which is 1-8-1 since beginning the season 2-0. | Forum
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Feb 26 '18
SONOMA, Calif. Terence Newman Jersey . -- Jamie McMurray took the time to help rookie teammate Kyle Larson learn the road course at Sonoma Raceway. The payoff for working together was two Chip Ganassi Racing cars in the top three of the starting field of Sundays race. McMurray won the pole for Sundays race with a track record lap that bumped AJ Allmendinger from the top starting spot, and Larson qualified a surprising third. Allmendinger seemed to have the pole locked down until McMurray turned a lap at 96.350 mph in the final minute of Saturdays qualifying session. It broke the record of 95.262 mph set by Marcos Ambrose in 2012. "Great lap, I am so excited," McMurray said. "I thought our car in race trim was really good, really good on the long runs. Were not going to change a whole lot, I feel really good about it." Its the first pole of the season for McMurray, 10th of his career, and third at Sonoma. McMurray also started from the pole last year but finished 25th. He called the qualifying session stressful under NASCARs new knockout format. McMurray was on the verge of being eliminated in the first of the two rounds, but he went out for one last lap to advance into the top 12. Then he bumped Allmendinger as the clock wound down on the final 10-minute session. "I think everybody in the garage area has been stressed out about trying to get that clean lap in qualifying all weekend long," McMurray said. "This knockout qualifying is just an emotional roller-coaster. Theres a lot of highs and lows with it." Allmendinger wound up second in a race he believes he can win. He was out of the Sprint Cup Series a year ago because of a failed random NASCAR drug test in 2012, so while the series was racing at Sonoma, Allmendinger was in the Nationwide Series race at Road America. He delivered in the Wisconsin race for his first career victory and found his way back into a full-time ride in Cup. He wasnt disappointed after McMurray bumped him from the pole, but it eyeing another win. "We were in position to have (the pole), so it could be a lot worse," Allmendinger said. "It sucks when you are that close, but you know what? Jamie put in a heck of a lap. Weve got a clean view of the track when we go green and were going to have some fun tomorrow. Weve got a pretty good shot to win this thing." In a surprise, McMurrays rookie teammate Kyle Larson was third to give Chip Ganassi Racing two cars in the top three. Larson doesnt have a ton of road course experience, and the rookie is admittedly still learning how to shift. Larson, who replaced road course specialist Juan Pablo Montoya in the Ganassi entry, seemed surprised by his run. "It would be interesting to see what Juan could have done today in my car because I dont feel Im that good on road courses," Larson said. "Ive never raced here before. I really rely on McMurray -- I sat in the lounge with him for 15 or 20 minutes and he just went through every corner with me and tried to give me as much information as I needed. Carl Edwards was fourth and followed by Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman. The rest of the top 12 included Brian Vickers, Paul Menard, Joey Logano, Danica Patrick and Casey Mears. Patrick has now advanced into the final round of qualifying five times this season. "We would have liked it to be better, but well take it," Patrick said. Hendrick Motorsports goes into Sundays race looking to extend its five-race winning streak, but its drivers will have to come from deep in the field to make it six straight. Jeff Gordon, the all-time winner at Sonoma with five victories, was the highest-qualifying Hendrick driver at 15th. "We pride ourselves on being good on the road courses, especially here at Sonoma," Gordon said. "Obviously we will talk to our teammates, and see what they were dealing with as well. Very disappointed to not have any Hendrick cars in the top-12." Jimmie Johnson, winner of three of the last four races, qualified 22nd. Its his lowest starting spot at Sonoma since 2007. Failing to advance in the final group of 12 in qualifying were road course favourites Tony Stewart, the only Stewart-Haas Racing driver not to make it into the final group, as well as Ambrose and defending race winner Martin Truex Jr. Alan Page Jersey . 25 against Miami. Hillis left Browns Stadium about two hours before kickoff, a decision that has led to speculation he was upset over ongoing negotiations with the club on a contract extension. Nick Easton Jersey . Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats.Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Vikings waited 18 years and 453 games to post a blocked punt return touchdown. They had two of them Sunday. Adam Thielen and Everson Griffen scooped up blocked punts and returned them for scores as the Vikings defeated the Carolina Panthers 31-13 on Sunday afternoon. It was Minnesotas first blocked punt return touchdown since Issiac Holt recorded one against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 12, 1986. Thielens 30-yard return in the first quarter was the longest blocked punt return touchdown in Vikings history, but that mark was short-lived. Griffens 43-yard return in the second established the new record. Teddy Bridgewater was 15-of-21 for 138 yards with two touchdowns, while Greg Jennings caught five passes for 45 yards and a score for the Vikings (5-7), who have won three of their last five games. Minnesota won despite totaling just 210 yards of offense. The Panthers were a 1-3 team last season when they came to Minnesota. They beat the Vikings to begin an eight-game winning streak and went on to win the NFC South and claim the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The script didnt produce the same result, however, as Carolina trailed 14-0 early and never really got back in it. Cam Newton completed 18-of-35 passes for 194 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Carolina, which is 1-8-1 since beginning the season 2-0. The Panthers, though, are still justt 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans in the up- for-grabs NFC South. Fran Tarkenton Jersey. Bridgewater found Kyle Rudolph in the right flat to cap Minnesotas opening six-play, 45-yard drive, and Thielens score came after Carolinas ensuing possession. Thielen burst through the line and blocked Brad Nortmans kick before scampering in for his touchdown to make it 14-0. The Panthers next 14-play sequence, which took 6:23 off the clock, stalled in the red zone and Graham Gano booted a 30-yard field goal late in the first to get them on the board. Jasper Brinkley blocked Nortman after Carolinas next march, and Griffen scooped it up and raced into the end zone to increase the Minnesota margin to 21-3. Gano answered the score with a 35-yard field goal, but Bridgewater flipped a 17-yard TD pass to Jennings in the waning seconds of the first half to give the Vikings a 28-6 cushion heading into the locker room. Newton hit Philly Brown deep over the middle for a 32-yard touchdown on Carolinas first touch of the second half, but the Panthers never cut into the deficit further. Blair Walshs 39-yard field goal early in the fourth capped the scoring. Game Notes Carolina tallied 348 yards, outgaining Minnesota by 138 ... The Panthers were 7-of-16 on third down, while the Vikings finished 4-of-11 ... Carolina picked up 23 first downs, while Minnesota moved the chains 12 times. 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