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Loeb leads rally
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – France’s Sebastien Loeb drove his Citroen to a 19-second lead over Finland’s Marcus Gronholm in the rain-soaked Argentine Rally, winning seven stages Saturday in racing marred by a spectator’s death.
A female fan was killed on a connecting stretch between stages near Cosquin, authorities said. Two other people standing on the roadside also were caught up in the accident with a Subaru driven by Argentine Gonzalo Alenaz, but were not seriously hurt.
Fuller top qualifier
MADISON, Ill. (AP) – Rod Fuller led Top Fuel qualifying for the second straight week, topping the field in the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals on Saturday with a quarter-mile run of 4.596 seconds at 313.37 mph.
With two of four pro time trials lost to rain, there was a premium on Saturday’s final two qualifying runs, with Fuller, Funny Car leader Mike Ashley, Pro Stock star Greg Anderson and Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Matt Smith topping their divisions.
Ashley made it three low qualifiers in a row in Funny Car by placing his Dodge Charger R/T at the front of the class once again with a 4.799 at 331.77 mph. The Melville, N.Y., racer set a Gateway International Raceway speed mark with his crowd-pleasing run in the afternoon session.
Robert Hight was second, leading the John Force Racing contingent with a 4.819 at 319.07 mph in his Ford Mustang. Despite missing a race after the death of teammate Eric Medlen, Hight is only 40 points out of first place.
Hight’s sister-in-law, Ashley Force, was third, muscling her way down the track in 4.853 seconds at 309.70 mph. Her father, John Force, was a solid fifth with a 4.856 at 317.57.
Bowyer is Busch winner
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Clint Bowyer won the race off pit road with about 28 laps to go Friday night and easily went on to his fifth career NASCAR Busch Series victory.
Matt Kenseth dominated much of the latter part of the race, but pitted along with the other leaders after the final caution flew on lap 223. Carl Edwards and David Ragan assumed the top two spots by staying out, but their stay in front didn’t last long.
Kenseth came out fifth, behind Bowyer and Jeff Burton, after a mishap with the jack on Kenseth’s right front tire. Edwards and Ragan faded, but Bowyer remained strong, taking the lead with 19 laps to go and winning by 1.483 seconds.
It was his second win this season, and also was the fourth Busch Series victory in a row at Richmond for Richard Childress Racing. Kevin Harvick, who finished fourth, won the last three in a row.
“I wouldn’t have dreamed I would have won until that last pit stop,” Bowyer said. After he took the lead, “I was thinking, “It’s mine to screw up this time.”‘
Burton was third, followed by Harvick and Kyle Busch.
Kenseth appeared to have the race in hand until J.J. Yeley spun on lap 222, bringing out the seventh and final caution and erasing a lead of more than 2 seconds.
It also sent the leaders to the pits, where Bowyer’s crew made a tire pressure adjustment that made him stronger at the finish – too strong for Kenseth.
“That last long run we got a little better and they got a little bit worse and we were able to make some hay,” Kenseth said.