Times wires
Saturday, May 14, 2011
DOVER, Del — Carl Edwards won Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide series race at Dover International Speedway after a wreck-filled final lap knocked out several contenders.
Edwards battled Joey Logano off the final restart of the 5-Hour Energy 200. Logano got loose as he tried to pass Edwards and hit the wall, triggering a pileup that eliminated Clint Bowyer from contention. Bowyer's car slid sideways and debris hit one of his crew members.
Edwards thought he hit Logano and caused the accident. But Edwards never made serious contact and won in a green-white-checkered finish.
"I saw him wiggle and I wasn't sure if I touched him or not," Edwards said. "Not the way we wanted to finish the race."
Edwards and Logano briefly chatted and Logano said the wreck wasn't Edwards' fault.
Kyle Busch was second and Reed Sorenson third. Busch failed in his bid to tie Mark Martin's record of 49 career Nationwide victories.
David Reutimann of Zephyr–hills was fifth and Tampa's Aric Almirola was ninth.
Carpenter leads Day 1 of Indy 500 practice
INDIANAPOLIS — Sarah Fisher retired from driving in IndyCar during the offseason to start a family.
Turns out, her replacement can deliver, too.
Ed Carpenter turned a fast lap of 224.786 mph in the No. 67 car, putting the expectant mother and team owner atop the speed charts on the opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice. Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy winner, was second at 224.491 mph.
"I'm hormonal now, so thank God I'm not making all the decisions," joked Fisher, who is due with her first child in September.
Qualifying is next weekend, with the race scheduled May 29.
LESTER MAKES HISTORY: Bill Lester became the first black driver to win a Grand-Am Road Racing event, teaming with Jordan Taylor to top the Rolex Series' GT class in the Bosch Engineering 250 — and did so in Danville, Va., the hometown of Wendell Scott, the only black driver to win NASCAR Sprint Cup race. "We're ecstatic," said Lester, a former NASCAR truck series regular. "Everything came together for us." Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller and JC France teamed to win the overall event in the Daytona Prototype class.
NHRA: John Force matched a record with his 138th time as No. 1 qualifier, as his Friday run of 4.072 seconds at 310.98 mph held up to lead Funny Car at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta. Force, 62, tied Pro Stock star Warren Johnson. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also topped their divisions.
