie Pepper, Annika Sorenstam and rookie Karri Webb.

D.G. Van Clief Jr. was elected to succeed James E. Bassett III, who will retire Dec. 31 as president of Breeders’ Cup Limited. . . . Larry Smith, 45, amid troubles in the Canadian Football League, resigned as commissioner after 4 1/2 years on the job.