UPI NewsTrack Sports

• Tweet

Edwards logs first victory in two years

AVONDALE, Ariz., March 3 (UPI) -- Carl Edwards conserved fuel down the stretch and posted his first victory in two years Sunday, claiming a Sprint Cup win at Phoenix International Raceway.

Edwards did his trademark celebratory back flip for the first time since March 2011 after edging out Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski during a green-white-checkered finish.

It was the 20th career Sprint Cup win for Edwards, but first in 70 races since taking the 2011 event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Johnson, coming off last week's Daytona 500 triumph, barely bested Hamlin to claim the second spot.

Hamlin settled for third after attempting to pass Johnson and Keselowski on the track apron during the final lap.

Keselowski claimed fourth while Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the Top 5.

Thompson takes Honda Classic victory

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- Michael Thompson carded a 1-under 69 Sunday, holding off Geoff Ogilvy to capture his first career title with a victory at the Honda Classic.

Third-round co-leader Thompson ended with a birdie to finish at 9-under 271, two strokes better than the late-charging Ogilvy.

He overcame blustery conditions at PGA National to turn in three birdies and an eagle after missing the cut in three of his previous four tour starts this season.

Ogilvy birdied two of his last three holes, but came up a bit short of pay dirt with a final-round 69.

Rookie Luke Guthrie, who along with Thompson was the overnight co-leader, stumbled to a 3-over 73, finishing alone in third place at 5-under.

Busch bros' mom hurt in golf cart crash

AVONDALE, Ariz., March 3 (UPI) -- The mother of NASCAR drivers Kyle and Kurt Busch was injured when the golf cart she was riding in flipped over at Phoenix International Raceway, officials said.

The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic said Gaye Busch was riding in a custom six-person golf cart in a tunnel beneath the speedway when the driver came down a hill and lost control, flipping the cart and injuring five people in the process.

Four people were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution. Busch refused treatment.

Kurt Busch joked his mother might be the one most likely to get hurt in a crash.

"Don't get in any moving vehicle w/ my mom," Busch tweeted. "She was involved in a crash in the tunnel b4 the end of the race. She will be ok, just a little banged up."

Cubs' Garza to start season on DL

MESA, Ariz., March 3 (UPI) -- Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza will open the season on the disabled list, Manager Dale Sveum said Sunday.

The right-hander, who missed the last 2 1/2 months of 2012 because of elbow problems, was sidelined with a strained side muscle Feb. 17 and had been working on a rehab program.

That effort, however, is taking longer due to continuing soreness, Sveum said.

"It's a minor setback that (he) could wind up missing two weeks to a month," he told the Chicago Tribune. "Now you're looking at him getting two (Cactus League) starts at the most."

"It's just a body's way of saying it's just going to take a little more time," Garza told the newspaper. "It's not a setback, but just came to the realization that mind and body are (going) too fast."

Garza went 5-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 18 starts last season.