Auto RacingTwo-time defending champion Mark Martin put...

Auto Racing

Two-time defending champion Mark Martin put his Ford on the pole for the third straight year in first-day qualifying for Sunday’s Budweiser race at Watkins Glen, N.Y., one of two road races on NASCAR’s Winston Cup stock car circuit.

On a repaved 2.45-mile track, Martin shattered his 1993 qualifying lap record by 1.293 seconds with a once-around speed of 120.411 m.p.h., but a dozen others, led by Bill Elliott, also beat the old mark. Elliott, who has placed in the top five in the last three races, came closest to Martin with a lap of 120.332 m.p.h.

Crews have begun repaving the 2 1/2-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, one of several projects at the famed oval planned before next spring.

The first repaving of the track since 1988 began earlier this week. It involves stripping three inches of pavement off the top, installing a water drainage system below the surface and adding a new three-inch layer of asphalt.

Jurisprudence

The University of Nebraska completed its internal investigation on leading rusher Lawrence Phillips’ relationship with a sports agent, sending its report to NCAA and Big Eight officials.

Associate athletic director Al Papik declined to reveal the contents of the report but said he expects to hear from the NCAA within 10 days.

Since June, Nebraska has been looking into Phillips’ association with agent Steve Feldman of Newport Beach and Feldman’s recruiter, Jack Verner.

Miscellany

Beth Daniel shot a 68 to move alone into first place by two strokes after two rounds of the $450,000 LPGA Ping-Welch’s Championship at Canton, Mass.

Daniel finished the day at 11-under-par 133, while Colleen Walker moved into second with a 68 for 135.