Auto Racing
Kenseth exacts revenge by winning the pole position
RICHMOND, Va. – Matt Kenseth didn’t wait long to get his pole award back.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver stripped of his pole award from last week at Kansas in a raft of penalties levied by NASCAR this week, set a track record with a lap at 130.334 mph Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
Kenseth edged JGR teammate Brian Vickers by 0.005 seconds to claim only the 10th top starting position of his career in 481 starts.
Jeff Gordon qualified third, followed by Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer.
Keselowski rallies to beat Harvick, Busch in Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. – Brad Keselowski ducked underneath Kyle Busch to take the lead with 10 laps to go Friday night and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.
Keselowski had to hold off a final charge from Kevin Harvick, but after Harvick closed within a few car lengths, Keselowski kept him at bay and slightly expanded his margin in the final laps to win the three-way dual among some of NASCAR’s most aggressive and daring drivers.
The victory was the 21st of Keselowski’s career in the series and second on the 0.75-mile oval.
Harvick was followed across the finish line by Busch, whose streak of three consecutive victories in the series came to an end.
NHL
Lockout? What lockout? NHL is thriving this season
NEW YORK – Whatever damage was caused by the latest long NHL lockout, the league isn’t feeling the fallout as it gets set to start this year’s playoffs.
With just one day left in the shortened 48-game season, a look back shows that fans still are flocking to arenas and tuning in on TV sets.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said teams are filling up their buildings to 97.4 percent of capacity, and television ratings on a national level in the United States and Canada, as well as in local markets, are up considerably.
Bettman said some teams have reported ratings gains of double and triple digits this year. And that is just from a regular season that was delayed from October until January and was in jeopardy from happening at all until the NHL and the players’ association hammered out a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement to save it.
NBA
Thunder’s thundercloud: Westbrook to have surgery
OKLAHOMA CITY – All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook will have surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee and is out indefinitely, dealing a harsh blow to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship chances.
General manager Sam Presti said Friday the Thunder had not yet scheduled Westbrook’s surgery and would not have an accurate timeline for his return until after the procedure was done. No one would rule out Westbrook’s possible return if Oklahoma City keeps advancing in the playoffs, and All-Star teammate Kevin Durant only said his teammates “hope” Westbrook can play again this postseason.
The three-time All-Star was hurt in Game 2 of the Thunder’s playoff series against Houston on Wednesday night.
College Basketball
For the love of the game, Pitino keeps his promise
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rick Pitino is inked up.
The Louisville coach followed through Friday on his promise to get a tattoo if the Cardinals won the NCAA championship, adorning his left shoulder blade with the school’s old-English ‘L’ emblem in red. He got it done at Tattoo Salvation, a parlor east of campus, and the emblem perpendicularly is surrounded by the words ‘2013 NCAA champions, 35-5.’
Athletic department spokesman Kenny Klein tweeted pictures of a topless Pitino, 60, with the tattoo on his back and a close-up of the finished product. The NCAA championship trophy was nearby.
Associated Press
