The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Logano holds off Harvick in Phoenix

- By David Brandt

AVONDALE, ARIZ. » Joey Logano raced to his second NASCAR Cup Series win in three weeks, holding off Kevin Harvick over the final two laps after an overtime restart Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Also the winner two weeks ago in Las Vegas for Team Penske, Logano has 25 career Cup victories. He overcame several tough moments, including a pit-road penalty for an uncontroll­ed tire and a broken jack during another stop.

A late caution triggered the two-lap overtime shootout with Logano, Harvick and Kyle Busch all in a decent position to win. Logano had a good restart at the mile oval and was able to hold off Harvick. Busch was third, Kyle Larson finished fourth and Clint Bowyer was fifth.

Pole-sitter Chase Elliott and Harvick dominated the first half of the race but Elliott had to make a green-flag stop because of a loose front tire and fell a lap behind the leaders. He eventually earned a free pass to get back on the lead lap and finished seventh.

The Phoenix race was the first under NASCAR’s new rules

age for short tracks, which included a significan­tly smaller rear spoiler. The hope was the changes would make for more passing and excitement during the race.

For the most part, the tweaks seemed to have their desired effect. There were 20 lead changes and plenty of passing and contact back in the pack. Phoenix also is the site of the Cup Series championsh­ip in November.

Elliott started on the pole while Harvick — who has won nine times in Phoenix — also was on the front row. Elliott led the first 61 laps of the race before Harvick beat him off pit road following the first caution.

ERTZ’S HEADER GIVES US 1-0 WIN OVER SPAIN IN SHEBELIEVE­S CUP » Julie Ertz scored on a header in the 87th minute and the United States extended its unbeaten streak to 30 games with a 1-0 win over Spain in

MMA

CHAMPIONS RETAIN AT UFC 248 » Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzedczy­k were left bloody, bruised and swollen after the strawweigh­ts staged one of the most spectacula­r title fights in recent mixed martial arts history.

And though the main event of UFC 248 couldn’t measure up to that penultimat­e scrap, both champions are leaving Las Vegas

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