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sports Tuesday 23 augusT 2022

Elliott angry with teammate Larson as playoffs loom

By JENNA FRYER clearly aggravated at how
AP Auto Racing Writer Larson raced him for the
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — win.
Kyle Larson has just two Just like Sunday at Watkins
wins this season and both Glen, Larson was instantly
came at the expense of apologetic and sought
teammate Chase Elliott. out Elliott the next week to
The relationship between clear the air. He anticipat-
NASCAR's last two Cup ed putting this latest ker-
champions seemed pre- fuffle to quick rest, but the
carious Sunday night at playoffs start in a week with
Watkins Glen International a Cup title on the line and
as Larson celebrated in vic- two drivers have carved
tory lane while Elliott sought out their own personal in-
out team leadership for ner-team rivalry that could
what appeared to be an stretch the next two-plus
animated conversation. months.
The 2020 Cup champion Hendrick is unlikely to let it
and NASCAR's most popu- fester — don't forget, HMS
lar driver had just clinched actually has all four of its
the regular-season title, drivers in the 16-driver play-
but Elliott had dominated off field — and the boss has
the race and might have long preached that ships
picked up his fifth win of the Kyle Larson smiles with his trophy after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, are typically sunk from with-
year had Larson not mus- N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022. Associated Press in. He'll do his best this week
cled his way past his team- to have Elliott calmed
mate on the final restart. the finish of the race or his "Like I said, always good to and Larson to build much down before he gets to
Larson forced Elliott to miss regular-season title. see HMS win," Elliott said. of a relationship since Lar- Daytona this weekend.
the corner and slide back "Just a huge congratula- "The boss deserves all the son joined the four-car Whether that helps Larson
into traffic, all while Larson tions to Kyle and every- wins, all the great things Hendrick fleet in 2021. the rest of the season re-
skirted away to his first vic- body on the 5 team. Con- that go on with this compa- NASCAR and HMS were still mains to be seen.
tory since February at Fon- gratulations to everybody ny. Proud of that. Looking operating within COVID-19 "In my position you have
tana. He ran Elliott into the at Hendrick Motorsports for forward to next week." protocols and face-to-face to expect not getting any
wall to win that race. getting another win," was Elliott on multiple referenc- interactions were limited breaks cut my way," Larson
"I am not proud of it," Lar- Elliott's first response. es looked ahead to Bristol when Larson first joined the said. "I think and I hope it
son said upon climbing Larson said he expected a — apparently so angry in team. It wasn't until midway will be fine, but we'll see. I
from his car Sunday. "I don't conversation between the the moment that he forgot through the season that the didn't end his day, but I did
like to do that. But in that two at the Hendrick com- the regular-season finale two spent any meaningful probably take a win from
moment, that was my only petition meeting. What Saturday night is at Day- time together, and by that him. The next 11 weeks,
shot to win. I haven't won a would Elliott have to say? tona International Speed- point Larson had already 10 weeks in the playoffs,
lot this year. I felt like I did "Congratulations. He did way. The Cup Series doesn't established himself as NAS- there's more than just me
what I had to do to benefit a great job. Seriously, they race at Bristol until Sept. 17 CAR's top driver. to worry about.
our playoffs." deserve it," Elliott said. in the first-round playoff He was the new driver at "I definitely know there may
Elliott, meanwhile, was "Looking forward to going elimination race. HMS and teammates with be moments throughout
locked into a conversation to Bristol next week and It's unlikely the Hendrick the reigning Cup cham- the playoffs where I feel like
with Hendrick Motorsports trying to get one for our camp will allow this feud to pion, but Larson outper- we're around each other
owner Rick Hendrick and team." And what about fester for an entire month formed Elliott and won 10 a lot because we're pretty
vice chairman Jeff Gordon. Rick Hendrick, did he offer and get to Bristol, where races en route to his own equal on track and stuff.
Elliott appeared to do most any words of consolation as deliberate revenge could first Cup title. If there were Yeah, there may be mo-
of the talking, and after he one of his drivers celebrat- knock someone to an early hard feelings, it didn't show ments. In my position, you
walked away, he had little ed and the other stewed? exit from the playoffs. But it until February of this year at kind of have to accept
to offer in interviews about Elliott refused to bite. has been difficult for Elliott Fontana when Elliott was it."q

Zverev, 2020 US Open runner-up, to

miss event with injury

NEW YORK (AP) — Alexan- was on the verge of his first the U.S. Open semifinals,
der Zverev, the 2020 U.S. Grand Slam title two years losing to Novak Djokovic in
Open runner-up, will miss ago in Flushing Meadows five sets.
the tournament this year before Dominic Thiem ral- American Stefan Kozlov
while recovering from sur- lied to beat him in a fifth- moved into the main draw
gery on his right ankle. set tiebreaker. It was the for the tournament. Main
Zverev tore ligaments in the first time a man overcame draw play begins next
ankle during his semifinal a 2-0 deficit in the final of Monday. Germany's Alexander Zverev grimaces in pain after twisting his
match against Rafael Nad- the event since Pancho Reilly Opelka, who won ankle during the semifinal match against Spain's Rafael Nadal
al at the French Open in Gonzalez did it against Ted two titles earlier this year, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium
June, and the No. 2-ranked Schroeder in 1949. also withdrew Monday be- in Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2022.
player withdrew from the Zverev won the Olympic cause of injury. Associated Press
U.S. Open on Monday. gold medal in Tokyo last He reached the fourth last year. Fellow American the main draw.q
The 25-year-old German year and then returned to round of the U.S. Open Jack Sock took his place in