SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 SPORTS Pritchett has quickest run 2018 Vuelta to Kyle Busch wins at in NHRA history at 3.640s begin in Malaga Bristol for 19th time BRAINERD: Leah Pritchett had the quickest run in NHRA history with NIMES: Next year’s Vuelta a Espana will start with a time trial in BRISTOL: Kyle Busch continued his domination at Bristol Motor Speedway 3.640-second pass at 330.63 mph Friday night at Brainerd International Malaga, race organisers announced yesterday. “The (2018) Vuelta will with a victory Friday night in the Xfinity Series race. The win was the 19th Speedway in Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals qualifying. She broke her own Top start August 25 in Malaga,” race director Javier Guillen told reporters in national series victory at Bristol for Busch, who also won the Truck Series Fuel record of 3.658 set in Arizona in February. “We’ve looked forward to the French city of Nimes. The 2017 edition begins later Saturday in race Wednesday night. And just like that win, Busch had to overcome a this night session for a long time,” Pritchett said. “Knowing that Nimes, just the third time the race has started outside of Spain. It set speeding penalty on pit road to get to victory lane. “Just a great car,” Busch Brainerd, this track, this surface, the conditions and what NHRA off from the Portuguese capital Lisbon in 1997 and from Assen in the said about his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Busch won the first stage of the race is able to do to it, lays down the ground work for us to pull out Netherlands in 2009. Security will be firmly in the spotlight following and was then popped for speeding. He drove from 29th in line to the most power possible. That’s what this team did. They the terror attacks in Catalonia as the three-week race enters Spain on the lead in 58 laps after the penalty, and won the second stage. have been working tirelessly at finding small amounts of Tuesday with a stage finishing in Tarragona. Tarragona is only 20 kilo- Busch then drove away to an easy 91st career win in the Xfinity power here, there and everywhere and to be able to put it metres along the Mediterranean coast from Cambrils, where a car Series, and he’s said he will stop racing in the series once he hits on the track tonight was incredible.” Robert Hight broke the rammed into pedestrians, injuring six civilians and a police officer early 100 victories. He joked in victory lane the fans will be pleased Funny Car time record with a 3.793 at 338.00 in a on Friday morning. One of the civilians later died. That incident came when that day arrives. Busch will go for a Bristol sweep Saturday Chevrolet Camaro SS, the first run in the 3.7s in Funny just hours after the attack in Barcelona, when a white van sped down night in the Cup Series race, and thanked his supporters - Car history. He set the speed record of 339.87 last the popular Las Ramblas avenue, packed full of tourists on Thursday dubbed “Rowdy Nation” - for cheering on his effort to month at Sonoma Raceway.— AP afternoon, knocking people down and killing 13.— AFP sweep the weekend at Bristol.— AP NFL Fant’s injury cast shadow over Seahawks’ win over Vikings SEATTLE: Just when the Seattle was the bad part, but I felt good about Seahawks were getting settled on its the way we were moving the football.” shaky offensive line, it’s once again their biggest question with the regular season BENNETT SITS approaching. Russell Wilson looked just Seahawks defensive end Michael fine throwing for 206 yards and two Bennett sat during the national anthem touchdowns in the first half, and the for the second straight preseason game. Seattle Seahawks suffered a significant Bennett was alone sitting on the injury to left tackle George Fant in their Seahawks bench during the “The Star- 20-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Spangled Banner.” But teammates on Friday night. showed support for Bennett with center Fant suffered a torn ACL in his right Justin Britt standing alongside with his knee when he was injured midway hand on Bennett’s shoulder. Defensive through the second quarter. Fant was back Jeremy Lane also stood next to rolled into by teammate Justin Britt and Bennett. immediately fell to the turf in pain. The “I’m going to continue talking with team training staff attended to Fant on Mike and exploring and just continuing the field and placed an air splint around to understand. I wanted to take a first his lower right leg before he was taken step tonight and that’s what I felt like I away. did,” Britt said. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Fant will need surgery and expected to be KICKER REVENGE done for the season. “It’s heartbreaking. Walsh took great joy in having success It’s so unfortunate for George,” Carroll against his former team that released said. “There are other things that follow him last season. Walsh made a pair of 52- that but my first thoughts are for yard field goals in the second half and George.” made gestures toward the Minnesota Fant’s injury likely means significant sideline after each kick. Walsh pointed at changes for Seattle’s offensive line. Luke the sideline after his first make and SYDNEY: New Zealand’s fullback Damian McKenzie (L) evades a tackle by Australia’s centre Samu Kerevi during the Rugby Championship test Joeckel was set to be the starting left walked toward the bench and appeared match between Australia and the New Zealand All Blacks in Sydney yesterday. — AFP guard, but may be an option at left tackle to say something after the second. with the entire right side of the line still Walsh nearly had three made kicks of RUGBY unsettled. beyond 50 yards but a 53-yard attempt Fant took over at left tackle midway in the first half hit the crossbar. Zimmer through last season and spent the off- said he did not see any of Walsh’s ges- season reshaping his body to be stronger tures. “When they’re out there kind of All Blacks hit highs in going into this season. Earlier this week yelling at you and taunting you on kicks offensive line coach Tom Cable said it’s just I’ve been in the league a little Seattle was set on the left side of the while, I didn’t really like that,” Walsh said. offensive line. “I hope it was in jest because my 54-34 win over Wallabies Fant’s injury overshadowed what was response was in jest. I could see guys an otherwise solid performance by the smiling so I hope nobody took it too Seahawks. Wilson picked apart a Vikings seriously.” SYDNEY: The world champion All Blacks Wallabies with a six-try opening half to have the after Beauden Barrett handled twice in the lead- secondary that played without starting rebounded spectacularly to down the Wallabies game wrapped up by half-time after a 40-6 land- up. The New Zealanders claimed their fifth try cornerback Trey Waynes and safety START COOKIN’ 54-34 and plunge Australian rugby further into slide. While the Australians looked promising in just before half-time when Sonny Bill Williams Andrew Sedenjo, completing 13 of 18 Vikings’ rookie Dalvin Cook ran well in despair in the Rugby Championship opener in attack they were clueless in defence with the crashed over and Barrett’s conversion stretched passes. He hit Kasen Williams on a 1-yard the first half against most of Seattle’s Sydney yesterday. world champions looking capable of scoring in the world champions’ lead to 33-6. touchdown pass and found Mike Davis starting defense. With the Vikings bring- It was New Zealand’s biggest score over every attacking phase. The Wallabies left the The All Blacks made a mockery of the thread- on a 22-yard catch-and-run TD late in the ing back Latavius Murray slowly from Australia, eclipsing their 51-20 win in Auckland field to stunned silence with their already tenu- bare Australian defence with a sixth try off a first half. ankle surgery in March, Cook had seven three years ago and puts them well on the way ous Bledisloe Cup hopes in tatters with the All training ground move and a double to centre Williams continued to make a bid for a carries for 40 yards in the first half, to holding on to the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup, Blacks at home in the potentially deciding game Crotty after a scrum win deep inside the roster spot with an acrobatic 27-yard including a 15-yarder. Cook also had one which they have held since 2003. New Zealand’s in Dunedin next week. Wallabies’ territory. catch, followed by his 1-yard TD on reception for 10 yards. inability to put away the British and Irish Lions in The All Blacks scored their first try with quick Barrett’s conversion gave the All Blacks an their drawn home series last month had raised passes from skipper Kieran Read and winger impregnable 40-6 lead at half-time. Seattle’s opening drive. He nearly had a Both of Minnesota’s kickers converted doubts whether the All Blacks’ era of dominance Rieko Ioane to give blindside flanker Liam Squire It got no better with fullback Damian second TD but couldn’t haul in a deep their opportunities in the first half.