Keselowski races to fifth Nationwide win
NASCAR: Brad Keselowski pulled away on a late restart at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday night, earning his fifth Nationwide Series victory of the season.
Keselowski extended his advantage in the season standings to 450 points, leading the final 35 laps at Concord, N.C.
Martin Truex Jr. finished second, followed by Justin Allgaier, Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer, who started on the pole but had a costly pit-road speeding penalty late.
While Danica Patrick posted her best finish in her nine Nationwide races – 21st, although she was two laps down at the end – Keselowski had little competition once Kyle Busch had handling problems halfway through the race.
Ohio St. considers Holmes case closed
College football: Ohio State has closed a brief investigation of alleged payments by an agent to former Buckeyes player Santonio Holmes five years ago after consulting with the NCAA, which is not pursuing the matter.
The university did not say why the NCAA was closing the books on the matter, but since it allegedly took place in November of 2005, it would be beyond the organization’s four-year statute of limitations for infractions.
• Nebraska regents approve Big 12 settlement: University of Nebraska regents approved a $9.25 million settlement that clears the way for the school to leave the Big 12 Conference next year for the Big Ten without going to court.
The regents approved the deal without public discussion at a meeting in Omaha, Neb.
• McGhee practices before Bobcats head to NAU: Montana State quarterback Denarius McGhee participated in practice as the Bobcats prepared for their game today at Northern Arizona.
On Tuesday, MSU coach Rob Ash had said McGhee was considered day-to-day with a sprained left foot.
The ninth-ranked Bobcats will look to hand NAU its first home loss of the season.
Pair of rookies top LPGA leaderboard
Golf: Rookies Gwladys Nocera and Beatriz Recari each shot a 6-under-par 66 and were tied for the lead at 134 after the second round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Danville, Calif.
Amy Hung was alone in third at 9 under. Wendy Ward (Edwall, Wash.), Michele Redman, Stacy Lewis and Ilhee Lee were tied for fourth at 136, two shots back.
• Mediate keeps lead at Frys.com Open: Rocco Mediate holed a 7-iron approach from 160 yards for eagle on the par-4 fourth hole and finished with a 6-under 65 to increase his lead to three strokes at San Martin, Calif.
The 46-year-old Mediate finished at 13-under 129 in the Fall Series event.
Ryudi Imada (67) was second, and Dean Wilson (64) and David Duval (65) followed at 9 under.
Alex Prugh (Ferris) shot a 6-under 66, good for a two-day total of 135 and a tie for 10th
Henry, Werner gain control of Liverpool
Soccer: English soccer club Liverpool was sold to the owners of the Boston Red Sox after a bitter trans-Atlantic court fight with the previous American owners over the storied English club.
The $476 million deal with New England Sports Ventures ends the turbulent three-year ownership by Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.
The sale went through after Hicks and Gillett withdrew the temporary restraining order they had obtained in a Texas court.
• Serbia to seek Euro 2012 replay against Italy: Serbian officials want a replay of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Italy and blame Italian organizers for failing to prevent the violence that caused the game to be called off.
Tuesday’s game in Genoa, Italy, was abandoned after 7 minutes when Serbian fans threw flares and fireworks onto the field and broke barriers.
UConn, NCAA meet over hoops violations
Miscellany: At Indianapolis, the University of Connecticut’s hearing before the NCAA infractions committee to discuss men’s basketball violations concluded after more than 12 hours.
Connecticut has acknowledged the program committed major NCAA recruiting violations and has imposed its own sanctions, including two years’ probation and a loss of one scholarship for the next two seasons.
• Glendale, Hulsizer reach Coyotes lease agreement: The city of Glendale, Ariz., says it has reached an agreement in principal with a group headed by Chicago investor Matthew Hulsizer on a new lease for the Phoenix Coyotes.
The agreement, announced on the city’s website, is the long-awaited breakthrough that could pave the way for Hulsizer to purchase the team from the NHL, which bought the Coyotes out of bankruptcy more than a year ago.
• Portland Beavers sold to owner of San Diego Padres: The Triple-A Portland Beavers have been sold to a group led by Jeff Moorad, owner of the San Diego Padres.
Beavers owner Merritt Paulson said the deal is expected to close in December and is conditional on approval from the league.
Moorad’s group is negotiating to build a stadium in Escondido, Calif., about 30 miles north of San Diego and move the team there, according to the Oregonian.