Dale Earnhardt Jr. snaps his NASCAR winless streak

The No. 3 car went back to Victory Lane at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a car that honored his late father to his first NASCAR victory in more than two years.

Earnhardt, winless in any NASCAR points race since a Sprint Cup victory at Michigan in 2008, took the lead on pit road under caution with 26 laps to go Friday night in the Nationwide Series race. Running a No. 3 Chevrolet with a Wrangler paint scheme to honor his father’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Earnhardt brought his loyal fans to their feet for the final sprint to the checkered flag.

Paul Menard’s wreck with four laps to go put the outcome in jeopardy, and Earnhardt, the leader, decided not to pit under the caution. On old tires, he had to hold off Joey Logano and a slew of Cup regulars for his first Nationwide victory since Michigan in 2006.

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Kevin Harvick, the Sprint Cup points leader, was awarded the pole for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 when rain washed out qualifying at Daytona.

Harvick was one of only 12 drivers who completed qualifying laps before the showers, but the best he would have started the race was ninth. Sam Hornish Jr. turned the fastest lap, but he will start 30th based on owner’s points.

PRO FOOTBALL

Free agent Bly returns to Lions

Former Pro Bowl cornerback Dre’ Bly is returning to the Detroit Lions, who said that the unrestricted free agent had signed a two-year deal. Additional terms weren’t released.

Bly spent four seasons in Detroit after signing as an unrestricted free agent in 2003. He made the Pro Bowl after the 2003 and 2004 seasons before being traded to Denver following the 2006-07 season for two players and a draft pick.

He was released by the Broncos in February 2009 and played 16 games last year with San Francisco.

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A memorial service for Don Coryell has been scheduled for July 12 at San Diego State.

Coryell, the innovative coach whose Air Coryell offense produced some of the most dynamic passing attacks in NFL history, died Thursday. He was 85.

Coryell coached at San Diego State from 1961-72 before coaching the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers.

The memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. at Viejas Arena.

ETC.

U.S. takes softball title again

The United States defeated Japan, 7-0, to win its seventh consecutive world softball championship and get some revenge for the last Olympics.

The U.S. team went undefeated in the tournament at Caracas, Venezuela. Japan, which won gold at the last Olympics, took the silver medal and Canada won bronze.

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Jerime Anderson, a guard on UCLA’s basketball team, underwent surgery to repair a nasal fracture, and incoming freshman guard Tyler Lamb had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.