Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 9 March 2020
Logano holds off Harvick in NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix

By DAVID BRANDT car in particular. He's a Hall
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — of Famer, to say the least.
Joey Logano raved all When you line up against
weekend about the new him at the end of the race
"Awesome Sauce" at Phoe- you know it's going to be a
nix Raceway, which was heck of a battle."
the driver's nickname for Pole-sitter Chase Elliott and
the substance that was put Harvick dominated the first
on the mile oval to improve half of the race but Elliott
grip for tires and make for had to make a green-flag
better racing. stop because of a loose
The sauce did its job dur- front tire and fell a lap be-
ing an entertaining show hind the leaders. He even-
Sunday and so did Logano, tually earned a free pass to
who raced to his second get back on the lead lap
NASCAR Cup Series win in and finished seventh.
three weeks by holding off On top of the improved
Kevin Harvick during a two- track surface, the Phoenix
lap overtime restart. race was the first under
"That was a pretty intense NASCAR's new rules pack-
last 30 minutes or hour of age for short tracks, which
the race. A lot going on," included a significantly
Logano said. "Couldn't be smaller rear spoiler. The Joey Logano takes the checkered flag to win a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Race-
more proud of this team. hope was all the changes way, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz.
Two wins already in the would make for more pass- Associated Press
books. We got to keep this ing and excitement during
thing rocking." the race. couldn't get past Logano stay in the race but Blaney's TRUEX STARTS FROM THE
Also the winner two weeks The tweaks seemed to have at the end. car was too heavily dam- BACK
ago in Las Vegas for Team their desired effect. There "Joey was just good enough aged to continue. Martin Truex Jr. had to start
Penske, Logano has 25 ca- were 20 lead changes to run a couple laps there Keselowski was able to re- from the back of the 38-car
reer Cup victories. He over- and plenty of passing and and get where I needed to cover and eventually led field because of an engine
came several tough mo- contact back in the pack. be on track position," Har- 82 laps before settling for a change before Sunday's
ments, including a pit-road Phoenix also is the site of vick said. 11th-place finish. race. He initially qualified
penalty for an uncontrolled the Cup Series champion- Cole Custer was the high- Hamlin won the Daytona 12th. John Hunter Nem-
tire and a broken jack dur- ship in November. est finishing rookie in ninth 500 three weeks ago and echek also had to drop to
ing another stop. "Hats off to NASCAR for col- place. also won at Phoenix in No- the back row because of
A late caution triggered the laborating with the teams, BAD LUCK FOR BLANEY vember, but finished 20th a radiator change. He had
two-lap overtime shootout the track and putting on a An early wreck involved on Sunday. It was a bit of qualified 26th.
with Logano, Harvick and way better race than what three of the front-runners, bad luck for Blaney, who Truex was able to recover
Kyle Busch all in a decent we saw here last year," Lo- including Brad Keselowski, was the Cup points leader quickly and was among
position to win. Logano had gano said. Denny Hamlin and Ryan coming into the race and the leaders — even lead-
a good restart at the mile Elliott started on the pole Blaney. Hamlin's Toyota agreed to an multiyear ex- ing 11 laps — until he hit the
oval and was able to hold while Harvick — who has made contact with the left tension with Team Penske wall while in heavy traffic
off Harvick. Busch was third, won nine times in Phoe- rear of Keselowski's Ford as on Friday. He finished 37th. on a restart late in the race.
Kyle Larson finished fourth nix — also was on the front they were fighting for posi- "It stinks we get taken out He finished 32nd.
and Clint Bowyer was fifth. row. Elliott led the first 61 tion following a restart. The early like that, but that's just UP NEXT
"Really cool to be able to laps of the race before Har- collision left Blaney with no- part of it," Blaney said. The Cup series heads cross-
race clean and hard, it's vick beat him off pit road where to go and all three Blaney fell to sixth in the country to Atlanta Motor
a lot of fun," Logano said. following the first caution. ended up with at least mi- overall points standings fol- Speedway. Keselowski has
"Kevin is one of the best rac- Harvick had his fourth nor damage after sliding lowing the race. Harvick is won two of the past three
ers who has every strapped top 10 finish in four races, up into the wall. Keselowski the new leader with Loga- races in Atlanta, including
into a race car and a stock but was disappointed he and Hamlin were able to no in second. last year.q
Timbers score early for 1-0 win over Nashville SC

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Di- Fans at the game displayed best chance of the game Nashville outshot Portland Nashville was coming off a
ego Valeri scored an early a large banner that said in the 69th minute when 13-3. 2-1 loss at home to Atlanta
goal and the Portland Tim- ``Rose City (heart) Music Portland goalkeeper Steve Portland rebounded from a United in its season open-
bers beat expansion Nash- City." Players on both sides Clark was able to deflect 3-1 loss at home to Minne- er at Nissan Stadium, with
ville SC 1-0 on Sunday. wore badges on their jer- Anibal Godoy's shot from sota in the season opener more than 59,000 fans on
Valeri scored in the 12th seys with the initials NGUOY, outside the box. last weekend. hand.q
minute, with a volley to for Never Give Up In You.
the far corner off a header The jerseys were to be auc-
from Andy Polo. tioned after the game with
The match came as Nash- the proceeds going to the
ville recovers from torna- recovery effort. The Timbers
does that killed 24 people also pledged $15 of every
and caused massive dam- general admission ticket
age in middle Tennessee sold to tornado relief.
last week. Nashville had perhaps its