HARVICK ON POLE AT DOVER; FIRST OF THE ELIMINATION RACES
dover, del. Kevin Harvick turned a lap at 162.933 mph to win the pole Friday at Dover International Speedway, leading the field for NASCAR’s third Chase race.
Led by Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup championship drivers took the top four slots and six of 10. Kyle Busch starts second, followed by Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski.
Jeff Gordon qualified sixth and teammate Jimmie Johnson eighth. Martin Truex Jr. will start 26th for Denver-based Furniture Row Racing.
The bottom four are dumped from the hunt: Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola are at risk of getting cut Sunday.
Force fast again
madison, ill. » John Force topped funny car qualifying at the NHRAMidwest Nationals with a 4.022-second run at 319.52 mph, while Richie Crampton led in top fuel, Erica Enders-Stevens in pro stock and Eddie Krawiec in pro stock motorcycle.
USOC has support to host in 2024
chicago » The U.S. Olympic Committee received near-unanimous support from the country’s sports federations in a poll asking whether they would support a bid for the 2024 Olympics— another sign that a U.S. city will make a run at hosting the next available Summer Games.
Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco andWashington are the candidates.
Rondo breaks finger
boston » Four-time Boston Celtics all-star Rajon Rondo underwent surgery for a broken left finger.
The Celtics said their veteran point guard is expected to miss six to eight weeks after breaking his finger in a fall at his home Thursday night.
• Miami Heat forward Luol Deng said he forgives Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry for making racially charged remarks about him.
Deng said he has spoken to Ferry about the issue. “I don’t think Danny’s racist. I really don’t,” Deng said.
• Charlotte Hornets forward Jeffery Taylor will not participate in any team-related activities while the NBA investigates his arrest on domesticassault charges inMichigan.
McCallister fires a 66
pebble beach, calif. » BlaineMcCallister birdied his last two holes at Poppy Hills for a 5-under-par 66 and the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s First Tee Open.
Chiefs lose RB
kansas city, mo. » Running back JoeMcKnight ruptured his Achilles tendon in practice Thursday, becoming the third Kansas City Chiefs player to suffer the season-ending injury this year.
DU’s nonconference slate set.
Games against regional foes Colorado State (home, Dec. 19) andWyoming (road, Dec. 2) highlight the nonconference schedule for the University of Denver’s men’s basketball team. Six opponents played in the 2014 postseason: Saint Joseph’s, Saint Mary’s, Belmont, Wyoming, Stanford and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Colorado College women’s soccer team began its membership in theMountainWest with a tie, while Colorado State was shut out andWyoming won in a rout in their conference openers. Senior midfielder Jennifer Stoot scored her first career goal in the seventh minute on a 28-yard crossing shot, but CC gave up the equalizer late in the first half and settled for a 1-1 tie with Utah State. … UNLV was awarded a penalty kick in the 59th minute and Jordan Magnin converted it, sending CSU to a 1-0 home loss. … Freshman Alisha Bass scored twice inWyoming’s 4-0 victory over visiting Nevada. … Marie Ipock’s successful penalty kick in the 73rd minute gaveMetro State, ranked No. 23 in Division II, a 1-1 tie with host Adams State. … Nola Basey’s 16 kills helped lead the University of Denver volleyball team to a 25-18, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of hostWestern Illinois.
Footnotes.