National Sports Digest: Bodine, Lucas win Bobsled Challenge

Saturday, July 04, 2009 3:06 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Associated Press

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Boris Said is no longer king of the mountain. Todd Bodine and Morgan Lucas have taken his place.

Bodine laid down a fast first run, then held on to edge Joe Gibbs Racing phenom Joey Logano on Sunday and capture the first race at the fourth annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge. Lucas beat Bodine in the spectacular second race.

Said, who had won all but one of the first six races since the unique event's inception, finished sixth in the first race and was eliminated in the second.

"First, we've got to keep in mind what it's for. It's a great cause," said Todd Bodine, who also was fastest in qualifying Saturday. "You get a bunch of racers together, and the one thing they all want to do is win. So to come out of here with a win, I'm tickled. It's the first time. Boris has been the king, and I finally got to dethrone him."

Geoff Bodine started the Bobsled Challenge in an effort to raise funds for the U.S. men's and women's bobsled teams. It features NASCAR and NHRA drivers piloting specially made bobsleds, with members of the New York State Army National Guard serving as brakemen.

Todd Bodine, with brakeman Patrick Furman, of nearby Plattsburgh, N.Y., was the only driver to break 50 seconds on both runs of the first race down the difficult Mount Van Hoevenberg track. That left his older brother scratching his head.

YOW

RALEIGH — North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow missed her fourth straight game Sunday as she battles a recurrence of breast cancer.

The 66-year-old Hall of Fame coach was first diagnosed with it in 1987. School officials said Yow's status for next week's game against No. 2 North Carolina probably won't be known until later this week.

The Wolfpack had won the first three games that Yow missed before falling to South Carolina 56-55 on a buzzer-beating layup by Demetress Adams.

Guard Shayla Fields, a former Salisbury High star, said it hasn't been hard for the Wolfpack to focus on the game at hand during Yow's absence.

"We look at the next day. We don't think long-term or the future," Fields said. "We're taking it one day at a time, one step at a time."

Yow stayed back at the hotel for a game on Dec. 22 at Columbia because cold temperatures in New York worsened her normally tolerable symptoms. Her low energy level kept her out of home wins last week against Jacksonville State and Georgetown.

NHL

NEWARK, N.J. — Brian Rolston scored a power-play goal 1:43 into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night.

Jamie Langenbrunner forced the overtime for New Jersey with a power-play goal with 3:40 left in regulation. Defenseman Johnny Oduya got the primary assists on both goals, with Rolston's shot hitting Alex Auld's pads before creeping into the net.

Lightning 4, Thrashers 1

ATLANTA — Martin St. Louis scored twice, and Mike Smith made 27 saves to help Tampa Bay move out of last place in the Southeast Division.

Tampa Bay (11-18-10) has 32 points, one more than Atlanta (13-22-5).

Smith's shutout bid ended with 21.2 seconds left when Erik Christensen scored off a rebound during a scramble in front of the net.

Canadiens 6, Panthers 5, SO

MONTREAL — Andrei Markov scored the only shootout goal, and Montreal backup Jaroslav Halak stopped Cory Stillman, Nathan Horton and Michael Frolik after making 19 saves in his second straight start.