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SPORTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016
THE SUMTER ITEM
SCOREBOARD
AUTO RACING
TV, RADIO
NBA PRESEASON
TODAY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kevin Harvick won the pole in qualifying for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday.
Harvick wins Charlotte pole
BY JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
to racing at Charlotte and a potential automatic berth into the third round of the CONCORD, N.C. — Kevin Chase. Harvick has three caHarvick has already provreer points victories at Charen he’s a factor at Charlotte lotte, including the October Motor Speedway, especially race during his championduring night races. With ship season. That victory the top starting spot Satur- pushed Harvick into the day night, he’ll be tough to round of eight of the Chase. beat in the opening race of He’s also has had success the second round of NASracing at night, and CharCAR’s playoffs. lotte Motor Speedway PresHarvick turned a lap at ident Marcus Smith 196.029 mph in a Stewartdubbed Harvick “NightHaas Racing Chevrolet to hawk” because Harvick earn the top starting spot has not finished outside the in Thursday night qualifytop 10 at night in the last ing. He edged Alex Bowseven races. He’s only been man, the replacement driv- outside the top-five twice in er for Dale Earnhardt Jr., that span. who is not racing for the Harvick has also won six championship. times in night races on the Chase Elliott qualified NASCAR schedule since third and was followed by 2012. Kyle Busch, the highest DIDN’T MOVE ON qualifying Toyota driver, Starting position isn’t all Tony Stewart and AJ Allthat critical in a 500-mile mendinger. race, but the drivers comMartin Truex Jr., winner of two of the first three Chase peting for the championship don’t want the comperaces, qualified seventh. tition to get too big of a He was followed by Carl jump on them. Edwards, Denny Hamlin, But four of the drivers in Joey Logano, the top qualifying Ford driver, and Jim- the field failed to make it mie Johnson as Chase driv- out of the second round of qualifying. Matt Kenseth ers took eight of the top 11 will start 17th, Austin Dilspots in Thursday night lon will start 19th, Brad Kequalifying. selowski 20th and Kurt Kasey Kahne qualified 12th as all four Hendrick Mo- Busch 23rd. “We just lacked a little torsports drivers made the bit of speed in qualifying final round of qualifying. But it was Harvick, with trim,” Keselowski said. “You want to qualify and his fast lap, who stole the race good, and I think spotlight. we’ve got a great Ford FuHarvick, the 2014 champion, has been looking forward sion to do that.”
BANK OF AMERICA 500 LINEUP By The Associated Press Thursday’s qualifying; race Saturday At Charlotte Motor Speedway Concord, N.C. (Car number in parentheses) 1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 196.029 mph 2. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 196.000 3. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 195.759 4. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 195.228 5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 195.228 6. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 195.087 7. (78) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 194.826 8. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 194.553 9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 194.168 10. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 194.049 11. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 192.630 12. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 188.547 13. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 194.161 14. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 194.007 15. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 193.966 16. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 193.868 17. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 193.791 18. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 193.736 19. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 193.722 20. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 193.625 21. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 193.209 22. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 193.009 23. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 192.205 24. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 191.489 25. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 191.980 26. (34) Chris Buescher, Ford, 191.829 27. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 191.544 28. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 191.530 29. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 191.469 30. (44) Brian Scott, Ford, 191.381 31. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 190.954 32. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, 190.617 33. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 190.564 34. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 190.054 35. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 188.864 36. (98) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 186.002 37. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 185.976 38. (32) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ford, 185.039 39. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 183.673 40. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 183.343
5 a.m. – Professional Tennis: ATP Tokyo Matches, ATP Beijing Matches or WTBA Beijing Matches (TENNIS). 8 a.m. – Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Second Round from St. Andrews, Scotland (GOLF). 8:55 a.m. – Women’s International Soccer: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Group Play Match from Amman, Jordan – Mexico vs. Spain (FOX SPORTS 2). 1 p.m. – Major League Baseball: American League Division Series Game Two – Toronto at Texas (TBS). 2:30 p.m. – International Soccer: UEFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying Match from Rotterdam, Netherlands – Belarus vs. Netherlands (FOX SPORTS 2). 3:30 p.m. – Professional Golf: Web. com Tour Web.com Tour Championship First Round from Atlantic Beach, Fla. (GOLF). 3:30 p.m. – NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 Practice from Concord, N.C. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 4 p.m. – International Soccer: United States vs. Cuba from Havana (ESPN2, UNIVISION). 4:30 p.m. – NASCAR Racing: XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 Practice from Concord, N.C. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 4:30 p.m. – Major League Baseball: American League Division Series Game Two – Boston at Cleveland (TBS). 5 p.m. – Women’s International Soccer: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Group Play Match from Al Zarqa, Jordan – Cameroon vs. Germany (FOX SPORTS 2). 5:30 p.m. – Major League Baseball: National League Division Series Game One – Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington (FOX SPORTS 1). 6 p.m. – Senior PGA Golf: Champions Tour Toshiba Classic First Round from Newport Beach, Calif. (GOLF). 6:05 p.m. – Talk Show: Sports Talk (WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240). 6:30 p.m. – NASCAR Racing: Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 Practice from Concord, N.C. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 7 p.m. – Women’s College Soccer: Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST). 7 p.m. – College Soccer: Syracuse at Louisville (FOX SPORTSOUTH). 7 p.m. – Women’s College Volleyball: Georgia at South Carolina (SEC NETWORK). 7:30 p.m. – College Football: Clemson at Boston College (ESPN, WWBD-FM 94.7, WPUB-FM 102.7). 8 p.m. – College Football: Southern Methodist at Tulsa (ESPN2). 8 p.m. – International Soccer: UEFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying Match – Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Belgium (FOX SPORTS 2). 8 p.m. – NASCAR Racing: XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 from Concord, N.C. (NBC SPORTS NETWORK, WEGX-FM 92.9). 9 p.m. – College Football: Boise State at New Mexico (CBS SPORTS NETWORK). 9 p.m. – Major League Baseball: National League Division Series Game One – San Francisco at Chicago Cubs (FOX SPORTS 1). 9 p.m. – Professional Golf: Fiji International Third Round from Natadola, Fiji (GOLF). 10:30 p.m. – NBA Preseason Basketball: Denver at Los Angeles Lakers (NBA TV). 11 p.m. – Women’s College Volleyball: Washington at Oregon (ESPNU). 11 p.m. – Women’s International Soccer: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Group Play Match from Al Zarqa, Jordan – Jordan vs. New Zealand (FOX SPORTS 2). 11 p.m. – Professional Tennis: ATP Tokyo Matches, ATP Beijing Matches or WTBA Beijing Matches (TENNIS). Midnight – LPGA Golf: Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship Second Round from Taipei, Taiwan (GOLF). 1 a.m. – Women’s International Soccer: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Group Play Match from Amman, Jordan – Venezuela vs. Canada (FOX SPORTS 2). 2 a.m. – Amateur Golf: Asia -Pacific Amateur Championship Third Round from Incheon, South Korea (ESPN2). 2 a.m. – Formula One Racing: Japanese Grand Prix Pole Qualifying from Suzuka, Japan (NBC SPORTS NETWORK). 5 a.m. – Professional Tennis: ATP Tokyo Matches, ATP Beijing Matches or WTBA Beijing Matches (TENNIS).
NFL STANDINGS By The Associated Press
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Truex goes from journeyman to Chase championship favorite BY JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer CONCORD, N.C. — Martin Truex Jr. spent almost a decade trying to climb his way into NASCAR’s top tier. He didn’t win races, never led many laps, wasn’t considered an elite driver capable of winning championships. Then suddenly, it clicked. Truex has transformed over the last two seasons from a journeyman driver into a legitimate title contender. Some might even say he’s the favorite to win this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He won two races in the first round of the playoffs and goes into the opening race of the second round Saturday night in search of another dominating performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Truex led all but eight of the 400 laps in the Coca-Cola 600 to score his first win of what’s turned into a dream season. Asked Thursday about those lean years — he drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc. as it was on the verge of collapse, Chip Ganassi Racing when the team was struggling, Michael Waltrip Racing during an embarrassing cheating scandal that contributed to
its closure — Truex noted the differences. “It’s almost like, ‘OK, finally, we’re here,”’ he said. “Now, how do we make sure we can keep it going? You understand how easy it is to be on the other side of it and how hard you worked to get here.” For Truex, the MWR debacle has been the best thing to happen to his career. When the team was accused of a sequence of shady events that put Truex into the 2013 Chase, the team was severely sanctioned and he was kicked out of the championship field. He was an unwitting victim of the scandal, but it prompted his sponsor to leave MWR and the ultimate closing of Truex’s team. Two years later, MWR was out of business, Truex landed in 2014 at single-car team Furniture Row Motorsports, a job that could have been seen as a step back. MWR was a multi-car team with a Toyota partnership, Furniture Row was a middle of the pack Chevrolet team located in Denver, far from the hub of NASCAR talent in North Carolina. The fit has been amazing, though, and Truex not only made the Chase last season,
he advanced all the way to the championship race. This year, Furniture Row switched to Toyota and aligned with Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite the distance from JGR, his role as a partner and not a true Gibbs teammate and the transition itself, Truex has been among the most consistent drivers all season. He has career-bests in victories — his four wins include the crown jewel CocaCola 600 and Southern 500 races — and laps led. His two wins in the opening round of the Chase set the pace and have made winning the title a realistic possibility. “Your focus is just, ‘What can I do to continue this roll, continue this momentum?”’ he said. “I think a lot of it obviously is being part of a great team. Everybody knows in this sport it is a team sport and I’m just honestly thankful I’m getting to show my talent, my capabilities behind the wheel and focus on continuing this roll that we’re on. “I don’t take it for granted. I know that in two weeks it could be gone,” he said. “You just never know in this sport, so I’m just really living in the moment and enjoying myself.”
EAST New England Buffalo N.Y. Jets Miami SOUTH Houston Jacksonville Indianapolis Tennessee NORTH Pittsburgh Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland WEST Denver Oakland Kansas City San Diego
W 3 2 1 1
L 1 2 3 3
T 0 0 0 0
Pct .750 .500 .250 .250
PF PA 81 61 87 68 79 105 71 89
W 3 1 1 1
L 1 3 3 3
T 0 0 0 0
Pct .750 .250 .250 .250
PF PA 69 73 84 111 108125 62 84
W 3 3 2 0
L 1 1 2 4
T 0 0 0 0
Pct .750 .750 .500 .000
PF PA 108 80 84 72 78 82 74 115
W 4 3 2 1
L 0 1 2 3
T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 111 64 0 .750 108106 0 .500 83 92 0 .250 121108
Philadelphia Dallas N.Y. Giants Washington SOUTH Atlanta Tampa Bay Carolina New Orleans NORTH Minnesota Green Bay Chicago Detroit WEST Los Angeles Seattle San Francisco Arizona
W 3 3 2 2
L 0 1 2 2
T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 92 27 0 .750 101 77 0 .500 73 85 0 .500 99 112
W 3 1 1 1
L 1 3 3 3
T 0 0 0 0
W 4 2 1 1
L 0 1 3 3
T Pct PF PA 0 1.000 88 50 0 .667 75 67 0 .250 62 97 0 .250 95 102
W 3 3 1 1
L 1 1 3 3
T 0 0 0 0
Pct .750 .250 .250 .250
Pct .750 .750 .250 .250
PF PA 152124 77 128 109118 114130
PF PA 63 76 79 54 90 107 92 80
TODAY’S GAME
Arizona at San Francisco, 8:25 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. New England at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Miami, 1 p.m. Houston at Minnesota, 1 p.m. Washington at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Chicago at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Philadelphia at Detroit, 1 p.m. Atlanta at Denver, 4:05 p.m. Cincinnati at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. San Diego at Oakland, 4:25 p.m. Buffalo at Los Angeles, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.
MONDAY, OCT. 10
EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION Philadelphia Brooklyn Toronto Boston New York
W 1 0 1 0 0
L 0 0 2 1 1
Pct 1.000 .000 .333 .000 .000
GB — ½ 1 1 1
W 1 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 1 1 2
Pct 1.000 .000 .000 .000 .000
GB — ½ 1 1 1½
W 1 1 1 0 0
L 0 0 0 0 1
Pct 1.000 1.000 1.000 .000 .000
GB — — — ½ 1
SOUTHEAST DIVISION Miami Atlanta Charlotte Washington Orlando CENTRAL DIVISION Cleveland Indiana Milwaukee Detroit Chicago
WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION Houston Memphis Dallas New Orleans San Antonio
W 1 1 1 1 0
L 0 0 1 1 1
Pct 1.000 1.000 .500 .500 .000
GB — — ½ ½ 1
W 1 1 1 0 0
L 0 0 1 0 0
Pct 1.000 1.000 .500 .000 .000
GB — — ½ ½ ½
W 1 1 1 1 0
L 0 1 1 1 1
Pct 1.000 .500 .500 .500 .000
GB — ½ ½ ½ 1
NORTHWEST DIVISION Denver Portland Utah Minnesota Oklahoma City PACIFIC DIVISION L.A. Lakers Golden State L.A. Clippers Phoenix Sacramento
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Philadelphia 92, Boston 89 Miami 106, Washington 95 Indiana 113, New Orleans 96 Houston 130, New York 103 L.A. Lakers 103, Sacramento 84 Golden State 120, L.A. Clippers 75
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Oklahoma City 92, FC Barcelona 89 Cleveland 117, Orlando 102 Utah 104, Phoenix 99 L.A. Clippers 104, Toronto 98
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m. Detroit at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Boston vs. Charlotte at Greensboro, N.C., 7:30 p.m. Atlanta at Memphis, 8 p.m. Sacramento vs. Golden State at San Jose, Calif., 10:30 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Phoenix at Portland, 10 p.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
WNBA PLAYOFFS By The Associated Press
THIRD ROUND
(Best-of-5) (x-if necessary) Minnesota 3, Phoenix 0 Sept. 28 Minnesota 113, Phoenix 95 Sept. 30 Minnesota 96, Phoenix 86 Sunday Minnesota 82, Phoenix 67 Los Angeles 2, Chicago 1 Sept. 28 Los Angeles 95, Chicago 75 Sept. 30 Los Angeles 99, Chicago 84 Oct. 2 Chicago 70, Los Angeles 66 Tuesday Los Angeles 95, Chicago 75
FINALS
(Best-of-5) Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Sunday Los Angeles-Chicago winner at Minnesota, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 Los Angeles-Chicago winner at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 Minnesota at Los Angeles-Chicago winner, TBD x-Sunday, Oct. 16 Minnesota at Los Angeles-Chicago winner, 8:30 p.m. x-Thursday, Oct. 20 Los Angeles-Chicago winner at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
TRANSACTIONS FOOTBALL
National Football League NFL — Announced the Atlanta Falcoms must forfeit their first three days of organized team activities in 2017 as punishment for having excessive contact in offseason workouts in May. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DL Gabe Wright to the practice squad. Released WR Darius Jennings from the practice squad. Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed WR Tori Gurley.
HOCKEY
NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST
By The Associated Press
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 8:30 p.m.
National Hockey League DALLAS STARS — Loaned Fs Remi Elie, Travis Morin and Cole Ully and G Maxime Lagace to Texas (AHL). NEW YORK ISLANDERS — Loaned Ds Kyle Burroughs, Matt Finn, Jesse Graham, Ross Johnston and Devon Johnston, Fs Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang and G Stephon Williams to Bridgeport (AHL). Released Fs Tanner Fritz, Colim Markison, Dan Correale, Rocco Carzo and Shawn Pauly, Ds Derik Johnson and Sam Noreau and G Clay Witt. American Hockey League CHARLOTTE CHECKERS — Assigned G Anthony Peters to Florida (ECHL). Released Fs Matt Berry and Dalton Smith. HARTFORD WOLF PACK — Announced D Troy Donnay has been reassigned by the N.Y. Rangers to Greenville (ECHL). Loaned D Spiro Goulakos to Greenville. Released Fs Brandon Alderson, Andrew Dommett, Trevor Gerling, Allan McPherson, Angelo Miceli, Matt Plesa, Nick Plesa, Peter Plesa and Mike Pereira, Ds Desmond Bergin, Joe Houk and Matt Prapavessis and G P.J. Musico.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League BUFFALO BANDITS — Signed Fs Drake Smith and Josh Becker and D Brier Jonathan. COLLEGE LEES-MCRAE — Named Andy Fisher director of sports information MINNESOTA — Agreed to terms with men’s hockey coach Don Lucia on a two-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season.