~~**GÄSTEBEREICH**~~ » ceedings arising out of it." Neith

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Dale Earnhardt Jr., grinning as he strode through a Las Vegas ballroom, seemed shocked Thursday to win NASCARs prestigious Myers Brothers Award.The award, presented annually since 1958, is given to a person who makes significant contributions to the sport.Its one thing to lead the last lap and get the checkered flag, its one thing to swim faster, run faster, hit a ball farther, get those sort accolades for doing something phenomenal, Earnhardt said after. But when your peers say, Good job or when the people youre around all the time acknowledge something, even if its just so minuscule, its such a good feeling.Thats really better than any kind of trophy for victories. Its a great feeling. I dont know that Ive ever been more humbled and excited.The award was named after short-track drivers Billy and Bobby Myers, two of NASCARs pioneers from the 1950s. It is presented by the National Motorsports Press Association with the purpose of recognizing those that have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing.Earnhardt beat three other finalists — ESPN and series sponsors Nationwide and Sprint — in voting by the NMPA membership. Hes the third consecutive driver to win the award, after Jeff Gordon in 2012 and Tony Stewart last season.Stewart called the award a huge honour and could tell how much it meant for Earnhardt to win.This is your industry thats voting on this award, its not a popularity contest award, Stewart said. This is something where the industry sees what youve contributed to the sport and you could see it the whole time he was walking up there. Thats a genuine Dale Jr. smile we saw walking up there, and that shows you what it means to him.Earnhardt was recognized for both his participation on the track — he made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship this season and won four races — and also for his care and concern for the history and the future of NASCAR.He owns JR Motorsports with sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Sprint Cup team owner Rick Hendrick, and the organization won the Nationwide title this year with Chase Elliott. Elliott and teammate Regan Smith finished 1-2 in the standings.Earnhardt also is one of the few NASCAR team owners that have given back to grassroots racing by fielding full-time operations for regional short-track racing as well. He has fielded Street Stock or Late Model entries at local short tracks since starting JRM.Late Model drivers Josh Berry and William Byron finished first and second this year in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series at historic Hickory Motor Speedway. The sweep gave JRM 1-2 points finishes in both series in which it competed full-time in 14.It was the second Late Model championship in three years for the organization.And, Earnhardts off-track contributions are also tremendous. He made his 235th appearance this season for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a total that ranks among the top five for all professional athletes.The Dale Jr. Foundation also raised a record $913,000 for distribution to 70 charities in 2014. The Foundations focus is to give underprivileged individuals, particularly youngsters, the resources to improve their confidence and education.I dont know that Ive ever been more humbled and excited for Kelley and JR Motorsports. I know theyre enjoying this, too, he said. Weve done a lot of good things, but this wasnt on my radar. Its just an incredible honour.. Alex Wilson Jersey . Jose Bautista homered for the fifth straight game in the sixth inning, following a two-out solo homer by Melky Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion led off the seventh with a homer to tie the game 3-3 and, with two out in the seventh, Munenori Kawasaki came through with the two-out single to score pinch-runner Steve Tolleson with what proved to be the winning run. Shane Greene Jersey .com) - Patrick Reed poured in a 19-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Monday to defeat Jimmy Walker and win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. http://www.tigersgearshop.com/Tigers-Rya...er-Kids-Jersey/. Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., and Edmontons Barnett used a terrific second run to move up two spots, putting the Canadian duo in medal contention with the final two runs set for Monday (11:15 a.m. ET, streaming live at cbc. Jordan Zimmermann Jersey .com) - Will Conant booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired and Air Force played spoiler with a 27-24 win over 21st- ranked Colorado State on Friday. Omar Infante Jersey . The Cavs announced the move Saturday, one day after LeBron James said hes returning to Cleveland. A 12-year veteran, Haywood has played in 794 NBA games, averaging 6.Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek appeared in a courtroom in Rochester, N.Y. on Monday afternoon to give witness testimony in a federal investigation. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Monday that Vanek appeared voluntarily, while his agent Steve Bartlett said Vanek is not under any suspicion and has done nothing wrong. "Representatives of the U.S. Federal Government have asked for my cooperation in an investigation," Vanek wrote in a statement released by Bartlett on Monday. "I am not the subject of any investigation or prosecution. I will fully cooperate with the U.S. Federal authorities in their investigation or in any proceedings arising out of it." Neither Bartlett nor Vanek mentioned the subject of the investigation, while Baartlett added that the legal proceedings should not lead to any repercussions from the National Hockey League.dddddddddddd "He is not going to be charged," Bartlett told the Democrat and Chronicle. "He wont be charged with a crime because he hasnt done anything wrong." Vanek played last season with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens, scoring 15 points in 18 regular season games after being acquired by the Habs at the trade deadline. He also tallied 10 points in 17 games in the playoffs, helping lead the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final. Vanek signed a three-year contract with the Wild as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Files from The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle were used for this report. ' ' '