NASCAR nixes trucks victory

NASCAR overturned a victory for the first time since 1960 when Brett Moffitt was declared the winner of the Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway after Ross Chastain’s No. 44 truck failed a post-race inspection.

Chastain led the final 141 laps of the 200lap race. But series managing director Brad Moran said the No. 44 was too low when it was measured with NASCAR’s height sticks. Chastain’s team has until noon June 17 to appeal the decision.

“The height sticks have warning yellows in them and reds and it was right off of all of them, so unfortunately it was extremely low,” Moran said.

The disqualification was the first under strict new rules put into place at the start of this season to deter the culture of cheating and it delivered a much-needed win for Moffitt, a native Iowan racing at his hometown track.

TASCA III REIGNS >> Bob Tasca III raced to his first Funny Car victory in nearly seven years, beating 70-year-old John Force in the final round of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Tasca won for the fifth time and first in 100 races, denying Force his 150th career victory with a 4.008-second pass at 316.23 mph in a Ford Mustang.

MLB

ENCARNACION WILL JOIN YANKEES ON JUNE 17 >> Edwin Encarnacion will find himself in a familiar spot after he joins the Yankees in New York on June 17. Manager Aaron Boone plans to use AL home run leader as his team’s primary designated hitter once the 36-year-old slugger arrives.

The AL East leaders acquired Encarnacion for a minor-league pitcher in a late-night trade with Seattle. Boone said he expects Encarnacion to be available when the Yankees open a three-game series against the Rays.

Boone said he’ll occasionally play the threetime All-Star at first base.

Golf

HENDERSON SETS CANADIAN MARK >> Brooke Henderson won the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday to break the Canadian record for tour victories with nine.

The 21-year-old Henderson led wire-to-wire for her second victory in three years at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich., closing with a 2-under 70 in chilly conditions to hold off Lexi Thompson, Nasa Hataoka, Su Oh and Brittany Altomare by a stroke.

Henderson broke a tie with Sandra Post for the Canadian record on the LPGA Tour and also moved ahead of George Knudson and Mike Weir for the overall country mark.

HAGELIN, CAPS AGREE >> The Capitals signed winger Carl Hagelin to an $11 million, four-year deal. Hagelin counts $2.75 million against the salary cap through the 2022-23 season. General Manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal.

Washington acquired Hagelin from Los Angeles prior to the trade deadline this past season. He scored three goals in 20 regular-season games with the Capitals after scoring just two in 38 games with the Penguins and Kings.

Hagelin figures to be a lynchpin of the Capitals’ third line.

WNBA

BIRD UNSURE IF SHE’LL RETURN THIS SEASON >> Sue Bird isn’t sure when she’ll be back this year. The WNBA’s all-time assist leader said she has to be smart about her health as she recovers from surgery on her left knee.

“I don’t know. I’m hoping to be healthy. For me that means being smart and doing what I have to do to make sure I’m 100%,” Seattle’s star said after Seattle lost to Connecticut, 81-67. “Do I love the fact that I might have to miss the season? No. I hate it. Hopefully time doesn’t run out on me. I think at this point in my career I can’t be stupid.”

The 38-year-old point guard has been recovering from knee surgery she had in May to take care of a loose bone in her knee that impacted her ability to play and needed to be removed surgically.