Larson secures spot in NASCAR final four

Kyle Larson claimed the first of four championship-contending spots in NASCAR’s season finale with a dominating victory at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth to start the round of eight in the playoffs.

Larson led 256 of 334 laps at the 1 ½-mile track and got his eighth win this season, staying in front through seven restarts in the final stage. Three of those restarts came after incidents involving other playoff contenders in the closing laps.

This was the first chance for anyone to guarantee a shot at racing for the Cup title in Phoenix on Nov. 7.

Already with a significant points lead, and coming off a win on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway a week earlier to close out the second elimination round, Larson left no doubt about the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet being part of the championship four.

College football: Cincinnati moved up to No. 2 behind Georgia in The AP poll, the first time a team from outside the traditional power conferences has been ranked that high since 2010. The Bearcats inched up a spot, taking advantage of then No. 2-Iowa’s loss to Purdue on Saturday. The Boilermakers moved into the rankings at No. 25, snapping the longest current AP poll drought for a Power 5 school. The Boilermakers were last ranked in 2007.

NBA: Suns G/F Mikal Bridges, 25, agreed to a four-year, $90 million rookie contract extension, his agents told ESPN. Bridges’ deal, which averages $22.5 million per season, reportedly is fully guaranteed.

NHL: Former player Jimmy Hayes had cocaine and fentanyl in his system when he died, his family told The Boston Globe. Hayes was found dead at his home in the Boston suburbs on Aug. 23. He was 31. The former Boston College star played seven NHL seasons for the Blackhawks, Panthers, Bruins and Devils.