Race Driver Baldwin Is Killed in Accident

Race car driver Tommy Baldwin was killed in a crash at Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, Conn., during a NASCAR Featherlite modified race.

Baldwin, 57, of Moriches, N.Y., is the father of Tommy Baldwin Jr., the crew chief for Nextel Cup rookie standout Kasey Kahne. He died at Hubbard Hospital in Webster, Mass., after Thursday night’s accident.

Baldwin tried to avoid a collision with several cars coming out of a turn, state police said. His car went into the infield and struck three concrete blocks near a light post.

Baldwin’s car was struck by a second car, driven by Ronald Silk, that had gone out of control and ended in the infield.

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A steady rain washed out qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, and the field was filled mostly by car-owner points. Series leader Jimmie Johnson and runner-up Jeff Gordon will start in the front row.

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Tennis

Top-seeded Andre Agassi defeated Paul-Henri Mathueu, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the semifinals of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington for the seventh consecutive year.

Second-seeded Lleyton Hewitt advanced with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory over seventh-seeded Cyril Saulnier. He will play fourth-seeded Robby Ginepri, a 6-3, 7-6 (3) winner over Raemon Sluiter. Agassi will play Gilles Muller, who beat Michel Kratochvil, 7-5, 6-7 (7-8), 6-2.

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Pro Football

The Miami Dolphins have asked Ricky Williams to return $8.6 million they say the running back owes the team because he decided to retire. The request and the amount were confirmed by a league source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.... Linebacker Sedrick Hodge of the New Orleans Saints has been suspended for four games by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy.

Philadelphia running back Correll Buckhalter probably will be out for the season after tearing a tendon in his right knee during the first quarter of the Eagles’ 26-17 exhibition victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia.... Rookie Matt Schaub threw three touchdown passes to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta.... Quinn Gray threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Hatchette, and Rich Alexis scored on a one-yard run to give the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars a 14-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Golf

David Toms finished his rain-delayed first round at the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio, Friday morning with a double bogey. He finished the second round with a four-under-par 66 just ahead of a downpour that made Firestone South unplayable. He is the clubhouse leader at five-under 135.... Suzann Pettersen shot a four-under 68 to take a one-shot lead at the Wendy’s Championship for Children at Dublin, Ohio. She is at nine-under 135.

Mark Lye birdied five of his first eight holes and shot a six-under 66 for a one-stroke lead over Bobby Wadkins after the first round of the Greater Hickory Classic at Conover, N.C..... Ryan Moore moved into the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur with a 3 and 2 victory over Jason Hartwick at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Moore will play Jeff Overton, who advanced with a 2 up victory over Andrew Svoboda. In the other semifinal, Chris Nallen plays Luke List. Nallen beat Dayton Rose, 6 and 5. List beat Danny Green, 3 and 2.

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Miscellany

Former King Ziggy Palffy and the Mighty Ducks’ Sergei Fedorov have withdrawn from the upcoming World Cup of hockey.

Palffy, who was to play for Slovakia, will skip the tournament because he is not completely healthy and because he has insurance concerns, said Paul Kraus, his agent. Palffy is an unrestricted free agent. Fedorov will not play because of nagging injuries, a hockey source said.

The Clippers signed free-agent center Mikki Moore. A six-year veteran, Moore averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 32 games last season for the New Jersey Nets and Utah Jazz.

Pete Rose is in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, which says the baseball great owes nearly $1 million in unpaid taxes. The IRS filed a federal tax lien in Miami alleging that baseball’s all-time hits leader owes $973,693.28 in back taxes from 1997 to 2002.

Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez, a top-rated welterweight contender in the 1970s who had been missing and homeless for the last decade, will be the honored guest at today’s Champions Luncheon at Stevens Steak House Restaurant in Commerce. Tickets are $30 for the event, which will honor 27 former world champs. Information: (818) 761-4887.