Bell captures Blaney Memorial

Bell captures Blaney Memorial

Hartford

Christopher Bell became the ninth different Lou Blaney Memorial Sprint Car winner on Saturday at Sharon Speedway.

Bell’s impressive week also saw him win a pair of USAC National Midget Car events in Illinois. He captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event win on Thursday in Kentucky, and followed it up with his second career All Star victory on Saturday night.

Making his season debut, Jeremiah Shingledecker ended a near four-year winless drought at Sharon Speedway after a wire-to-wire win in the 30-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modified feature.

Sharon Speedway will be idle until July 20 for the Super DIRTcar Series for the Big-Block Modifieds in the “Buckeye Ground-Pounder 100.”

Sinusitis forces Nunes to drop out

UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes blamed chronic sinusitis for her decision to drop out of her title defense at UFC 213 with just a few hours’ notice.

Nunes revealed her condition in postings Sunday on Twitter and Instagram. Nunes made a trip to the hospital on Saturday and decided not to fight later that night, infuriating the UFC and opponent Valentina Shevchenko.

Nunes, who beat Ronda Rousey in her last bout, said she felt out of breath during her weight cut. She also “felt off balance from the pressure in my sinuses. I was not feeling well enough to risk getting punched in the head with such pressure.”

“I have never pulled out of a fight before,” Nunes wrote. “I am sorry to all my fans that came out to see me. I’ll make it up to you the next time I step in the cage.”

UFC President Dana White and Shevchenko sharply criticized Nunes for her decision, which forced the promotion to scrap the main event of its pay-per-view show. Shevchenko ripped Nunes for attempting a drastic weight cut, making her more susceptible to illness and many other health problems.

“You can’t just say, ‘I don’t want to fight,”’ Shevchenko said.

76ers’ Fultz sprains ankle, will sit out

LAS VEGAS

No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz will miss the rest of the NBA summer league because of a sprained left ankle.

The Philadelphia 76ers say Fultz is expected to return to basketball activities in one to two weeks. Fultz tweeted Sunday: “I’m ok, thank you for all who where worried!”

Fultz appeared to roll his ankle in Saturday night’s game and was helped to the locker room by two teammates.

He had just signed his contract earlier in the day and was taken for X-rays. The former Washington star had eight points in 15 minutes.

Bosh thanks Miami fans for support

MIAMI

Chris Bosh has written an open letter to Miami, thanking the city for supporting him for the past seven years.

Bosh published the letter on Sunday, without any mention of his current health or plans for his future. He was waived by the Heat last week, and hasn’t been able to play in an NBA game since February 2016.

Bosh’s career has been interrupted by blood clots; one shut him down at the All-Star break in the 2014-15 season, another shut him down at the All-Star break again a year later. He failed his preseason physical with the Heat last September and missed all of last season, and it is unclear if he will pursue a return to the court elsewhere.

Under league rules , he cannot play for the Heat again.

Griner leads Mercury past Liberty

PHOENIX

Brittney Griner had 31 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots to help the Phoenix Mercury beat the New York Liberty 81-69 on Sunday.

Diana Taurasi added 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers for the Mercury (10-6), who have won three straight.

Staff/wire report