Larson pulls out Cup victory in Virginia
Kyle Larson and his Chip Ganassi Racing team snatched NASCAR’s last victory Saturday night before the start of the Cup Series playoffs.
Martin Truex Jr. had the race in Richmond, Va., in hand until Derrike Cope slowed with under four laps remaining. Larson was second at the time, itching for fresh tires and a shot at the win in overtime. He took his Chevrolet to pit road, his Ganassi team got him out as the leader, and he held for his fourth victory of the season. Truex, the regular-season champion, wrecked in overtime while racing for position.
Joey Logano finished second and Ryan Newman was third. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 13th and was officially eliminated from the playoffs. He’s retiring at the end of the season. ETC.
Thompson wins first Indy tournament
Lexi Thompson celebrated in the most traditional Indy style. She sipped some milk, poured the rest over her head and, of course, sealed it with a kiss of the bricks.
The 22-year-old Florida player earned it.
After dazzling fans with two days of almost error-free golf, Thompson overcame some late bobbles for a four-shot victory over Lydia Ko in the inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship.
Thompson closed with a fourunder 68 to finish at 19-under 197 at Brickyard Crossing, the Pete and Alice Dye-designed course that weaves around and inside the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Thompson won her ninth career LPGA Tour title and became the fourth player — and first American — with multiple wins this season.
Candie Kung started the day a shot behind Thompson and Ko, but finished with 74 to tie for fifth at 15 under. Minjee Lee wound up third at 14 under after a 67. Iceland’s Olafia Kristinsdottir (68) was another stroke back.
Scott McCarron shot his second straight six-under 66 at Narita Golf Club in Chiba, Japan, to take a one-stroke lead over Kevin Sutherland in the PGA Tour Champions’ Japan Airlines Championship. Sutherland, tied for the first-round lead with Glen Day at 65, had a 68. Todd Hamilton was three strokes back at nine under, along with Colin Montgomerie (66) and Carlos Franco (68).
Jeff Sluman birdied the last four holes for 66 to match Paul
Goydos (69), Stephen Ames (67) and Wes Short Jr. (69) at eight under. Day was another stroke back after a 72.
Amanda Nunes defended her bantamweight title with a split-decision victory over challenger Valentina Shevchenko in UFC 215 in Edmonton, Canada. The decision was booed by many in the crowd.
In a welterweight bout, Rafael Dos Anjos, used an arm triangle choke to beat Neil Magny by firstround submisson. Flyweight Henry Cejudo beat Wilson Reis with a flurry of punches for a second-round technical knockout.
Defensive end Akiem Hicks and the Chicago Bears have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2021 season. It was reported to be a $48-million deal with $30 million guaranteed. The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive end Stephon Tuitt have agreed on a contract that runs through the 2022 season. Tuitt has 111⁄2 sacks in three seasons with the Steelers and played a pivotal role on the defensive line during the second half of the 2016 season.
Chris Froome is poised to break his streak of runner-up finishes at the Spanish Vuelta after the Tour de France champion maintained his overall lead on the final competitive stage of the grand tour on Saturday. Froome increased his advantage over Vincenzo Nibali through the rainy 73mile mountainous ride in Stage 20 from Corvera de Asturias to a grueling summit finish at the Alto de l’Angliru. By tradition, the top riders do not challenge each other in the professional final stage.
Spain’s Alberto Contador, who will retire after the race, won Stage 20 to finish a career that has included three Vueltas.