Truex Jr. win creates chaos among playoff point leaders

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kyle Busch is slowly coughing away his championship chances and Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are fighting — again.

Chase Elliott has fast cars but awful luck, while Kevin Harvick has barely made a whisper in the playoffs. Ryan Blaney continues to rise on NASCAR’s biggest stage and Kyle Larson escaped Martinsville Speedway, his worst track in this third round of the playoffs, as best he could.

It was a lot of drama despite a snoozer of a Sunday on NASCAR’s shortest track.

Martin Truex Jr. led 464 of the 500 laps to collect his series-best seventh win of the season. This one locked him into the final four and the right to race for the championship next month, something Truex fully believed possible when he and crew chief Cole Pearn needed a new home after Furniture Row Racing closed after last year’s season finale.

The move inside Joe Gibbs Racing has been tremendously successful, even if Truex and the No. 19 team have been overshadowed by everything, specifically teammates Busch and Hamlin.

“I wouldn’t have went (to JGR) if I didn’t think I could win a championship,” Truex said. “I would have retired.”

Give Truex and Pearn some credit for the clinic they put on at Martinsville, where the combination of NASCAR’s new rules package and the Goodyear tire selection resulted in lousy racing in which one car can run away with the race. There were three total lead changes and a clear difficulty for drivers to pass, which sapped any on-track excitement from the opening race of the round of eight. But the frustration was boiling through the field for 500 laps and it exploded with a postrace, pit road fracas in which Hamlin was hurled to the ground by a member of Logano’s crew.

Logano was upset that Hamlin had squeezed him into the wall during the third stage of the race and the incident led to a cut tire that contributed to the reigning champion’s eighth-place finish. Logano won at Martinsville last year to spark his upset championship victory three weeks later.

Admittedly unsatisfied with Hamlin’s response, Logano smacked Hamlin on the shoulder and turned to walk away. Hamlin took exception and chased after Logano, who was aggressively shielded by everyone at Team Penske ranging from his crew chief to his publicist and an overzealous crew member who horse-collared Hamlin to the ground in a brief, chaotic scrum. A day later, NASCAR suspended Dave Nichols Jr., the tire technician who knocked down Hamlin, for this weekend’s race at Texas.

Martinsville’s half-mile layout makes it a tight little track and the fans were close enough to see all this unfold right in front of them. Hamlin, a Virginia native and five-time Martinsville winner, played to the fans when he mocked Logano with an impersonation during his postrace interview shown on the big screen that brought the crowd to its feet.

He loved every minute of it, even though he finished fourth and it was his teammate now locked into the finale at Homestead. Hamlin doesn’t seem to have a care in the world right now.

Busch’s magical season has fallen apart and his title chances are slipping away. He finished 14th at Martinsville, lowest of the title contenders aside from Elliott, who was 36th with a mechanical failure. Busch has not won a Cup Series race since June 2 at Pocono and he has been all over the map in what has to be an exasperating playoffs for the ultra-competitive driver.

On the surface, Busch has appeared cranky for weeks. In reality, he is just being unpleasantly honest about his view on NASCAR’s new rules and belief that the best team probably won’t win the championship.

Gibbs is in a difficult spot: One of his drivers is locked into the final four, but two others still need a spot and he knows something is off right now with Busch. It’s impossible to deny after a weekend in which Todd Gilliland, winner of his first career Truck Series race driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, used an expletive when he radioed for Busch to stay in his motorhome rather than come to victory lane. And that was a day before Busch was a pingpong ball all over the track at Martinsville; after tangling with him, Aric Almirola vowed to make the final three races “hell” for Busch.

Busch would race everything every weekend if he could, but NASCAR rules have limited him to seven races in the Xfinity Series and five in his trucks. He won all five Truck Series races he entered and four of seven in Xfinity.

“You want me to evaluate Kyle’s makeup or what?” Gibbs said Sunday about his mercurial talent. “One thing is for sure, I’m not sure we can analyze that, OK? I would say this to you: Think about his whole life. He’s got (wife) Sam and (son) Brexton, but other than that, it’s racing. And when something goes bad in racing for him, think about how important that is, and it upsets him. Normally the next day he’s a lot better at the race shop and everything, but I think this has been a tough stretch for him.”

For such a boring race, the playoff contenders were scrapping for every point on every lap as the tension has hit heights not seen in years in NASCAR. Truex, so comfortable and confident, afterward couldn’t even describe it.

 

“It’s hard to explain. It’s hard to feel what guys are putting on the line and how hard they’re driving their cars,” he said. “I just feel like every year I’ve been in this playoff format it’s gotten more difficult. It just seems like every year, somehow people turn up the intensity even more, and I don’t know how that’s possible. There’s a lot more on the line.”

Westbrook leads Houston past OKC in first matchup against former team

HOUSTON (AP) — After Russell Westbrook helped the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night in his first meeting against his former team he insisted there weren’t different emotions in facing the guys he played with for so long.

“When I hoop I have no friends,” he said. “On the court they know not to talk to me.”

But as soon as Westbrook finished saying that, he walked right down the hall and bounded into the visitor’s locker room for a reunion with his former teammates.

James Harden scored 40 points and Westbrook scored 21 and fell an assist shy of a triple-double as the Rockets got the 116-112 win.

Some players seemed taken aback to see Westbrook in their locker room and a confused Dennis Schroder asked him what he was doing in there.

Westbrook smiled and said: “Same thing I’ve been doing, coming to check on my homies.”

A 3-pointer by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 19 seconds left got Oklahoma City within 3. Westbrook made 1 of 2 free throws before fouling Nerlens Noel, who made both free throws.

But Harden, who was 21 of 22 from the line, made four free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

It was the first game between these teams since a blockbuster summer trade reunited Westbrook with Harden and sent Chris Paul to Oklahoma City after the nine-time All-Star failed to help the Rockets to a title in two seasons in Houston.

Just before tipoff, Westbrook approached the Thunder bench and hugged coach Billy Donovan before slapping hands and greeting virtually every player on the bench. Westbrook spent the first 11 years of his career in Oklahoma City where he was the face of the franchise before moving to Houston in the deal the Rockets hope will help bring them their first title since 1995.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points and Schroder added 22 points to lead the Thunder, who fell to 1-3.

Houston used a 39-point third quarter to take an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter.

“We picked up our defensive intensity,” Harden said. “That’s going to be what gets us over the top, what gets us where we want to go. We got a little lackadaisical in the first half. Second half we picked it up and look at the results.”

The Rockets opened the third quarter with a 17-4 run to erase a 10-point halftime deficit and take a 69-66 lead with about seven minutes left in the quarter. A 3-pointer by Tucker put Houston on top and Westbrook punctuated the run with a dunk before screaming and flexing as he passed the Thunder bench.

PAUL HONORED

The Rockets honored Paul with a video tribute that recounted some of his Houston highlights during a timeout in the first quarter. Paul got a huge ovation at the end of the video and smiled and waved to the crowd when he was shown on the Jumbotron.

“Extremely grateful,” he said of the tribute. “The fans here were always great to me and my family … some of the people here became like family to me and I try to stay in touch with those who were as genuine as could be.”

TIP-INS

Thunder: Steven Adams went to the locker room in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. He has a bruised left knee. … Oklahoma City made 13 of 35 3-pointers. … The Thunder attempted just two more free throws than Harden did alone.

Rockets: G/F Gerald Green, who has been out since Oct. 10, had surgery on Monday to repair a broken bone in his left foot and is expected to be out about six months. … Tucker finished with 17 points.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host Portland on Wednesday night.

Rockets: Visit Washington on Wednesday night to start a four-game road trip.

Chiefs hopeful for Mahomes to return this Sunday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are hopeful that Patrick Mahomes will be able to play next week against Minnesota, especially having practiced on a limited basis just days after dislocating his kneecap.

Hope is not lost if the reigning league MVP misses a second consecutive game.

Fill-in quarterback Matt Moore and the Kansas City defense showed in a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night that they can keep the Chiefs’ season afloat until their biggest star makes his return to the field. Moore threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns without an interception while Kansas City’s defense pressured Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throughout the night.

“I thought we played really well on the back end,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “Guys up front did a good job getting to the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers — he’s going to make some plays. But we felt like we left some plays out there tonight.”

Packers running back Aaron Jones still caught nearly 160 yards in passes and went for two TDs, and Rodgers still made enough throws to lead the Packers to the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

But it wasn’t as if the Chiefs rolled over just because Mahomes was on the sideline.

That should give them a boost of confidence with the Vikings coming to town.

“There’s always going to be something in every game. It’s never as good as you think and it’s never as bad as you think,” Moore said. “We’ll look at it and see what we need to do moving forward.”

The Chiefs (5-3) have lost three straight games at Arrowhead Stadium, a surprising slide given the way their fans provide a raucous home field atmosphere. But they are still in control of their AFC West title hopes, and that means they still have plenty to play for this season.

Especially if Moore and their defense can hold the fort until reinforcements arrive.

Yes, getting Mahomes back will be a huge boon to the Kansas City offense. But so would the return of left tackle Eric Fisher (groin) and left guard Andrew Wylie (ankle), just as the return of defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin) and defensive end Frank Clark (neck) would help out that side of the ball.

“We’ve got to get the numbers back,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Get a few guys healthy here.”

 

WHAT’S WORKING

The secondary, already without slot corner Kendall Fuller, lost cornerback Bashaud Breeland for a period because of a sternum injury. He returned later in the game. But with its numbers depleted, the defensive backfield still fared well against Rodgers and Co. throughout the game.

 

WHAT NEEDS HELP

The Chiefs’ pass catchers could use some stickier gloves. Sammy Watkins dropped an easy throw over the middle, Travis Kelce had a throw go between his hands in the end zone and fellow tight end Blake Bell dropped another pass from Moore when he was wide open in the flat.

 

STOCK UP

Running back Damien Williams was the starter this season, dealt with injuries and fell behind LeSean McCoy on the pecking order. But he finally got going against Green Bay, getting the bulk of the carries after McCoy’s costly second-half fumble and finishing with 30 yards rushing and a TD.

 

STOCK DOWN

McCoy has a reputation for carrying the ball loose, but he hasn’t been known for fumbling in his college and pro career. The ball he coughed up against Green Bay, deep in Chiefs territory, was knocked out from behind while he was running through traffic at the line of scrimmage.

 

INJURED

Right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and defensive end Alex Okafor left with ankle injuries. That further depletes two areas in which Kansas City is already dealing with attrition.

 

KEY NUMBER

8 — The number of different targets Moore threw to Sunday night, helping to keep the Green Bay defense guessing. His favorite receiver was Tyreek Hill, who caught six passes for 76 yards.

 

NEXT STEPS

Besides getting everyone healthy, the Chiefs need to figure out a way to win at home. They get another chance with the Vikings coming to town Sunday.

Verlander, Astros look to close out series at home

WASHINGTON (AP) — George Springer shook his head at the mere mention of Houston Astros teammate Justin Verlander’s past October trouble, the only pitcher in baseball history to go 0-5 in the World Series.

“We wouldn’t be here without him,” Springer declared. “I don’t care what individual stats say.”

Then, as if to emphasize the point, the Astros outfielder repeated himself: “We wouldn’t be here without him. So I’m glad that we’re handing the ball to him. We’ll see what happens.”

Verlander will get a chance to make people forget his postseason struggles, including losses in win-and-advance games in this year’s AL Division Series and Championship Series, if he can help Houston clinch a second championship in three years. The 36-year-old right-hander will start Game 6 at home against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

“He’s prepared. He’s ready for this moment. We’ve been communicating back and forth throughout the whole series on how we were going to make an adjustment to what we were seeing and how we were going to attack,” said Gerrit Cole, Verlander’s rotation-mate and chief AL Cy Young Award competition this season.

“It’s going to be business as usual for him. He’s going to set the tone for us,” Cole said. “Hopefully we can back him up with some runs, and play some great ‘D.’”

Cole gave up just one run in seven innings and struck out nine as the Astros grabbed a 3-2 series lead Sunday night by beating the NL wild-card Nationals 7-1.

Springer, Carlos Correa and rookie Yordan Álvarez all delivered two-run homers — celebrated with elaborate handshakes and hearty hugs — for the team that led the majors with 107 wins in the regular season.

The hootin’ and hollerin’ carried on in the mini-cafeteria in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.

It’s really been rousing to be on the road so far: Only two other times in baseball history did the home team fail to win any of the first five games of a World Series.

The Nationals won the first two games in Houston by a combined score of 17-7, before the Astros switched everything around and took all three games in Washington by a total tally of 19-3.

The Nationals entered the weekend having won 18 of 20 games, which was the best streak the team had posted since moving from Montreal to Washington in 2005. Then they went 0-3 at home.

“We’re just going back there,” Nationals outfielder Juan Soto said, “trying to do the same thing we did before.”

Now comes Monday’s break in the best-of-seven series, before Houston asks Verlander to try to end the World Series.

“Our confidence is great. We believe he’s going to be at his best tomorrow,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said Monday at Minute Maid Park. “He loves this big stage. He loves being relied upon.”

“I love that he’s going to own it. I think it’s also not going to overwhelm him,” he said. “I think this would be a nice little bullet point on a resume that’s headed towards Cooperstown.”

Verlander was among a handful of pitchers on the field after Hinch spoke, doing some light tossing. He was going to be throwing a lot harder when he tries to close out the Series.

If he can’t, and there is a Game 7 on Wednesday, the Nationals will hope they can send out three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who was scratched just hours before Game 5 because of a neck problem that left him unable to lift his throwing arm.

Scherzer said he was given a cortisone shot and needed his wife’s help just to get dressed.

“This is just a little thing that turned into a big thing that turned into a giant thing,” he said. “I’m just hoping that the doctors are right and that something could be possible for Game 7.”

There was no definite word for early Monday afternoon.

“Hopefully he’s a little bit better,” manager Dave Martinez said before the team traveled to Texas in the late afternoon. “My understanding is it takes about 24 hours for this injection to really work.”

Might not matter, of course.

On the other hand, Verlander has not been pitching up to the high standards he established while winning 225 games, collecting 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP honors and earning eight All-Star selections.

After going 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and 300 Ks during the regular season, this is what he’s done in five postseason starts in 2019: 1-3, 4.15 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 11 walks.

That includes a 12-3 loss in Game 2, also while facing Strasburg.

Five days later, Verlander gets another shot at the Nationals.

“We’ve got J.V. on the mound. A J.V. day is fun. I’ve been watching that guy pitch for a lot of years,” Astros reliever Joe Smith said. “He ain’t slowing down.”

Maybe so.

Still, it’s important to recall that two years ago, in another Game 6, Verlander could have sealed the Fall Classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers — and even had a sixth-inning lead, but Houston wound up losing 3-1. At least the Astros came back the next night to win Game 7 — and their first title.

Then, this October, Verlander got the ball on short rest for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, but again couldn’t get the job done in a close-out game, giving up three runs in the first inning and losing 4-1. Once again, though, Houston won the next game to advance.

And in the ALCS against the New York Yankees, the same scenario played out: Up 3-1 in the series, Verlander got the start in Game 5, but he allowed four runs in the first inning of another 4-1 loss. Yet again, Houston won the next game to bail him out.

Strasburg, meanwhile, truly has been at his best this postseason, frequently relying on his seemingly unhittable changeup or his right-where-he-wants-it curveball as out pitches, rather than the high-90s mph fastball he thrived with in earlier times.

The 31-year-old righty enters Tuesday with a 4-0 record, 1.82 ERA, 40 strikeouts and just two walks in five appearances this month, four as a starter.

“We’ve got Justin Verlander on the mound, and that brings a lot of confidence to our clubhouse,” Hinch said. “Their guy’s pretty good, too

Ada Kee

Ada Kee

Ada Marie (Gregg) Kee of Yates Center passed away Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at Allen County Regional Hospital, Iola. She was 87. Ada was born July 15, 1932 in Iola, the daughter of Alice and Theron Gregg. She grew up in Iola, attending school there and received her GED later. She married Arthur Allen Kee, Aug. 16, 1947, who preceded her in death.

She is survived by her brother Carl Gregg, Paola; son, Theron Kee, Cumming, Ga., and daughters, Ruth (Kee) Keaton, Bonner Springs, and Linda (Kee) Gifford, Navarre, Fla., along with eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Cremation is planned. No services are scheduled. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Kalida Cemetery.

Ada loved to dance and would like any memorial contributions to be given to Altoona Dance, c/o Marvin Blackburn, 4701 Main St., Parsons, KS 67357.

Nila Dickason

Nila Ilene Hittle Dickason, 90, of Overland Park, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019 at Sheridan Assisted Living, Overland Park. She was born Jan. 11, 1929 in Lake City, the daughter of Raymond and Amy Sitler Hittle.

She was dedicated to serving her family and community. Nila acquired her master’s degrees in accounting, CPA, and education. She spent her career teaching accounting and special education. In Humboldt, Nila managed the community food pantry for many years. She was a member of the 258 Board of Education, Humboldt Methodist Church, where she also taught Sunday School for many years, Tri-Valley Developmental Services, and numerous other  organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Republican Women, and the local quilt guild.

After moving to Overland Park, she volunteered at Mission Southside Food Pantry and attended Blue Valley Baptist Church.

Nila enjoyed reading, quilting, sewing, gardening and serving.

Nila was married to Ivan “Dick” Dickason for 41 years. He preceded her in death on June 10, 1993.

She is also preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Amy Hittle; brothers, Elvin Hittle and Joe Keesling; and grandson, Jeff Flory.

Nila is survived by her daughter, Dana Flory and husband Jim of Overland Park; sons, Nolan Dickason and wife Cynthia of Crescent, Okla., and Allen Dickason of Overland Park; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Monday at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons. Burial followed at Lyons Municipal Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Blue Valley Baptist Church Library Fund or Mission Southside Food Pantry in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

Helen Alumbaugh

Helen Louise Alumbaugh, age 77, of Moran, died Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita. She was born Sept. 9, 1942, in LaHarpe, to Archie and Marie (Lantz) Rosebaugh.

She married Paul Alumbaugh on April 30, 1962, in Moran.

Survivors include her husband Paul of the home; three sons, Howard Alumbaugh of Moran, Dale Alumbaugh of Westphalia, and Robert Alumbaugh of Mulvane; and other relatives.

Family and friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion In Moran.

Kobach admits he failed to properly supervise staff

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach acknowledged that he failed to properly supervise his staff while representing himself in that role during federal court proceedings in a voter registration lawsuit, according to a diversion agreement reached with state regulators.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the confidential agreement resolves complaints made to the Kansas Disciplinary Administrator’s Office about Kobach’s conduct during litigation that successfully challenged a state law that had required people to show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

Details of the disciplinary office’s findings aren’t disclosed under Kansas rules, but a public notice of the agreement says Kobach stipulates he didn’t properly supervise lawyers and non-lawyers.

The disciplinary administrator’s office said there was no finding of dishonest conduct by Kobach.

Stan Hazlett, the state’s disciplinary administrator, said the diversion agreement was reached Oct. 10. The diversion is contingent upon undisclosed terms.

“Normally, a diversion agreement is confidential, but as you can see by the language in the public disclosure, Mr. Kobach’s counsel and this office agreed to a public disclosure of the disposition of this case, Hazlett said.

Kobach is seeking the Republican nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. He won the GOP nomination for governor in 2018, losing to Democrat Laura Kelly in the general election.

“As the office of the disciplinary administrator stated, there was no finding of dishonest conduct on the part of Mr. Kobach,” said Danedri Herbert, Kobach’s former spokeswoman. “That was the central allegation of the complaint, which was obviously politically motivated.”

Complaints were filed by Topeka activist Keri Strahler and others over Kobach’s conduct in the court battle with the American Civil Liberties Union.

A federal judge fined Kobach $1,000 for misleading the court about documents he carried into a meeting with then President-elect Donald Trump. Kobach paid that fine with the credit card of a staff member who was deployed to Ukraine with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

Kobach was found in contempt again last year for failing to comply with court orders that required county election officers to send postcards notifying prospective voters they could participate in elections even if they failed to provide proof of citizenship when they registered. Kobach and his staff did not relay that to the counties.

The judge ordered Kobach to pay the ACLU $26,000 in legal fees as punishment for his “contemptuous behavior” during a voting rights case.

U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson harshly criticized Kobach and his assistants for failing to follow court rules during the litigation in which she struck down the state law as unconstitutional. She also ordered Kobach to take extra legal education as a sanction.

ACLU of Kansas legal director Lauren Bonds said her group views diversion agreements as “a positive tool for prosecutors and option for violators.”

Horticulturalist slain, another man kills himself

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a horticulturalist was slain outside his Kansas office, and a man in a vehicle that was linked to the original homicide scene killed himself hours later in Missouri as deputies attempted to stop him.

The Kansas City Star reports that Overland Park, Kansas, police says 59-year-old David Flick was shot Monday morning outside an office center, where his consulting firm was located.

The Clay County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department says that deputies later heard a single gunshot while attempting to stop a sport utility vehicle in Kearney. The SUV in which 60-year-old Scott MacDonald died by suicide matched a vehicle description released by Overland Park police in Flick’s death.

Investigators say MacDonald may have been connected to Flick’s death, but did not say how. No motive was released.

Police report

Arrest reported

Iola police officers arrested Ricky Dawn, 58, Kansas City, for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and driving while revoked — the third or greater offense for each —  as well as transporting an open container of alcohol and improper driving on a laned roadway late Friday in the 100 block of East Jackson Avenue.

 

Parked car hit

Johnnie K. Keller, 68, was backing his pickup from a parking stall between Iola Pizza Hut and Hibbett Sports Thursday, when he struck a parked car owned by Michelle Franklin, officers said.