Motorsports Son, team carry on [AP photo] Dale Earnhardt Jr. tries to focus and Dale Sr.'s car owner, Richard Childress, does what the late driver asked of him. Earnhardt had broken lap belt A doctor says the NASCAR star would have had "a different set of injuries" had it worked, but whether he would have survived might never be known. Open letter from Teresa Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt's widow sent this letter to USA Today so she could speak to his fans around the world: Before tragedy, Junior reflects on dad This column appeared Oct. 18 on NASCAR.com: 'Poor way to honor' A vending machine in Caldwell, Ohio, featuring a life-sized photo of Dale Earnhardt was stolen in the wake of Earnhardt's death, a deputy investigating the crime said. Head of racing equipment company under fire Bill Simpson, a former professional driver, says he has received death threats because his business made the seat belt Earnhardt was wearing. Biffle learns fast, takes pole at Rockingham ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Greg Biffle, last season's Craftsman Truck series champion, won the pole position for today's Alltel 200 with a record lap of 156.368 mph. It is his first career Busch Grand National pole.

Devil Rays/baseball
Arm in good health, feet on the ground
Bill Pulsipher has been a future star and a bust. Now he wants to be a solid major-leaguer.

Boggs instructs enthusiastically
ST. PETERSBURG -- After 18 seasons as one of the game's best hitters, Wade Boggs jumped into his new career as Rays hitting coach with the kind of enthusiasm and oomph the franchise needs.

Tino Martinez just wants to hit
TAMPA -- Tino Martinez is not worried about the possibility people might associate a strong season with the fact the first baseman is in the final year of his contract.

Boxing
Jones’ opponents criticized
Critics say their quality is suspect. The fighter, supporters say his record stands on its own.

Strategy leads Frissina to bantamweight title
TAMPA -- From the opening bell Pete Frissina went for Arthur Johnson's body. Shot after shot, round after round. The question became whether he would be around long enough to benefit from his strategy.

Colleges
Pressure building on Crum
At every level of coaching, there's a theory that states: When you're hired, you're also fired; it's just a matter of when.

No. 14 Alabama at No. 7 Florida

It’s open season in ACC
Sylvia Hatchell and Kay Yow have spent a combined 40 years in the ACC. So when the legendary coaches talk about trends and happenings in the conference, it's tough to question their assessment.

UAB 72, South Florida 57
Deanna Jackson scored 36 and had 16 rebounds to lead the host Blazers past the Bulls. The win means UAB can clinch fourth place in C-USA and a first-round bye in next week's conference tournament with a win Sunday against Houston.

Ex-USF tackle Condron arrested
Former USF tackle Joe Condron was arrested near Brooksville late Tuesday night and charged with felony possession of marijuana and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gasparilla Distance Classic
Race for the ages
About 14,000 people will participate in the Gasparilla Distance Classic today, and each one has a story. Here are eight of them, one from each of eight decades, ranging from 12-year-old Lexi MacKinnon, a Gasparilla first-timer who will run the 5K, to 80-year-old Millard Shumate, who has never missed the 15K in 23 previous Gasparillas.

Lightning
Rookie defender has big impact
Kristian Kudroc has impressed the Lightning with physical and smart play.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
Anticipation keeps fishing exciting. The annual migration of baitfish should begin with increased water temperatures. Following baitfish will be Spanish mackerel and kingfish. These open ocean swimmers are always a welcome addition to our local waters.

Et cetera
Sports briefs
Packers waive LB Williams

Preps
After mediocre start, Bogie saves its season
Hovering around the .500 mark for much of the season with a young team struggling to find an identity, Boca Ciega failed to be a factor for the first time in several seasons. Unlike Clearwater, Lakewood, Largo and St. Petersburg Catholic, teams that spent much of the season ranked in the polls while preparing to play deep into February, Bogie plodded along, showing occasional signs of life but struggling mightily with the giants on its schedule.

Brandon clinches another state title
LAKELAND -- Brandon clinched its 12th state title Friday by placing three wrestlers in the finals and having 12 more still alive.

Odd play spoils chances for Panthers' first win
INVERNESS -- It will never be known whether a controversial call in the third inning was the reason behind Lecanto's 6-3 loss to Citrus Friday night, but it sure cost the Panthers their best chance to secure that elusive first win.

Bloomingdale seeks redemption
TALLAHASSEE -- For Bloomingdale's girls and coach Sue Peet, today's Class 4A state final brings about a second chance. When Bloomingdale kicks off against DeLand (22-4-2) at the FSU Soccer Complex at 3 p.m., the Bulls will look to evict a ghost that has haunted them for nearly 10 years.

Today's prep soccer finals
Class 2A boys

Warhawks top national poll
Baseball America released its top 50 national rankings for high school teams. Seminole is ranked No. 1 and Dunedin No. 4. Seminole beat Dunedin last week 7-2.

Eight set to grapple for glory
Eight North Suncoast wrestlers advance to today's state finals; Springstead still in hunt for title.

Knights overcome baserunning blunder
Greg Esteves escapes a pickoff attempt to help River Ridge defeat Ridgewood 4-3.

State title match a family affair
LAKELAND -- Cesar Grajales Jr. and Alex Enriquez walked through the Lakeland Center side by side, arms over each other's shoulders as they celebrated their semifinal victories Friday night.

CCC rallies from two-goal deficit but loses
TAMPA -- Clearwater Central Catholic was 16 minutes into its Class A state semifinal against Plantation American Heritage when it had a decision to make. Down two goals, CCC could either pack it in or try to battle back.

Clearwater perseveres in semifinal
TAMPA -- There were times this season when Clearwater coach Bruce Toscani felt his team outplayed its opponent only to lose. After the first half of Friday's Class 3A state semifinal against Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee, Toscani started getting that sinking feeling.

Boys basketball regional semis
Boca Ciega (18-10) at Port Charlotte (20-10)

It's not deja vu for Marauders
CCC loses another game 2-1, this time to Plantation American Heritage in the Class A semis.

Clearwater advances to 3A title game
TAMPA -- There were times this season when Clearwater coach Bruce Toscani felt his team outplayed its opponent only to lose the game. After the first half of Friday's Class 3A state semifinal against Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee, Toscani started getting that sinking feeling.