Kyle Busch Motorsports "denies it owes" former Competition Dir and GM RICK REN $390,000 in "bonus and commissions from his time with the race team." Ren has sued the organization, asserting he is owed $35,000 bonus money for '12 plus $355,000 in commissions. The commissions were for a $3M deal for PARKER KLIGERMAN and a $550,000 deal for BRIAN SCOTT "to drive for the organization's NASCAR Nationwide Series teams." Ren was "released from the organization" following the '13 season as KBM "scaled back its operations to eliminate its Nationwide Series team" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/24).
AWARDS & HONORS: Golf Digest's RON SIRAK has been named the recipient of the '15 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. Sirak will be honored April 8 at the GWAA Annual Awards Dinner in Augusta (PGA)....Martinsville Speedway PR Dir MIKE SMITH has been named the '14 recipient of the Ken Patterson Helping Others Award, presented by the National Motorsports Press Association at its annual awards dinner in Talladega (FRANKLIN NEWS-POST, 1/29)....A 7-foot monument to late Baseball HOFer ERNIE BANKS yesterday began its four-day stay at Daley Plaza, "attracting a hodgepodge of Chicagoans." Banks' wife, LIZ, Cubs Chair TOM RICKETTS, Chicago Mayor RAHM EMANUEL, and hundreds of people "stood for photos near the bronze statue." A public visitation is scheduled for tomorrow (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/29).
NAMES: WME-IMG has acquired boutique agency Dixon Talent. Founder JAMES DIXON, who specializes in representing comedians, is "known for his close relationships with the clients that he helped launch to stardom," including ESPN's BILL SIMMONS (VARIETY.com, 1/28)....Baltimore's spending panel yesterday approved a waiver to "allow the city to accept free Under Armour uniforms for the police department" (Baltimore SUN, 1/29)....Boxing HOFer EVANDER HOLYFIELD will appear in a 30-second road-rage PSA for Georgia law enforcement agencies. He has "no speaking lines" (ESPN.com, 1/29)....ESPN's PAUL FINEBAUM will speak at Ole Miss Law School's graduation ceremony May 9 (CLARIONLEDGER.com, 1/27)....On Tuesday’s edition of ABC’s “GMA,” former Olympian MICHELLE KWAN announced plans for the first Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America. Captains of the event include Trail Blazers G DAMIAN LILLARD; WNBA Sky F ELENA DELLE DONNE; Browns CB JOE HADEN; journalist MARIA MENOUNOS; and singer ALOE BLACC (Special Olympics)....Boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. recently purchased a Ferrari Enzo -- “one of only 400 ever made” -- which had a list price of more than $3.2M (LATIMES.com, 1/28)....Former NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE is selling his DC home, priced at $3.195M (THE DAILY)....Free agent MLB P BARRY ZITO and his wife, AMBER, "have parted ways with their second Hollywood Hills West home in as many months,” selling the 4,366-square-foot home for $2.875M (LATIMES.com, 1/28).
