NASCAR sweep for Kyle Busch

Check off a major accomplishment from Kyle Busch’s bucket list.

Busch fended off strong challenges from David Reutimann and Jamie McMurray to win Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and complete his unprecedented sweep of three NASCAR national touring events at the same track in the same week.

On Lap 429 of 500, Busch nosed past Reutimann after an intense 15-lap battle and pulled away to a Sprint Cup victory that fit quite nicely with his Wednesday win in the Camping World Truck Series and his Friday triumph in the Nationwide Series.

The victory was Busch’s fourth at the .533-mile track, his third of the season and the 19th of his career. McMurray came home third, followed by Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne.

It was a statement race for Bowyer, who separated himself from Mark Martin in the battle for the final berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Bowyer overcame a pit-road speeding penalty to finish in the top five while Martin foundered to a 23rd-place result in a car that didn’t handle to his liking.

With two races left before the Chase field is set Sept. 11 at Richmond, Bowyer, 12th in the standings, leads McMurray, who supplanted Martin in 13th place, by 100 points. Martin is 14th, 101 points back.

For the second consecutive year, NASCAR will cut purses in the Nationwide Series. Purses will drop 20% in 2011, a move that already follows plans to cut purses in the Sprint Cup Series.

Fish to face Federer in final

Mardy Fish pulled off a surprised turnaround victory over fellow American Andy Roddick, beating him 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, to set up a meeting with defending champion Roger Federer in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

Federer, ranked No. 2 in the world, comfortably beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, 6-4, 6-3, playing with the ease and flow for which he is noted.

Fish’s unlikely comeback began while trailing 5-3 in the second set following a 40-minute rain delay during the first set. Fish held serve then broke Roddick and pushed the set to a tiebreak which he won in style against a floundering opponent.

A visibly riled Roddick never regained his composure and Fish cruised to victory.

Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro will not play in the U.S. Open because of a wrist injury that has disrupted his training schedule.

The Argentine had surgery on his right wrist in May and says he’s not ready for “top level” competition yet. He has not played since the Australian Open in January.

He becomes the first men’s champion in the 42-year history of the Open era to not defend his title.

GOLF

Lehman has lead in Tradition

With birdies on the 14th and 17th holes, Tom Lehman positioned himself to win his second major tournament of the season when he took a two-stroke lead at the Champion Tour’s Jeld-Wen Tradition at Sunriver, Ore. Lehman, who won the Senior PGA championship in May, shot a 69 and was 11 under par through 54 holes.

Bernhard Langer, who is trying to become the second player in Champions Tour history to win three consecutive, shot a 69 and was tied with Fred Funk and J.L. Lewis at nine under.

Juli Inkster was disqualified during the third round of the LPGA Safeway Classic for using a weighted training aid on her club.

The Hall of Famer used a weight on her nine-iron while trying to stay loose on the 10th hole at North Plains, Ore. She finished her round at eight under, which would have left her three strokes behind leader Ai Miyazato.

Arjun Atwal took a three-stroke lead at the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C., by shooting a 65 at Sedgefield Country Club.

Atwal is at 17-under 193 for 54 holes, three shots ahead of Scott McCarron, Lucas Glover and Scott Piercy. McCarron finished his round with four straight birdies for a 63. Piercy shot a 64 and Glover had a 67.