Byron wins 2nd straight race
AVONDALE, ARIZ. >> William Byron won his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race, taking advantage of a pair of late cautions to give the rolling Hendrick Motorsports team a victory in overtime at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday.
Byron's No. 24 Chevrolet got a great start in overtime with two laps left, and just like he did a week earlier at Las Vegas, he overtook teammate Kyle Larson for the win. He also had to hold off Ryan Blaney, who finished second, while Tyler Reddick was third.
Byron denied Kevin Harvick a chance to win his 10th race at Phoenix. Harvick's Stewart-Haas No. 4 Ford passed Larson for the lead with 44 laps remaining, taking advantage of the long run under greenflag conditions that favored his car all afternoon.
But a yellow flag with 10 laps remaining dashed Harvick's hopes.
Several drivers changed just two tires on the ensuing pit stop, but Harvick took four, falling back to seventh place for the restart with three laps left. He finished fifth.
Another caution immediately after the restart sent the race to overtime.
Tony Stewart ended up in the NHRA winner's circle to start 2023 — as a team owner.
Stewart red-lighted in the second round of eliminations in the Top Alcohol class Saturday, but the three-time NASCAR champion finished drag racing's season opener with Matt Hagan, one of his drivers at Tony Stewart Racing, winning the Funny Car finale at the Gatornationals.
Hagan covered the 1,000-foot strip in 3.926 seconds, just enough to drive around J.R. Todd and leave Stewart hugging and high-fiving his team at Gainesville Raceway.
Baseball
OHTANI HOMERS FOR JAPAN >> Shohei Ohtani hit a threerun homer that landed just below his image on a video advertising board, sending Japan to a 7-1 victory over Australia in the World Baseball Classic.
Ohtani also walked twice and finished with four RBIs. His first-inning drive traveled an estimated 448 feet.
Japan won Group B with a 4-0 record and will play a quarterfinal Thursday against Italy, which advanced along with Cuba from Group A on tiebreakers. Matt Harvey got the win as Italy defeated the Netherlands 7-1, causing all five teams to finish 2-2.
South Korea beat the Czech Republic 7-3 in the day's other Group B game, and Cuba defeated Taiwan 7-1 in Group A.
NFL
COMMANDERS, PAYNE AGREE ON DEAL >> The Washington Commanders are keeping Daron Payne around, thanks to the second-biggest contract for a defensive tackle behind only seven-time All-Pro Aaron Donald.
The Commanders agreed to terms with Payne on a four-year contract worth $90 million, with $60 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the contract had not been announced.
RAMS TRADING RAMSEY The Miami Dolphins are acquiring All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The Rams will get Miami's third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft and tight end Hunter Long, according to the people, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither team had announced the deal.
Skiing
ODERMATT SECURES DISCIPLINE TITLE >> Olympic champion Marco Odermatt won a men's World Cup giant slalom to secure his second straight season title in the discipline.
Racing in sunny and warm conditions on the Podkoren 3 course, the Swiss skier built on his first-run lead as he beat his only rival for the GS title before the race, Henrik Kristoffersen, by 0.32 seconds.