Larson earns spot in NASCAR’s last four
Kyle Larson claimed the first of four championship-contending spots in the NASCAR Cup Series’ season finale with a dominant victory at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth to start the round of eight in the playoffs.
Larson led 256 of 334 laps at the 11⁄2-mile track and got his eighth win this season, staying in front through seven restarts in the final stage. This was the first chance for anyone to guarantee a shot at racing for the Cup title in Phoenix on Nov. 7.
Already with a significant points lead, and coming off a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway a week earlier, Larson left no doubt about being part of the championship four. The seven remaining playoff contenders leave Texas with two more chances to get into the championship four, with Kansas and Martinsville left before the finale.
Alexis DeJoria powered to her first funny car victory in more than four years in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway. Mike Salinas won in top fuel and Angelle Sampey in pro stock motorcycle.
Trainer Bob Baffert can enter and run horses in the Nov. 5-6 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar but with enhanced testing and protocols. The Breeders’ Cup made the announcement after a special review.
Baffert has been under fire from two racing organizations since Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, a medication that can be dispensed but not on race day, after winning the Kentucky Derby.
— John Cherwa
Rory McIlroy won the CJ Cup at Summit for his 20th PGA Tour title. McIlroy shot a six-under-par 66 to finish at 25-under 263 in Las Vegas for a one-shot victory over Collin Morikawa, who closed with a 62 . ... Lee Janzen made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff with Miguel Angel Jimenez to win the PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. … Matt Fitzpatrick won the European Tour’s Andalucia Masters by three in Sotogrande, Spain.
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons practiced and faced his teammates for the first time since his trade demand. ... MLB said its owners have agreed to begin providing housing to certain minor league players beginning in the 2022 season.