Greg Biffle is on the bubble in terms of making NASCAR's Chase
Originally published Friday, September 5, 2014 at 8:24 PM
Auto racing Biffle seeks berth in ChaseGentlemen, start your calculators.
The perfunctory demands of left-handed turns will include some math at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia on Saturday night.
The Federated Auto Parts 400 is the last race before the 16-driver field is set for the 10-race NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.
Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., is on the bubble in terms of qualifying for the Chase. He lacks a victory this year, but is the last driver inside the Chase grid on points.
If any of the 13 drivers who already have won a Cup race this year triumph at Richmond, or if either Matt Kenseth (already in the postseason on points) or Ryan Newman win, Biffle can guarantee himself a spot in the Chase by finishing 22nd or better Saturday night. If he leads a lap in the race, Biffle can make the Chase by finishing 23rd or better; if he leads the most laps, he can qualify for the Chase with a finish of 24th or better.
'We've tried to win the first 25 races and we haven't been successful yet,' Biffle said. 'It's pretty simple mathematics for us.'
Two spots in the Chase are available; NASCAR officials say 19 drivers still have a chance to secure a berth in the Chase.
Brad Keselowski earned his fourth pole of the Cup season, qualifying just ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Biffle will start in 17th.
Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw will start in 21st. Kahne has secured a spot in the Chase.
Busch leads all the way
Kyle Busch led from start to finish and ended an eight-race NASCAR Nationwide Series winless streak with his fifth career victory at Richmond International Raceway.
Busch started on the pole, routinely built leads of several seconds and was never seriously challenged. Chase Elliott was second.
Busch said he hoped he would be strong, but 'you never think you are going to be that good.'
Busch posted his 67th career victory in NASCAR's second-tier series. He won by 1.323 seconds.
'Good car, good decisions and good executing there tonight,' Busch said.
Track and field Gatlin posts a sprint double
Ten years later, U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin is dominating his sport once more.
Granted, it is happening at a time when Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt is taking a break from the track. But given the way Gatlin is running, perhaps even Bolt will have to watch out next year.
Gatlin ran the fastest 100 meters of the year (9.77 seconds) and took the 200 in 19.71 about an hour later at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, Belgium.
'I wanted to test my toughness,' the 32-year-old said.
American Allyson Felix won the women's 200 in 22.02, the fastest time in the world this year.
Soccer CONCACAF groups are set
The groups have been set for the eight national teams playing in the CONCACAF Women's Championship, with spots in next summer's World Cup in Canada on the line.
In the draw for the women's continental championship, the host United States landed in Group A with Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Haiti. Group B includes Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica, and Martinique.
The tournament opens Oct. 15 in Kansas City, Kan.
The top three finishers in the CONCACAF Women's Championship will qualify for the World Cup. The fourth-place finisher will face a South American team in a playoff later this year.
As host, Canada has a World Cup spot secured.
NBA Source: Monroe signs offer
Greg Monroe has signed a $5.48 million, one-year qualifying offer with the Detroit Pistons, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
The move sets the stage for the 6-foot-11 Monroe to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Monroe, 24, averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds last season.
Detroit has missed the playoffs in each of the last five years,
Elsewhere
* Cyclist Daniel Navarro of the Cofidis team won the 13th stage of the Spanish Vuelta and fellow Spaniard Alberto Contador of the Tinkoff-Saxo team retained the overall lead in the 21-stage event.
Navarro covered 117 miles from Belorado to Obregon in 4 hours, 21 minutes, 4 seconds.
'I am delighted to have won this stage,' he said. 'I'm not sure I'll be able to get another stage win in this Vuelta, so it's a welcome victory.'
Contador is 20 seconds ahead of countryman Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar team.
Seattle Times news services
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