Marlin’s Big Gamble Pays Off in Big Way

On a day of thunder at Daytona International Speedway, Sterling Marlin overcame ignition trouble and won a gamble that gave him the rain-shortened Pepsi 400 Saturday at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Rain stopped the race on the 118th of 160 laps with Marlin in the lead, and when the storm prevented a restart, he became the winner.

Marlin’s Chevrolet was clearly the fastest car, and he led for much of the early going before dropping to 16th when his ignition shorted out on the 66th lap. He switched to a backup ignition and slowly worked his way through the pack, regaining the lead for good on the 87th lap.

With Marlin’s crew anticipating the rain, he stayed on the track when many drivers pitted on the 102nd lap.

Terry Labonte finished second and pole-sitter and defending champion Jeff Gordon, who lost the lead to Marlin on the first lap, finished third.

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Hermie Sadler won the pole with a record speed of 118.320 mph for today’s Sears 250 at Milwaukee. Sadler’s time broke the qualifying record of 115.407 mph set by David Green in 1994. He will be joined on the front row by Jason Keller, who clocked 117.770 mph.

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Jack Sprague passed Mike Skinner on the 178th lap to win the Sears 200 truck race for his second consecutive title at Milwaukee.

Boxing

Steve Collins held on to his World Boxing Organization super-middleweight title when challenger Nigel Benn twisted his ankle throwing a big punch in the fourth round and couldn’t continue at Manchester, England.

Benn tried to go on but was virtually immobilized by the injury and turned away with Collins throwing punches at his head without getting any in reply.

In an undercard fight, Italy’s Vincenzo Nardiello beat Thulane “Sugar Boy” Malinga in his first defense as World Boxing Council super-middleweight champion with a 12-round split decision.

Luisto Espinosa of the Philippines successfully defended his World Boxing Council featherweight title by winning a unanimous decision over No. 1 challenger Cesar Soto of Mexico in Manila.

Pro Football

Quarterback Jim Harbaugh, designated as the franchise player of the Colts, agreed to a one-year deal worth more $4 million.

“After I signed my contract, I went and had my physical and the doctors couldn’t figure why they couldn’t get the smile off my face,” said Harbaugh, who earned $850,000 last year when he went to the Pro Bowl for the first time after starting the season as a backup to Craig Erickson.

The Colts, the first NFL team to open training camp, also waived receiver Flipper Anderson, who played in only two games last season after sustaining a knee injury. Anderson signed a two-year contract worth about $4 million last year, but he tore ligaments in his left knee in the second game of the season. He had eight receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

Pro Hockey

The San Jose Sharks have offered a two-year, $14 million contract to Wayne Gretzky, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Trent Yawney, an unrestricted free-agent defenseman who spent the last five seasons with the Calgary Flames, signed a multiyear deal with the St. Louis Blues.

Jeff Beukeboom re-signed with the New York Rangers after turning down an offer from the St. Louis Blues. He will make a reported $8.5 million over four years.

Miscellany

Greg Walker and Greg Lewis made good on their frustration on missing the U.S. Olympic team by rallying with 100 meters to go to beat Germany’s Jens Bulow and 1994 world singles champion Marko Schwalbe and reach the Henley Royal Regatta final at England.

Edward “Bud” Chandler, who led California to its first and only NCAA tennis team championship in 1925, died at 90 in Orinda.