Logano gets first Xfinity win of year, 29th of career

Joey Logano cruised to his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season on Saturday, outpacing Justin Allgaier at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Logano pushed his Team Penske Ford to his 29th career Xfinity victory and his third at the Southern California track. The win also was the first Xfinity victory at Auto Club Speedway for the team backed by Roger Penske, who spearheaded the construction of this 21-year-old facility.

“That car was so good,” Logano said. “It was one of those races where you’re relieved when you win. You’re supposed to win when you’ve got a car that fast.”

A series of cautions led to a choppy race and several restarts. Logano took the lead on the fifth lap and won the first two stages, never relinquishing his lead until late, when he fell behind Elliott Sadler out of a restart. Logano moved up from 16th and reclaimed the lead in a three-lap stretch, and he jumped in front again on another restart after the final caution with eight laps to go.

Logano hadn’t won since the Cup race in Richmond last spring. Pole sitter Christopher Bell rallied to finish third, Austin Dillon was fourth, Daniel Hemric fifth and Cole Custer sixth.

Golf

STENSON HAS SLIM LEAD AT PALMER EVENT >> Henrik Stenson shot a 1-under 71 to take a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau (72) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational heading into today’s final round.

Rory McIlroy (67) is two shots behind and will be in today’s penultimate group with Justin Rose, who also shot a 67 and is three shots behind, along with Ryan Moore (67).

Tiger Woods, who shot a 69, is five shots behind.

“I’m within reach if I shoot a really, really low round,” said Woods, who has eight wins at Bay Hill.

Cal junior Collin Morikawa is tied for 51st at 1 under, and former Cal golfer Byeong Hun An is at 8 under, four back of Stenson. PARK LEADS AT FOUNDERS CUP >> Inbee Park shot a 9-under 63 to take a onestroke lead over Mariajo Uribe (67) heading into today’s final round of the Founders Cup in Phoenix.

Park, a seven-time major champion, is at 14-under 130. Ariya Jutanugarn is two strokes back after her third 68. Chella Choi had a 66 to join Laura Davies (63) at 11 under.

Tennis

FEDERER ADVANCES TO PARIBAS OPEN FINAL >> Roger Federer rallied to beat Borna Coric 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, extending his career-best start to 17-0 and putting him in the final of the BNP Paribas Open with a chance to win his record sixth title.

Federer rallied from a 5-7, 2-4 deficit to win the final four games of the second set, breaking Coric twice for the first time in the match.

There were five breaks in the third when Federer trailed 4-3. He broke Coric after two deuces on his way to winning the last three games of the two-hour, 20-minute struggle.

Federer hasn’t started a season this well since 2006, when he won his first 16 matches en route to a 92-5 record.

Soccer

NYCFC IMPROVES TO 3-0 >> Tajouri and Maximiliano Moralez scored 12-minutes apart in the second half for New York City FC, which opened the MLS season with three straight wins for the first time in the club’s short history with a 2-0 victory over Orlando City.

Orlando goalkeeper Joe Bendik misplayed a backpass that went right to Tajouri inside the 18-yard box and Tajouri took a few touches to the penalty spot for an easy finish in the 62nd minute. After an Orlando (0-2-1) giveaway to Saad Abdul-Salaam, Jesus Medina settled it for Moralez to slide it home.

• In other MLS games, D.C. United rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the Houston Dynamo 2-2; Columbus played the Philadelphia Union to a scoreless draw to extend the Crew’s unbeaten regular-season streak to 13; Ibson scored his first MLS goal for Minnesota United in its 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire; Jeisson Vargas scored four minutes before intermission to lift Montreal to a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC; Josef Martinez had his fourth career hat trick to help Atlanta United beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1; and Nick Rimando had his MLS-leading 138th shutout to help Real Salt Lake beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0.

Skiing SHIFFRIN CLOSES WORLD

CUP SEASON IN STYLE >> Overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin won her seventh slalom of the season at the World Cup finals in Are, Sweden, on Saturday.

The American won by 1.58 seconds over Wendy Holdener of Switzerland. Olympic slalom champion Frida Hansdotter of Sweden was another 0.01 behind in third.

It was Shiffrin’s 32nd victory in the discipline and 43rd overall. She secured her fifth slalom season title and second straight overall championship last week.

Earlier, men’s overall champion Marcel Hirscher won the season-ending men’s giant slalom for his 58th career victory.