LAS VEGAS — Mark Martin won the Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday when a flat tire sent leader Brad Keselowski into the wall on the final lap.
The race, however, will be remembered for Danica Patrick‘s history-making run.
Patrick placed fourth, the best finish for a woman in a national NASCAR race since Sara Christian was fifth at Pittsburgh in 1949.
“We just had a good car, that’s all I can say,” Patrick said.
Patrick came back from a lap down and worked her way into the top 10, then capitalized when most of the drivers ahead of her had to make late fuel stops.
She improved on her previous career-best finish of 14th, earned at Daytona last month. It’s the 16th race of her NASCAR career.
“I don’t think about trying to achieve the highest finish of a female,” she said. “I think about trying to win the race.”
• Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas won the Grand Prix of Miami in Homestead, Fla., for the second straight year to extend their Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series winning streak to a record five races.
Sabbatini’s in good shape
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Rory Sabbatini had another good round with his new putter, shooting a 4-under-par 66 to take a five- stroke lead at the Honda Classic.
Sabbatini will go into the final round at 9-under 201. Y.E. Yang, the 2009 winner, birdied the last two holes for a 67 and moved into a tie for second with Jerry Kelly (68). Gary Woodland shot a 68 and was fourth, six shots behind.
Sabbatini, who switched to a new putter this week, made birdie putts of 2, 40, 12, 18 and 18 feet. He had the lowest round for the second day in a row after tying the tournament course record with a 64 on Friday.
Bryan brothers are victorious
SANTIAGO, Chile — The U.S. is one victory from a showdown with Spain in the Davis Cup quarterfinals as twins Bob and Mike Bryan put the Americans ahead of Chile 2-1 in the first round by beating the doubles team of Jorge Aguilar and Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Andy Roddick, playing Davis Cup for the first time since 2009, will be in position to clinch the best-of-five series when he faces Paul Capdeville in the first match today. In the second singles, the Americans will send John Isner against Massu.
Footnotes.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been suspended for one game without pay for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season Friday. He will serve the suspension Monday when the Magic is home against Portland.
• The Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent forward Leon Powe.
• Stay Thirsty entered the Triple Crown picture with a 3 1/4-length victory over Norman Asbjornson in the $250,000 Gotham Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct in New York.
• Jonathan Horton finished in the top three in five of six events in Jacksonville, Fla., to win his third American Cup gymnastics title. Jordyn Wieber won the women’s event to give the U.S. a sweep.
