Page 18 - AT

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 16 OcTOber 2018
Busch loss raises questions about NASCAR officiating

By JENNA FRYER head of NASCAR competi-
AP Auto Racing Writer tion said the race was noth-
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — ing at all like the Truck Series
Kurt Busch is not the most event a day earlier, when
sympathetic figure. When that event ended under
he loses a race he was one caution because of a late
turn away from winning be- accident.
cause he ran out of gas, “Two different races and
few likely felt sorry for him. every race is different,”
Then came his post-race O’Donnell said during his
assessment in which he crit- weekly appearance on Siri-
icized NASCAR for blowing usXM NASCAR Radio. “Ev-
two calls that led to him be- ery call is a judgment call.
ing short on fuel. Because The (incident) on Saturday
the complaints came from was in front of the field ...
Busch, a polarizing driver we always want to try to
with past bad behavior, he end under green, but in
didn’t get the condolences that case we just felt like we
he felt he deserved. couldn’t. Then on Sunday,
There are conspiracy theo- very similar in terms of a car
rists who believe NASCAR hitting the wall, but where
officiated the end of Sun- Kurt Busch’s crew changes tires during a pit stop in the 1000Bulbs.com 500 NASCAR Cup Series it happened was different
day’s race at Talladega auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Talladega, Ala. and in terms of where the
Superspeedway in a way Associated Press field was.”
that put Busch in position to their gas tanks to nearly tion laps and why the track was ready to go.” In other words, because
lose. Of course, the scoring bone dry. Why? Well, NAS- race wasn’t stopped for a Busch also blasted the de- the accident Sunday was
tower could not guarantee CAR didn’t red-flag the cleanup. Then came an- cision not to call a caution behind the leaders, NAS-
that Busch would run out of race after Bowman’s crash other accident, while he for the final accident. CAR preferred to let the
fuel while leading through and instead ran five laps was still leading in overtime, “There was two cars dead drivers race to the finish
the final turn in overtime, under the yellow flag. That’s and NASCAR did not call in the water,” Busch said of under green. But that’s a
but his criticism deserves a 13.3 extra miles around Tal- a caution. Had the yellow NASCAR’s need to call a judgment call and one that
look. Busch led a race-high ladega with fuel lights flick- been called on that final caution and send a medi- cost Busch, an unpopular
108 laps as the strongest car ering. lap, Busch probably would cal crew to the disabled driver with NASCAR brass,
in the Stewart-Haas Rac- Just one fewer lap under have won the race. vehicles. an important victory.
ing lineup. He led his three caution and Busch doesn’t Instead, he was still hard on Busch left Talladega with a While every race is differ-
other teammates all day as run out of gas — and likely the gas for the final 2 miles 14th-place finish. A victory ent, officiating should be
the SHR group had the field wins the race. Instead, he and his tank finally went dry would have put him into as close to black and white
covered. The four SHR Fords led the field to green in with the checkered flag in the third round of the play- as possible and NASCAR
had a healthy lead on the overtime — an addition- sight. SHR teammate Aric offs, but that berth instead should never open itself
competition when Alex al two more laps around Almirola slid past Busch’s went to Almirola. to the idea it intentionally
Bowman brought out the the 2.66-mile track — as sputtering car for the win. NASCAR, meanwhile, wait- tried to prevent a driver
caution that sent the race teammate Kevin Harvick “There was two missed calls ed until Monday to address from winning. And once
into overtime. forfeited the gamble and by NASCAR at the end,” Busch’s criticism and Steve the implication was made,
The SHR cars were already ducked to pit road for gas. Busch said. “Why did we O’Donnell was adamant it should not have taken a
conserving fuel, and those Like many, Busch won- have an extra yellow flag the sanctioning body was day for NASCAR to address
additional laps drained dered why so many cau- lap is beyond me — the correct in its officiating. The it.q

Simona Halep earns 2nd straight year-end No. 1 ranking

By CHRIS LEHOURITES morrow, I will do close to of this month that she had
AP Sports Writer 100,” Halep said in a con- an MRI exam after retiring
LONDON (AP) — Simona ference call, “and I will be from her first-round match
Halep is back as the year- able to know better the at the China Open and
end No. 1 for the second next day. the herniated disk problem
year in a row, despite a “The doctor told me it’s was found.
back injury that doctors nothing about the surgery, The Kremlin Cup runs this
say could lead to a long- but if I will keep playing week and the WTA Finals,
term problem. there is a risk of long-term which is for the top eight
Halep, who won her first injury. I don’t need that players in the world, begin
major title at this year’s and I don’t want that, so I in Singapore on Oct. 21.
French Open, clinched have to make good deci- “I hope first to be able to
the year-end top tennis sions in the next days.” play here (in Moscow) be-
ranking on Monday but The 27-year-old Halep had cause ... I have already 3-4
may be forced to pull out her best year on tour in days getting ready for this
of the upcoming Kremlin 2018, reaching the Austra- tournament,” Halep said.
Cup and the season-end- lian Open final and then “But if I will not be able to
In this Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018 file photo, Simona Halep, of ing WTA Finals because of winning her first Grand play here, I’m very doubt-
Romania, returns to Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, during
the finals at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament a herniated disk. Slam title a few months ful that I will be able to
in Mason, Ohio. “I haven’t practiced 100 later at Roland Garros. But play in Singapore because
Associated Press percent yet but today, to- she announced at the start it’s very fast.q