Elliott races to win at ‘Roval’
NASCAR will crown a new champion this year following Kyle Busch’s elimination in the second round of the playoffs.
Chase Elliott won Sunday on the hybrid road course-oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., where four drivers, including Busch, were trimmed from title contention. Busch likely needed to win the race to advance into the round of eight, but instead became the first reigning champ knocked out of contention after two rounds since the format began in 2014.
A victory was a tall ask in this winless season for Busch. He finished 30th in the race.
Austin Dillon and Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola in Fords also were eliminated. Bowyer this week said he’s retiring at the end of the season.
Elliott won for the second consecutive year at “The Roval” and extended his winning streak on road courses to four straight dating to last season. It was Elliott’s third win of this season and second at Charlotte — hewon on the oval inMay.
Elliott advanced to the round of eight along with Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch.
■ LewisHamilton matched Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 wins in FormulaOnewith victory in the Eifel Grand Prix in Nurburg, Germany. Hamilton leadsMercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the season standings by 69 points with six races to go. Winning the title would bring Hamilton levelwith Schumacher’s record of seven championships.
Golf: Sei Young Kim of South Korea shot a final-round 7-under 63 to win theWomen’s PGA Championship in Newtown Square, Pa. Kim, 27, finished five clear of runner-up Inbee Park (65). It was Kim’s first major title. ... Martin Laird beat Austin Cook and Matthew Wolff on the second hole of a playoff to win the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. It was the fourth career PGA Tour title and first in seven years for the 37-year-old Scot. Laird alsowon the 2009 tournament in a playoff. ... Brit Tyrrell Hatton won the BMW PGA Championship in VirginiaWater, England. ... Hall of Famer Ernie Els birdied the final two holes for a one-stroke victory at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. It was the second senior tour title in 10 career starts for the 50-year-old South African.
The Saints ruled out Michael Thomas for Monday night’s game against theChargers after the All-Pro WR had an altercation with a teammate at practice thisweekend.
NFL:
NHL: The Sabres signed left winger Taylor Hall to a one-year, $8 million contract. Hall, 28, won the 2018Hart Trophy as league MVP while with the Devils. He was traded to the Coyotes in December.