Elliott wins weather-delayed NASCAR Cup Ally 400
Chase Elliott salvaged a crummy day for Hendrick Motorsports and interrupted a potential Toyota rout by winning the rain-drenched NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night.
Elliott recovered from an early issue that dropped him deep into the field to take the lead with 38 laps remaining and hold off three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers for his second Cup victory of the season.
It took NASCAR’s most popular driver nearly seven hours and a late fourlap shootout to get to victory lane. NASCAR moved the start up by 12 minutes because of looming bad weather, then sat through an hour-long stoppage for lightning in the area, followed by a rain delay that stretched a tick past two hours.
The race resumed right at the halfway point with teams unsure if the full 300 laps would be completed or if the race would be stopped early because of more rain. Toyota controlled almost the entire event — four of its drivers combined to lead 254 laps — but the No. 5 Hendrick crew brought Elliott’s Chevrolet to life in the closing stretch.
He had the race in hand when a caution came out with nine laps remaining and Elliott didn’t pit from the lead for fresh tires. Nine other drivers stayed on track with him to create a pack of traffic that prevented the Toyotas from catching Elliott after they stopped for fresh tires.
Elliott pulled away on the restart and beat Kurt Busch — in a Toyota for 23XI Racing — by 0.551 seconds. Ryan Blaney was third in a Ford and followed by Elliott’s teammate Kyle Larson.
The JGR trio of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. fell to sixth, 21st and 22nd after the late decision to stop for tires ahead of the final restart.
• Mike Salinas won the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals to take the Top Fuel points lead from Brittany Force.
Salinas won for the fourth time this year and seventh overall, beating Josh Hart in the final with a 3.706-second run at a track-record 333.58 mph.
Robert Hight won in Funny Car, Erica Enders in Pro Stock and Angelle Sampey in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Lyles edges Knighton for victory in the 200
Noah Lyles pulled in front of teenage sensation Erriyon Knighton at the finish to win the 200 meters at the U.S. championships.
“I do what it takes to win,” proclaimed Lyles, who cheekily pointed to Knighton as he hit the tape in 19.67 seconds.
Lyles won the 200 at the 2019 world championships in Doha and the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. He’ll be challenged again by Knighton in the worlds next month in Eugene, Oregon.
“Job not finished,” said Knighton, just 18.
The top three finishers in each event will be on the U.S. team for the world championships, given they have met the required performance standard.
Olympic gold medalist
Athing Mu was challenged the last 100 meters by Ajee Wilson, but pushed to finish first in the 800 in 1:57.16.
“It was a fast field, we were all together kind of throughout the whole race. I felt like we’d still be together the last 100, I just wanted to try my best to finish strong,” Mu said. “Ajee was right on me, I had to push a little harder to get to the line.”
Sha’Carri Richardson did not qualify for Sunday’s 200 final, her only remaining chance to make the U.S. team for the worlds. Her failure to qualify for the finals in the 100 and 200 was something of a surprise, given her form at recent meets.
Abby Steiner of Kentucky, who set a college record in the 200 at this year’s NCAA championships, won the event in 21.77, the leading time in the world this season and a personal best.
Daniel Roberts won the 110 hurdles in 13:03. Twotime Olympian Devon Allen, the fan favorite who ran track and played football at Oregon, finished third to make the team for worlds. Allen is trying to balance track life and football after recently signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver.
Bryce Hoppel made his second straight U.S. team for worlds in the 800, finishing in 1:44.60. He was followed by Jonah Kowech, who achieved the standard with his finish, and Brandon Miller, who threw himself over the line to secure third.
Rai Benjamin won the 400 hurdles in 1:44.60, best in the world this season. Benjamin was coming off a bout with COVID-19 that drained his energy.
“This weekend was a lot on me, I’m kind of banged up, obviously, but I’m just happy to come out and get the win. Going to worlds,” he said.
Emma Coburn won her 10th national title in the steeplechase, finishing in a season-best 9:10.63.
Chase Ealey won the shot put at a meet-record 67 feet, 3 ½ inches. Elise Cranny won the national title in the 5,000.
On the men’s side, Grant Fisher won the 5,000 in a meet-record 13:03.86. Donald Scott won the title in the triple jump, while Shelby McEwen won the high jump and Ethan Dobbs won the javelin.
Charles looks to be headed to Seattle
Free-agent center Tina Charles is expected to sign with the Seattle Storm, according to reports.
The 33-year-old center parted ways Saturday with the Phoenix Mercury, who called the separation a “contract divorce.”
The former WNBA MVP averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 16 starts for Phoenix this season.
Charles signed a one-year contract with the Mercury in February after leading the league in scoring last season with Washington.
The eight-time All-Star has played 373 games with Connecticut, New York, Mystics and Phoenix. She has led the league in scoring twice (2016, 2021) and rebounds four times (2010-12, 2016). Charles is No. 2 in league history in rebounds (3,507) and No. 5 in points (6,889).