Deal to replace Hamlin blows up

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A deal to loan Mark Martin to Joe Gibbs Racing as a replacement driver for injured Denny Hamlin fell apart Friday, when Michael Waltrip Racing said Martin will fulfill his commitment to their team.

The announcement from MWR came 24 hours after JGR said Martin would take over the No. 11 Toyota next weekend at Martinsville and drive the car until Hamlin returns from a fractured vertebra in his lower back. Hamlin is expected to miss at least five races.

It means Martin can now drive Hamlin’s car only at Martinsville, a track not on his schedule. Brian Vickers, who drives for JGR in the Nationwide Series, was scheduled to drive Martin’s car for MWR at Martinsville.

It’s believed a deal between the teams to swap Martin for Vickers in the Sprint Cup Series races had been completed, but JGR prematurely announced it before MWR sponsor Aaron’s had given its approval. No reason has been given why Aaron’s didn’t approve the swap.

Errors are UNM softball’s undoing

SAN DIEGO — New Mexico pitching has yet to allow an earned run in its two softball games with host San Diego State. And yet the Lobos lost both.

On Friday, the Aztecs beat UNM 5-1 on the strength of a five-run sixth inning, all runs unearned after an error by shortstop Jordyn Bledsoe. For the second game in a row, a UNM error broke a scoreless tie and was followed by a three-run homer.

The Lobos (16-22, 0-2 Mountain West) and Aztecs (21-12, 2-0) wrap up their series today.

NAU rescinds camp offers to Cardinals

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Northern Arizona University has rescinded its offers for the Arizona Cardinals to conduct training camp on the Flagstaff campus. The Arizona Daily Sun reported Friday that NAU President John Haeger says the school isn’t interested in a short-term deal with the NFL team.

The Cardinals and NAU officials reportedly were discussing both a one-year deal and a three-year deal before the university ended the negotiations.

The Cardinals now are talking with Glendale about moving their training camp to University of Phoenix Stadium and the nearby Glendale Youth Sports Complex.

Etc. …

KARATE: The Region X AAU Championships are scheduled today at the University of New Mexico Continuing Education building, 1634 University SE. Competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Admission for spectators is $5.

ATHLETICS: Usain Bolt tries to break his 150-meter world best in a street race Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Bolt set the 150 mark of 14.35 seconds in the streets of Manchester in 2009.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Associated Press reports that Miami filed a motion with the NCAA on Friday to have the case against its athletic department thrown out altogether, citing massive improprieties with how the investigation was conducted.