NASCAR-KENTUCKY-QUALIFYING
Keselowski’s track record earns Kentucky pole
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Brad Keselowski had a track-record speed of 188.791 mph in a Ford to win the pole for Saturday night’s NASCAR race at Kentucky Speedway.
A day in which 23 drivers broke Dale Earnhardt’s year-old mark of 183.636 mph in the first round of knockout qualifying alone ended with the 2012 winner of the 400-mile race shattering it by more than 5 mph. Keselowski overtook Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano, who turned a lap of 187.175 after leading the first two rounds.
Jeff Gordon will start third in a Chevy, salvaging a session in which Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t make it past the first round. Denny Hamlin was fourth in a Toyota.
NASCAR-KENTUCKY
Past winners, contenders aim to solve bumpy track
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — NASCAR drivers won’t be shocked if Kentucky Speedway’s fourth Sprint Cup Series race yields a repeat winner or new face spraying champagne in victory lane.
Either scenario could happen with past winners Kyle Bush and Brad Keselowski trying to strengthen their bids for more success in Saturday night’s 400-miler by running companion series races this weekend. Defending race champion Matt Kenseth meanwhile seeks to repeat the magic and earn his first win this season.
Then there is reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, points leader Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who have posted multiple top 10s on the 1.5-mile-track and aim to finally close the deal. All are hungry to find the right setup, timing and luck to solve the tough, bumpy track.
BC-QUICKEN LOANS
A short return for Tiger Woods at Congressional
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Tiger Woods didn’t last more than 36 holes in his return to competition.
Woods showed plenty of rust with his short game when he ran off four straight bogeys on the back nine Friday at Congressional to end any hopes of sticking around for the weekend at the Quicken Loans National.
He shot a 4-over 75 and missed the cut by four shots. It was only the 10th time Woods has missed a 36-hole cut on the PGA Tour, and 11th time worldwide. He was at 7-over 149.
Marc Leishman, Ricky Barnes and Oliver Goss were tied for the lead at 6-under 136. Goss is making only his second professional start.
Woods had not played since March 9 because of a back injury. He had surgery March 31.
NBA DRAFT-SUNS PICKS
Suns’ top 2 draft picks bring ACC credentials
PHOENIX (AP) — T.J. Warren and Tyler Ennis are not exactly strangers to each other.
Twice last season, Warren’s North Carolina State squad met Ennis’ Syracuse team. Each team won once, and now the two are teammates — picked in the first round by the Phoenix Suns.
They were introduced at a news conference on Friday at Suns headquarters, and each praised the other.
The 20-year-old Warren, who played two years in college, was the ACC’s leading scorer and player of the year last season. Ennis, just 19, was the highly efficient and clutch point guard for a Syracuse team that won its first 25 games.
Warren was the 14th pick overall, Ennis the 18th.
RAYS-ORIOLES
Rays defeat Orioles 5-2 in opener of doubleheader
BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Alex Colome allowed two singles in 5 2-3 innings to earn his first win in over a year, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Friday in the opener of a split doubleheader.
Brandon Guyer had three doubles, scored twice and drove in a run to help Tampa Bay improve to 2-7 against Baltimore this season. The Rays had lost 11 of their previous 13 games on the road.
Manny Machado homered for the Orioles, who finished with only three hits — one after the second inning.
Added to the roster for the doubleheader as the 26th man, Colome (1-0) gave up one run, walked four and struck out three in his fourth big league start. The right-hander is 2-1 lifetime, including a victory over Miami in his debut on May 30, 2013.
Jake McGee worked the ninth for his second save.
ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Winston, Thomas named ACC players of the year
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Florida State’s Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s athlete of the year. Maryland women’s basketball player Alyssa Thomas earned the award for the league’s women.
Winston led the Seminoles to a national championship in football and was the closer on the baseball team. He was named MVP of the BCS championship game and set NCAA freshman records with 4,057 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. Winston added a team-high seven saves and a 1.08 ERA on the baseball diamond.
Thomas won her third consecutive ACC women’s basketball player of the year award in 2014 and led Maryland to the Final Four. Her 2,356 career points and 1,235 career rebounds are school records. Thomas was the No. 4 overall pick in the WNBA draft.
