Bell sets Xfinity record

Christopher Bell has a second straight NASCAR championship in sight.

Bell won his sixth Xfinity Series race this season in the playoff race Saturday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware, setting the rookie record for wins in a season.

He passed three drivers for most rookie wins: Greg Biffle won five races in 2001, as did Kyle Busch in 2004 and Carl Edwards in 2005.

Bell built his record with wins at Kentucky, New Hampshire, Iowa and two at Richmond.

“We’re in really good shape,” Bell said.

The 2017 Truck Series champion, Bell won the first stage Saturday and was never in any serious trouble driving the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, leading 110 of 200 laps.

“It’s been a career year for me,” Bell said. “All credit to Joe Gibbs Racing. We have really fast race cars every time I go to the racetrack.”

Bell, Justin Allgaier, Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer, Elliott Sadler, Tyler Reddick, Austin Cindric and Matt Tifft are still in the running for the championship.

Ross Chastain, Ryan Truex,

Ryan Reed and Brandon Jones all failed to advance.

 Sunday’s Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, which began Saturday night Pacific Time, ended too late for this edition. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was on the pole.

ELSEWHERE

Hatton in position to match Woods

Tyrrell Hatton of England is on course to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods 11 years ago to win the same European Tour event three years running.

Hatton shot a 6-under-par 66 in the third round at St. Andrews, Scotland, one of three courses being used at the Dunhill Links Championship, to

open a one-stroke lead with a 14-under total of 202.

Marcus Fraser of Australia was his nearest challenger after a 67 at Kingsbarns. Former Dunhill Links winner Stephen Gallacher (66) and Hatton’s European Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood (67) were tied for third, two shots further back.

Woods was the last player to win the same European Tour event three successive times when, in 2007, he completed a hat trick of titles at the WGCChampionship and the WGCInvitational.

Nick Faldo is the only Englishman to have previously achieved the feat after winning the Irish Open from 1991-93.

NBA: Rookie guard Lonnie Walker IV of the San Antonio

Spurs will miss the start of the regular season because of surgery to repair a torn right meniscus. Walker was hurt in the Spurs’ preseason win over Detroit on Friday night.

Walker, 19, was the 18th overall pick in the draft earlier this year, after skipping his final three seasons of eligibility with Miami.

Tennis: Anastasija Sevastova beat U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-4 to reach the China Open final in Beijing. Sevastova will play Caroline Wozniacki, a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Wang Qiang.

 Third-seeded Kei Nishikori beat Richard Gasquet 7-6 (2), 6-1 to reach the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo. Nishikori will face Daniil Medvedev, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Denis Shapovalov.