Harvick cherishes Atlanta win

Harvick cherishes Atlanta win, looks to help off the track
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Kevin Harvick turned in another dominating run at Atlanta Motor Speedway, cruising to victory over Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in the NASCAR Cup race. Competing again in front of empty grandstands, Harvick won for the second time since NASCAR returned from the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He added to his victory at Darlington in the first race back. Harvick came into the day having led 1,138 laps on the Atlanta trioval, far more than any other driver in the field. This was more of the same, giving Harvick his third career victory in Atlanta.

Allmendinger wins on NASCAR oval for 1st time

Oval master: Allmendinger wins on NASCAR oval for 1st time
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — A.J. Allmendinger won a NASCAR oval race for the first time in his long career. Taking advantage of mistakes by the three leaders, the 38-year-old Californian cruised to victory by nearly 2 seconds over pole-sitter Noah Gragson in the Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allmendinger claimed a single victory during more than a decade in the top-level Cup series, and he had three previous Xfinity wins _ all on road courses. Now, he’s filled in a big hole on his resume. Pole-sitter Noah Gragson took the runner-up spot, followed by Justin Haley.

Keselowski wins 600 to extend Johnson’s losing streak

Keselowski wins 600 to extend Johnson’s losing streak
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Brad Keselowski extended Jimmie Johnson’s losing streak to 102 races by holding off the seven-time NASCAR champion in overtime early Monday in the Coca-Cola 600. Keselowski started in the back of the field, worked his way to the front at Charlotte Motor Speedway and gambled in not pitting when caution stopped Chase Elliott from winning with two laps remaining. Elliott pitted and Keselowski led a train of eight cars that stayed on the track. He lined up in front of Alex Bowman on the inside line with Johnson on the bottom ahead of Keselowski teammate Ryan Blaney. Keselowski got the push to get into clean air and denied Johnson a victory.

NASCAR underway at Darlington for rare midweek Cup race

NASCAR underway at Darlington for rare midweek Cup race
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — The first Wednesday race in NASCAR’s Cup Series since 1984 has started after a rain delay of about 90 minutes. The event is the second at Darlington Raceway in four days after racing was suspended March 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic. NASCAR successfully made its return Sunday by using a a strict health protocol and limiting those in attendance to only the most essential for conducting a race. NASCAR used an inversion system based on the results of Sunday night’s race to set the field and winner Kevin Harvick started 20th. Ryan Preece started from the pole.

Phyllis George, female sportscasting pioneer, dies at 70

Phyllis George, female sportscasting pioneer, dies at 70
By BRUCE SCHREINER and JOHN RABY Associated Press
Phyllis George, the former Miss America who became a female sportscasting pioneer on CBS’s “The NFL Today” and served as the first lady of Kentucky, has died. She was 70. A family spokeswoman says George died Thursday at a Lexington, Kentucky, hospital after a long fight with a blood disorder. Miss America in 1971, George joined Brent Musburger and Irv Cross in 1975 on “The NFL Today.” She also covered horse racing, hosted the entertainment show “People” and co-anchored the “CBS Morning News.” George was briefly married to Hollywood producer Robert Evans in the mid-1970s and to John Y. Brown Jr. from 1979-98. Brown owned Kentucky Fried Chicken and the NBA’s Boston Celtics and served as the governor of Kentucky.

McIlroy delivers the winner as live golf returns to TV

McIlroy delivers the winner as live golf returns to TV
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
Rory McIlroy delivered the money shot in live golf’s return to television. With six skins on the line worth $1.1 million, it was decided by a closest-to-the-pin from 120 yards on the 17th hole at Seminole. Matthew Wolff was 18 feet below the hole. Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson didn’t hit the green. McIlroy was last to go and hit to 13 feet. He and Johnson won $1.85 million for the American Nurses Foundation. Fowler and Wolff won $1.15 million for the CDC Foundation. There was plenty of rust. Johnson made only one birdie. It raised more than $5 million.

Harvick wins at Darlington as NASCAR returns to racing

Harvick wins at Darlington as NASCAR returns to racing
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — The grandstands were completely empty. There wasn’t a single tailgate inside the track. Everyone wore face coverings — some with the team logos, others opting for plain disposable medical masks. It was nothing close to the corporate sponsorship, pomp and patriotic traveling circus that symbolizes NASCAR. But when the engines fired at Darlington Raceway following a 10-week layoff during the coronavirus pandemic, it turned into a regular old race. Kevin Harvick beat Alex Bowman to win NASCAR’s first race back, a spectacle closely watched to see if the largest racing series in the U.S. could successfully get back to work.

Shula, Winningest Coach In Pro Football History, Dies At 90

MIAMI (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula has died at his home in South Florida. He was 90. The Miami Dolphins say Shula died Monday morning. He won the most games of any NFL coach and led the Dolphins to the only perfect season in league history. Shula surpassed George Halas’ league-record 324 victories in 1993. He retired following the 1995 season with 347 wins, 173 losses and six ties, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Shula became the only coach to guide an NFL team through a perfect season when the 1972 Dolphins went 17-0.

Byron wins 2nd NASCAR virtual race in a drama-free event

Byron wins 2nd NASCAR virtual race in a drama-free event
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers were on their best behavior in NASCAR’s latest virtual race and no one did anything to get fired or lose a sponsor. The iRacing Series has had a sour taste since Bubba Wallace lost a sponsor for quitting a game in a rage and Kyle Larson was fired for using a racial slur during a race. Sunday’s event at virtual Richmond Raceway was low on drama and William Byron won for the second consecutive race. The most excitement came when Matt DiBenedetto was parked for intentionally crashing Ryan Preece and the two then engaged in a Twitter spat.

Former Major League Baseball Player Jim Edmonds says he’s tested positive for virus

Former baseball All-Star Jim Edmonds says he tested positive for the new coronavirus and for pneumonia.

“I am completely symptom free now and doing really well, and so I must have had it for a while,” Edmonds said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “I appreciate everyone who has said well wishes and wished me the best.”

The 49-year-old played 17 major league seasons from 1993-2010, mostly for the California and Los Angeles Angels (1993-99) and St. Louis Cardinals (2000-07). He hit 393 home runs.