Auto racing | Roundup

NASCAR CUP

Daniel Suarez claims pole at Kentucky

SPARTA, Ky.

Daniel Suarez couldn’t wait to see what strong practice sessions would yield during provisional qualifying at Kentucky Speedway.

His confidence culminated in a front row sweep for Stewart-Haas Racing. The field will not be finalized until cars pass inspection prior to Saturday night’s race.

Suarez turned a lap at 184.590 mph in his SHR Ford to nab the top starting spot. If it stands after inspection, it will be Suarez’s second pole in 91 career starts. He bumped teammate Aric Almirola to the outside front row in Friday qualifying.

The 2016 Xfinity Series champion and first NASCAR champion from Mexico has made seven top-10 starts in 18 races this season, most recently fifth in last month’s road course race at Sonoma, Calif.

More important is earning his first career Cup victory, especially after three runs of 17th or worse — including 40th on Sunday at Daytona following an accident.

Three-time Kentucky winner Brad Keselowski completed a top-three sweep for Ford by qualifying third.

NASCAR XFINITY

Cole Custer wins race at Kentucky Speedway

SPARTA, Ky.

Cole Custer grabbed an Xfinity Series- high fifth victory of the season Friday night with a win over Christopher Bell at Kentucky Speedway.

Custer, Bell and reigning series champion Tyler Reddick have dominated the series all year and finished 1-2-3 at Kentucky. Bell, who has four wins this season, won the first two stages and led 72 laps. Reddick, the series points leader and a three-time winner this season, didn’t lead a lap.

It was Custer who dominated by leading 88 of the 200 laps in a Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. He took the lead for the final time on lap 155 and beat Bell by 1.651 seconds.

Michael Annett and Chase Briscoe completed the top five.

FORMULA ONE

Bottas edges Hamilton in British GP practice

SILVERSTONE, England

Mercedes dominated second practice for the British Grand Prix with Valtteri Bottas outpacing Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas completed a Silverstone lap 0.069 seconds faster than Hamilton on Friday.

Next were the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, who topped the timesheets in first practice, dropped to fifth in the afternoon.

In the morning, Romain Grosjean crashed his Haas in the pit lane, spinning out of control and losing his front wing.

Associated Press