Auto Racing
Keselowski sets track record in winning pole position
LOUDON, N.H. – Brad Keselowski turned a track-record lap of 140.598 mph to win the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Keselowski is coming off consecutive victories at Richmond and the Chase for the Sprint Cup opener last week at Chicagoland. He swept the Cup and Nationwide races at New Hampshire in July.
The Team Penske driver has five poles this season and leads the series with five victories.
Jamie McMurray, a non-Chase driver, was second. Chase drivers took the next seven spots. Kevin Harvick was third, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman, respectively.
Basketball
A balanced American attack beats Australia by 6
PARIS – Breanna Stewart scored nine points to lead a balanced offense, and the United States’ women’s national team beat Australia 72-66 in an exhibition game Friday.
Maya Moore and Nneka Ogwumike each added seven points for the Americans.
The U.S. trailed 18-11 after the first quarter before rallying to take a one-point lead at the half. The Americans extended that advantage to 11 after the third quarter before holding on.
Belinda Snell scored 13 points to lead Australia, while Liz Cambage added nine points and nine rebounds in nine minutes.
The Americans still are trying to figure out their roster for the world championship, which will begin Sept. 27. They have 15 players in camp, with the possible addition of Brittney Griner, who still is waiting for clearance from her doctors to play after suffering a retinal injury in the WNBA Finals.
NFL
NFL clears a pass route for Gordon to return Nov. 23
BEREA, Ohio – Josh Gordon was cleared to run a route back to the Browns this season. Cleveland’s star wide receiver was reinstated into the NFL and had his one-year suspension reduced to 10 games after the league announced changes to its drug policy Friday.
The league and players’ association reached agreement on revisions to the substance-abuse program two days after announcing changes on performance-enhancing drugs.
Gordon, who has at least four known drug violations, already served two games of the suspension. He will be eligible to play Nov. 23 when the Browns will visit Atlanta and could be back for Cleveland’s final six games.
For the 2nd time this year, Jordan dinged for drugs
DAVIE, Fla. – Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan was suspended Friday for the second time this year for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and he must sit out the next four games without pay.
As a result of the two violations, Jordan will miss the year’s first six games.
Authorities file a petition to keep Peterson from his son
MINNEAPOLIS – Hennepin County Human Services in Minnesota filed a petition Friday seeking a protective order for the 4-year-old son of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson faces a child abuse charge in Texas for using a wooden switch to spank the boy in May.
Associated Press
