Clan-Members » 2).MYSTICS 88, WINGS 83ARLINGTON

LOUDON, N.H. -- He was one of NASCARs first superstars, but Fred Lorenzens memories of his Hall of Fame career have dimmed as he battles dementia. His Daytona 500 victory, the wins he piled up to become NASCARs first $100,000 driver, his life on the road, all have been largely extinguished.Lorenzen still has flickering moments when he remembers the days when he was NASCARs Golden Boy for his rugged, movie-star looks. Like in recent years, when he visits Chicago Speedway, not far from his assisted living facility.His face just lights up when hes there, said his daughter, Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom.Nearly 45 years after his last Cup race, Lorenzen hoped he would still make his mark on the NASCAR community. Inspired by Dale Earnhardt Jr.s decision to pledge his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Lorenzen became the second known driver to make the same decision.Gardstrom made it official Friday with a pledge to Legacy co-founder Chris Nowinski. As auto racing grapples with the issue of concussions and head trauma, one of NASCARs pioneers is now alongside Earnhardt in the donation queue.As a family, we decided we wanted to support Dale Junior and all work together toward a healthy future for these drivers, she told The Associated Press.Earnhardts concussion history -- he missed two races in 2012 -- spurred his decision to pledge his brain to the Legacy, a group that works with Boston University on research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative disease that doctors believe is caused by repeated blows to the head.Gardstrom is convinced the 81-year-old Lorenzen has CTE as a result from years of brutal wrecks and hits from the 1960s, one of the most dangerous eras in racing history. Lorenzen won the Daytona 500 in 1965.He never stopped to heal, she said.She wants to help, and knows her father does, too, and advance the understanding of concussions and their treatment in NASCAR.Its the younger generation that we really need to educate, she said. Theyre young, theyre hungry, but when they get in a wreck and get a concussion, they know if they dont get back in the car, someone else is going to take it. We want to change the culture of the sport.Earnhardt has become the face of concussion awareness in sports and will skip Sundays Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway because of concussion symptoms. There is no timetable on when NASCARs most popular driver might return.The 41-year-old Earnhardt had already intended to be an organ donor, so he said in April that giving up his brain made sense. Earnhardt said he was motivated by reading about three former Oakland Raiders who donated their brains in honor of teammate Ken Stabler. The quarterbacks brain showed signs of CTE.I think the protocols and the advances that we have made in trying to protect ourselves are great things, Earnhardt said at his pledge announcement. Im excited about what NASCAR has done. They have really taken this head on.Gardstrom felt the same sense of motivation when she read about Earnhardts pledge. She said Lorenzen, inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, first showed signs of dementia about a decade ago. He has memory loss and uses a wheelchair at Oak Brook Healthcare in Illinois.The Elmhurst, Illinois, native was one of NASCARs first stars to hail from outside the sports Southern roots.The hardest part right now is that his racing memories are starting to go, Gardstrom said. That was the one thing that was really wonderful, to connect and see him light up when he talked about racing.Shed like to see others in the sport talk more about concussions.That hasnt necessarily been a hot topic of conversation in any of our meetings, Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch said.Six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was part of a 54-member panel that picked Lorenzen for induction into the hall. Johnson has yet to consider donating his brain to the Legacy.I am an organ donor so it wouldnt bother me to do that, but its something Ive not taken steps in and have not discussed at all, he said.In the 15 years since Dale Earnhardts death at the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR introduced a series of measures designed to keep drivers safe, from helmet and restraint systems to impact-absorbing barriers along concrete walls, all designed to cushion high-impact blows.NASCAR also mandated in 2013 that drivers submit to baseline neurocognitive assessment. When a driver in NASCAR cant return his damaged car to the garage, a trip to the care center is required. Under a new three-step process, a driver showing any indication of a head injury must go immediately to a hospital. Concussed drivers must be cleared by an independent neurologist or neurosurgeon before they can get back in a race car.Gardstrom wants NASCAR to take even more steps.We dont have to wait until more drivers brains are studied to make a better concussion protocol, she said.Former athletes in other sports have sued their leagues, contending the risks of concussions were hidden from them so they could return to competition. Gardstrom has no interest in a lawsuit.No money is going to bring my dad back, but what my goal now is, is to make sure the NASCAR family doesnt have to go through the similar things were going through now, she said.Lorenzen hasnt been forgotten by todays racing stars -- they appreciate a driver who won 26 times in the Cup series. Tony Stewart introduced Lorenzen at his hall induction. Jeff Gordon leaned in for a chat with Fearless Freddie last year at Chicagoland before the race.He was such a humble guy, that I dont think he ever realized what an impact he had on the sport, Gardstrom said. Custom Rays Jerseys . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Authentic Custom Rays Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. http://www.customraysjersey.com/ . 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MINNEAPOLIS -- Maya Moore was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and scored 24 points to help the defending champion Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 93-79 on Sunday night.Sylvia Fowles added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Rebekkah Brunson had 13 points.Minnesota (24-5) remained tied with Los Angeles for first place in the overall standings and will face the Sparks on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The winner will not only take a one-game lead in the playoff race, but also secure the head-to-head tiebreaker with four games remaining.Alex Bentley had 16 points for Connecticut (11-18).SPARKS 88, FEVER 81LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists to lead the Los Angeles Sparks past the Indiana Fever, 88-81 on Sunday night.Candace Parker added with 19 points, and Kristi Toliver 18 points for Los Angeles (24-5).Erica Wheeler scored 20 points, and Shenise Johnson added 19 for Indiana (13-15).SKY 97, STARS 73ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Elena Delle Donne made 12 of 20 shots and scored 35 points in Chicagos victory over Sann Antonio.ddddddddddddDelle Donne made 3 of 4 3-pointers, 8 of 9 free throws and also had six rebounds to lead Chicago (15-13) to its fourth straight victory.Monique Currie scored 20 points, hitting all 10 of her free throws, and Moriah Jefferson added 18 points for San Antonio (6-22).MYSTICS 88, WINGS 83ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tayler Hill made 7 of 8 free throws in the final 2:09 and had 25 points to help Washington beat Dallas.Kia Vaugh added 17 points for Washington (11-7). Skylar Diggins led Dallas (9-21) with 25 points, and Aerial Powers had 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Wings have lost 11 straight.STORM 91, DREAM 82ATLANTA -- Breanna Stewart had 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks in the Seattles victory over Atlanta.Sue Bird added 23 points, Jewell Loyd had 17 and Alysha Clark 11 for the Storm (12-17). Angel McCoughtry was 12 of 17 from the field and had 32 points for the Dream (14-14). ' ' '