Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H. ó Kyle Busch held off Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Busch had just enough fuel to survive, running out of gas as he made his way to Victory Lane. The NASCAR star has now won a Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck race at the 1.058-mile oval.
The real intrigue came behind Busch, where series leader Hornaday spent the last 50 laps battling with Harvick, his boss.
Harvick appeared to be agitated that Hornaday would not let him pass, at one point bumping into the back of Hornaday under caution.
Hornaday finished second to extend his lead in the season points race to 217 over Matt Crafton.
Immediately after the race Harvick, who owns Hornaday’s No. 33 Chevrolet, stomped over to Hornaday’s truck and exchanged a few words with his friend and employee.
“It was poor communication,” Harvick said. “I felt like we had the two best trucks today.”
– LOUDON, N.H. ó Mark Martin has signed a contract extension to run a full schedule with Hendrick Motorsports through 2011.
Martin begins the Chase for the championship today at New Hampshire as the points leader in the Sprint Cup Series. He earned the top spot with four victories this year.
It’s been a resurgent year for 50-year-old Martin, who originally was going to drive just one full season for Hendrick. But his performance has been among the best in NASCAR, and it’s led him to agree to drive longer.
GOLFCONOVER ó Jay Haas and Nick Price shared the lead at the Greater Hickory Classic, and 31 players were within six strokes of the leaders going into the final round.
Haas, the 2005 winner, and Price are at 11-under 133 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Robert Trent Jones course. Haas shot a 1-under 71, while Price ó a three-time major winner on the PGA Tour ó vaulted into contention with a 67.
Gil Morgan (70), who trailed Haas by three strokes after Friday’s opening round, slid into a tie for third at 135 with Andy Bean (68) and Russ Cochran (68). Joe Ozaki shared the day’s best round, a 6-under 66, with Tom Purtzer, and joined a group of nine players tied for sixth at 136.
NBA
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. ó Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was arrested Thursday after officers pulled him over for speeding on a motorcycle while carrying two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun in a guitar case.
– NEW YORK ó The NBA will hold training camp next week with replacement officials, saying the referees union has rejected its final contract offer.
NOMINEES
CANTON, Ohio ó Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith headline the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for induction next year in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The list released Saturday includes 131 players, coaches and contributors.
Hall of Fame selectors will chose 25 semifinalists by Nov. 27, and 15 finalists by Jan. 7.
Voting will take place Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl.
Other modern-era nominees include Tim Brown, Herschel Walker, Cris Carter, Andre Reed and Sterling Sharp. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue is also on the list.
PAULUS UPDATE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. ó Ryan Lichtenstein kicked a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game, giving Syracuse a 37-34 win Saturday night against Northwestern and rookie coach Doug Marrone his victory.
Greg Paulus scored on a 10-yard run and was 24-for-35 for 346 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for the Orange (1-2), who started 0-3 the previous two seasons under former coach Greg Robinson.
NHL
TORONTO ó The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the rights to Phil Kessel after months of talks with the Boston Bruins and then signed him to a five-year, $27 million deal.
Kessel scored 36 goals and added 24 assists in 70 games with Boston last season.