Truex repeats in Ky. with NASCAR victory
Martin Truex Jr. has won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, passing Brad Keselowski and then Kurt Busch on the way to repeating as champion last night in Sparta, Ky.
Truex’s No. 78 Toyota Camry appeared even more dominant than it was last July as he led 174-of-267 laps and swept the first two stages after starting on the pole. The defending Cup champion was always in contention in the 400-mile race, even while trailing. He became Kentucky’s first repeat winner, earning his fourth victory this season and the 19th of his career.
Ryan Blaney was second and Keselowski was third, both in Fords, followed by Kyle Busch (Toyota) and Kevin Harvick (Ford).
Back to back by Dutch sprinter
Dylan Groenewegen won a second consecutive stage at the Tour de France when he sprinted to the finish yesterday, and Greg Van Avermaet kept the overall lead for a fifth consecutive day in Amiens, France.
Dutch rider Groenewegen beat Andre Greipel and Fernando Gaviria to the line to win Stage 8 in more than four hours.
Four-time winner Chris Froome remained over a minute behind Van Avermaet, a support rider for BMC leader Richie Porte.
The 25-year-old Groenewegen entered the final meters behind Greipel, Gaviria and Peter Sagan, but the Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider timed his last surge perfectly, swinging around his hard-charging opponents to cross first.
Groenewegen joins Sagan and Gaviria as two-stage winners at this edition of the Tour.
Parker, Bulls agree on $40M
Jabari Parker and the Chicago Bulls agreed to a $40 million, two-year contract, bringing the talented and oft-injured forward to his hometown team.
Agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed the deal shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks rescinded their qualifying offer. That made Parker, 24, an unrestricted free agent, clearing the way for him to join the rebuilding Bulls.
Parker led Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy to four state titles and starred for a season at Duke before the Bucks drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2014.
The Bulls are banking on him to stay healthy after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee twice in four seasons with Milwaukee.
Parker has averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. His best season was in 2016-17 when he averaged 20.1 points before tearing his ACL.
Chicago also released guard Julyan Stone and forward Paul Zipser . . ..
A person familiar with the decision says forward Channing Frye will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. Frye was traded by the Cavs in February to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 35-yearold Frye reportedly will get the $2.4 million veteran’s minimum contract.
Sources: Ellsworth to Norwich
According to sources, Division 3 Norwich is going to name Cam Ellsworth as the new coach of the men’s hockey program, succeeding longtime Cadets coach Mike McShane, who recently retired. Ellsworth spent seven seasons with the River Hawks, serving as a prime recruiter and assistant to coach Norm Bazin. Ellsworth is a 2005 graduate of Michigan Tech. — JOHN CONNOLLY
Sarri hired to coach Chelsea
Chelsea hired Maurizio Sarri as its manager on a three-year contract, bringing in a headstrong coach known for his expansive, attacking approach to football and for revitalizing Napoli in his only stint with a big European club. The 59-year-old Italian replaced Antonio Conte, who was fired on Friday.