Kurt Busch, 4 other drivers top 200 mph in qualifying
FORT WORTH, TEXAS » Kurt Busch went faster than anyone has ever gone in NASCAR Cup qualifying on a 11/2-mile track. While out of championship contention and uncertain who he will drive for next season, he is still trying to win races.
“The sensation of speed unbelievable,” Busch said.
Busch averaged a record 200.915 mph on his only lap in the final round of qualifying Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. The Stewart-Haas driver was in one of the five cars that broke the 200-mph mark, with Denny Hamlin qualifying second and the highest of the remaining championship contenders.
“Development, that’s the biggest thing. That’s just the biggest thing,” Hamlin said, when asked about the high qualifying speeds. “And trust me, I don’t know of any driver that is comfortable running at the speed we’re running right now. Kevin Harvick walked by and as soon as that was over, he said, ‘I’m glad that is over.’ It’s crazy speed.”
The top five all surpassed the previous qualifying record at the track, Tony Stewart’s 200.111 mph before the fall race three years ago.
Breeders’ Cup: Forever Unbridled scores upset
is, it’s DEL MAR » Forever Unbridled capped a day of upsets at the Breeders’ Cup with a half-length victory in the $2 million Distaff on Friday at Del Mar, showing no rust off a 73-day layoff.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Forever Unbridled ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.25 and paid $9.40 to win at 7-2 odds. Elate, the 2-1 favorite, was fourth in the eight-horse field.
The only favorite to win among the day’s four Cup races was 9-2 shot Mendelssohn in the $1 million Juvenile Turf.
The other $1 million races produced upsets: 3-1 shot Rushing Fall in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and 14-1 shot Battle of Midway in the Dirt Mile.
Tennis: Isner wins, Nadal withdraws
PARIS » John Isner stayed on track for the last spot at the ATP Finals by beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in the Paris Masters quarterfinals on Friday.
The American was the runnerup last year and needs to win the tournament to reach the finals in London this month.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal pulled out with a right knee injury, and hopes to be fit to lead the London field.
The loss ended del Potro’s hopes of reaching London. The Argentine needed to win to guarantee his place. ZHUHAI, CHINA » Julia Goerges advanced to the semifinals at the WTA Elite Trophy by beating topseeded Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 7-6 (4) Friday.
The seventh-seeded German joins CoCo Vandeweghe, Anastasija Sevastova and Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals. • Caroline Wozniacki is engaged again and showing off her new ring. The Danish tennis player says on Twitter that she accepted a marriage proposal from David Lee, who recently played for the San Antonio Spurs.
Golf: Spaun takes lead
LAS VEGAS » J.J. Spaun shot a 6-under 65 at breezy TPC Summerlin to take the lead in the suspended second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Kelly Kraft was second at 8 under with three holes left when play was suspended for the day because of darkness. He had a hole-in-one on par-3 fifth, using a 6-iron on the 174-yard hole. IBARAKI, JAPAN » Defending champion Shanshan Feng fired a 6-under 66 on Friday to share a sevenway lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Japan Classic.
Feng carded six birdies in a bogey-free round at the Taiheiyo Club and was joined at 6 under by Americans Lizette Salas and Jane Park, Japanese players Saiki Fujita, Ai Suzuki and Nasa Hataoka, and Lee Ming-yong of South Korea.