Larson’s old tires fade, Blaney wins Atlanta
Ryan Blaney became the sixth driver to win in six races to start NASCAR’s Cup season, surging to the front with nine laps to go Sunday in suburban Atlanta after Kyle Larson easily won the first two stages and led 269 of 325 laps on the 1.54mile trioval.
Patience was the key on a day when Larson looked unbeatable. In the end, Larson faded on a battered set of tires, and Blaney raced by him for an improbable victory.
“I was not going to be able to stick with him,” Blaney said. “I’ve got to save my tires … and see what happens.”
Blaney pulled away to win by 2.083 seconds in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford, having gone just as long as Larson on the final set of tires but getting much more out of them.
“It’s cool to win at a place where you’ve got to finesse it a little bit and think about it,” Blaney said after his fifth career victory.
Soccer: Jackson Yueill redirected Sebastian Salcedo’s cross for the goahead goal in the 60th minute, secondhalf substitute Hassani Dotson added two goals and the United States beat the Dominican Republic 40 in Guadalajara, Mexico, in qualifying for the Olympic men’s soccer tournament. In the second game of the doubleheader, Mexico played Costa Rica. A Mexico draw or win would advance the U.S. to a qualification match against a team from Group B, likely Honduras or Canada.
⏩ The Women’s Super League will benefit from prominent free broadcasts in Britain for the first time when the BBC starts showing live games, while Sky will begin paying for rights. The threeseason deal is the first time the Football Association has generated revenue from the separate domestic sale of women’s rights.
⏩ Manchester United now has only one route to ending a fouryear trophy drought. United lost 31 to Leicester in the FA Cup quarterfinals, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with realistically only the Europa League to produce his first trophy as United manager. United faces Granada in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
⏩ Luis Suarez scored early in the second half and Jan Oblak saved a late penalty as Atletico Madrid avoided another setback in the Spanish league, beating Alaves 10, a win that could be decisive in the fight for the title.
⏩ Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris SaintGermain won 42 at title rival Lyon to move atop the French league on goal difference.
⏩ Juventus’ hopes of retaining its Serie A title in Italy diminished as it lost 10 at home to relegationthreatened Benevento.
NFL: Former Cal receiver DeSean Jackson agreed to a oneyear deal with the Los Angeles Rams, reunited with coach Sean McVay, his offensive coordinator for three seasons in Washington, where he had two 1,000yard seasons.
⏩ The 9monthold son of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Ryan Switzer had more “significant bleeding” and was back in the hospital for a blood transfusion as doctors try to determine the problem after his surgery last week. The 26yearold father posted a video on social media thanking the public for its support for Christian.
College baseball: Zach Grech worked two scoreless innings for his seventh save as Stanford (123, 21 Pac12) took the deciding game of a threegame series with Utah (410, 12), a 41 decision at Sunken Diamond . ... At Evans Diamond, Cal (127) took the deciding game of a threegame series with Cal Baptist (116). The Bears overcame an 85 deficit with three in the eighth, then won 98 on Dylan Beavers’ solo homer in the ninth, his seventh homer this season.
College basketball: UNLV promoted assistant Kevin Kruger, putting a familiar name in charge of the men’s basketball program. He is the son of Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger, who led UNLV to four NCAA Tournament appearances between 200411.