Associated Press
CLERMONT, Ind. ó Kyle Busch led all but three laps Saturday night to win the Kroger 200, his sixth NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the season.
Busch’s win was Toyota’s 15th in 22 Nationwide races, but the first event since NASCAR’s mandate Wednesday to cut down the horsepower in Series engines knocked 15 horsepower out of Toyota’s engines. NASCAR changed the parameters after rival teams complained, even though Toyota was within the rules.
Busch also won the event at O’Reilly Raceway Park in 2004.
Polesitter Colin Braun finished second Saturday, and Mike Bliss moved up from 17th to finish third.
Carl Edwards was four laps down early in the race, but moved to the lead lap toward the end with the help of some cautions and finished 11th.
Joey Logano, the 18-year-old who finished in the top two in his previous three Nationwide races, finished eighth.
Last year’s race was Toyota’s first win in what then was called the Busch Series. Jason Leffler, who won that race, finished 16th this year.
IRL
EDMONTON, Alberta ó Everyone has at least one embarrassing moment they’d like to forget. Scott Dixon has one he wants to remember.
After a lightning quick pit stop by his Chip Ganassi Racing crew helped him to his fifth IndyCar Series victory of the season Saturday on the temporary airport circuit at Edmonton, Dixon’s gaffe earlier this month at Watkins Glen was clearly on his mind.
“I gave myself a bit of a kick in the bum after what I did at Watkins Glen,” said Dixon, who spun himself out late in that race, finishing 11th and losing valuable points instead of contending for another win.
OLYMPICS
ATLANTA ó Jessica Hardy professed her innocence in a telephone interview with The Associated Press and said she has no idea how she tested positive for Clenbuterol during the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. She also talked hopefully about getting the ruling overturned in time to compete at the Beijing Olympics.
Hardy was tested three times during the trials in Omaha, Neb., her attorney, Howard Jacobs, said. The results were negative for the samples taken on July 1, after she won the 100-meter breaststroke, and on July 6, shortly after she finished second to Dara Torres in the 50 freestyle.
But Hardy’s “A” and backup “B” samples both came back positive ó for what her attorney said was low amounts of the drug ó from a test on July 4, when she finished fourth in the 100 freestyle.
GOLF
OAKVILLE, Ontario ó Anthony Kim made nine birdies and an eagle in 21 holes Saturday in the Canadian Open for a share of the lead with Chez Reavie during the suspended third round at rain-softened Glen Abbey.
– EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France ó Angela Park birdied the final three holes for a 4-under 68 to keep a one-shot lead after the third round.
– TROON, Scotland ó John Cook took a one-stroke lead, shooting a 4-under 67 to capitalize on the midround collapse of fellow American Bruce Vaughan.
Greg Norman, who had a bogey-free 67, was tied for sixth at 1-over 214.
CYCLING
SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France ó Carlos Sastre closed in on a victory in the Tour de France by retaining the overall lead after Saturday’s time trial in the next-to-last stage of the three-week race.
NHL
BOSTON ó The Boston Bruins have bought out the final year of veteran right-winger Glen Murray’s contract.The team announced the move Saturday.
The 35-year-old Murray, a 16-year veteran, has scored 337 goals with 314 assists in 1,009 regular season games.
– MINNEAPOLIS ó After trying to trade him earlier this summer, the Minnesota Wild avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Pierre-Marc Bouchard by re-signing the right wing to a five-year, $20.4 million contract.
TENNIS
TORONTO ó Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray of Britain 7-6 (2), 6-3 to reach the final of the Rogers Cup on Saturday night and put himself in line for his seventh title of the year.
He’ll face Nicolas Kiefer, who reached the championship with a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Gilles Simon on Saturday.
BASEBALL
DAYTON, Ohio ó Peoria Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo was released from jail Saturday, one day after he was arraigned on a charge of felonious assault for hitting a fan in the head with a thrown baseball.
Castillo was arrested Thursday following a fight between the Class A Chiefs and Dayton Dragons. Umpires ejected 15 players and the teams’ managers after the 10-minute brawl ended. Video from the game shows Castillo angrily throwing a ball, but doesn’t show where the ball landed. Castillo was charged with hitting a fan in the forehead with the throw.
The fan was treated at Miami Valley Hospital and released Thursday night, said hospital spokeswoman Nancy Thickel. She didn’t know the extent of the injuries.
Police identified him as Chris McCar.
– CLEVELAND ó The Cleveland Indians traded versatile third baseman Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers on Saturday.
Blake is joining the Dodgers for the playoff push. They’re one game behind first-place Arizona.