Cindric sweeps after late restart

The tallest driver in the field was head and shoulders above everyone else as he took the checkered flag again under the Friday night lights at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

Austin Cindric, the 6-foot-4 driver of the No. 22 Ford, made the gutsy call on the final yellow flag of the Alsco 300 to make a pit stop and get four fresh tires. The gamble paid off as he held off a push by Daniel Hemric on the restart and pulled way from the field.

Cindric and Chase Briscoe completed the one-two finish by Ford. Justin Haley, Ross Chastain and Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five.

Cindric swept the NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Kentucky Speedway, winning Thursday in the Shady Rays 200, as well.

The previous driver to win on consecutive nights in the same series was Richard Petty in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1971.

Not positive

Jimmie Johnson is just as confused as everyone else about his plight with the coronavirus. A positive test caused the seven-time NASCAR champion to miss the first race of his career, and it was followed three days later by a negative test. He never suffered any symptoms and was tested only after his wife, bothered by seasonal allergies, received a positive test.

“There’s a lot of speculation there,” Johnson said a full week after testing positive. “I’m the most frustrated person out there, especially living in a world of facts that we do. To not have the facts drives me bananas.”

Fans are back

The IndyCar series will welcome fans for the first time this season at the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader Saturday and Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The sprawling, 640-acre layout surrounding the 4-mile road course allows fans to practice social distancing.

Practice pace

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen posted the fastest time and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton lacked pace in the second practice session for the Styrian Grand Prix. A third and final practice will be held Saturday morning before qualifying in the afternoon.