NASCAR-DARLINGTON
Harvick wins 1st Darlington pole
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) โ Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500.
Harvick came out on top in the first knockout qualifying session at NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway since the circuit made the change from single-car laps. Joey Logano, the winner Monday in Texas, was second, followed by Aric Almirola.
Almirola finished first in the second of three rounds of qualifying and set a track record of 184.145 mph, shattering Kurt Busch’s mark of 181.918 set last May when the Southern 500 was held on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s the sixth time in eight races this season the qualifying record fell.
Almirola’s teammate, Marcos Ambrose, was fourth, followed by Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch.
F1-HAAS-FORMULA ONE
NASCAR owner Gene Haas granted F1 License
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) โ NASCAR owner Gene Haas says he has been granted a license from Formula One’s governing body to start what he hopes will be a U.S.-based entry in the global series.
Haas received documents from the FIA on Thursday, according to Stewart-Haas spokesman Mike Arming. Haas co-owns a NASCAR team with Tony Stewart that fields drivers Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch.
Haas thanked the FIA for its decision in a statement Friday. He says it is an exciting time for those hoping to see “an American team return to Formula One.”
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said this past Sunday at the Bahrain Gran Prix that the U.S.-backed team led by Haas would likely join the series next season.
MASTERS
Bubba Watson goes on birdie spree at the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) โ Bubba Watson has a three-stroke lead heading to the weekend at the Masters.
Watson, who won the green jacket in 2012, shot a 4-under 68 that matched the best score Friday. He goes to the third round with a 7-under 137 total. He ripped off five straight birdies beginning at No. 12, only the fifth player in Augusta National history to make consecutive birdies at those holes.
Australia’s John Senden was the closest challenger, also shooting 68 for 140 overall.
The group at 141 included defending champion Adam Scott, who shot 72. He was joined by Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (68), Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (71), and 20-year-old American Jordan Spieth (70).
At the other end of the age scale, 54-year-old Fred Couples is five strokes back after his second straight 71.
MASTERS-CUT
Mickelson headed home after missing Masters cut
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) โ Rory McIlroy took off his cap, rubbed his brow and let out a sigh of relief.
After rolling in a testy 4-foot putt at the final hole, he was one of the lucky ones.
He gets to keep playing on the weekend at Augusta National.
Not so for Phil Mickelson, who missed the Masters cut for the first time since 1997 after making a mess of three holes, taking triple-bogey on two of them and double-bogey on the other.
He wasn’t the only big name headed home. The last major champion, PGA winner Jason Dufner, missed the cut by six shots. Former Masters champions Zach Johnson, Trevor Immelman and Charl Schwartzel had too many strokes, as did Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Angel Cabrera, Dustin Johnson and Luke Donald.
