Auto Racing
Larson, 21, drives to his first Nationwide Series victory
FONTANA, Calif. – Kyle Larson won his first Nationwide race Saturday, holding off Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick and in a thrilling finish at Fontana.
The 21-year-old Larson became the first California native to win a Nationwide race at the 2-mile oval but only after surviving a three-man derby in the final laps.
Harvick finished just 0.342 seconds behind after barely missing on repeated attempts to slip underneath Larson for the lead.
One of NASCAR’s most promising young drivers, Larson is from Elk Grove, Calif., near Sacramento. Larson finished second in five previous Nationwide races but never won. Busch held him off at Bristol last week, then settled for third this week.
Joey Logano was fourth, and Elliott Sadler finished fifth.
Ski Racing
Crested Butte’s Chodounsky wins U.S. slalom title
SQUAW VALLEY, Calif. – David Chodounsky of Crested Butte won his second U.S. Alpine Championships slalom title Saturday.
Chodounsky, who also won the slalom at nationals in 2009, finished with a two-run time of 1 minute, 35.82 seconds.
First-run leader Tim Kelley of Starksboro, Vt., was next in 1:36.24. Will Brandenburg of Spokane, Wash., was third.
Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin failed to finish the first leg of the slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships, and Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada won the title by a hundredth of a second Saturday.
Gagnon completed the two runs in 1 minute, 39.61 seconds. That allowed her to edge Resi Stiegler of Jackson Hole, Wyo., who led after the first leg but wound up second in 1:39.62. Lila Lapanja of Lake Tahoe was third in 1:41.70.
Soccer
Rooney channels Beckham with a half-line goal
LONDON – Wayne Rooney replicated one of David Beckham’s most memorable Manchester United goals Saturday, with the retired star watching in the stands at West Ham.
From just inside the West Ham half after seven minutes at Upton Park, Rooney sent the ball high over goalkeeper Adrian, who was caught off his goal line.
Beckham famously lobbed Wimbledon goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from the halfway line on the first day of the 1996-97 season, when United went on to win the league.
Rooney’s long-range goal put him third on United’s all-time scoring chart, 38 behind Bobby Charlton’s record 249.
Beckham retired last year.
Klinsmann criticizes the MLS for Dempsey’s punishment
NEW YORK – Clint Dempsey will be a spectator for the next two weeks of Major League Soccer play, and United States national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann might be the most upset about the decision.
Dempsey, the U.S. captain and Seattle Sounders midfielder, was suspended two games by MLS on Friday for violent conduct toward Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom in last week’s match. The MLS players union appealed, but the suspension was upheld.
Klinsmann was not pleased that one of his key pieces on the U.S. World Cup team will be sitting at a time when finding his form is important. Dempsey is expected to be called in for national team duty when the Americans will face Mexico on April 2 in Glendale, Ariz.
“A two-game suspension for that moment seems very harsh, and it comes at a very bad time for us as it throws him out of a rhythm before the game against Mexico,” Klinsmann said.
Dempsey’s action came in the 40th minute of Toronto’s 2-1 victory. Dempsey hit Bloom in the stomach/groin area, a blow that was not seen by officials but was captured by television cameras. Dempsey said after the match that he was trying to slap Bloom’s hand off his back.
Klinsmann noted the amount of fouls Dempsey has taken since returning to the MLS last summer. According to stats from MLS, Dempsey is the most fouled player in the league.
Associated Press
