Newman Gets His Fifth Win

Ryan Newman earned his NASCAR Winston Cup Series-leading fifth victory of the year, stretching his final tank of gas for 52 laps on the two-mile oval at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday to win the GFS Marketplace 400.

Kurt Busch, who didn’t have enough fuel, came up a lap short and finished 18th and shortly afterward was involved in an altercation with Jimmy Spencer.

Most of the leaders pitted during a caution period on the 149th lap of the 200-lap race, and Busch and Dale Jarrett came back onto the track behind only Spencer, who stayed out.

Busch easily passed Spencer for the lead on the restart on lap 150. Jarrett moved to second the next time around and took the lead from Busch on lap 152.

But Busch wouldn’t let Jarrett get away, finally passing him again for the top spot on lap 157. He stayed there nearly to the end, building leads of up to 3.3 seconds before Jarrett was forced to pit on lap 188, giving Newman the second spot.

Newman was 3.2 seconds behind in his Dodge when he moved into second, but quickly gained on Busch, moving up to the rear bumper of his Ford on lap 197 and charging past him on lap 198 after a short side-by-side battle.

On lap 199, Busch slowed and drove onto pit lane for gas. Newman easily held on to beat Kevin Harvick, who made his last stop on lap 149 in his Chevrolet, to the finish line by 1.652 seconds -- about 10 car lengths. He averaged 127.310 mph.

As the drivers came into the garage area following the checkered flag, Spencer drove his Dodge into the rear of Busch’s car and spun it around.

Witnesses said Spencer then got out of his car, raced up to Busch’s car and punched Busch several times in the face. Sheriff’s deputies pulled Spencer away and took him to the NASCAR trailer.

The witnesses said Busch was holding a bloody towel to his face when he entered the track medical facility. A Lenawee County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman confirmed that his department was investigating assault charges against Spencer, who finished 26th.

*

Sam Hornish Jr. set Indy Racing League records for average speed and career wins in a dominating victory at the Belterra Casino Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

Hornish, the two-time defending IRL IndyCar Series champion, averaged 197.897 mph, shattering the series speed record of 180.917 mph, set by Alex Barron on July 27 at Michigan International Speedway.

The CART series speed record is 197.995 mph, set by Jimmy Vasser at California Speedway in Fontana on Nov. 3, 2002.

Hornish’s win in a Pennzoil Panther Racing Chevrolet was his ninth in an IndyCar Series race. No driver has won more than eight series races.

*

Doug Kalitta beat Tony Schumacher in the top fuel final of the NHRA Rugger Liner Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., International Raceway.

Kalitta and Schumacher ran identical times of 4.698, but Kalitta’s .044 reaction time, compared with Schumacher’s .057, was enough for the victory. Kalitta’s speed of 311.20 mph also topped Schumacher’s 304.19.