Blaney among winners at Sharon Speedway

Blaney among winners at Sharon Speedway

Hartford

The Menards “Super Series” event on Armed Forces Night presented by Kams Electric saw Dave Blaney (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply “410” Sprint Cars), Curt J. Bish (Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars), Eric Wilson (Elite Series for the Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods) and Chas Wolbert (HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds) earn wins Saturday night at Sharon Speedway.

Tony Tatgenhorst won RUSH’s “Wheelman” Non-Winners race.

Special Olympians place at state meet

COLUMBUS

Special Olympian Brandon Macias finished second while Tammy Helmuth was second and Jenn Mikovich fourth in their respective 100-meter walks at the State Summer Games Sunday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University.

Other Special Olympians who placed were: Fred Beshara, second, 200-meter walk; Owen Botzemhart, fourth, 200-meter walk; Bob Monoski, fifth, 200-meter walk; Mark Saraceno, fourth; 100-meter dash; Renaldo Matos, 100-meter dash; Lakeisha Stanley, third, softball toss; Tammy Helmuth, fourth, softball toss; and Takeisha Jackson, fourth, softball toss.

Lillard staying put; Durant picks Nets

Damian Lillard wasn’t a top-five pick. Tobias Harris wasn’t a lottery pick. Khris Middleton wasn’t even a first-rounder.

Their bank balances won’t know the difference soon.

Free agency opened Sunday with nearly $2 billion in deals getting struck in the opening hours — and that’s even without Kyrie Irving officially joining Brooklyn, as has been expected, or any word from Kawhi Leonard about his future plans to either stay with NBA champion Toronto or move elsewhere.

Lillard agreed to a $196 million, four-year extension with Portland that will kick in for the 2021-22 season. Harris is staying in Philadelphia for $180 million over the next five years and Middleton gave Milwaukee a bit of a discount in agreeing to a $178 million, five-year deal — $12 million shy of what he could have commanded.

Even injuries couldn’t derail the spending.

Kevin Durant announced that he’s leaving Golden State and joining Brooklyn on a $164 million, four-year deal — even though he’ll miss next season with an Achilles injury and could have gotten $221 million for five years from the Warriors. And Kristaps Porzingis, who hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since Feb. 6, 2018 because of a knee injury, will sign a $158 million, five-year contract to stay with Dallas.

Stricker cruises to Senior Open win

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Steve Stricker made his U.S. Senior Open debut one for the record book.

Stricker birdied the opening hole Sunday and never was threatened on his way to a 1-under 69 for a six-shot victory. He finished at 19-under 261 on the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, breaking by three shots the U.S. Senior Open record set two years ago by Kenny Perry at Salem Country Club.

The 52-year-old Stricker, who still spends half of his time on the PGA Tour, won a PGA Tour Champions major for the second time this year. He also won by six shots at the Regions Tradition in May in Alabama.

Jerry Kelly, who beat Stricker in a playoff last week in Wisconsin in the event Stricker hosts, shot a 69 and tied for second with defending champion David Toms, who had a 68.

The victory gets Stricker into the U.S. Open next year at Winged Foot, where he tied for sixth in the 2006 U.S. Open, a key moment in resurrecting his career.

Stricker led by at least five shots during the final round. Kelly only had hope briefly on the par-4 10th hole when he made birdie and Stricker made bogey. Two holes later, Stricker chipped in for birdie on the par-3 12th and the lead was back to six shots with six to play.

Lashley captures Rocket victory

DETROIT

Nate Lashley completed an unlikely wire-to-wire victory in the Rocket Mortgage Classic for his first PGA Tour title.

Lashley closed with a 2-under 70 to finish at 25-under 263 and win by six shots, the margin he took into the final round. Even without much drama at Detroit Golf Club, his victory was no less amazing considering what the 36-year-old Lashley has overcome.

His parents and girlfriend were killed in a plane crash 15 years ago on their way home from watching him play a college tournament. Lashley dabbled in real estate after graduating from Arizona, quit playing professional golf several years ago and resumed playing in the PGA Tour’s minor leagues.

“Without my parents, I wouldn’t have started playing golf when I was little,” Lashley said. “They did everything to help me have a career.”

Staff/wire report