Associated PressFORT WORTH, Texas ó The sun shined down on NASCAR on Friday and Jeff Gordon took full advantage of the chance to qualify for a Sprint Cup race for the first time in a month.
After qualifying was rained out three straight weeks, with NASCAR lining up the cars by points, Gordon won the pole for Sunday’s Dickies 500 on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval. His fast lap of 118.469 mph relegated early leader Martin Truex Jr. to second at 188.003 in the 43-car field.
It was the fourth pole of the season for the four-time series champion, as well as the 67th of his career. But it was Gordon’s first pole in 16 tries at Texas.
“Texas has not been our best track, so this is really good,” said Gordon, whose only last-place finishes have both been at Texas, including finishing 43rd here last spring.
“It’s a great start to the weekend,” Gordon noted. “I’m always optimistic any time we go to any racetrack, whether we’ve been good or bad. It’s a fantastic feeling and I’m still pretty shocked we came here and the car felt as good as it has today.”
HANSBROUGH
CHAPEL HILL ó The father of reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough said Friday it’s unclear if the North Carolina star will miss any regular-season games because of a leg injury.
Gene Hansbrough told The Associated Press his son had felt pain in his right shin off and on for a few weeks before going to the team’s medical staff. The team said Hansbrough will be out of practice indefinitely with a stress reaction, which can be a precursor to a fracture without proper rest.
“It’s something they picked up early and it should be resolved I hope fairly quickly,” he said in a phone interview. “The smart thing is to get it resolved instead of having Tyler limp through it.”
NFL
NEW YORK ó Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was suspended for Week 10 of the NFL season by commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
– RENTON, Wash. ó Seahawks assistant coach Jim Mora said Friday he’s not interested in the Washington coaching position.
PIONEER BOWL OFF
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó There’ll be no Pioneer Bowl in 2008.The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association said Friday they suspended this year’s game, which was to take place Dec. 6 at Benedict College.
Champions of the two NCAA Division II leagues have played in the game since 1997.
GOLF
SONOMA, Calif. ó Andy Bean made five birdies in six holes through intermittent rain showers Friday, finishing at 10-under 134 to take a one-shot lead over Nick Price after two rounds in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
NHL