The racers shined bright and enjoyed the spotlight in competing for top honors at the Lincoln County Raceway on Napa Night on Saturday in North Platte, Nebraska. Driving their way into the winners circle with great pride was Brian Davidson, Andrew Dillenburg, Bryan Herrick, Casey Werkmeister, Austin Davis and Jacob Olmstead.

Wasting no time to drive to the point, Brian Davidson of Bennington, Kansas led from the drop of the green flag until the checkered flag flew in the Nebraska Modified Lites Feature. Davidson’s biggest challenge was fighting off the advances made by Brad Bain from Greeley, Colorado. Near the halfway point, Davidson and Bain made contact to bring out the yellow flag and move Bain to the back of the pack. Soon thereafter Bain returned to the rearview mirror of Davidson to finish second overall. Working through traffic with authority to earn a podium finish was Lincoln, Nebraska’s Chick DeMoss. Brandon Vantine of Lincoln and heat race winner Mark Bruder of Crete, Nebraska rounded out your top five finishers in the Feature in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Getting the early edge was North Platte’s Andrew Dillenburg as he cruised to the victory in the IMCA Modified Feature in fine fashion. Getting up on the wheel and challenging Dillenburg for much of the feature was North Platte’s Josh Sabin who crossed the stripe in second place overall. Dave Pedersen of Brady, Nebraska earned show accolades for his efforts behind the wheel.

Reigning track champion Bryan Herrick of Curtis, Nebraska drove his way to the front on lap seven and never looked back as he worked through traffic to win the IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature. Working the high groove and cushion proved to be advantageous for North Platte’s Terry Dressel as he rocketed to runner-up honors. Jeremy Halouska of North Platte found the rhythm in the waning laps to register a third place finish. Sutherland’s Henry Henderson and Brandon Poessnecker of Atkinson, Nebraska both cashed in on their consistency with fourth and fifth place finishes.

Being in the right place at the right time, Casey Werkmeister of Maywood, Nebraska snared the lead in the IMCA Stock Car Feature and locked up the victory after passing early leader Bob Chalupa who had a flat tire and wasn’t able to finish the event. Kyle Werkmeister of Maywood was second overall in the feature after starting his night with a heat race win. Mikey Dancer of North Platte piloted his Monte Carlo hot rod to a third place finish in the feature. Darin Racek of Lexington, Nebraska and Overton’s Bob Hoing had stellar nights on the oval with fourth and fifth place honors, respectively.

Bouncing back from a heat race accident, Benkelman’s Austin Davis grabbed the lead on the fifth circuit to trump the field to claim the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature victory. Brady Weinman of Arnold also recovered from the heat race incident quite nicely with a runner-up run. Early leader Tyson Canas of Cozad, Nebraska set the pace for the initial four laps and stayed near the front for the full onslaught to earn third place honors. Loomis hotshoe Chuck Ledbetter and Andrew Baumgardner of North Platte were fourth and fifth overall in the nights feature.

Winning the trifecta was Jacob Olmstead of Overton, Nebraska as he won the heat race, cash dash and feature in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Justin ‘Mighty Mouse’ Mousel of Arnold drove his Dodge Neon to second place overall during his first appearance at Lincoln County Raceway of the 2013 season. Charlie Blowers of Arnold was on his rear bumper in third place overall. Hershey, Nebraska young gun Alex Fletcher was fourth overall after battling through a slow start to the event.

 

Unofficial Results:

–Nebraska Modified Lites Feature: 1. b55-Brian Davidson; 2. 3b-Brad Bain; 3. 61-Chick DeMoss; 4. 19-Brandon Vantine; 5. 51-Mark Bruder; 6. 05-Reed Lundstedt; 7. 15-Brandon Spanjer; 8. 3r-Duane Bain; 9. 5-0-Terry Vantine; 10. 21t-Taylor Pollock.

-Heat 1: 1. 3b-Brad Bain; 2. b55-Brian Davidson; 3. 61-Chick DeMoss.

-Heat 2: 1. 51-Mark Bruder; 2. 19-Brandan Vantine; 3. 05-Reed Lundstedt.

–IMCA Modified Feature: 1. Andrew Dillenburg; 2. 23s-Josh Sabin; 3. 4p-Dave Pedersen.

-Heat: 1. 4p-Dave Pedersen; 2. 71-Andrew Dillenburg; 3. 23s-Josh Sabin.

–IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 13-Terry Dressel; 3. 7-Jeremy Halouska; 4. 11h-Henry Henderson; 5. 52p-Brandon Poessnecker; 6. 3-Gary Long; 7. 848-Troy Douglas; 8. 17-Rodger Morash; 9. 20b-Brandon Clough; 10. 53dc-Dalten Collins.

-Heat 1: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 848-Troy Douglas; 3. 12j-Kerry Jones.

-Heat 2: 1. 20b-Brandon Clough; 2. 17-Rodger Morash; 3. 3-Gary Long.

-Heat 3: 1. 15r-Robby Kosmacek; 2. 53dc-Dalten Collins; 3. 52p-Brandon Poessnecker.

–IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 2. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 3. 45-Mikey Dancer; 4. 31-Darin Racek; 5. 09h-Bob Hoing; 6. 75-Dan Eller; 7. 5n-Jason Noyes; 8. 24-Bob Chalupa.

-Heat 1: 1. 75-Dan Eller; 2. 31-Darin Racek.

-Heat 2: 1. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 2. 24-Bob Chalupa; 3. 09h-Bob Hoing.

–IMCA Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 22-Austin Davis; 2. 22w-Brady Weinman; 3. 7t-Tyson Canas; 4. 5-Chuck Ledbetter; 5. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 6. 65-Rick Eller; 7. 7s-Scott Gibson.

-Heat : 1. 5-Chuck Ledbetter; 2. 7t-Tyson Canas; 3. 7s-Scott Gibson; 4. 65-Rick Eller.

–IMCA Sport Compact Feature: 1. 98x-Jacob Olmstead; 2. 3m-Justin Mousel; 3. 3-Charlie Blowers; 4. 67-Alex Fletcher; 5. 33-Andrew McClellen; 6. 98z-Zach Olmstead; 7. 40t-Jose Sabala.

-Heat: 1. 98x-Jacob Olmstead; 2. 98z-Zach Olmstead; 3. 33-Andrew McClellen.

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with deliberations tells The Associated Press that Major League Baseball has informed the New York Yankees that Alex Rodriguez will be suspended Monday but can play while he appeals the penalty.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because no announcement was authorized.

The Yankees were not told the exact length of the suspension, but were left under the impression it will be through the 2014 season, the person said.

Rodriguez could get a shorter penalty for violating baseball’s drug agreement if he gives up the right to file a grievance and force the case before an arbitrator, the person added.

MLB planned an announcement at noon EDT Monday, a second person familiar with the deliberations said, also on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

In all, 14 players faced discipline following baseball’s probe of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — It was just the fifth inning and Juan Nicasio had allowed only two runs but Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss knew it was time to take his starting pitcher out of the game.

Nicasio had thrown 103 pitches to get 13 outs. With the Rockies trailing by two runs, Weiss wanted a fresh arm to help prevent a big inning.

The move backfired on the rookie skipper as Russell Martin greeted reliever Manuel Corpas with a three-run homer and that was more than enough cushion for A.J. Burnett, who scattered eight hits to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 victory over the Rockies on Sunday.

“I thought Corpas gave us our best chance to get a double play there,” Weiss said. “He puts the ball on the ground consistently with his sinker but hung a breaking ball over the middle of the plate and all of a sudden it’s 5-0.”

The Rockies fell to 6-11 since the All-Star break as Nicasio (6-6) struggled for a second consecutive start, giving four runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts. He allowed a career-high eight runs in his previous start Tuesday at Atlanta.

Nicasio had gone 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in his first three starts after being recalled July 12 from Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he had spent two weeks.

“I threw too many fastballs that were balls or they fouled off,” Nicasio said. “I had a hard time putting the hitters away.”

Nicasio escaped a first-and-third jam with one out in the second inning without allowing a run and limited the damage to one run in the third after the Pirates put runners on the corners with none out. He felt he could escape one more time in the fifth after Andrew McCutchen walked and Pedro Alvarez single with one out.

“I wanted to finish the inning,” Nicasio said. “I felt good.”

Weiss, though, didn’t let Nicasio talk him into staying.

“He did a good job of battling but he had to really grind through a lot of his innings,” Weiss said. “I didn’t think he had much left in the tank.”

At 36, Burnett still has plenty left. Burnett (5-7) struck out nine and walked one in his first complete game of the season and 23rd of his career. He threw 110 pitches, including 83 strikes.

“I just felt good for all nine innings,” Burnett said. “I knew my pitch count was low so I was confident I could finish.”

He impressed Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who grounded into a double play to end the game.

“He gave me one pitch I could hit all day and that the first pitch I saw,” said Helton, who was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. “He threw the ball wherever he wanted.”

The Pirates, who have the best record in the major leagues at 67-44 following 20 consecutive losing seasons, maintained their 1½-game lead in the NL Central over St. Louis. Burnett hasn’t gotten much backing this season, and owns a losing record despite a 2.73 ERA.

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead on an RBI single by Andrew McCutchen in the first inning and Garrett Jones’ sacrifice fly in the third.

Jonathan Herrera had three hits for the Rockies, including a run-scoring single in the seventh inning that broke up Burnett’s shutout bid. Michael Cuddyer added two this.

“That’s a good offensive club,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “They can do some things and A.J. was able to work through the middle of the order pretty efficiently. Again, very aggressive, very focused. Ball’s down. He took it to ’em.”

NOTES: Martin had missed two of the previous three games with soreness in his left knee. … Colorado LF Carlos Gonzalez returned to the lineup after not starting for four straight games because of a sprained right wrist and went 1 for 4. … Rockies rookie 3B Nolan Arenado got his first day off since the All-Star break. … Pittsburgh RHP Jason Grilli, who has 30 saves, hopes to begin playing catch this week. He has been on the disabled list since July 23 with a strained right forearm. … Both teams are off Monday before opening three-game series Tuesday night. Colorado will play the Mets at New York with RHP Tyler Chatwood (7-4, 3.15) pitching against RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-1, 2.08). The Pirates will host the Miami Marlins with LHP Jeff Locke (9-3, 2.36) starting against RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-1, 2.61).

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The NFL’s new policy banning bags that are not clear and that are larger than a gallon ziploc bag seems to have worked well Sunday at the Hall of Fame game.

There were no lines at the secondary perimeter checkpoints as security members ensured fans did not enter Fawcett Stadium with banned items such as backpacks, diaper bags, coolers, briefcases, fanny packs, seat cushions, computer bags and camera bags.

The only bags that can be taken into game venues are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC that don’t exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, including one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags.

In general, fans approved of the new procedures and said they were aware of the new rules.

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Tiger Woods played safe and smart with a big lead, parring 16 holes in an even-par 70 Sunday to coast to a seven-shot victory at the Bridgestone Invitational for his eighth win at the event — matching the PGA Tour record he shares for victories in a single tournament.

After a second-round 61 in which he flirted with 59, Woods ended up at 15-under 265 to easily beat defending champ Keegan Bradley and Henrik Stenson.

Woods’ mastery at Firestone Country Club allowed him to again match Sam Snead’s PGA Tour record for wins in an event. Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open eight times. Earlier this year, Woods won at Bay Hill for the eighth time.

As if he weren’t already the favorite next week in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, the lopsided victory reinforced it.

No one ever got within six shots all day of the world’s No. 1.