Kenseth Gets Past Doubts, Rivals to Win Subway 400

Matt Kenseth admitted he wasn’t too sure he would ever win again.

A charge from fourth to first late in the race gave Kenseth the victory Sunday in the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham--the second NASCAR victory of his career and first in 60 races.

“It felt like 160 races, like forever,” the 29-year-old driver said after taking the checkered flag for the first time since winning the Coca-Cola 600 in May 2000 at Charlotte.

Kenseth’s Roush Racing Ford was among the fastest cars throughout Sunday’s 393-lap event and his crew, which won the annual pit crew contest at the same track in October in record time, kept him in front of the pack most of the day.

“We were slamming and banging out there and we just got real lucky,” Kenseth said.

The race was completed under yellow when NASCAR officials threw a caution flag for debris with five laps remaining.

Kenseth built leads of more than four seconds after taking the top spot during a stop under caution on Lap 257. He remained in front until pole-winner Rick Craven, who had fallen behind after leading the first 104 laps, regained the lead on Lap 365 by staying on the 1.017-mile oval while the other leaders pitted under the eighth of nine cautions.

Craven, whose tires were 14 laps older than the other leaders, started to give up ground quickly on the rough asphalt surface. Sterling Marlin, Bobby Labonte and Kenseth, all with fresh tires, passed his struggling Ford by Lap 378.

Kenseth pulled into the lead on the first turn of Lap 387 and one lap later the final yellow flag came out because pieces from Robby Gordon’s blown tire littered the track.

Marlin, who finished second, took over the series lead by 18 points over Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, who finished 13th on Sunday. Labonte finished third, followed by Tony Stewart, Craven, Jeff Burton, defending series champion Jeff Gordon and Wallace.

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Del Worsham denied John Force his 100th career victory by winning the Funny Car final in the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway at Chandler, Ariz.

Worsham drove a Pontiac Firebird to a 4.940-second run at 312.86 mph to beat Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, which lost traction at midtrack and finished in 7.749 at 114.25 mph.

Tony Schumacher and Bruce Allen also were winners of the $1.8-million race, the second of 23 events in the $50-million NHRA Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher won the Top Fuel final over Larry Dixon, finishing in 4.946 at 299.40 mph, and Allen beat Warren Johnson in Pro Stock, finishing in 6.904 at 199.02 mph in a Pontiac GrandAm.

Pro Football

Tim Dwight’s playmaking ability impressed the San Diego Chargers so much that they signed the receiver and punt returner to a $15-million, five-year contract even though he’s not a starter.

The contract includes a $5-million signing bonus, and Dwight can make an additional $1 million per season in incentives.

The deal will be announced Tuesday at a news conference, General Manager John Butler said.

Last season, Dwight had 25 catches for 406 yards and returned 24 punts for 271 yards.

Track and Field

Svetlana Feofanova broke the pole vault indoor world record for the fourth time this month, clearing 15 feet 6 inches in the Gaz de France meet at Lievin.

Feofanova added a quarter of an inch to the mark she established two weeks ago.

Stacy Dragila of the United States, the Olympic and world champion, was fourth with a top effort of 14-7.

Feofanova was paid $43,795 for breaking the world record and collected about $17,500 for winning all four events in the Energizer EuroSeries.

The Big Ten men’s track and field indoor championships were called off at Minneapolis, one day after Penn State pole vaulter Kevin Dare died in competition.

Coaches, athletes and fans gathered around the track Sunday afternoon to honor Dare.

Teary-eyed Penn State athletes led the teams in a lap around the track. Some stopped and knelt at the pit where Dare had fallen, and others threw flowers on the spot where he landed.

The women’s championships at Penn State held a moment of silence.

“Today, life is not as good as it was yesterday,” Penn State Coach Harry Groves said to the crowd gathered for the ceremony.

Dare, who was a 19-year-old sophomore, fell during a pole vault attempt Saturday and hit his head. He was treated by emergency medical technicians at the University of Minnesota Field House and transported to Hennepin County Medical Center.

He never regained consciousness, and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Horse Racing

Twenty-two horses died in a barn fire blamed on an electrical problem at a thoroughbred stud farm at Ocala, Fla.

The fire started Saturday evening at Ocala Stud Farm. The 2- and 3-year-old horses didn’t belong to the farm, but were being trained there.

Marion County Fire Rescue Capt. Deborah Karst said the loss, including the value of the horses, was estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million.

Passings

Ohio Northern baseball Coach Herb Strayer, who skipped the team’s trip to Florida last week after being diagnosed with flu, died at his home. He was 61.

The cause of death wasn’t immediately determined.

Strayer was 630-424-6 in 31 years at Ohio Northern, his alma mater, and was the winningest coach in school history.