Hamlin wins shortened race with aid of crash
won NASCAR’s first Wednesday race since 1984 when rain stopped the event with 20 laps remaining at Darlington Raceway.
The Daytona 500 winner was out front but out of fresh tires and trying to hang on when he got unintended help from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate
The reigning Cup champion caused
to crash eight laps earlier to bring out the caution.
A furious Elliott waited for Busch on the apron of the track and flipped Busch the middle finger as he passed. As NASCAR cleaned the track, it started to rain and the cars were called to pit road under red-flag.
As the drivers sat in their cars waiting for NASCAR to pull the plug, a handful of Elliott’s crew members sat on the pit wall starring down Busch. One of Busch’s crew members sat between them on the wall and NASCAR eventually ordered everyone back over the wall.
Eight minutes later, the race was called and Busch was greeted by
Elliott’s crew chief and Busch’s former crew chief when he drove for Hendrick Motorsports, for a conversation between two masked competitors.
Busch immediately copped to the error.
“I just made a mistake, misjudged the gap, sent him into the wall,” Busch said. “That was entirely unintentional. I'll definitely reach out to him and tell him I’m sorry, tell him I hate it that it happened.”
Meanwhile, Hamlin, wearing a mask that depicted his actual smile, was having a muted celebration in the rain.
It was a 1-2 finish for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. Hamlin has won three times at Darlington and has two wins this season.
The start of NASCAR’s second race back during the coronavirus pandemic was moved up an hour because of poor weather, but that was then delayed nearly 90 minutes because it rained most of the day.
BRISCOE TAKES XFINITY
held off a hard charge from
in the closing laps to take the victory in Thursday’s rain-delayed Toyota 200 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ return at Darlington Raceway.
Briscoe was able to fend off on the final restart following a caution flag with 15 laps. But Busch was able to pass Allgaier after restarting third, chasing down Briscoe in the closing laps. The pair both shared wall scrapes and banged sheet metal as Briscoe tried to protect the lead. Busch made one last effort in the final corner, but Briscoe was able to block the charge off of Turn 4 to earn the checkered flag.
An emotional Briscoe exited the No. 98 StewartHaas Racing Ford Mustang in tears after he announced two days before that wife
had suffered a miscarriage after expecting their first child.
“This is for my wife,” Briscoe said. “This is the hardest week I’ve ever had to deal with. God is so good. We took the lead with 50 laps to go. I was crying inside the race car.
“This is the biggest day of my life after the worst day of my life,” he added. “To beat the best there is is so satisfying.”
ETC.
Jockey moved past fellow Hall of Famer
to grab sole possession of eighth place in the all-time standings for races-won with victory No. 7,058 Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The 52year-old Lima, Peru native scored aboard
Flying Aletha ($9), who defeated stablemate Lime by 5½ lengths in the five-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies that was transferred from the turf course to the main track. “I’m very excited. After the recent setback with the quarantine and the coronavirus, I’m glad to be back and riding again,” Prado said. “I’m extremely excited and happy to pass a legend like Cordero.” Prado moved to within eight victories of still-active
who ranks seventh on the all-time list. ranked third in the world, became the first prominent PGA Tour pro to commit to play in the 2020 Travelers Championship since the coronavirus pandemic suspended play in March. He joins No. 1
and several other top-10 players who had previously committed for the TV-only event on June 25-28 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Others who commited early include threetime winner (No. 4 in the world),
and
(tied at No. 7). The 2020 event will be shut off to spectators but will be broadcast on the Golf Channel and CBS. the 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player and Houston Rockets superstar wants to make sure the coast is clear and that the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has “calmed down all the way to a minimum” before he returns to action euro-stepping around defenders in a resumed NBA season. “I want it to be safe,” Harden said on CNBC. “I want it to be entertaining for the fans and players to get out there and compete. As soon as we can get this ramped up, I’m ready to go. I feel like the majority of the players feel the same way.”
Former Florida State offensive lineman
was arrested on two counts of battery against his girlfriend that allegedly occurred during his time with the Seminoles. Williams entered the transfer portal in early January and left the team.