MOTOR SPORTS Hamilton wins 5th F1 title

Lewis Hamilton won his fifth career Formula One championship with a fourth-place finish Sunday at the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City, a race dominated by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Hamilton’s season championship was all but assured, and after a brief bid for the lead off the start and a scary run off the track late, he finished off the title with a drive further into the F1 record books. The British driver tied the late Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina, who dominated the series’ first decade in the 1950s, for second-most titles in F1 history. Only Germany’s Michael Schumacher has more with seven.

“A very, very surreal moment,” Hamilton said of the title that came with two races remaining. “I was just trying to bring the car home.”

Hamilton, 33, won titles with McLaren in 2008 and with Mercedes in 2014, 2015 and 2017. He also clinched last season’s title in Mexico City. His contract with Mercedes runs through 2020.

Verstappen earned his fifth career victory and defended his 2017 race win.

Hamilton’s championship this season arguably ranks among his best. For the second consecutive year, he fended off a strong challenge from Ferrari in a season when even Hamilton had to admit the Italian team often had the stronger car.

Title rival Sebastian Vettel finished second Sunday and Ferrari also took third with Kimi Raikkonen.

Vettel, a four-time champion, opened the season with a strong charge of two straight victories before Hamilton and Mercedes dominated the second half of the season.

“He did a superb job all year,” Vettel said. “I would have loved to hang in there a little bit longer.”

NASCAR Cup Series: Joey Logano earned a shot at the title by using an old fashioned bump-and-run on Martin Truex Jr. to win at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Truex slid sideways across the finish line and promptly declared Logano won’t take his title from him this year.

Logano won Sunday’s opening race to the third round of the playoffs by using the bumper on his Ford to shove Truex out of his way on the final lap. The contact caused both cars to wiggle, but Truex’s slide was nearly sideways while Logano corrected after a swerve and straightened himself out as he hurtled across the finish line.

Eight drivers started the day vying for the four spots in the season finale at HomesteadMiami Speedway. Now one of the slots is gone, to Logano of Team Penske, and NASCAR’s so-called “Big 3” is still trying to lock down a berth. Truex, along with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, dominated the regular season and the three were expected to make it to Miami to race for the winner-take-all title.

Instead, Truex wound up third and joined fans jeering Logano as he was interviewed post-race on the address system.