Concord, n.c.
Kevin Harvick is probably just anxious to get back on the track.
Busch took the pole on Thursday night for the Coca-Cola-Cola 600 on Sunday, while NASCAR Cup Series points leader Harvick will begin in the rear. Busch has never won a Cup points race in his previous 28 starts at Charlotte, although he did win an All-Star race here.
“We have had some really good runs here in the past, but we just haven’t been able to close the deal,” Busch said, referring to his 11 top-five finishes.
Busch won his 30th career pole for NASCAR’s longest race by turning a lap of 191.836 mph at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Joey Logano will start alongside Busch on the front row.
But the big surprise was Harvick, who never got on the track after failing pre-race inspection three times. Car chief Robert Smith was ejected, and Harvick will have to sit out the first 30 minutes of practice on Saturday.
Harvick has been dominant this season, winning five Cup races — including the last two — and the $1 million exhibition All-Star race Saturday.
Na Chips to Lead
Fort Worth, Texas
After Na’s tee shot at the 399-yard ninth hole went into the rough to the right, his approach flew over the green and settled against a temporary grandstand. His relief was a drop into more rough, but after the chip to the green, the ball rolled over a ridge, started to curl and caught the right edge of the cup before falling to end his round.
That put him one stroke ahead of Charley Hoffman, who also was bogey-free when shooting a 63 in the morning round.
Jhonattan Vegas, Emiliano Grillo, Andrew Putnam and Beau Hossler shot 64.
Jack Johnson Pardoned
Washington
Trump said Johnson had served 10 months in prison for what many view as a racially-motivated injustice and described his decision as an effort “to correct a wrong in our history.”
Johnson was convicted in 1913 by an all-white jury for violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for “immoral” purposes, for traveling with his white girlfriend.
Johnson is a legendary figure in boxing and crossed over into popular culture decades ago with biographies, dramas and documentaries following the civil rights era. He died in 1946.
Justify Gallops, Preps
Louisville, Ky.
Back at work since returning from last weekend’s muddy half-length victory over Bravazo in the Preakness, the unbeaten chestnut colt galloped 1⅜ miles under a clear sky on a dry, fast surface on Thursday morning. Justify won the Kentucky Derby under sloppy conditions here on May 5. Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, said the horse “really seemed to enjoy it” this time.
Justify aims to follow muddy wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with a Belmont victory on June 9 to become the 13th Triple Crown champion and the first since American Pharoah in 2015. Baffert has trained both colts and has guided Justify to a 5-0 start as a 3-year-old.
Baffert is expected to return to Louisville early next week. He’ll see a horse that looked none the worse for wear after winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown in sloppy conditions.
Mexico-US Set Friendly
Chicago
The match announced Thursday will be the first for Mexico on a FIFA date following the World Cup.
The U.S. will not be at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and a new coach could be in place by September.
Bruce Arena quit after the Americans failed to qualify, and former Arena assistant Dave Sarachan is the interim coach.
The Americans play Bolivia on Monday at Chester, Pennsylvania, are at Ireland on June 2 and France on June 9. They have a Nov. 20 match at Italy that has not yet been finalized.