Elliott races to win at ‘Roval’
NASCAR will crown a new champion this year following Kyle Busch’s elimination in the second round of the playoffs.
Chase Elliott won Sunday on the hybrid road course-oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., where four drivers, including Busch, were trimmed from title contention. Busch likely needed to win the race to advance into the round of eight, but instead became the first reigning champ knocked out of contention after two rounds since the format began in 2014.
A victory was a tall ask in this winless season for Busch. He finished 30th in the race.
Austin Dillon and Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola in Fords also were eliminated.
Elliott won for the second consecutive year at “The Roval” and extended his winning streak on road courses to four straight dating to last season. It was Elliott’s third win of this season and second at Charlotte — he won on the oval in May.
Elliott advanced to the round of eight along with Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch.
■ Lewis Hamilton matched Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins in Formula One with victory in the Eifel Grand Prix in Nurburg, Germany. Hamilton leads Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the season standings by 69 points with six races to go.
Winning the title would bring Hamilton level with Schumacher’s record of seven championships.
Golf: Sei Young Kim of South Korea shot a final-round 7-under 63 to win the Women’s PGA Championship in Newtown Square, Pa. Kim, 27, finished five clear of runner-up Inbee Park (65). It was Kim’s first major title. ... Martin Laird beat Austin Cook and Matthew Wolff on the second hole of a playoff to win the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. It was the fourth career PGA Tour title and first in seven years for the 37-year-old Scot. Laird also won the 2009 tournament in a playoff. ... Ernie Els birdied the final two holes for a one-stroke victory at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. It was the second senior tour title in 10 career starts for the 50-year-old South African.
NFL: The Falcons fired coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff after the team started 0-5 for the first time since 1997. Quinn, 50, was in his sixth season. ... The Saints ruled out Michael Thomas for Monday night’s game against the Chargers after the All-Pro WRhad an altercation with a teammate at practice this weekend.
NHL: The Sabres signed left winger Taylor Hall to a one-year, $8 million contract. Hall, 28, won the 2018 Hart Trophy as league MVP while with the Devils. He was traded to the Coyotes in December.