Source says Busch is set to join Joe Gibbs Racing

Kyle Busch has decided to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season and began informing other teams Monday of his decision.

A source close to Busch, 22, told the Associated Press that the driver had selected Gibbs after a seven-week search that began when Hendrick Motorsports released him to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season. The source requested anonymity because the deal was not finalized.

“Kyle has made his decision and is in the process of informing the teams of his preference,” said Jeff Dickerson, who represents Busch through Motorsports Management International.

“As there are many details that still need to be worked out, Kyle will not be making that decision public at this time.”

Two car owners, who requested anonymity, told AP that the driver informed them he had not selected their teams.

Gibbs fields cars for two-time series champion Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, who is in the final year of his contract and is expected to be replaced by Busch.

Busch has one victory in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series and is eighth in the standings and on pace to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Ray Evernham completed the sale of his NASCAR team to George Gillett Jr., owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, ending nearly six months of negotiations to bring on a partner.

Gillett becomes the majority owner of the team, which will be called Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Evernham, who won three titles as a crew chief, still has an ownership stake in the team he started in 2001.

BASKETBALL

Barnes signs to stay with Golden State

Forward Matt Barnes re-signed with Golden State, agreeing to a one-year deal expected to be worth slightly more than $3 million, the remainder of the Warriors’ mid-level salary-cap exemption.

Barnes, a four-year veteran who has played for five teams, had career-best averages of 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season.

Ten young NBA players will help the U.S. men’s basketball team prepare for the FIBA Americas Championship, an Olympic qualifying tournament to be played Aug. 22-Sept. 2 in Las Vegas.

USA Basketball announced its Select Team, which will scrimmage against the national team from Aug. 15-20 in Las Vegas.

The team is made up of Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Houston guard Aaron Brooks, Golden State guard Monta Ellis, Portland forward Channing Frye, Seattle forward Jeff Green, Dallas guard Devin Harris, Philadelphia swingman Andre Iguodala, Minnesota forward Al Jefferson, Toronto forward Jason Kapono and New York forward David Lee.

Yao Ming, the 7-foot-6 center of the Houston Rockets, married Ye Li, a 6-2 player on the Chinese women’s basketball team, in a ceremony at a hotel in his hometown of Shanghai.

JURISPRUDENCE

Woman testifies she lied

to police in punter’s case

A woman who dated a Northern Colorado backup punter accused of trying to kill the starter testified she lied to police at his request.

At first, Angela Vogel told police that Mitch Cozad was with her at the time starter Rafael Mendoza was stabbed, but she said she quickly regretted that lie and 15 minutes later told investigators Cozad had left for part of the evening.

Cozad, of Wheatland, Wyo., is on trial in Greeley, Colo., on charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the Mendoza stabbing Sept. 11. Police and prosecutors have alleged that Cozad attacked Mendoza in a bid to get the starter’s job.

Vogel said Cozad led her to believe that a player had been jumped by a group of people, and she didn’t learn Mendoza had been stabbed until police interviewed her the next day.

TENNIS

Hewitt beats Ferrero

in Rogers Cup match

In a matchup of former top-ranked players, Lleyton Hewitt beat Juan Carlos Ferrero, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the first round of the rain-delayed Rogers Cup at Montreal.

Qualifier Robin Haase, ranked 103rd, upset 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 7-5.

Nikolay Davydenko will play his first match in the Rogers Cup on Wednesday amid an investigation into irregular betting patterns on one of his matches.

The Assn. of Tennis Professionals said it had no plans to suspend the Russian star or ask him to sit out.

The ATP is looking into Davydenko’s match against Martin Vassallo Arguello last week at the Prokom Open in Poland.

The British online gambling company Betfair voided all bets on the match when it drew about $7 million in wagers, with most of the money on Arguello to win even after Davydenko won the first set, 6-2.

COLLEGE SPORTS

NCAA asks Ball State

to investigate further

The NCAA has asked Ball State officials to investigate new accusations of rules violations surrounding the men’s basketball program, including an allegation that the women’s volleyball coach was fired for reporting suspected infractions.

The latest allegations were outlined in a letter from the NCAA dated two days before Ronny Thompson’s resignation July 13 after one 9-22 season as coach. School officials said then that Thompson and his staff broke NCAA rules by attending voluntary off-season workouts the last two years, then lied about their involvement.

The Muncie (Ind.) Star Press reported Monday on the letter, which it obtained under an open-records request to the school.