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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 SPORTS Early to tell if NASCAR set for improved racing CHARLOTTE: Two races is just too early to form month when he crashed into an unprotected a definitive opinion about NASCAR’s new rules wall at Daytona. package, which was tweaked as part of a con- Gordon hit an unprotected wall the next certed effort to improve the racing. Has the 2015 week at Atlanta, and Erik Jones hit a portion of rules package made things any better? No, not wall just past the SAFER barrier in the Xfinity really. Especially if it’s being compared with the Series race at Las Vegas on Saturday. Gordon high-stakes racing that punctuated the end of and Jones both walked away, but Gordon gave last season, when the 10-race Chase displayed vivid detail in how much harder the impact is some of the strongest competition in years. when a driver hits a concrete wall vs. a SAFER NASCAR wants bumper-to-bumper racing barrier. every week, with aggressive passing all through NASCAR and its tracks are doing the right the field. So the rules are an evolving process, thing in reviewing the safety standards at all and the 2015 package was a compromise facilities, but they must act with urgency in get- between what the drivers wanted vs. how many ting soft walls on every inch of a race track that changes tire provider Goodyear could immedi- can safely accommodate the barriers. ately accommodate. Even though Daytona International The result was a reduction in downforce - not Speedway president Joie Chitwood said after nearly enough to satisfy the majority of the driv- Busch’s accident he would cover “every inch” of ers - and less horsepower. the track, it’s not always the smartest route: It’s yet to be seen if the changes will lead to There are some areas on some tracks where a significant improvements because races at car could hit a SAFER barrier and ricochet back Atlanta and Las Vegas the last two weeks didn’t into traffic, creating another dangerous scenario. look much different from past events on 1.5- Whatever the safest routes are, it must be done mile speedways. Three drivers combined to lead as soon as possible. Every additional hit into an 292 of the 325 laps at Atlanta, where the 28 lead unprotected wall is a very bad look for NASCAR. changes weren’t all that dramatic. Jimmie KURT BUSCH UPDATE: Kurt Busch is cur- Johnson went on to the win, beating Kevin rently participating in a process that is expected Harvick by 1.802 seconds. to lead to his eventual reinstatement to Harvick, Johnson and Joey Logano again NASCAR. He was suspended indefinitely Feb. 20 dominated Sunday in Las Vegas, where the trio for an alleged domestic assault against an ex- led 234 of the 267 laps. Harvick sort of made it girlfriend and has missed three races. There’s look easy in the end, with a vibration in his car been no timetable given for his return, but after the only thing that kept him from trouncing the Delaware authorities last week declined to field as he took the victory. charge Busch, it would seem that his reinstate- The new package was supposed to excite ment could come as soon as this week. NASCAR fans and please the drivers, but three-time has not detailed the steps Busch must take to DALLAS: Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith (5) collides with Dallas Mavericks forward Al-Farouq Aminum (immediately behind) while chasing NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was fuming on return to competition. One interesting aspect a pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game. — AP his in-car radio about his car. He seemed to sug- about the situation was raised on Sunday by gest the cars were more fit to compete on Gene Haas, the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Saturday, when NASCAR’s second-tier series who hand-picked Busch to drive for the organi- Cavaliers thrash Mavericks races. zation and pays for Busch’s car out of pocket. One vocal driver does not make or break a Haas seemed to indicate he wants Busch back in case against the new rules package, but two the No. 41, but also said he’s curious about the races into the season and NASCAR has got to be drivers’ eligibility in the Chase for the Sprint Cup DALLAS: Even without his trademark headband, PELICANS 111, NETS 91 (back) for the second consecutive game. hoping the on-track action picks up a tick or two championship. The current rules say a driver LeBron James had 27 points and took over sole Alexis Ajinca and Quincy Pondexter each Reserve Rodney Hood scored 17 points for very soon. must at minimum attempt to qualify, or race, in possession of the Cavaliers’ career assists record scored 17 points as New Orleans moved within the Jazz, while Rudy Gobert added 10 points, 14 Some other things learned over the first every event. A waiver can be granted by as Cleveland beat the Dallas Mavericks 127-94 percentage points of eighth place in the Western rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Hood month of the season: NASCAR in certain situations: Tony Stewart on Tuesday night. James was one of four players Conference by beating Brooklyn. Omer Asik had and Favors carried the offensive load in the SOFT WALLS NEED TO BE A PRIORITY: Jeff received one after missing three races last year with more than 20 points for the Central 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans in fourth after the Knicks took a two-point lead. Gordon has a Tuesday meeting scheduled with following the fatal accident of a sprint car driver, Division-leading Cavaliers, who have won 12 of their third straight victory. Anthony Davis scored Alexey Shved scored 21 points and had a NASCAR executive vice president Steve and Brian Vickers received one after missing the their last 13 games against Western Conference 15 points, a night after tying his career high with career-high 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Andrea O’Donnell, and the four-time series champion first two races of this year after offseason heart opponents and broke a 14-game losing streak in 43 in a win at Milwaukee. Bargnani finished with 20 points. has said he wants a timeline on when energy- surgery. Texas. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, while Kevin Brook Lopez had 15 points and nine absorbing SAFER barriers will be fully installed at It’s not clear where NASCAR stands on the Love had 21 points and 14 rebounds. J.R. Smith rebounds for the Nets, who broke to an early LAKERS 93, PISTONS 85 all tracks. Almost all facilities that host national waiver for Busch. At a time when NASCAR is try- also scored 21 points and Timofey Mozgov, the double-digit lead before losing their fourth Jordan Hill led seven Lakers in double figures NASCAR events have the Steel and Foam Energy ing hard to be transparent, and trying hard to other starter, had 17. straight. Ajinca had 11 points during a four- with 16 point as Los Angeles beat Detroit to Reduction Barrier in certain walls, but there’s make rules very black and white, the issue of Chandler Parsons led Dallas with 18 points, minute stretch of the second quarter as the snap a five-game losing streak. been an outcry for total coverage since Kyle waivers pertaining to Chase eligibility should by while Monta Ellis had 17 and Amare Stoudemire Pelicans took a 55-46 lead into halftime. They are The injury-riddled Lakers (17-46) beat the Busch broke his right leg and left foot last crystal clear. — AP 15. Dirk Nowitzki scored 13 points on only 3-of- 2 percentage points behind Oklahoma City for Pistons for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings 10 shooting. the West’s final playoff spot. behind 46 points in the paint and a 46-41 rebounding edge, but were officially eliminated SPURS 117, RAPTORS 107 JAZZ 87, KNICKS 82 from playoff contention before their game end- Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, 11 rebounds Derrick Favors had 29 points and 12 ed when New Orleans beat Brooklyn. and matched a career high with five steals, as rebounds, as Utah beat New York to equal a sea- Greg Monroe had 24 points and nine San Antonio withstood a second-half letdown to son high with its third straight victory. rebounds for the Pistons, but missed a pair of beat Toronto for its sixth straight victory. Both teams struggled to score as the Jazz critical free throws with 1:09 remaining and Tony Parker added 23 points and nine assists, were without leading scorer Gordon Hayward Detroit trailing by three. Andre Drummond had and Danny Green was 5 for 6 on 3-pointers in (back) and the Knicks have been injury-plagued 21 rebounds along with 14 points, but couldn’t scoring 19 points for San Antonio. Toronto lost all season. New York missed Tim Hardaway Jr. prevent Detroit’s seventh straight loss. — AP its fourth straight despite 32 points from Kyle Lowry and 21 for DeMar DeRozan. Amir Johnson had 16 points and 14 rebounds. NBA results/standings Tim Duncan made the game’s first basket on a follow of his own blocked shot 19 seconds in, after failing to make a field goal for the first time Indiana 118, Orlando 86; New Orleans 111, Brooklyn 91; Cleveland 127, Dallas 94; San Antonio in his career in San Antonio’s previous game.