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Sports Briefs: Rains washes away qualifying for Daytona race
By The Associated Press
Sunday, July 05, 2009 | No comments posted.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tony Stewart will start from a familiar spot tonight at Daytona International Speedway.
The Sprint Cup points leader was awarded the pole for the Coke Zero 400 when rain washed out qualifying Friday.
It was Stewart’s third pole — all in rainouts — in the last five races. He also started up front at Pocono last month and New Hampshire last week.
“It really doesn’t matter anyway,” he said. “In a Cup race, if your car is good enough to get to the front, you can do it from dead last, so it really doesn’t matter if you start from the pole or not. The advantage is it gives us a good pit selection. That’s what helps. Other than that, it’s really not an issue.”
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin rounded out the first three rows.
The field was set by owner’s points for the fourth time this season. Qualifying at Martinsville in March also was rained out.
Brad Keselowski, Scott Speed, David Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Dave Blaney, Patrick Carpentier, Tony Raines and Regan Smith were the beneficiaries of the rain. They all earned automatic starting spots instead of having to qualify on speed.
Bowyer wins Nationwide race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Clint Bowyer won the Nationwide Series race at Daytona on Friday for his first victory of the year.
The defending series champion was the leader when a four-car accident brought out the caution with six laps to go in Friday night’s race. That set up a final two-lap overtime sprint, and Bowyer lined up next to Carl Edwards for the double-file restart.
With Kyle Busch pushing him from behind, Bowyer raced to the front. He didn’t have to deal with a challenge from Busch because an accident in the fourth turn brought out a race-ending caution, giving Richard Childress Racing its first win of the year.
Busch was second, followed by Edwards, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne.
FOOTBALL
Vick could play in new league
NEW YORK — When the United Football League debuts in October, Michael Vick could be one of its players.
Michael Huyghue, the commissioner of the new four-team league, says the UFL is willing to give Vick a place to play — provided there are no pending legal issues. His rights belong to the Orlando franchise.
Vick already has served an 18-month sentence in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. He is under home confinement until July 20, after which the NFL is expected to announce whether the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback will be suspended.
GOLF
Woods grabs tourney lead
BETHESDA, Md. — Tiger Woods lived up to his hopes of being a “greedy host” Friday when he salvaged his round during a shaky stretch and shot 4-under 66 to take a one-shot lead at his AT&T National with the lowest 36-hole ever at Congressional.
Woods was at 10-under 130, breaking by one shot the previous 36-hole record set last year by Tom Pernice Jr. and Jeff Overton. Woods had a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling, who had a 64 to boost his chances of qualifying for the British Open.
Defending champion Anthony Kim couldn’t build on his course-record 62 from the opening round. He played in the afternoon, after Woods set the target, and caught him briefly before settling for a 70 that put him two behind.
Jim Furyk (67) was alone in fourth at 7 under.
Two share LPGA lead
SYLVANIA, Ohio — Laura Diaz made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 4-under 67 and a share of the second-round lead with Sarah Kemp in the LPGA Tour’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Kemp shot a 63 to match Diaz at 11-under 131. Morgan Pressel (68) was a shot back, and Natalie Gulbis (65), Seon Hwa Lee (63) and Jiyai Shin (67) followed at 9 under.
Michelle Wie, seeking her first professional victory, three-putted the final hole for a double bogey and a 69, leaving her three strokes behind along with Suzann Pettersen (69), Lindsey Wright (68), Kyeong Bae (64) and Eunjung Yi (66).
TENNIS
Kournikova to miss rest of World Team Tennis season
ST. LOUIS — Anna Kournikova will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury.
World Team Tennis said Kournikova made her decision after experiencing pain from tenosynovitis while practicing for what would have been her seventh season with the league.
The St. Louis Aces player has not responded to therapy or a series of cortisone shots.
Kournikova said in a news release that she is “extremely disappointed” that she won’t be able to compete this year. She said she planned to work on her rehabilitation and looked forward to next year’s season.
She still plans to travel with her team to matches in Philadelphia on Monday, Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Springfield on July 10 and St. Louis on July 11.
The Sprint Cup points leader was awarded the pole for the Coke Zero 400 when rain washed out qualifying Friday.
It was Stewart’s third pole — all in rainouts — in the last five races. He also started up front at Pocono last month and New Hampshire last week.
“It really doesn’t matter anyway,” he said. “In a Cup race, if your car is good enough to get to the front, you can do it from dead last, so it really doesn’t matter if you start from the pole or not. The advantage is it gives us a good pit selection. That’s what helps. Other than that, it’s really not an issue.”
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin rounded out the first three rows.
The field was set by owner’s points for the fourth time this season. Qualifying at Martinsville in March also was rained out.
Brad Keselowski, Scott Speed, David Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Dave Blaney, Patrick Carpentier, Tony Raines and Regan Smith were the beneficiaries of the rain. They all earned automatic starting spots instead of having to qualify on speed.
Bowyer wins Nationwide race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Clint Bowyer won the Nationwide Series race at Daytona on Friday for his first victory of the year.
The defending series champion was the leader when a four-car accident brought out the caution with six laps to go in Friday night’s race. That set up a final two-lap overtime sprint, and Bowyer lined up next to Carl Edwards for the double-file restart.
With Kyle Busch pushing him from behind, Bowyer raced to the front. He didn’t have to deal with a challenge from Busch because an accident in the fourth turn brought out a race-ending caution, giving Richard Childress Racing its first win of the year.
Busch was second, followed by Edwards, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne.
FOOTBALL
Vick could play in new league
NEW YORK — When the United Football League debuts in October, Michael Vick could be one of its players.
Michael Huyghue, the commissioner of the new four-team league, says the UFL is willing to give Vick a place to play — provided there are no pending legal issues. His rights belong to the Orlando franchise.
Vick already has served an 18-month sentence in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. He is under home confinement until July 20, after which the NFL is expected to announce whether the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback will be suspended.
GOLF
Woods grabs tourney lead
BETHESDA, Md. — Tiger Woods lived up to his hopes of being a “greedy host” Friday when he salvaged his round during a shaky stretch and shot 4-under 66 to take a one-shot lead at his AT&T National with the lowest 36-hole ever at Congressional.
Woods was at 10-under 130, breaking by one shot the previous 36-hole record set last year by Tom Pernice Jr. and Jeff Overton. Woods had a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling, who had a 64 to boost his chances of qualifying for the British Open.
Defending champion Anthony Kim couldn’t build on his course-record 62 from the opening round. He played in the afternoon, after Woods set the target, and caught him briefly before settling for a 70 that put him two behind.
Jim Furyk (67) was alone in fourth at 7 under.
Two share LPGA lead
SYLVANIA, Ohio — Laura Diaz made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 4-under 67 and a share of the second-round lead with Sarah Kemp in the LPGA Tour’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Kemp shot a 63 to match Diaz at 11-under 131. Morgan Pressel (68) was a shot back, and Natalie Gulbis (65), Seon Hwa Lee (63) and Jiyai Shin (67) followed at 9 under.
Michelle Wie, seeking her first professional victory, three-putted the final hole for a double bogey and a 69, leaving her three strokes behind along with Suzann Pettersen (69), Lindsey Wright (68), Kyeong Bae (64) and Eunjung Yi (66).
TENNIS
Kournikova to miss rest of World Team Tennis season
ST. LOUIS — Anna Kournikova will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury.
World Team Tennis said Kournikova made her decision after experiencing pain from tenosynovitis while practicing for what would have been her seventh season with the league.
The St. Louis Aces player has not responded to therapy or a series of cortisone shots.
Kournikova said in a news release that she is “extremely disappointed” that she won’t be able to compete this year. She said she planned to work on her rehabilitation and looked forward to next year’s season.
She still plans to travel with her team to matches in Philadelphia on Monday, Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Springfield on July 10 and St. Louis on July 11.
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