Off the wire

MOTOR SPORTS Webber leaving Formula One

In a surprise announcement ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix, Mark Webber stunned Formula One when he said Thursday he’s leaving the series after the season to race Porsche sports cars. Webber said he’s signed a multi-year contract and will compete in Porsche’s new LMP1 sports prototype at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the world endurance championship next year. He has struggled this season, failing to win a grand prix and is fifth in the drivers’ championship, 63 points behind his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, who is on course for a fourth consecutive title. Webber first raised doubts about his future with Red Bull after Vettel ignored team orders and overtook him for victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix in March. Red Bull confirmed Webber was leaving and said it would make a decision on a replacement later in the season. Among the favorites would be Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, who is a good friend of Vettel’s. Since joining F1 in 2002, Webber has won nine races and had 36 podium places. Webber’s best season came in 2010 when he just lost a four-way battle for the title that was eventually won by Vettel. Webber, an Australian, started strong last season with victories at Monaco and Silverstone but then tailed off and only had two podiums the rest of the way. At 36 and his age increasingly becoming an issue, there was talk that Webber needed a strong start in 2013 to retain his seat and give him any hope of winning a first title.

Ty Dillon overtook Kyle Busch with 26 laps remaining and held on to win the NASCAR Truck Series race Thursday night at Kentucky Speedway at Sparta, Ky. Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress, started 22nd and drove the Chevy with the iconic No. 3 made famous by seven-time Sprint Cup champion Dale Earnhardt through the field to his second career Truck victory and first in four starts at Kentucky. He also derailed opening bids by defending Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski and fellow Cup star Busch for a weekend sweep on the 1.5-mile oval. Keselowski overcame midrace issues to finish second, while Busch edged defending Truck Series champion James Buescher for third. Rookie Ryan Blaney, who started on the pole, was fifth. Busch appeared headed to his second victory in three years at the track before his No. 51 Toyota lost grip. Dillon pounced and opened up a 2½-second lead and coasted, adding another Kentucky trophy for Richard Childress Racing. Dillon’s brother, Austin Dillon, swept both Nationwide Series races last year at the track.

GOLF LPGA major on move

The LPGA Championship is staying in Pittsford, N.Y., but will be switching dates and courses next year. Officials announced Thursday that the major tournament will be held the week of Aug. 11, and played at the Monroe Golf Club. That’s a change from previous years when nearby Locust Hill Country Club hosted the event in mid-June.

Locust Hill had been home to the LPGA Championship for the past four years, and served as a Tour stop for the past 37 years. The switch in dates was made to accommodate the LPGA schedule by spreading out its majors over the summer. The change in courses is one that reflects the Tour’s desire to rotate the event across the region. Wegmans will remain the event’s title sponsor.

The winner of next month’s British Open at Muirfield in Scotland will pocket $1.4 million, up $68,600 from last year. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which organizes the major tournament, said Thursday the total prize money will be $8 million - an increase of $380,000 from 2012. Ernie Els will defend his title at the British Open, which starts July 18.

HOCKEY Kunitz gets extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins and forward Chris Kunitz agreed to a three-year contract extension Thursday that could keep him playing alongside Sidney Crosby until the 2016-2017 season. General Manager Ray Shero said the new deal, which begins in 2014-2015, will carry an annual salary cap hit of $3.85 million. Kunitz, 33, has flourished since the Penguins acquired him from Anaheim in February 2009. Splitting time between Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s lines this season, Kunitz led the Penguins with 22 goals and finished second on the team with 52 points. He added five goals and five assists during the playoffs, including one of the two goals Pittsburgh scored during a four-game sweep by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.

Bryan Bickell is looking forward to today’s parade and rally for the Chicago Blackhawks’ second Stanley Cup title in four seasons. The big forward has said he wants to stay with the team and hopes to be a part of more celebrations in the city in the coming years. Bickell, 27, is eligible for unrestricted free agency and could cash in after coming up with a big postseason despite playing the last series against Boston with a sprained right knee that raised questions about if he would be able to play at all against the Bruins. But Bickell, drafted by Chicago in 2004, wants to remain with the Blackhawks and is open to giving the team a discount in order to stay. He said his agent has talked to General Manager Stan Bowman about a new contract.

FOOTBALL Ex-Jets safety dies

Jim Hudson, the former New York Jets safety who helped the team to its only Super Bowl title in 1969, has died. He was 70. The team confirmed on its official site that Hudson died Tuesday in Austin. The cause of death was not disclosed. Hudson was a starting safety against the Baltimore Colts, making a key play in the first half of the Super Bowl victory. The Colts were trailing 7-0 when they tried a flea-flicker from Earl Morrall to Tom Matte and back to Morrall, who looked for Jerry Hill near the Jets 10. Hudson stepped in front of the pass, ruining a potential scoring drive. The former University of Texas player had six tackles in the 16-7 victory and finished with 15 career interceptions in six seasons with the Jets.

FOOTBALL Former Patriot Hernandez denied bail

A judge has denied bail for former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who’s charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a friend.

Hernandez’s lawyer argued at a bail review hearing Thursday in Fall River, Mass., that Hernandez is not a risk to flee and the case against him is circumstantial.

But a prosecutor said evidence against Hernandez is “overwhelming.” He said a search of a Hummer belonging to Hernandez turned up an ammunition clip matching the caliber of casings found at the scene of the killing of Odin Lloyd.

Lloyd’s body was discovered by a jogger in a remote area of an industrial park not far from Hernandez’s home 10 days ago. He has pleaded innocent.

The NFL is telling its teams that any contract with Hernandez before charges against him are resolved won’t be approved without a hearing by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league said the hearing would be to decide if Hernandez should be suspended or face other action before a resolution of the charges is reached.

Puma also ended its relationship with Hernandez on Thursday. The sportswear company ended the two-year contract it agreed to in April with Hernandez, Puma spokesman Katie Sheptyck said.

Hernandez “was going to be involved with our men’s training program” but had not started working with Puma and his role wasn’t specifically defined, Sheptyck said. The agreement didn’t involve product endorsements, she said.