Bell wins 2nd straight NASCAR race

Christopher Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win NASCAR’s first road course race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday in Austin, Texas. Bell raced to his second consecutive victory after an overtime win in Atlanta a week ago. Once Bell cleared Busch, the Oklahoma driver had to make a desperate bid to keep his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in front of hard-charging Byron in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and 2023 race winner Tyler Reddick of 23X1 Racing’s Toyota. The 30-year-old Bell is a multiple race winner for the fourth consecutive season. Busch, who led 43 of 95 laps in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, faded to fifth as his winless streak stretched to 60 races dating to 2023. “These road courses races are just so much fun,” Bell said. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, started third and quickly dropped to the back when he spun by Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in the first turn, but fought his way back through the field to fourth.

Manfred reviewing petition for Rose

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering a petition to have Pete Rose posthumously removed from Major League Baseball’s ineligible list, according reports Saturday night. ESPN was the first to report on the reinstatement petition filed by Jeffrey Lenkov, a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose, above, prior to his death at age 83 in September. Lenkov attended a Dec. 17 meeting with Rose’s daughter, Fawn, Manfred and MLB executive Pat Courtney in the commissioner’s office. A 17-time All-Star, Rose is baseball’s career leader with 4,256 hits. He also holds the major league record for games played (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). He was the 1973 NL MVP and played on three World Series winners. An investigation for MLB found Rose placed numerous bets on the Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989. Lenkov told ESPN he’s seeking Rose’s removal from the banned list “so that we could seek induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Ex-convict wins New Zealand Open

Ryan Peake, an Australian former motorcycle gang member who turned his life around through golf, earned a place at the British Open on Sunday when he won the 104th New Zealand Open by one stroke. The 31-year-old from Western Australia called the win “life-changing” after sinking an 8-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to avoid a four-way playoff with fellow Australian Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman and Japan’s Kazuki Higi. His final-round 66 saw him finish at 23 under. He earned about $112,000 (200,479 NZD) for winning. Peake, above, had been a promising junior golfer and teammate of former British Open champ Cameron Smith before he was convicted of assault at age 21 and sentenced to five years in jail. He was a member of the outlawed Rebels gang in Australia. His clearance to enter New Zealand was delayed by his criminal record. After leaving jail he returned to golf and began to rebuild his career with the help of leading coach Richie Smith and with the support of his family. He received his Australasian tour card this season and this was his first pro win. —AP