Harvick Continues His Busch Series Domination

Kevin Harvick’s dominance in NASCAR’s Busch Series has been so pronounced all season that even his racing competitors are starting to concede.

“They ought to just give him the trophy now,” Greg Biffle said Friday night after Harvick won for the sixth time this season and the third straight time at Richmond, Va.

Harvick led five times for 154 laps and will leave Richmond International Raceway with a 619-point lead over Carl Edwards and only seven races left on the schedule.

The lead is three more than the biggest season-ending point margin in series history, achieved when Jeff Green won the 2000 title by 616 points over Jason Keller.

The victory in the Emerson 250 was the 23rd of Harvick’s Busch career, fourth all-time, and the fourth of his career on the .75-mile, D-shaped oval. It also gave him 25 top-10 finishes in 28 Busch races this season -- almost unprecedented consistency.

Harvick went ahead to stay when he passed Scott Wimmer with 59 laps to go, but in a race that had a record-tying 14 cautions, he never needed long to show that his Chevrolet was the class of the field. The cautions consumed 66 laps. Biffle finished second, .925 of a second behind, and Matt Kenseth was third.

Rookie Denny Hamlin won the pole for tonight’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond, Va. He had a fast lap of 127.986 mph in a Chevrolet.

Hamlin is one of eight drivers battling for the seven remaining spots in the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, a 10-race showdown that begins next week at Loudon, N.H.

Right behind Hamlin were Jeff Burton, currently holding the 10th and final spot in the Chase, at 127.805, and Jeff Gordon, fourth in the standings, at 127.690.

Mark Martin was fourth and Harvick fifth as Chase contenders took the first five spots.

JURISPRUDENCE

Evaluation Shows Clarett

Competent to Stand Trial

A mental health evaluation of former Ohio State football standout Maurice Clarett found he is competent to stand trial on robbery charges, his attorney said.

A judge had ordered Clarett to be examined after his Aug. 9 arrest after a highway chase and violent struggle with police, who found four loaded guns in his sport utility vehicle.

Prosecutors told Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Fais at a hearing in Columbus, Ohio, in Clarett’s robbery case that they had read the psychological evaluation and agreed to have it entered as an exhibit in the trial. Fais said the findings will not be released until presented at trial.

Clarett, 22, is accused of robbing two people of a cellphone outside a Columbus bar early New Year’s Day. He has pleaded not guilty.

SOCCER

Midfielder Miglioranzi

Signs With Galaxy

The Galaxy signed Stefani Miglioranzi, a defender-midfielder who played for Swindon Town FC of England’s first division the past four seasons. Terms were not disclosed.

The 28-year-old Miglioranzi was chosen by the Chicago Fire in the third round of the 1999 Major League Soccer draft, but instead signed with Portsmouth FC of England’s first division.

After being plagued by injuries with Portsmouth, the Brazilian-born Miglioranzi signed with Swindon Town in 2002. He scored nine goals in 134 games with Swindon Town.

“Stefani is a strong player who adds depth and quality to our squad,” Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop said. “He is an experienced player who we hope will help us as we enter the stretch run of our season.”

Miglioranzi will be available to the Galaxy when it plays host to the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

PRO BASKETBALL

Injured Gasol Will

Sit Out Four Months

Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol will be sidelined for four months after surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot.

Gasol is scheduled to leave for his native Spain on Monday for a two-week trip and begin rehabilitation upon returning to Memphis, the Grizzlies said.

Gasol broke the bone last week while playing for Spain during the world championships in Japan.

The Denver Nuggets re-signed forward Reggie Evans to a multiyear contract. Terms were not released.

The 26-year-old Evans averaged 5.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 23.3 minutes in 26 games with the Nuggets. The Nuggets acquired him from Seattle in a four-team trade on Feb. 23.

EXTREME SPORTS

Bestwick Earns

BMX Vert Title

Jamie Bestwick of Britain won the BMX Vert title in the second day of competition at the Dew Action Sports Tour’s fourth stop, the Toyota Challenge at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Bestwick, who earned the 2005 Dew Cup in BMX Vert, scored 95.75 on his first run to clinch the victory.

Chad Kagy of Gilroy, and Simon Tabron of Britain both scored a 92.75. Through a tie-breaker, Kagy finished in second because he scored better on his second run with an 88.00 to Tabron’s 85.00.