NASCAR@CHICAGOLAND
Stewart drives away
Joe Gibbs Racing will release Tony Stewart from his contract at the end of the season, ending an incredibly successful decade in which they won two NASCAR championships. Stewart, of Columbus, Ind., was expected to address JGR employees Wednesday at Chicagoland Speedway, but his release was announced by the team.
Tour de France
Schumacher holds onto lead
Mark Cavendish of Britain won a sprint to take the longest stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, and Stefan Schumacher of Germany retained the overall lead. Cavendish beat Oscar Freire of Spain and veteran sprinter Erik Zabel of Germany on the line in the fifth stage, completing the flat, 144-mile run from Cholet to Chateauroux in 5 hours, 27 minutes, 52 seconds.
Franchitti back to racing
Dario Franchitti will be back behind the wheel in a NASCAR race this weekend when he races in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland Speedway. Franchitti will pilot the No. 40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing. Ganassi shuttered Franchitti’s Sprint Cup Series team last week because of a lack of funding. But Ganassi has sponsorship for his Nationwide car until a long-term plan is reached.
