DEI sweeps front row for race at Daytona

Although Dale Earnhardt Inc. might not be a championship contender, it showed Friday it still can be a force at Daytona International Speedway.

DEI swept the front row in qualifying for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 and ended up with three drivers in the top eight positions.

Paul Menard won the pole when he covered the 2 1/2 -mile superspeedway with a fast lap of 185.916 mph in his Chevrolet, just ahead of teammate Mark Martin (185.870). Rookie Regan Smith was eighth.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified third, followed by Joe Nemechek and Johnny Sauter.

Denny Hamlin held off teammate Kyle Busch to win at Daytona and extend Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Hamlin had a comfortable lead over Busch as they headed toward the white flag, but rookie Colin Braun spun to bring out just the third caution of the race.

NASCAR reset the laps to create a two-lap sprint to the finish. Hamlin got a great jump on the restart and Busch couldn’t challenge him as Hamlin drove his Toyota to his third Nationwide Series victory of the year.

JGR drivers have dominated the series this season -- cars owned by the organization have won 12 times and drivers Hamlin, Busch, Joey Logano and Tony Stewart have combined to win 13 of the 18 series races.

HOCKEY

Jagr signs with Russian team

Jaromir Jagr signed with a Russian league team a day after his split with the New York Rangers, returning to the club he joined during the NHL’s 2004-05 lockout.

Avangard Omsk announced the signing of the 36-year-old winger on its website. Jagr’s agent, Pat Brisson, confirmed the signing in an e-mail.

The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Dan Boyle from Tampa Bay, trading defenseman Matt Carle and top prospect Ty Wishart to the Lightning to acquire their second NHL defensive star in two days.

The Sharks, who received journeyman defenseman Brad Lukowich in the deal, also gave up a first-round pick in 2009 and a fourth-round choice in 2010.

On Thursday, the Sharks signed longtime Kings captain Rob Blake to a one-year, $5-million contract.

SOCCER

Domenech to stay as France’s coach

Raymond Domenech will remain France’s coach despite a first-round exit at last month’s European Championship and will now have a chance to lead the team at the 2010 World Cup.

Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French soccer federation, said he did not want to make a rash decision based on the outcry that followed Euro 2008.

“Domenech’s record is not that bad as coach,” he said.

“It is not catastrophic. He qualified us two straight times for a major competition,” referring to the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.

“I did not want emotion and passion to get the better of reason.”

Escalettes said council members voted 18-0 to keep Domenech, with one abstention.

BASKETBALL

Report: Duhon agrees to deal with Knicks

Chris Duhon verbally agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks, the point guard and his agent told the Sporting News.

“I am just excited, I am ready to get to work for the Knicks,” said Duhon, who averaged 6.9 points and 4.5 assists in four seasons for Chicago.

“It’s a big stage, playing in New York.”

Duhon’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, told the Sporting News that he couldn’t comment on terms of the deal, but the magazine cited an unidentified source in its website report as saying Duhon will get a two-year deal starting at the full mid-level exception.

The mid-level exception will be announced Wednesday, when contracts can officially be signed.

Michael Beasley slightly cracked his sternum in a collision with a teammate earlier this week, yet still could be with the Miami Heat when the team opens summer league play Monday in Orlando.

Beasley, the No. 2 pick in last week’s NBA draft, was originally diagnosed with a chest bruise, and tests further revealed the small sternum fracture.

Daequan Cook won’t be so lucky.

The Heat announced that Cook has separated his left shoulder, meaning he won’t be available for the summer league games. He suffered the injury Thursday night.

BOXING

Garay beats Barashian for WBA crown

Hugo Hernan Garay of Argentina won the vacant World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Yuri Barashian of Ukraine at Buenos Aires. Garay raised his record to 31-3. Barashian dropped to 25-4.