Auto Racing

Twenty drivers took part in a NASCAR-sponsored test session at Talladega Superspeedway in an effort to find a way to make racing at big tracks safer.

NASCAR had drivers try several difficult aerodynamic-restrictor plate combinations in race-like situations. Drivers complained recently that the plates had taken away throttle response, leaving them without the ability to get out of dangerous situations.

A fan died when electrocuted and his son and a woman were seriously injured while taking down a banner at their campsite near Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., authorities said.

Bradley McNeice, 42, of Goodrich, Mich., was killed instantly in the Sunday morning accident as he was loading his camper after the Sharpie 500 NASCAR race Saturday night.

McNeice, his 16-year-old son, William McNeice, and Christina Ulman, 45, of Fair Haven, Mich., were taking down a banner on a 20-foot pole when it became entangled in power lines.

A race car driver died when dust cut visibility and he crashed at the dirt track at Sertoma Motorplex in Tularosa, N.M. Michael Josselyn died Saturday at Thomason Hospital in El Paso, Texas. The 45-year-old driver is well-known on the regional dirt track circuit.

University Games

Juan Dixon of Maryland scored 21 points to lead the U.S. men’s basketball team to a 91-62 victory over Britain in the World University Games at Beijing. In other men’s games, China defeated Canada, 79-73, getting 21 points from Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks.

The U.S. women’s team defeated Russia, 79-68, with Chantelle Anderson of Vanderbilt and Shereka Wright of Purdue each finishing with 15 points.

Miscellany

About 1 million youngsters 12 through 17 have taken performance-enhancing sports supplements including creatine, a insurer’s survey suggested.

The survey results, released by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, are based on random telephone interviews with 785 youngsters last month.

Pennsylvania State University epidemiologist Charles Yesalis, who has studied supplement use, said the numbers are hardly surprising and if anything, an underestimate.

*

A 15-year-old Texas student who died shortly after football practice had a heart attack and his death was not related to heat stress or drugs.

The preliminary findings regarding Steven Taylor’s death Aug. 17 were announced by Garland Grice, a county official who handles autopsy reports.

*

Douglas Grant, the head of the Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association and a former paralympian, was killed when he was hit by a car as he rode a modified bicycle near his home at Manitoba, Canada.

*

Elias F. Ghanem, who as chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission presided over the Mike Tyson ear-biting case, died at his home in Las Vegas. (Story, B11).