Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H. ó It’s been seven years since Mark Martin legitimately challenged for the championship. Now he’s got his best shot at the title that’s so painfully eluded him over 27 years in NASCAR.
He’ll only have to deal with Jimmie Johnson.
And Jeff Gordon.
And Tony Stewart.
Oh, don’t forget Denny Hamlin. Or Juan Pablo Montoya.
The tightest Chase for the championship since its 2004 inception begins Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Martin starts as the points leader. The sentimental favorite earned the top spot with four victories during an invigorating “regular season” that saw him match in 26 races his entire win total from 2000 to 2008.
“This is certainly the best year of my career, the most fun,” said the 50-year-old driver. “We’ll see how things fare here. Anybody in this Chase can win this Chase. Every team that’s in it is capable of putting together a 10-race row. That’s all it takes is the magic 10 races, and anybody can win it.”
Everyone in contention came to New Hampshire ready to roll, proven by a quick qualifying session Friday that saw Chase drivers claim the first five spots.
Montoya, in his first Chase since moving from Formula One three seasons ago, won the pole with a record-breaking lap in his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. His lap of 133.431 mph bettered Ryan Newman’s 2003 record of 133.357 and gave him the a front-row starting spot.
Two-time series champion Stewart, who built a monstrous points lead that was wiped out when the Chase field was set this week, qualified second. He was followed by Kurt Busch, winner of the 2004 inaugural Chase, Denny Hamlin, who is still riding high from last week’s victory at hometrack Richmond, and Carl Edwards, the preseason championship favorite.
Four-time series champion Gordon qualified 10th, and Kasey Kahne was 11th. Three spots back was Martin, who qualified a disappointing 14th. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, three-time defending champion Johnson, was 16th.
Newman was 18th, Greg Biffle was 22nd and Brian Vickers, who raced his way into the field last weekend at Richmond, was the worst of the Chase qualifiers at 26th.
GOLF
CONOVERó Jay Haas shot a 10-under 62 during the first round of the rain-delayed Greater Hickory Classic on Friday, taking a three-shot lead into the weekend.
Haas is the 2005 tournament champion and tied for second two years ago. He played a bogey-free round at Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Robert Trent Jones course.
NFL
SAN DIEGO ó LaDainian Tomlinson is one of three San Diego Chargers who have been ruled out of Sunday’s home opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
– PHILADELPHIA ó Eagles quarterback Dononvan McNabb is doubtful for Sunday’s game against New Orleans because of a cracked rib.
McNabb sat out of practice for the third straight day Friday. Kevin Kolb took snaps with the first team and is expected to start if McNabb can’t play.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
FRESNO, Calif. ó Jeremy Avery scored on a 67-yard screen pass and added a 74-yard run, providing just two of the many highlight-reel plays in No. 10 Boise State’s 51-34 victory over Fresno State on Friday night.
Titus Young scored two touchdowns, including a diving fumble recovery in the end zone after Avery ran it 74 yards to the 1 as Boise State (3-0, 1-0) won for the 57th time in its past 59 Western Athletic Conference games.
– LOUDON, N.H. ó Crew chief Pat Tryson would not discuss his reasons for leaving Penske Racing at the end of this season, saying only that the decision has nothing to do with driver Kurt Busch.
HURRICANES
RALEIGH ó David Legwand had a goal and two assists to lead the Nashville Predators past Carolina 4-2 on Friday night in the Hurricanes’ exhibition opener.
Erik Cole and Eric Staal scored for Carolina, and Cam Ward made 21 saves.