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SPORTS Tuesday 23 July 2024
NASCAR’s restart rules questioned after Larson takes advantage of

unusual Brickyard 400 finish

By MICHAEL MAROT of competition Elton Sawyer
AP Sports Writer explained afterward that if
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan the race remained under
Blaney thought he was per- caution for one more lap, cur-
fectly positioned to win the rent rules would have made
Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Blaney the control car but
He drove down Indianapo- would not have allowed to
lis Motor Speedway’s front change lanes.
straightaway leading the “We had already gone
outside lane of cars to the through the choose process,
second-to-last restart, fully so we were coming to green
expecting to inherit the lead when (Keselowski) pulled off,
when race leader Brad Kes- which allowed (Larson) to pull
elowski ran out of fuel. up and transferred control to
Instead, as Keselowski’s slow- (Blaney),” Sawyer told NAS-
ing car pulled off the track, CAR’s digital platform.
Kyle Larson, who was running “This all happens fairly quick.
third directly behind Kesel- Hindsight, I think we still would
owski, pulled next to Blaney have let that play out the
on the preferred inside line, way we did. We’ll discuss
made the pass for the lead that more.”
and did it again on the final Sawyer and others now have
restart to seal his first Brickyard a rare two-week Olympic
victory. Ryan Blaney drives during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, break to consider their op-
Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Indianapolis.
While Larson celebrated by Associated Press tions and whether anything
kissing Indy’s famed yard of needs to be changed or
bricks, Blaney was lament- The cars were already near the same reason each knew is going exactly how we kind clarified.
ing what just happened and or in the restart zone when Keselowski was low on fuel of hoped.’” But even if NASCAR modi-
whether NASCAR officials Keselowski pulled off and Cup and each wanted to take Larson acknowledged the fied the rule, it will be of little
should have done something rules don’t allow for chang- advantage when he ran out. ensuing situation was con- solace to Blaney.
different. ing the restart order, even if “I was going to choose be- fusing. “I don’t even know what
“Yeah, call it off and rechoose the leader drops out late. In hind him no matter what With the leader out, Larson to get mad about,” Blaney
(the lanes) because now you fact, had the same situation lane he took just because said he wasn’t sure whether said after finishing third. “I am
promote the third-place guy occurred further back in the we hoped he would run out his car or Blaney’s car was mad about losing this race
before the second-place guy running order, another driver before the restart zone,” Lar- considered the control car because I thought we were
if the leader has problems,” likely would have done exact- son said. on the restart and he didn’t in the perfect position. Once I
Blaney said. “That isn’t right. It ly the same thing as Larson. “I was trying to pay attention know if Blaney could deci- lost control of the race, obvi-
is just dumb luck at this race- Blaney responded on his ra- to him, and he was cycling pher it, either. ously I would have been on
track where the bottom (line) dio with an angry, profane his engine, trying to clean So, Larson made his move, the bottom, but I thought
is preferred. I am just upset. rant, saying Cup officials and warm up his tires, and with what he believed two (Keselowski) would run out
That is a heartbreaker. We “gave” Larson the victory. then, yeah, he just dumped cars accelerating nearly in in the restart zone or on the
did everything right today.” But Blaney and Larson both off onto pit road and I was unison. back. It stinks to lose it that
Larson played it by the book. chose their place in line for like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this NASCAR senior vice president way.” q

Columbus Blue Jackets hire Dean

Evason as their next coach

By STEPHEN WHYNO control of the organiza- being fired and replaced
AP Hockey Writer tion’s hockey operations by John Hynes in Novem-
The Columbus Blue Jack- department. Evason ulti- ber. This is his second head-
ets hired Dean Evason as mately emerged as the top coaching job in the league,
coach on Monday, filling candidate in the coaching a career that also included
the NHL’s final vacancy search to replace Vincent. a stint as an assistant with
two months before training “(Evason) has spent well Washington and then Min-
camps open. over two decades in this nesota, for which he was a
Evason, 59, will be Colum- league as a player, as- midseason replacement of
bus’ third coach in as many sistant coach and head Bruce Boudreau in 2020.
seasons not counting Mike coach and I believe that In this role, Evason is tasked
Babcock being hired and experience, combined with with helping end the Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason speaks to players
resigning on the eve of the outstanding person he Blue Jackets’ postseason during NHL hockey training camp Sept. 22, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn.
training camp last Septem- is, will allow Dean to get the drought. They have missed Associated Press
ber. The team said Evason best out of our players and the playoffs each of the last
agreed to a multiyear con- put us in a position to suc- four years and have yet to really looking forward to Evason was a center during
tract. ceed as a team,” Waddell get past the second round working with this group and his playing days, appear-
New Blue Jackets gen- said in a statement. in 24 seasons as a franchise. helping us become a team ing in over 800 games with
eral manager Don Wad- Evason coached the Min- “There is a great core and that plays extremely hard Washington, Hartford, San
dell fired Pascal Vincent nesota Wild for parts of the a lot of young talent on this and competes at the high- Jose, Dallas and Calgary
not long after taking over past five seasons before team,” Evason said. “I am est level.” from 1983-96.q