*AUTO RACING : Mark Martin won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway for Saturday’s race that will be critical to his chase for the championship chances. Martin turned a lap at 124.484 m.p.h. to win his fifth pole of the season and sweep the top starting spot at Bristol. … David Ragan held off Carl Edwards on a two-lap sprint to the finish to win the Nationwide Series race at Bristol.
*HORSE RACING : Two online wagering businesses are offering to add $400,000 to the purse of the Beldame Stakes, hoping to entice Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta into running against each other at Belmont Park. The pledge announced Friday by TVG and Betfair Ltd. would create a $1 million purse for the Oct. 3 race if the two female stars are in the starting gate. … Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was back on the track at Saratoga after having surgery Tuesday to clear his throat passage and is on target for Saratoga’s Travers Stakes on Aug. 29.
*TRACK AND FIELD: Allyson Felix won her third straight 200-meter world title at the world championships in Berlin, while LaShawn Merritt won the men’s 400-meter title over American teammate Jeremy Wariner. … The United States 400 relay team was disqualified for an illegal baton exchange. … Nigerian hurdler Amaka Ogoegbunam tested positive for steroids and was suspended for the meet.
*NHL: Senators winger Dany Heatley reiterated his desire for a trade, saying he’s unhappy with his diminished role. Ottawa had a tentative trade worked out with the Oilers involving forwards Andrew Cogliano and Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid, but Heatley did not waive his no-trade clause to seal the deal. He said Edmonton was not on his list of desired destinations.
*SOCCER: The U.S. women’s national team will play at Germany in October in the first meeting in nearly three years of the two most successful women’s soccer nations. The Americans will play at the newly constructed Impuls Arena in Augsburg, Germany, on Oct. 29. … New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio has resigned and been replaced for the rest of the season by assistant coach Richie Williams. The Red Bulls have the worst record in the league at 2-16-4.
*GOLF : Bill Haas has moved into the lead after one round at the rainy Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Haas had five birdies while finishing his career-best 62 to take a two-stroke lead over Brandt Snedeker, Chez Reavie and Ryan Moore. … Tiger Woods entered The Barlcays, an indication that the world’s No. 1 player plans to compete in all four FedEx Cup playoff events.
*COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Karen Cunagin Sypher, the woman charged with trying to extort $10 million from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, may be so mentally incompetent that she does not understand the legal proceedings and may not be able to assist in her own defense, federal prosecutors said in asking a judge to order a psychological exam.
*CYCLING : Lance Armstrong finished in the main group of riders in the opening stage of the three-day Tour of Ireland, his first race since his third-place showing in the Tour de France.
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EDITED BY BOB FOLTMAN FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
