AVONDALE, Ariz. — Polesitter Kyle Busch dominated early and held off Carl Edwards late for the Nationwide Series’ first wire-to-wire win in seven years on Saturday, setting up the chance for a perfect weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
Busch had the race in a walkover until Edwards made several charges late, pulling beside him three times in the final 20 laps.
“It came down to the end of the race and Carl was alongside of me, and we were racing really hard trying to beat each other, and I was like, ‘Man, just beat him back to the start-finish line, man, just beat back to the start-finish line,’ ” Busch said.
Busch never let Edwards get around, leading a record 200 laps on the bumpy mile oval to become the first green-to-checkers Nationwide winner since Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Darlington in 2004.
• Edwards had the fastest lap ever at Phoenix International Raceway, setting a track record to earn the pole and a chance to win two straight Sprint Cup races in the desert.
Edwards, coming off a second-place finish at the Daytona 500, ran a lap of 137.279 mph to barely edge Kurt Busch on the final qualifying session.
Kasey Kahne qualified third and Kyle Busch will start next to him for today’s 500-mile race.
• Larry Dixon put together a record pass of 3.770 seconds at 324.98 mph to take the top qualifying spot in top fuel at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.
Cruz Pedregon (funny car) and Erica Enders (pro stock) were also top qualifiers.
Kaymer in Match Play final
MARANA, Ariz. — Martin Kaymer reached the Match Play Championship final to ensure he will be No. 1 in the next world ranking.
Kaymer edged Bubba Watson 1-up and will face Luke Donald in the 18-hole final today. Donald beat Ryan Moore, 5 and 4, and Matt Kuchar 6 and 5.
• Japan’s Chie Arimura shot a 1-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Australia’s Karrie Webb after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
• Johnson Wagner shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Chris Stroud after the third round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Djokovic beats Federer
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 for his third straight Dubai Championships title.
• Vera Zvonareva defeated top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4 to win the Qatar Ladies Open final.
Footnotes.
Bryan McCabe was traded to the New York Rangers by the Florida Panthers for Tim Kennedy.
• The Washington Capitals have claimed forward Marco Sturm off waivers from the L.A. Kings.
• The Boston Bruins signed Shane Hnidy to a one-year deal.
• Soldat won the $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla.
• Georgia football coach Mark Richt has reinstated running back Washaun Ealey.
