Earnhardt ready to race

Loudon, N.H. — There’s no keeping Dale Earnhardt Jr. away from the track.

Less than a week after being burned in a wreck, he’ll be back at New Hampshire International Speedway, where he will race to try to hold onto second place in the Nextel Cup standings.

“Driving race cars is what I love doing,” he says.

That dedication to racing nearly resulted in a serious injury to the son of the late Dale Earnhardt. He could have relaxed on a rare weekend off from NASCAR’s top series, but instead he decided to drive in an American Le Mans event last Sunday in Sonoma, Calif.

He initially was dazed after crashing during the warmup and barely managed to escape the fireball that turned his Corvette into a scorched pile of junk.

Martin Truex Jr., who drives for Earnhardt’s Chance 2 Motorsports Busch series team, will be standing by in case his boss needs relief.

Cycling

Tour fan killed in fall

Grenoble, France — The body of a 64-year-old Tour de France spectator was found Thursday by the roadside leading up to the L’Alpe d’Huez ski station, police officials said.

The man appeared to have fallen about 130 feet to his death during Wednesday’s 16th stage of the Tour, when hundreds of thousands of fans packed a winding Alpine route during a time trial. He was believed to be from the Paris region.

NBA

LeBron signs swiped

Akron, Ohio — Cleveland Cavaliers’ star LeBron James usually steals the show. His hometown fans have taken to stealing signs.

Thieves took two of the nine signs the city put up in late June to mark James’ hometown, Akron officials said.

The signs probably were stolen by fans, said Tom Bennett, the town’s traffic operations supervisor.

“I’ve been keeping an eye out on eBay,” he said.