Kellermann-Strauss Forum » second and miss our opportunity

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Chase Elliott became the youngest champion in NASCAR history on Saturday when he wrapped up the Nationwide Series title at Phoenix International Raceway.The 18-year-old rookie is the youngest driver to win a title in any of NASCARs three national series. He broke the mark set by Brian Vickers, who was 20 when he won the Nationwide title in 2003.Elliott, the son of Hall of Fame inductee and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, clinched the title with his fifth-place finish at Phoenix. It moved him 52 points ahead of teammate Regan Smith with only next weeks season-ending race remaining.A high school graduate in May — his mother made him juggle school with his budding racing career — Elliott wasnt even sure hed be racing this time last year. He had no prospects for a full-time ride in any of NASCARs top series, and his deal to drive a Nationwide car for JR Motorsports didnt come together until January,This race a year ago, we had no plans of racing Nationwide this season and was uncertain what our future was going to be, Elliott said. It truly has been a dream come true for me to even be competing this season.Elliotts official celebration will have to wait until next weeks season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but he was greeted near the finish line by his parents and the family proudly posed for photos.They said just enjoy it, Elliott said of his parents. This certainly has not set in for me, by any means. I am going to enjoy every bit of it until the green flag at Daytona (in February). This is a dream come true for me.The Elliotts become the fifth father/son duo to win NASCAR national series championships. The others are Lee Petty and Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett, David Pearson and Larry Pearson, and Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.But this title also made Dale Earnhardt Jr. a champion car owner — something his late father accomplished when Earnhardt Jr. won Nationwide titles in 1998 and 1999 driving for his dad. The championship for JR Motorsports was the first for the organization, which is owned by Earnhardt Jr., his sister, Kelley, and Rick Hendrick.It comes in a season of turnaround for JRM, which has entered full-time entries in the Nationwide Series since 2006 but won just 12 races in its first eight seasons. JRM has nine victories this year, three by Elliott.Brad Keselowski won the race with a pass of Kyle Busch following a restart on the two-lap overtime sprint to the finish. Busch led 187 of the 206 laps but was denied the victory because Keselowski was given the final chance to catch him after a caution with one lap remaining in regulation.It was kind of a shame, he had the race won but the yellow came out, said Keselowski. I could understand if he was upset about that.Busch questioned the need for the caution — it was because Alex Bowman ran out of gas on the track — and wondered if it was thrown to prevent him from winning his eighth win of the season.Its pretty pathetic NASCAR throws these Kyle Busch cautions, its really getting old and aggravating for us in this Nationwide Series, Busch said. Its their prerogative, its their series and they get to do what they want to and I just have to settle for second and miss our opportunity on another owners championship this year.Elliott Sadler was third, followed by Ty Dillon, Elliott and Erik Jones.It was Keselowskis 32nd career Nationwide victory and fifth of the season. The Team Penske entry driven by Keselowski goes into the finale with a 29-point lead over Joe Gibbs Racing in the race for the owners championship. Cheap Wild Jerseys China . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. Cheap Wild Jerseys Authentic . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. http://www.cheapwildjerseys.com/. The Brazilian driver had the second-best time in last months tests at Jerez and said the "good start" could play to his advantage when the season gets underway in Australia in March. Cheap Adidas Wild Jerseys . The team reported the signing on its website Thursday, but said Friday the deal was off in "a mutual parting of the ways that had to do with the language of the contract. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" One day earlier, though, fellow Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri wasnt so sure his home and native land could pull off the win against the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament.DENVER -- Initially inserted into the Colorado Rockies rotation as a stop-gap injury replacement, Jordan Lyles has rapidly become a fixture. Lyles pitched effectively into the eighth inning for his third straight win, Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer, and the Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 Saturday night. "Hes really given us a lift in that rotation," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Lyles. He originally was slated to begin the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs but wound up filling in for Tyler Chatwood after he strained a hamstring late in spring training. "The biggest factor is his two-seamer," Weiss added. "Its something he worked on all spring, his fastball angle and pitching to the bottom of the zone, and you could see those guys beating it into the ground. Hes a mentally tough kid. He competes. He goes after hitters. Hes been great." Lyles (3-0), acquired in December from Houston in exchange for outfielder Dexter Fowler, allowed one unearned run and five hits in seven innings. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save in five chances. "As a visitor, it wasnt fun, knowing youre coming here." Lyles said. "Balls seem to carry a little further here but guys (pitchers) try to keep the ball on the ground and they cant hit it over if they hit the top of the ball. Thats my approach and just try to let our great infield do their job." The Rockies were also helped by a reversed call that produced their first run. The game was delayed briefly a couple of times when a squirrel wandered on and off the field. The animal was eventually corraled by groundskeepers and taken away. Kyle Kendrick (0-2) went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits in a solid outing but could not avoid a seventh straight loss, dating to last Aug. 11. The last Phillies pitcher to have a losing streak of seven games or more was reliever Brad Lidge, who lost eight in a row over 57 appearances from April 18-Sept. 23, 2009. "Made a mistake to Morneau," Kendrick said. "That first run. It was a replay. I guess thats why we have it, but its frustrating when it doesnt go (your way)." Colorado got on the scoreboard when home plate umpire and crew chief Tim Welke ruled Nolan Arenado safe on a bang-bang play at the plate in the third after initially calling him out. Weiss asked Welkee to take another look at the play, and after viewing the replay, the umpire determined that catcher Carlos Ruiz had blocked the plate before he received the throw home in violation of new collision rules instituted this season to better protect catchers and base runners.dddddddddddd Arenado scored from first on D.J. LeMahieus single that rolled through the right-centre gap. The reversal went into the books as a crew chief review rather than a managers challenge. "Its amazing how that one rule changes the game, kind of," Arenado said. "Fortunately enough, it benefited us and I guess when youre on the other side, its probably going to rub you the wrong way a little bit." Carlos Gonzalez opened the fourth with a single and Morneau drove a 1-1 pitch from Kendrick into the right field bleachers above the scoreboard for his third homer of the season to make it 3-0. The Phillies didnt get on the board until the eighth. Lyles gave up a leadoff single to Cody Asche and was relieved by Boone Logan. Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. reached on Logans throwing error, with Asche moving to second. Logan then retired the next three batters, giving up a run on Jimmy Rollins grounder and striking out Chase Utley with Mayberry on second base to end the inning. Philadelphia has only scored three runs in its last four games. "Youre going to go through ruts in the season," Kendrick said. "You want to get out of it as quick as you can. Hopefully tomorrow we can swing it and score some runs. Things can turn quick." NOTES: The Phillies selected the contract of RHP Shawn Camp from Triple A Lehigh Valley, filling the roster spot of RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who was optioned to Lehigh Valley the night before. The Phillies will have to make another roster move when LHP Cole Hamels (left biceps tendinitis) is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list in time to start Wednedays game at Los Angeles. Hamels is one win shy of 100 for his career. ... Rockies OF-INF Michael Cuddyer missed a second straight game with a sore left hamstring. He remains day to day. ... Arenados leadoff single in the third inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games, matching a career best. ... RHP Roberto Hernandez (1-0) is slated to start Sundays series finale for the Phillies against Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (2-0). ' ' '