ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks are expected to hire Larry Drew as their next head coach.
Drew was picked after a search that also included interviews with former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey. Instead, the Hawks are going with the lead assistant under former coach Mike Woodson, who was let go last month after six seasons in Atlanta.
The 52-year-old Drew is a former point guard who played in the NBA for 10 seasons. An official announcement is expected be made early next week.
Driver Parker killed in crash
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — Drag racer Neal Parker ran through a containment area at the end of a track and died of head injuries after crashing his alcohol-fueled funny car at a “high rate of speed” during a qualifying round at the NHRA SuperNationals at a New Jersey raceway.
Parker, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was 58.
• Kurt Busch took the pole for Sunday’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway with an average speed of 189.984 mph, his second pole of the Sprint Cup season. Jamie McMurray will start second.
Westwood, Willis share lead
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lee Westwood scrambled to birdie his final three holes in grabbing a share of a one-stroke lead with Garrett Willis after the second round of the St. Jude Classic.
Westwood had a one-stroke lead after his opening 65, but the world’s No. 3-ranked player dropped two strokes off the pace with two bogeys. He rolled in a 26-footer for birdie on No. 17, and then hit a 9-iron within 4 feet for a 68 that tied him with Willis (68) at 9-under 131.
Charley Hoffman was a stroke back after a 65.
• Westwood will be in a threesome with Tiger Woods and Ernie Els at next week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
• M.J. Hur had two chip-in birdies in a second consecutive 6-under 66 that gave her a one-shot lead over Amy Yang (65— 133) after the second round of the LPGA’s State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill.
• Thomas Bjorn and Carlos Del Moral shot 7-under 65s for a share of the second-round lead of the Estoril Open in Portugal at 12-under 132.
Footnotes.
Receiver Miles Austin signed his $3.168 million contract tender with the Dallas Cowboys.
• Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
• Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels signed his tender.
• Former Detroit Red Wings coach Bobby Kromm died of complications from colon cancer Wednesday — one day after his 82nd birthday — in Livonia, Mich.
• Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik underwent sports hernia surgery and will need four to six weeks of rehabilitation.
• Former Colorado State star Becky Hammon scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars to an 87-75 WNBA victory over the Tulsa Shock.
• Daniel Navarro won the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine with a solo effort in the last 25 miles in Grenoble, France, while Janez Brajkovic retained the overall lead.
