Biffle beats Edwards to win at Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Ailing Greg Biffle overcame a late charge by runner-up Carl Edwards and won Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Nationwide auto race at Las Vegas.
Biffle ran out of gas three-quarters through the caution-marred race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and drove his Ford Fusion while battling a bout with the flu.
His win ended a 76-race victory drought.
"I felt like I was in a 24-hour race," Biffle said during a post-race television interview. "(But) it was so awesome to see all those fans out to support this sport."
Brian Vickers, the 2003 winner, Jason Leffler and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top five finishers, with Leffler also out of gas.
It was a terrible day for Joe Gibbs Racing after losing cars driven by Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in crashes.
Pole winner Scott Speed, making his Nationwide debut, also wrecked and did not finish.
Pats trade Cassel, Vrabel to Chiefs
FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The New England Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round draft pick.
If both players pass their physicals, they will be reunited with General Manager Scott Pioli, who was the Patriots' vice president of player personnel before he succeeded Carl Peterson in Kansas City.
"I have a long history with both players," said Pioli in a statement. "Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family."
The fact that New England dealt Cassel may mean the franchise is secure about the return of Tom Brady next season. Brady suffered a season-ending torn knee ligament in the 2008 opener against the Chiefs.
Recently, the just-married Brady said his rehab was on schedule.
New England made Cassel its franchise player this month, meaning that he will earn $14.65 million next season. He guided the Patriots to an 11-5 record last season.
Broncos sign safety Brian Dawkins
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos have confirmed they have lured veteran free-agent strong safety Brian Dawkins away from Philadelphia.
Terms of the deal Dawkins signed were not disclosed, but reports have said he will make $4.5 million next season.
The 35-year-old Dawkins, a seven-time Pro-Bowl pick, has played each of his 13 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, missing only nine games because of injury. He was a starter in all 183 games in which he has appeared.
"This is an absolute blessing," Dawkins, a second-round pick by the Eagles in the 1996 NFL draft out of Clemson, said at news conference Saturday. "I've been blessed to play for a great organization and to come to another great organization. I was able to meet some of the young guys that I'll have the privilege of playing with. I'm kind of jumping around with my words right now because I'm so emotionally excited."
Last season, the hard-hitting Dawkins made 75 tackles with three sacks in 16 games.
Creamer leads Thailand women's golf event
CHONBURI, Thailand, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Front-runner Paula Creamer shot 5-under-par 67 Saturday for a three-stroke lead through 54 holes at the Honda LPGA Thailand in Chonburi.
The Pleasanton, Calif., native, a four-time winner last season, is 11-under 205 after three rounds.
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa (68), competing in her 2009 debut, and second-round leader Brittany Lang (71), share second place.
During her third tour of the Siam Country Club's Plantation Course, Creamer birdied the first and fourth holes early, birdied the 14th for the third straight day, and then closed with a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to secure her three-stroke advantage.
"I started off with a birdie on the first hole, which is always a good start," said Creamer, who will go for her eighth career win Sunday. "From there on, I just had a lot of good iron shots."
Karrie Webb (69) is alone in fourth place at 5-under 211.
