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SPORTS Tuesday 25 april 2023
Kyle Busch helps RCR return to NASCAR’s victory lane

By JENNA FRYER year with Tyler Reddick,
AP Auto Racing Writer who won three times.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Reddick decided he was
There were many dark days leaving RCR at the end of
season for Kyle Busch as his the 2023 season to drive for
long, successful run with Denny Hamlin and Michael
Joe Gibbs Racing came to Jordan. With an opportu-
an end. nity for Reddick to move
JGR had lost its sponsor for a year early, Dillon pushed
the two-time Cup Series his grandfather to consid-
champion and the future er Busch. The first reward
NASCAR Hall of Famer was was Busch’s win earlier this
an expensive free agent. season at Fontana, which
He offered to lower his mar- earned him an automatic
ket value and scoured the berth in the playoffs. Then
garage looking for a seat, came the win at Talladega,
facing the harsh reality that where Childress has 13 ca-
with all his talent he might reer victories as an owner
not land with a top team. and raced 19 times himself
It was Austin Dillon who from 1969 through 1981. His
asked his grandfather to career best finish was sixth
consider speaking with in 1980.
Busch and somehow forget It was such a special break-
a 2011 incident in which Kyle Busch celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega through for Childress who
Richard Childress attacked Superspeedway, Sunday, April 23, 2023, in Talladega, Ala. last went to Talladega’s vic-
Busch following a Truck Se- Associated Press tory lane in 2011 with Clint
ries race. Childress famous- Busch won his second race able finish. it’s my duty, it’s my service Bowyer that the 77-year-
ly removed his wristwatch of the season on Sunday “Rowdy” is on a mission this to them to give them ev- old entered the post-race
before pummeling Busch with a victory in double season to prove his value, erything that I’ve got, ab- news conference with an
as payback for wrecking overtime at Talladega Su- reaffirm he is still an elite solutely everything that I’ve open bottle of champagne
a Richard Childress Rac- perspeedway, where he racer and thank RCR for got, for them sticking their from Childress Vineyards.
ing entry a confrontation milked every last drop of giving him a job when his neck out for me at RCR.” “I think he’s helping us build
that earned Childress a fuel in his tank to steal the prospects seemed so grim. It goes both ways. RCR back to where we
$150,000 fine from NASCAR. win. “They didn’t think that Kyle RCR had fallen on hard want to be,” Childress said
Dillon made a convincing Crew chief Randall Burnett Busch was washed up or times over the last decade of Busch, while making sure
argument and a pairing had called Busch in for a anything like that,” Busch and the Cup Series had to credit his grandson for
that once seemed unfath- splash of gas during over- said. seemed to pass by the the hire.
omable came to fruition time, a decision that came “It was really a breath of proud organization that “Racing is like life there’s
as Busch left JGR and Toy- too late for Busch to make fresh air to get over there won six championships with peaks and valleys. When
ota for a new job driving a it to pit road. Busch was and get to work. Trust me, the late Dale Earnhardt. you get in on a peak, it’s
Chevrolet for Childress. secretly pleased: by not I’ve probably done more, RCR won just five races harder to stay there. You
Through 11 races, it is a part- pitting, he gambled that worked harder in this year after Kevin Harvick left fol- got to be prepared when
nership that is changing the he’d have a shot at the win than I have in the last four -- lowing the 2013 season but you’re at the top. We’ve
Cup Series landscape. rather than just a reason- just because of feeling like showed some promise last been there.q

AP source: Fox doubtful for Game

5 with broken finger

By JOSH DUBOW after the injury and even win were tied for the sec-
AP Sports Writer made a key 3-pointer in ond most for a player in his
Sacramento star guard the closing minute before postseason debut and his
De’Aaron Fox broke the Sacramento lost 126-125. 126 points so far are tied for
index finger on his shoot- Fox passed out of a double the sixth most for any player
ing hand and is doubtful to team on the final posses- in his first four career playoff
play in Game 5 of the Kings’ sion and the Kings lost when games.
first-round series against the Harrison Barnes missed a Fox had 38 points, nine re-
Golden State Warriors. 3-pointer at the buzzer.The bounds and five assists in
A person familiar with the series is tied at two games the Game 4 loss.
injury said that Fox injured apiece headed into Fox was announced last Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) brings the ball
the finger on his left hand Game 5 in Sacramento on week as the inaugural win- upcourt against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of
Game 4 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs in San
late in a Game 4 loss to the Wednesday night. ner of the NBA’s clutch Francisco, Sunday, April 23, 2023.
Warriors on Sunday. The Fox has emerged as a star player of the year award. Associated Press
person spoke on condition in his first trip to the postsea- He led the league in clutch-
of anonymity because the son, averaging 31.5 points, game scoring this season the margin between teams That was the most clutch
team didn’t publicly re- seven assists and six re- with 194 points in 39 such is five points or less at any points scored in a season
lease details. bounds through six games. games; clutch games are point in the final five min- since LeBron James had
Fox remained in the game His 38 points in a Game 1 defined as those where utes. 197 in the 2017-18 season.q