NASCAR CUP

NASCAR CUP

Elliott wins pole at Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.

Chase Elliott has won the pole for the NASCAR Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen International.

Elliott, the defending race winner, was the fastest Saturday in both rounds of qualifying and beat Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron with a fast lap of 127.297 mph around the 2.45-mile road course.

Kyle Busch qualified third, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson. Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Aric Almirola and Brad Keselowski completed the top 10.

NASCAR XFINITY

Cindric holds off Allmendinger

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.

Austin Cindric won the road course at Watkins Glen in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series on Saturday, holding off veteran AJ Allmendinger in the final two laps.

It was the first series win for the 20-year-old of Penske Racing, and he outran one of the best road racers in NASCAR.

Allmendinger moved out to a big lead with five laps in the 82-lap event, but Cindric, with fresher tires, slowly began closing the gap and was within two car lengths with three laps to go. He closed to the back bumper of the No. 10 Chevy in the inner loop but Allmendinger held his ground.

On Lap 81 Cindric tried again going up through the esses and dogged Allmendinger coming out of the carousel turn, a sweeping left-hander, then made the pass.

FORMULA ONE

Verstappen on pole at Hungarian GP

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Max Verstappen produced a near-perfect lap at the Hungarian Grand Prix to take the first pole position of his Formula One career on Saturday.

The Red Bull driver set a track record with 1 minute, 14.958 seconds and then beat it again with 1:14.572.

It was another boost for the 21-year-old Verstappen, who has won two of the past three races.

Valtteri Bottas qualified in second place.

Associated Press