Keselowski earns track record, pole
NASCAR: Brad Keselowski will start the second race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship the way he ended the first one – out front.
Keselowski turned a track-record lap of 140.598 mph Friday to win the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Keselowski is coming off consecutive victories at Richmond and the Chase for the Sprint Cup opener last week at Chicagoland. He swept the Cup and Nationwide races at New Hampshire in July.
Jamie McMurray, a non-Chase driver, was second. Chase drivers took the next seven spots. Kevin Harvick was third, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
Reto takes LPGA lead
GOLF: South Africa’s Paula Reto birdied her final hole for a 6-under 66 and a three-stroke lead in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama.
South Korea’s Mi Jung Hur, tied for the first-round lead with top-ranked Stacy Lewis at 64, was second after a 70. Lewis was third at 9 under after a 71. Wendy Ward (Edwall, Wash.) withdrew from the competition.
• Pernice sets pace with 60: Tom Pernice Jr. birdied his final four holes for a 12-under 60 and a four-stroke lead Friday in the Champions Tour’s Hawaii Championship at Kapolei Golf Club.
Michael Allen was second after a 64. Davis Love III opened with a 69 in his Champions Tour debut. Moses Lake native Kirk Triplett shot a 69 and is tied for 28th.
• Blair at 12 under: Zac Blair topped the Web.com Tour Championship leaderboard at 12 under when second-round play on the TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course was suspended because of darkness in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Blair was 5 under with three holes left in the round that was delayed because of rain. Spokane’s Alex Prugh shot a 69 and is at 1-under 139.
UFC cuts Thiago Silva
MISCELLANY: The UFC has suspended Anthony Johnson indefinitely and terminated Thiago Silva’s contract.
The UFC reacted swiftly on Johnson after a report from BloodyElbow.com, which claims that the mother of his children has accused him of abusive acts.
Silva was arrested in Florida in February after authorities say he threatened to shoot his estranged wife and her boyfriend.
• U.S. defeats Australia: Breanna Stewart scored nine points to lead a balanced attack and the U.S. women’s national team beat Australia 72-66 in an exhibition basketball game.
The U.S. trailed 18-11 after the first quarter before taking a one-point lead at the half. The U.S. extended that advantage to 11 after the third quarter.
• Hermann makes Sandusky reference: Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann made an off-the-cuff joke about the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal at Penn State during a meeting with staff last fall.
A report from NJ Advance Media said Hermann told staff members to “reach out and touch the donors” of the Rutgers program, and her punchline was to not do it “in a Sandusky way.”
Senior vice president for external affairs Pete McDonough said the university is not going to let a spontaneous, offhand remark take away from the “great” job Hermann is doing.