Harvick takes race, Chase
Kevin Harvick claimed his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by winning the seasonending race Sunday in Homestead, Florida.
Under the new Chase for the Sprint Cup format, only four drivers — Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman — entered the race with a chance to win the series title. The driver who finished highest would prevail.
That turned out to be Harvick, who used several cautions down the stretch to pick his way through the field and capped his first season with Stewart- Haas Racing with a championship.
‘‘ I’m just really excited,’’ Harvick said. ‘‘ It’s really special for everybody.’’
Newman finished second, Hamlin seventh and Logano 16th.
HOCKEY
Howe in ailing health
The family of NHL legend Gordie Howe, 86, said his condition ‘‘ has taken a turn for the worse’’ after he suffered another stroke recently.
Son Mark Howe said his father’s most recent stroke occurred about a week ago in Lubbock, Texas, where he is staying with his daughter. He was at her home last month when an initial stroke caused some impairment.
Mark Howe said the family is concentrating on making his father as comfortable and pain- free as possible.
MISCELLANEOUS
Djokovic wins in walk over
Novak Djokovic won the season- ending ATP Tour World Finals in London for the third consecutive year when Roger Federer didn’t take the court for the title match because of a back injury he suffered during his semifinal victory Saturday against Stan Wawrinka.
Zach Auguste scored 20 points, Jerian Grant added 17 points and 10 assists and Notre Dame ( 2- 0) used runs of 11- 0, 7- 0, 10- 3 and 19- 2 on its way to a 92- 53 rout of Navy ( 0- 2) in South Bend, Indiana.
Charley Hoffman closed with a 5- under- par 66 to earn a one- stroke victory over Shawn Stefani in the OHL Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Hoffman completed 72 holes at 17- under 267.
Henrik Kristoffersen won the World Cup men’s slalom opener with a tworun time of 1 minute, 50.39 seconds in Levi, Finland. U. S. star Ted Ligety finished 18th.