Dick Trickle, a former NASCAR driver whose larger-than-life personality and penchant for fun won him legions of fans despite a lack of success beyond the nation's small tracks, died Thursday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said. He was 71.
The Lincoln County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office said authorities received a call believed to be from Trickle, who said “there would be a dead body and it would be his.” Authorities tried to call the number back, but no one answered.
Trickle’s body was found near his pickup truck at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boger City, N.C., about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte. A sheriff’s lieutenant said foul play was not suspected.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed."
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Trickle earned his reputation as a successful short track driver before joining the Winston Cup series and earning rookie of the year in 1989 at age 48.
He competed in more than 300 Cup races. Although he never won a Cup race and won just two Busch Series races, Trickle earned cult status.
Former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine said there was only one way to describe Trickle, a native of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
“Fun,” Bodine said. “Just plain fun.”
COLLEGES
The Maryland women’s basketball team will host Ohio State on Dec. 5 in next season’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the school announced. The Terrapins are 6-0 all-time in the event, the only team in either conference to remain undefeated.
Last year, the Terrapins won at No. 19 Nebraska, 91-70.
It will be the fifth meeting between the Terrapins and the Buckeyes, with the series tied at two.
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In other ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, Virginia Tech will travel to Indiana on Dec. 4 and Virginia will host Michigan on Dec. 5. ...
— Matt Bonesteel
Junior running back Clifton Richardson has been granted a release from his scholarship and will leave Virginia. Richardson had an injury-plagued sophomore campaign in 2012, but was in the mix for playing time in the backfield next season along with classmates Kevin Parks and Khalek Shepherd and incoming five-star recruit Taquan Mizzell. However, Richardson ended spring practice third on the depth chart and it appears the logjam convinced him to transfer.
— Mark Giannotto
misc.
The Washington Redskins announced that they have signed seventh-round pick Jawan Jamison, a running back out of Rutgers.
Washington selected Jamison with the 228th pick of the 2013 draft. Terms of the deal were not released, but Jamison's salary will be similar to that of last year's 228th overall pick, Jacksonville's Jeris Pendleton, who signed a four-year, $2.15 million contract.
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The 5-foot-8, 203-pound Jamison rushed for a combined 1,972 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons at Rutgers.
The Redskins have signed four of their seven draft picks ...
The Redskins and New York Giants have both had exploratory talks regarding the services of free agent running back Tim Hightower, who last played for the Redskins during the 2012 preseason, two people with knowledge of the situation said.
It wasn’t immediately clear how serious the Redskins’ interest is, but the Giants held talks with Hightower earlier this month and were expected to meet with him again “in a couple weeks,” one person said.
The second person said they weren’t sure how close either team was to signing Hightower, however.
— Mike Jones
Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson is the winner of the WNBA Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.
The award includes a $10,000 gift from the WNBA to the recipient’s charity of choice. Lawson, a former West Springfield High and Tennessee star, requested that the money go to the Pat Summitt Foundation, dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Lawson is honorary co-chair of the foundation’s advisory board.
— From news services
and staff reports
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