“DRAINED” JONES WINS SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON, S. C. Erik Jones used every bit of stamina he had at Darlington Raceway. Few know better than Jones the effort it took to hold off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch and win the rain- delayed Southern 500.
“I’m mentally drained,” Jones said with a smile. “I’m physically drained.”
Jones, a former driver for Denverbased Furniture Row Racing, took the lead from Kyle Larson 85 laps from the end and stayed in front of Busch the rest of the way to add a win at iconic Darlington Raceway with his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Daytona in July 2018.
“It’s pretty crazy, right,” he said. “I’m not a hugely emotional guy, but to get a win here means a lot to me.”
Some had wondered if the 23- yearold Jones was the soft spot in the JGR powerhouse as Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. — also a former Furniture Row Racing driver — had all won four times apiece this season while Jones’ No. 20 was winless.
“Is there anything more to say?” Jones asked as the crowd cheered.
Not anymore. Jones’ victory means all four of Joe Gibbs’ drivers has taken the checkered flag and are locked into the NASCAR playoffs that start in two weeks.
“It takes a lot to beat them,” Jones of his teammates. “Especially when you’re racing the same equipment.”
To have the win come at Darlington made it even more special for Jones.
“This is one of those races for me that has always held a special place. You think of NASCAR, you think of Darlington,” he said.
Larson was second, his third top three finish at Darlington in the past four years. He led 497 laps during that stretch, including 44 in this one.
Upset win worth $ 100,000 to Bohl.
LARAMIE Wyoming coach Craig Bohl is in line for a $ 100,000 bonus after his team upset Missouri 37- 31.
The Casper Star- Tribune reports Bohl’s contract calls for the award if the Cowboys beat a Power Five program in a regular- season game. Saturday’s victory in Laramie was the first such victory for Bohl, who is in the third year of a seven- year contract.
The last time Wyoming beat a Power Five team was in 2008, a victory over Tennessee.
Wyoming quarterback Sean Chambers rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown in the victory. He also completed 6- of- 16 passes for 92 yards.
N. C. State loses WR for season.
RALEIGH, N. C. North Carolina State receiver C. J. Riley will miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament on a special- teams play.
Coach Dave Doeren said Riley tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during the Wolfpack’s 34- 6 victory over East Carolina.
The junior was injured while covering a punt late in the first quarter. He lunged to tackle returner Tyler Snead but missed and immediately grabbed his knee in pain.
Riley caught 28 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns last season and was being counted upon to help replace Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers.
Hurricanes’ Williams steps away.
» Carolina Hurricanes captain Justin Williams said he is taking a break from the NHL to start this season.
The 37- year- old forward said in a statement that he will “step away” from the sport.
With the start of training camp looming later this month, Williams says this is “the first time in my life that I’ve felt unsure of my aspirations” about hockey and lacks his usual “mental and physical commitment.”
Williams is an unrestricted free agent and three- time Stanley Cup champion whose two- year contract with Carolina expired after last season.