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 in a Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola in Fords also were eliminated. Bowyer this week said he’s retiring at the end of the season and will move to the TV booth.
Elliott, meanwhile, 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— hewon on the oval in May when NASCAR resumed racing during the pandemic.
■ 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 at 14-under 266, five clear of runner-up Inbee Park (65). It was Kim’s first major title. ... Tyrrell Hatton won the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England. The four-stroke victory was the 28-year-old Hatton’s first win on his home soil. ... Hall of Famer Ernie Els birdied the final two holes, running in a 40-footer in the rain on the last, for a one-stroke victory over Colin Montgomerie at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. Itwas the second senior tour win in 10 career starts for the 50-year-old South African.
NFL: The Saints ruled out Michael Thomas for Monday night’s game against the Chargers after the All-Pro WR had an altercation with a teammate at practice this weekend, ESPN reported.
NHL: The Red Wings signed freeagent C Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year, $4 million, The AP reported. Namestnikov, 27, had four goals and five points in 12 playoff games with the Avalanche last season after being acquired in a trade with the Senators in February.