IN BRIEF

MOTOR SPORTS

Sorenson exits Ganassi for Gillett Evernham

Reed Sorenson isn't waiting for Chip Ganassi Racing to figure out the Car of Tomorrow.

The 22-year-old driver signed a multiyear contract to join Gillett Evernham Motorsports next season, where he'll join Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler.

Sorenson said his decision to leave Ganassi, where he began his NASCAR career as a precocious 18-year-old, was difficult but necessary.

"I'm going over here to try to make myself a better racecar driver," Sorenson said during a conference call Tuesday. "I wanted to be more competitive, and I wanted to have some more opportunities to win races and things like that."

Also: The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will be around at least three more years with a new format that places the emphasis on the four manufacturers in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 7 will have a field of 24 cars representing the top six teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota. It will be based on the final 2008 car owner points.

MISCELLANEOUS

LPGA: All players must be fluent in English

The LPGA Tour boasts players from all over the world, and it wants all of them to be able to speak English.

The LPGA will require players to speak English starting in 2009, with players who have been LPGA members for two years facing suspension if they can't pass an oral evaluation of English skills. The rule is effective immediately for new players.

"Why now? Athletes now have more responsibilities, and we want to help their professional development," deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said. "There are more fans, more media and more sponsors. We want to help our athletes as best we can succeed off the golf course as well as on it."

Also: Camilo Villegas of Colombia won a chip-off against Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Stewart Cink, and Notah Begay III to walk away with top money at the inaugural Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge at Verona, N.Y.

Villegas' winning pitch on the extra hole of the skins game competition boosted his earnings for the day to $220,000. Singh won two holes to finish with $180,000, and Cink finished with one skin worth $100,000 from the total purse of $500,000.

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died while on a trip to the Oregon coast to host a free basketball clinic. He was 44.

The Lincoln County sheriff's office confirmed the death. He died Monday.

The 7-foot Duckworth averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons in the NBA, helping Portland reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. The two-time All-Star also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Former NBA player Wayman Tisdale had part of his right leg amputated Monday because of bone cancer.

Tisdale, 44, revealed on his Web site that the surgery was scheduled for Monday. His wife, Regina, confirmed Tuesday the surgery took place as planned.

Sophomore Colin Kaepernick will start at quarterback for UNR in the Wolf Pack's home opener Saturday against Grambling State, coach Chris Ault said.

Kaepernick became the starter last year when Nick Graziano was lost for the season with a foot injury in the fifth game and went on to be named the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.

The remains of Eight Belles, the filly who was euthanized after finishing second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby in May, have been buried at Churchill Downs.

A wooden box containing Eight Belles' remains was buried at the Kentucky Derby Museum during a quiet ceremony Monday.