Wallace, Jarrett Get New Chiefs

Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett, two of NASCAR’s top drivers, have made crew chief changes--possible reactions to disappointing seasons.

Both drivers were expected to compete for the Winston Cup championship this season, but Jarrett finished fifth in the standings and Wallace was seventh.

Todd Parrott, who won a championship with Jarrett in 1999, said Thursday he was giving up his crew chief duties and would become team manager of the No. 88 Ford at Robert Yates Racing.

Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for Bobby Hamilton, will replace him.

The moves come one day after Wallace split with longtime crew chief Robin Pemberton. Pemberton will be replaced by Bill Wilburn.

College Athletics

Pierce College will bring back men’s basketball next fall and cancel men’s water polo, Athletic Director Bob Lyons said. The team will have a walk-on coach.

Miscellany

Although he lost in the second round of the Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, C.J. Hobgood of Satellite Beach, Fla., clinched the Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour title on Thursday. Eight surfers who were within striking distance of Hobgood for the world title were also eliminated in the second round.

Brazil’s upper house approved a report detailing financial irregularities by 17 of the country’s top soccer officials, paving the way for their prosecution.

The 1,600-page report includes allegations of money laundering, tax evasion and falsification of documents among other crimes. Analysts said it may also lead to the overhaul of the Brazilian Football Confederation.

Almost a fifth of the report concentrates on Ricardo Teixeira, federation president the last 12 years and on the executive committee of world ruling body FIFA.

Fortune Brands Inc.’s golfing unit Acushnet Co. was awarded a $1.68-million cash settlement in Fairhaven, Mass., from a lawsuit against R.J. Liou, Kent Graphtec, Kent International, Steven Almo and Golf Coast Inc., makers of knock-off versions of its Titleist and Cobra brand golf clubs.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe for Doug Atkins, the horse-racing executive, trainer and owner who died in Solana Beach on Nov. 29. Atkins, 76, had a long battle with cancer.