12A • Sunday, September 25, 2016 • Daily Corinthian
Kenseth goes for 3rd consecutive NH victory The Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H. — Carl Edwards had another hard race to the finish against Matt Kenseth. The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates had skipped the track for the bike path, and what Edwards thought would be a leisurely ride between colleagues turned into a competitive duel on two wheels. “It was a pretty hard ride,� said Edwards, laughing. The 44-year-old Kenseth flashed the kind of speed that made Edwards wonder how he continued to turn back the clock on all modes of transport. “He’s somehow figured out how to age backward now,� said the 37-year-old Edwards. “He’s getting faster, he’s getting stronger, he’s figured something out here for sure and it gives guys like me hope, you know?� Kenseth has certainly figured out New Hampshire Motor Speedway since making the move in 2013 to Joe Gibbs Racing. Winless in 26 career starts at the track driving for Jack Roush,
Kenseth has three wins at New Hampshire since ‘13 and has won the last two races here. He had a bit of luck to win the fall 2015 race when leader Kevin Harvick’s gamble to stretch his fuel backfired and Kenseth took the lead to clinch his spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. His first New Hampshire win of this season came under similar circumstances. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch each led more than 120 laps before faltering over the final 75 laps, paving the way for Kenseth to stretch his Magic Mile win streak. “I think a lot of it has to do with, obviously the equipment and the people working on it, and all that stu, but it’s hard to figure out sometimes,â€? Kenseth said. “This used to be probably one of my worst tracks on the circuit, honestly, and now it seems like it’s been one of our best. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be this week, but it has been in recent past.â€? Edwards joked before Friday’s qualifying session that he’d like to
steal some tips from Kenseth and crew chief Jason Ratcli and try and earn his own win at the track. “I can lean on that and look at that and understand what he does,â€? Edwards said. Edwards then turned the fastest lap and won the pole; Kenseth starts eighth. Edwards won the pole for the third time in the last four New Hampshire races, his sixth pole of the season, but has failed to end the race the same way he started — in first. Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR champion, had a season more solid than spectacular with two wins, but just four top-five finishes. He had 12 top-fives and five wins last season. Martin Truex Jr. earned a spot in the next round of the Chase with a win in the playo opener last week at Chicagoland Speedway. The 16-driver Chase field will be cut to 12 after next week’s race at Dover International Speedway. Kenseth is seventh in the standings after one race and has the kind of resume that would sug-
gest he can survive to the next round even without a victory over the next two races. But last season’s stunning knockout of Jimmie Johnson at Dover is a reminder that winand-in beats hoping for the best. Johnson entered Dover fifth in the standings and, with 10 career wins at Dover, seemed a lock to advance. His No. 48 Chevrolet was forced o the track for 36 laps with a torn rear axle seal and he was eliminated from contention. Kenseth, with 38 career wins, knows time is of the essence for another title shot. Kenseth said he had no immediate plans to follow fellow 40-something NASCAR champions Je Gordon and Tony Stewart into retirement. “I haven’t put a ton of thought into it,â€? Kenseth said. “I realize there are more years of racing behind me then there are in front of me. But I feel great, I feel like we’re running good. I’m having a lot of fun. I don’t have any plans to quit in the near future.â€?
Here are other items of note from Saturday at New Hampshire: FAST PRACTICE — Kyle Larson turned the fastest laps in his No. 42 Chevrolet in each of the two Sprint Cup practices. He topped the second session with a lap of 132.577 mph and posted the fastest laps in practice for all sessions heading into Sunday’s race. Larson topped the morning session with 132.186. Larson should hope that translates into success in Sunday’s race. He finished 18th in the Chase opener and Chicagoland and is 15th in the standings. “Our short run speed is really good,� Larson said. Edwards had the best consecutive 10-lap average in the second session, with an average speed of 131.663. Chase drivers took the top seven spots on the speed chart over a 10-lap average and 13 of 15 spots overall. Chevrolet drivers took six of the top 12 spots.
Cardinals keeping NL wild-card pace, crush Cubs The Associated Press
CHICAGO — The St. Louis Cardinals have a lot to accomplish if they want to return to Chicago in two weeks for a rematch of last year’s NL Division Series. They would have to qualify for one of the wild-card spots, then win the singleelimination playo game. If they do, the Cardinals may be the one club that won’t be fazed by Wrigley Field and the Cubs. Yadier Molina drove in four runs, Stephen Piscotty homered and the Cardinals boosted their playo hopes
by getting to Jason Hammel early in a 10-4 rout of Chicago on Saturday. Randal Grichuk added three RBIs and Jhonny Peralta had three hits and scored three runs for the Cardinals, who stopped a two-game skid and moved into a tie with San Francisco for the final NL wild-card spot pending the Giants’ game at San Diego. “It’s been a diďŹƒcult year for us, up and down, but we got a good win and a lot of base hits,â€? said Molina, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games. “Hopefully, we
can continue it.� Hammel (15-10) allowed six runs and six hits while getting just seven outs, hurting his bid for a postseason rotation spot. A day after clinching the NL’s best record, the Cubs were denied their 99th win and a record 57th at Wrigley Field. Dexter Fowler finished a home run shy of the cycle, Ben Zobrist had a two-run triple and Willson Contreras homered in the ninth for the Cubs, who are 3-6 at home against St. Louis and 53-17 against other teams. “They’re obviously the
best team in the league,â€? Molina said. “We respect that. But at the same time we come here thinking about winning.â€? Alex Reyes (4-1) needed 115 pitches to get through five innings. But the rookie settled down after a tough start and allowed three runs and six hits with six strikeouts. Hours after Friday’s win, the Cubs clinched homefield advantage throughout the NL playos when Washington lost to Pittsburgh. Manager Joe Maddon was watching on TV
and declared it “another checkmarkâ€? for their season. They remained two wins shy of another goal — 100 wins — thanks to Hammel’s struggles. The right-hander’s solid previous outing renewed talk he could supplant John Lackey as the No. 4 playo starter. But Hammel saw his ERA rise from 3.56 to 3.83 after Maddon’s early hook. Molina had a two-run double and Grichuk a tworun single in the first. An inning later, Piscotty crushed
Hammel’s slider 450 feet onto Waveland Avenue for a solo homer. Hammel was lifted after giving up two more hits in the third. Molina added a two-run single for his third hit in a three-run seventh against Hector Rondon. Piscotty’s third hit in the eighth o Rob Zastryzny scored another run. Reyes had his 111/3-inning scoreless streak snapped in Chicago’s two-run first, and Fowler’s RBI double an inning later made it 5-3. But Reyes allowed just two hits over his final three innings.
Install Your Pool Now & Be Ready To Swim By Spring! â?‚ Inground Installations â?‚ Winterizing â?‚ Liners/Parts/Service â?‚ Remodels
For Home Improvements? • First Time Homebuyer Programs / No Down Payment To Consolidate Bills?
• VA, FHA, To Rural Development, Conventional Loans Lower Your Rate/Payment? Do youHome wantLoans HONEST answers? • Manufactured • 100% FINANCING / FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER
••Lowest Fixed Available FHA / VA / RD Rates / CONVENTIONAL • DOUBLEWIDE FINANCING
References Available 1011 Hwy. 72 E. Corinth 662.872.3121
We are here for all your pool needs!
••Perfect Credit Not Required LOWEST MORTGAGE RATES AVAILABLE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE ••Licensed in MS and TN / NMLS ID 126474
731-925-9959 • 395 Florence Rd. • Savannah, TN
www.fortunefinancial.info
Legal Scene Your Crossroads Area Guide to Law Professionals ) ($Contact ) * Skylar Mincey ) - - ( ' / )
$ at 662-287-6111 "
/ to
advertise # )( !* * *
your () *& ! / #
Law Firm on this / (
* ( +++ - ( ' +.) ( page. * % ($ *& ) ($ ) * ( (* * - )* . * ( () , )* *& )
GREG MEYER Attorney At Law
Former Assistant District Attorney
( ! & %
for the State of Mississippi with 18 years of experience. Serving Northeast • Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Defense
Mississippi’s needs... • Felony and Misdemeanor Convicton legal Expungement • DUI " ! $ $ ! # v (Payment Plans available) • Car Accident/ Personal Injury ! " ! % ! •' Divorce-Contested and Uncontested $ & % • Child Support/Child " $ "! !Custody " ! v # " ( • Wills and Estates # " ! $ v • Deeds " "! $ " ! OfďŹ ce located at
# ' $ "# 616 Bunch Street • Corinth, Mississippi 662-287-5620 gmeyerlaw@hotmail.com
Odom and Allred, P.A. Attorneys at Law 404 Waldron Street • Corinth, MS _________________________________________ ' 3
- 1 / 2 1 * ' 0 / 1 . 2 & & 2
662-286-9311 William W. Odom, Jr. Rhonda N. Allred Attorney at Law Attorney at Law bodom43@bellsouth.net rallred@bellsouth.net ___________________________________________ &'& # $ ) #(& , ! "' #" & # $ ' # & "#' " ' ", ' ' #" # +$ ' & ' "
* ' " , * $ $ #$ # (" ' " ($' , # #(" " # ! ' #" ) ($#" %( &'