Auto Racing

Harvick dominates Atlanta to win Nationwide race

HAMPTON, Ga. – Kevin Harvick led the final 159 laps to beat Joey Logano and win an unusually wreck-free NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

Harvick, who will start from the pole Sunday night in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, took the lead on the 37th lap and ruled the 1.54-mile tri-oval for his third win of the season in 11 races.

Kyle Larson, who started second, finished third. Kyle Busch was fourth, and pole-sitter Chase Elliott was fifth.

There only was one lead change, no crashes and two yellow flags, including one after light rain began to fall on Lap 121. Cars ran 13 laps under caution before the race resumed.

Elliott led the first 36 laps.

Cycling

Bouhanni wins in the wind; Valverde keeps the red

ALBACETE, Spain – Nacer Bouhanni of France won a windy eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday, while Alejandro Valverde kept the overall leader’s red jersey.

Strong winds divided the peloton over the final part of the 128-mile ride from Baeza to Albacete, but the stage led to no change among the race favorites.

Bouhanni sprinted ahead of the pack and dipped his bike to the left at the last second to hold off Michael Matthews, who was about to overtake him at the finish line.

It was the FDJ.fr rider’s second stage win in this edition after he also won a sprint finish on Day 2.

Valverde leads, with Nairo Quintana 15 seconds behind. Alberto Contador trails by a further three seconds, and Chris Froome is 20 seconds off the pace heading into Sunday’s mountainous stage.

Sunday’s ninth stage is a 115-mile ride starting in Carboneras de Guadazaon and finishing at the category-one Aramon Valdelinares summit.

The 21-stage race will finish Sept. 14 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Associated Press