Auto Racing
Harvick sets a track record to win his fifth pole
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Kevin Harvick will start from the pole position Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Harvick turned a lap at a track-record 131.362 mph Friday night. He knocked Jeff Gordon from the top spot for his 11th career pole. It is his fifth pole this season, which he attributes to one thing: “faster cars.”
Gordon, the points leader, will start outside the front row, with Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards in the second row.
Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson are in the third row, with Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch in the fourth.
Blaney steals a victory from Busch on final restart
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Ryan Blaney bolted past Kyle Busch on a restart with six laps remaining and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday night for his second career victory.
Blaney’s victory was a surprise after Busch, seeking to become the first driver ever to win four consecutive races in the series on the 0.533-mile oval, had dominated, especially on restarts.
Battling at various times against the brightest and youngest stars in the series, Busch generally made quick work of them. He led 161 of the 300 laps and seemed poised for his record 67th victory in the series. But on the final restart, Blaney darted to the lead from the inside, and Busch never quite caught up.
Chevrolet clinches IndyCar manufacturers title
SONOMA, Calif. – Chevrolet clinched its third consecutive IndyCar manufacturers championship with two races left in the series’ season.
Chevrolet has won all three manufacturers titles since returning to the series in 2012. Its IndyCar V6 engine program has won 10 of the first 16 races of the season heading into the weekend’s event at Sonoma Raceway.
Chevrolet returned to IndyCar in 2012 after a six-year absence. The company competed in Indy-style racing from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2005.
Cycling
Defending champion Horner pulls out of Spanish Vuelta
MADRID – Team Lampre Merida said defending Spanish Vuelta champion Chris Horner will not compete in this year’s race.
The team said it decided “not to allow the athlete to partake in this Vuelta” after UCI blood tests showed a problem since Horner had received treatment with oral cortisone for a lingering infection.
In the statement, team doctor Carlo Guardascione said treating Horner with oral cortisone after persistent bronchitis following the Tour de France and the Tour of Utah “was the only way to resolve this problem.”
WNBA
Phoenix Mercury’s Brondello is Coach of the Year
A person close to the situation said Phoenix’s Sandy Brondello won the WNBA coach of the year award.
Brondello guided the Mercury to a 29-5 record in her first season in charge. Phoenix won 16 consecutive games during the season, the second most in WNBA history, just short of the Sparks’ record of 18 consecutive victories. She received 33 of the 38 votes with Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve and Washington’s Mike Thibault each getting two, the person said. Atlanta’s Michael Cooper got the other vote.
Phoenix Mercury’s Griner is Defensive Player of the Year
A person close to the situation said Phoenix’s Brittney Griner won the WNBA defensive player of the year award.
Griner set a WNBA record with 129 blocks to help the Mercury win a league-record 29 games. The second-year player averaged 15.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks this season. She blocked 11 shots in one game against Tulsa on June 29. She received 31 of the 38 votes from a national media panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Atlanta’s Sancho Lyttle finished second.
Associated Press
