AUTO RACING

NASCAR drivers to declare which series title to chase

NASCAR’s competition applications for 2011 require drivers to select which series they will race for a championship in this season.

The requirement first was reported by NASCAR.com, which spoke to driver Kenny Wallace about the application he filled out last weekend.

Wallace confirmed the requirement in a post on his Twitter page.

The move will not allow Sprint Cup drivers to race for championships in both Sprint Cup and Nationwide.

The move is not a surprise because NASCAR has openly discussed implementing ways to give its second-tier Nationwide Series its own identity.

TENNIS

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL: Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki was upset by Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-3 in her opening-round match at the Sydney International on Tuesday.

The defeat follows two straight-sets losses by Wozniacki to world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva and U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters in exhibition events last week.

Cibulkova, ranked 32nd, converted 4 of 6 break opportunities, while Wozniacki only broke her opponent once.

HOBART INTERNATIONAL: Jarmila Groth advanced to the quarterfinals in Hobart, Australia, on a day when rain disrupted play.

Groth, seeded sixth, defeated qualifier Tamira Paszek 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the only singles match completed.

Fourth-seeded Roberta Vinci won the first set 6-3 against Elena Baltacha before rain halted play.

HEINEKEN OPEN: Thomaz Bellucci beat Michael Russell 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5 in the first round in Auckland, New Zealand.

PREP SCHOOLS

GIRLS’ HOCKEY: Emily Wyman and Maggie Lane scored two goals apiece to lead host Hebron Academy to a 7-2 win over St. Dominic. Kayla McLellan collected one goal and one assist for the Saints.

SOCCER

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP: Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster let Carlton Cole’s weak shot in the 78th minute slip through his grasp, between his legs and into the goal, giving West Ham a 2-1 win in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals.

Cole’s 15-yard, right-footed shot, off a cross from American Jonathan Spector, took a slight deflection off Roger Johnson before squirming through the grasp of Foster.

Birmingham hosts the second leg of the total-goal series on Jan. 26. Tournament favorite Arsenal plays second-tier Ipswich today in the first leg of the other semifinal.

SKIING

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: Maria Riesch and Tanja Poutiainen shared victory at a night slalom in Flachau, Austria.

Riesch extended her lead in the overall standings over defending champion Lindsey Vonn to 196 points. She went out in the first run.

Riesch and Poutiainen both finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 42.52 seconds for the two runs. Nastasia Noens was 0.52 back in third.