Stewart smokes field to win

NASCAR Cup

Tony Stewart won the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, securing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship title — even though he and race runner-up Carl Edwards tied in the points race with 2,403. Stewart won the title over Edwards, who had a three-point lead going into the race and started on the pole, because of his five race wins over the Chase period to Edwards’ lone victory.

Stewart, who owns a share of Paducah International Raceway, won his third NASCAR championship surviving a hole in the grill of his car and a rain delay. He gambled with his fuel and made 118 passes on the track. He is the first driver to own his operation and win the title since Alan Kulwicki did it in 1992. Stewart won his last title in 2005, with Jimmie Johnson winning five straight after that.

Mayfield, Murray advance

Two local high school football teams came out of Friday night victorious.

Mayfield beat Louisville Holy Cross to advance to the Class A state semifinals, while Murray beat Owensboro Catholic in Class 2A. Both play at home this Friday night. Lone Oak and Paducah Tilghman both lost, meaning their seasons have come to an end.

Racers record big wins over weekend

Murray State ended its football season with its best record, 7-4, since 2004, getting a close 35-34 win Saturday at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Giardeau, Mo. The Racers, which finished the Ohio Valley Conference season in fourth place with a 5-3 record, did not make the NCAA Division I playoffs, even though they were eligible with seven wins.

The Racer men’s basketball team also traveled this weekend, playing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sunday, beating the Blazers 62-55. The Racer women’s team lost on Saturday at Ball State 81-72.