NASCAR’s Briscoe, Hamlin may settle score
Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin spent the week trading barbs about their chaotic finish at Indianapolis.
They’ll have a chance to settle the score today in Brooklyn, Mich.
During a week many teams scrambled to repair damaged cars while plotting strategy for NASCAR’s return to oval racing, Briscoe and Hamlin continued their debate over the spinout that cost both championship contenders a possible trip to victory lane.
“We can’t race that way,” Hamlin said after Briscoe sent Indy’s race leader spinning on the second-tolast lap. “I don’t think he did it (maliciously). I’ve raced with him for a year now. He’s not that kind of person, just bad judgment.”
What exactly took place in those closing laps won’t soon be forgotten.
A deteriorating curb sent nine cars off course with five laps to go and seven more crashed shortly after a restart following the curb’s removal. Then in the second overtime and final restart, Hamlin forced Briscoe wide heading into the first turn, and as Hamlin navigated the course, Briscoe drove through the grass and came out side by side with Hamlin. When Hamlin pulled out to a small lead, Briscoe tapped the No. 11 Toyota, sending it into the grass — at about the same time Cup officials radioed Briscoe’s penalty for cutting the course.
Afterward, Hamlin confronted Briscoe on pit road. But when Briscoe’s radio transmissions were broadcast on television Monday, the debate started again.
“Soooo the 14 didn’t know but yet acknowledged it on the radio? Ok, gotcha, noted,” Hamlin wrote on Twitter. Briscoe defended himself again. “That was my crew chief’s voice, anyone that listens to us weekly knows that’s not my voice plus I never use the word ‘copy’ I always say 10-4,” he wrote. “Feel free to call or text me if you don’t wanna go back and forth on here.” ALLMENDINGER WINS XFINITY RACE >> AJ Allmendinger took the lead with four laps left in regulation and held on through three overtimes to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Michigan International Speedway.
Six days after winning the Cup Series’ Brickyard 200 at Indianapolis, Allmendinger beat Brandon Jones to the finish line by 0.163 seconds in, at 139 laps, the longest Xfinity contest ever on the two-mile track.
FORCE LEADS QUALIFYING IN MINNESOTA >> Brittany Force took the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel qualifying for the fifth straight event in the NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. Force had a 3.675-second run at a track-record 334.98 mph in the final qualifying session.
Bob Tasca III was the fastest in Funny Car with a 3.870 at 334.15 mph.
Basketball
STERN HEADS INDUCTION CLASS FOR WOMEN’S HALL >> What David Stern did for basketball transcended any gender bias and opened a whole new world for women in the game.
NBA commissioner from 1984-2014, Stern was the key figure in the formation of the WNBA in 1997. That bold move paved the way for Stern, who died Jan. 1, 2020, to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. Stern was joined in the induction class by former players Tamika Catchings, Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson and Debbie Brock.
Hockey
U.S. WOMEN WIN >> Brianna Decker and Kendall Coyne Schofield each had a goal and an assist and the ninetime champion United States beat Switzerland 3-0 late Friday night to open the women’s world championship in Calgary, Alberta. Grace Zumwinkle also scored for the U.S. and Alex Cavallini made 10 saves.
Tennis
CINCINNATI FINALISTS >> Top-ranked Ash Barty will make her first Western & Southern final appearance today. So will everybody else.
No. 76 Jil Teichmann will meet Barty in the women’s final in Cincinnati. Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev will face No. 7 Andrey Rublev in the men’s final after Rublev rallied to upset No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a men’s semifinal.
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TRIPOLI WINS PACIFIC CLASSIC >> Tripoli took the lead around the far turn and went on to win the $1 million Pacific Classic by 11/4 lengths at Del Mar. Tripoli earned an automatic berth into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6.