Auto Racing
Logano fast, Johnson slow to adapt to Charlotte
CONCORD, N.C. – Joey Logano was fastest in final practice Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, while Jimmie Johnson continued to have problems.
Logano, who already has advanced to the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup title by virtue of his win Sunday at Kansas, ran a lap of 190.597 mph and will start 13th for Saturday night’s race.
Johnson is under quite a bit more pressure.
The six-time and defending champion ran 63 laps in practice looking for the right setup in his Chevrolet after qualifying 21st at a track he normally dominates. However, he hit the wall late in the practice session.
Johnson didn’t seem worried, saying “our car is really, really strong.” He won at Charlotte in May, but he is last in the 12-driver Chase field.
Sprint Cup guys dominate Nationwide Series race
CONCORD, N.C. – Brad Keselowski passed teammate Ryan Blaney with 12 laps to go to win the Nationwide Series race Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Keselowski passed Blaney on the outside on the straightaway and cruised to his fourth victory in nine starts this year and 31st Nationwide Series win of his career.
Kyle Busch, who was won a record 69 races in the series, finished second.
Matt Kenseth was third, Blaney finished fourth, and Kyle Larson, who won here earlier this year, was fifth.
Points leader Chase Elliott finished in ninth place and extended his points lead over Regan Smith, who was 11th.
Ty Dillon, who entered the night third in the Nationwide standings, was involved in a six-car crash on lap 76, ending his night.
NHL
The NHL will hold its 2016 draft in Buffalo, N.Y.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The NHL selected the Buffalo Sabres to host the 2016 draft, a person familiar with the details told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league and the team have not publicly announced their plans to hold the draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
The 2016 draft in Buffalo will coincide with the final year of the Sabres’ two-year agreement to host the league’s annual pre-draft rookie scouting combine.
Buffalo previously has hosted the draft in 1991 and ’98.
Earlier this week, Sabres owner Terry Pegula and his wife, Kim, were approved as the new owners of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
Soccer
Donovan hits a post in a 1-1 draw, his final cap
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Landon Donovan nearly scored in his 157th and final appearance with the United States’ national team, hitting a post in the 25th minute of the Americans’ 1-1 tie against Ecuador in an exhibition Friday night.
The 32-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy forward, who is retiring after the Major League Soccer season, ran onto Jozy Altidore’s backheel pass and beat goalkeeper Maximo Banguera with a 12-yard shot. But the ball clanked off the post, and Banguera beat Donovan to the rebound.
Donovan came out in the 41st minute and was applauded and cheered by the crowd of 36,265 at Rentschler Field. He finished his national career with 57 goals and 58 assists, both American records.
Donovan contributed to Mix Diskerud’s fifth-minute goal, crossing the ball from the left flank. After Altidore failed to connect, DeAndre Yedlin passed the ball in front of the goal, where Diskerud scored from 12 yards.
Enner Valencia tied it in the 88th minute with a shot from outside the penalty area that curled around defender Tim Ream and bounced in, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan about 3 yards away.
Associated Press
