Auto RacingDerrike Cope earned his first victory...

Auto Racing

Derrike Cope earned his first victory since 1990 when leader Hermie Sadler ran out of gas with six laps to go in the New England Chevy Dealers 250, a NASCAR Grand National race at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon.

Cope’s Ford had moved into second place, ahead of Bobby Dotter, only seconds before Sadler dropped out. Cope’s last victory had been in a Winston Cup race at Dover, Del.

He earned $32,400 and averaged only 88.560 m.p.h. in a race slowed by several wrecks over the one-mile oval.

An official at Imola, Italy, where Ayrton Senna fatally crashed a week ago, said the Brazilian driver had inspected the stretch of the track where the accident occurred and declared it OK.

Miscellany

The Minnesota legislature passed a bill to authorize a public buyout of the Target Center arena in Minneapolis, a move which it intended to keep the NBA Timberwolves in Minnesota after attempts to move them to New Orleans or Nashville, Tenn. Gov. Arne Carlson said he would sign the bill as soon as it gets to his office.