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SPORTSTuesday 17 November 2015
Shortened race in Phoenix determines final 3 Chase spots
JENNA FRYER Dale Earnhardt Jr., center left, and his pit crew celebrate their third victory of the season after win- another restart if we’re go-
AP Auto Racing Writer ning the the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway, Sunday, Nov. ing to win,” Logano said.
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — 15, 2015, in Avondale, Ariz. “You just want a chance.
NASCAR’s championship It’s no one’s fault. It’s not
field was set Sunday at Associated Press NASCAR’s fault. What are
rain-soaked Phoenix Inter- they supposed to do when
national Raceway when final four two weeks ago “I don’t think it matters ond round of the Chase, it’s pouring out?”
the race was called 93 laps with a win at Martinsville, in what’s fair, it matters what was headed to the win at Also left wondering what
from the scheduled finish the winner-take-all show- entertains the fans and if Martinsville until he was might have been: Edwards,
— denying Joey Logano down at Homestead-Miami the fans are happy then intentionally wrecked by who missed advancing by
and three others a chance Speedway. that’s what it’s all about,” Matt Kenseth and Kesel- just five points, and Kurt
to race their way into the Eliminated Sunday were said Keselowski. owski nearly won last week Busch, who had one of the
finale. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Logano and his team- But the fans were likely left at Texas but was chased strongest cars at Phoenix.
won the race when NAS- mate Brad Keselowski, as unsatisfied after the anti- down in the closing laps by Kurt Busch had to win the
CAR pulled the plug after well as Carl Edwards and climactic ending. Jimmie Johnson. race to advance, and he
a frustrating day of trying to Kurt Busch. All could have It was a bitter defeat for Logano finished a frustrat- might have had a shot had
get a pivotal Chase for the earned a spot in the finale Team Penske, which nearly ing third and was denied a it gone to completion.
Sprint Cup championship with a victory at Phoenix, locked both drivers into the chance to race Earnhardt He was penalized minutes
elimination round complet- but the weather ruined finale. Logano, the Day- and Harvick on a restart into the race for jumping
ed. Rain initially delayed their shot to race their way tona 500 winner who swept because of the rain. the start — he grabbed
the start almost seven hours into the championship. all three races of the sec- “You don’t know if there’s the lead from pole-sitter
and turned a day race Johnson — but fell to last in
into a showcase under the the field when he made his
lights, and Earnhardt inher- pass-through on pit road.
ited the lead when Kevin But he still climbed to sev-
Harvick made a routine pit enth and might have been
stop. “That’s the way this able to challenge team-
game is played. That’s the mate Harvick for the win.
way this Chase is,” Logano “I don’t even think it was
said. “There’s no doubt a penalty,” Kurt Busch said
in my mind we’re still the after the race ended. “It’s
strongest team on the race not even a call in my mind.”
track.” Meanwhile, Earnhardt had
Earnhardt was eliminated no guilt in celebrating the
from the playoffs in the sec- win. He was eliminated from
ond round, though, so the the Chase after the sec-
victory had no ond round when a caution
championship implica- prevented him from racing
tions. Advancing into the Logano to the checkered
season finale next Sunday flag at Talladega.
were reigning series cham- “A lot of guys would love
pion Harvick, Kyle Busch to see this race continue
and Martin Truex Jr. They and have an opportunity
joined Jeff Gordon, who to race to the Chase,” said
had earned his spot in the Earnhardt. q
McDowell wins Mexico event in a playoff
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mex- maybe not quite as soon for a 66. Jason Bohn made Graeme McDowell from Portrush, Northern Ireland, holds up his
ico (AP) — Going more as this, and I said to myself tough par putts on four of trophy after he won the OHL Classic at Mayakoba golf tourna-
than two years without a that I was really going to his last five holes for a 68 to ment in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015.
win was enough time for appreciate it. And I do ap- join the playoff.
Graeme McDowell to start preciate it. This feels really It didn’t last long. Associated Press
asking himself the wrong nice.” McDowell, who looked ten-
questions. tative on tee shots and bird- first victory since the 2013 Beach, it was more signifi-
Was his best golf behind That par putt on the final ie putts over the final few French Open. And while it cant than just a PGA Tour
him? Was he even good hole of El Camaleon Golf holes, felt a surge of belief doesn’t compare with his event at the end of the
enough to win again? Club gave McDowell a in the playoff. He drilled a 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble year.q
He found his answer Mon- 5-under 66 to finish at 18-un- 3-wood down the middle,
day morning in Mexico. der 266. Even so, it looked and then wisely listened to
McDowell made an 8-foot as if that would only be caddie Ken Comboy, who
par putt on the 18th hole to good enough for second recommended a 5-iron
stay in the game, and then place. Russell Knox, com- when McDowell wanted to
he hit a 5-iron that grazed ing off a victory last week in hammer a 6-iron.
the edge of the cup and the HSBC Champions, had “It’s as good a 5-iron as I’ve
set up a 3-foot birdie to win a one-shot lead and was hit in a long time,” McDow-
a three-man playoff in the full of confidence. ell said.
rain-delayed OHL Classic Knox, however, pulled his Knox missed the green to
at Mayakoba. tee shot into the bunker in the left and failed to chip
“I dreamed of this day front of a steep lip, couldn’t in. Bohn missed an 18-
coming again,” McDowell quite reach the green and foot birdie putt. That left
said. “I thought it would be missed a 12-foot par putt McDowell to tap in for his
