Edwards qualifies fourth; Johnson to start 30th
auto racing
Carl Edwards got the jump on Jimmie Johnson in qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Edwards, facing a daunting 141-point deficit heading into tomorrow's Ford 400, qualified fourth, trailing only first-time pole winner David Reutimann, rookie Scott Speed and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. Johnson, who needs to finish only 36th or better tomorrow to wrap up his third straight Cup title, will start a disappointing 30th. It's only the seventh time in 36 races this season Johnson has started 20th or lower. Johnson's worst finish in any of those races was 33rd.
Et cetera: : NASCAR has suspended all testing at its sanctioned tracks next season in a cost-cutting measure that should help teams save several million dollars in their 2009 budgets. ... A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests to delay the tax evasion trial of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who wants to drive in the 2009 IndyCar Series. U.S. District Judge Donald Graham said the March 2 trial date will stand.
Safety Lynch to retire; Portis misses practice
nfl
John Lynch, a nine-time Pro Bowl player with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will announce his retirement Monday. The hard-hitting safety had 1,277 tackles and 26 interceptions in 224 regular-season games. Lynch played 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers during the 2002 season. He signed with the Broncos in 2004 and left in July after being bumped from his starting role. He signed with the New England Patriots in August but was cut two weeks later.
Redskins: : Running back Clinton Portis did not practice again and will be used only "in a limited fashion" if he is able to play tomorrow night against the Cowboys, coach Jim Zorn said. Portis, the NFL's second-leading rusher, has a sprained left knee.
Et cetera: : Rams running back Steven Jackson will not play tomorrow against the 49ers because of his injured right thigh. ... Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and receiver Deion Branch worked with the first-team offense for the entire practice yesterday and are ready to start for the first time in six weeks tomorrow Sunday against first-place Arizona. ... Giants tackle Kareem McKenzie will play against the Ravens tomorrow despite his Thursday night arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Little Falls, N.J.
