In Brief | Nation and World July 1

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Avalanche take MacKinnon with first pick in NHL draft

Avalanche take MacKinnon with first pick in NHL draft

NEWARK, N.J. — Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby now share more than a hometown.

They’ve both been No. 1 picks in the NHL draft.

The Colorado Avalanche made the 17-year-old MacKinnon the first pick of the draft on Sunday at the Prudential Center.

Bakelants wins
2nd stage of
Tour de France

AJACCIO, Corsica — Jan Bakelants pulled away close to the finish line to win Sunday’s second stage of the Tour de France and take the race leader’s yellow jersey for the first time in his injury-plagued career.

The 27-year-old Belgian made his move with a few hundred meters remaining and did enough to withstand a late charge from Slovak sprinter Peter Sagan for the biggest achievement of a frustrating career in which he turned professional at age 23.

He won in 3 hours, 43 minutes, 11 seconds, with Sagan and third-place finisher Michal Kwiatkowski one second behind him.

Rosberg wins controversial
British Grand Prix

SILVERSTONE, England — Nico Rosberg won the British Grand Prix on Sunday after four drivers, including early leader Lewis Hamilton, had to deal with exploding tires and three-time champion Sebastian Vettel quit with 10 laps remaining because of mechanical problems.

With Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber closing fast, Rosberg managed to win his second race of the year and third of his career by 0.7 seconds in a nail-biting finish — then had to survive a stewards inquiry.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who started ninth, made a late charge up the grid and got past Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen with two laps remaining to claim third. Hamilton also recovered to finish fourth, after his blown tire sent him to the back of the grid in the eighth lap.

Soon after celebrating, Rosberg risked seeing his victory slip away when he was referred to the stewards for not slowing down for yellow flags in turns 3 and 5. The stewards ruled that Rosberg “did not make a significant reduction in speed” but would only receive a reprimand, or warning. After three reprimands during a season, drivers are given a 10-place grid penalty. This was Rosberg’s first.

Tony Schumacher wins at Joliet

JOLIET, Ill. — Tony Schumacher’s engine exploded in a fireball Sunday as he crossed the finish line to win the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Schumacher, the seven-time season champion from nearby Long Grove, raced to his third victory of the season and the 72nd of his career. He finished in 3.930 seconds at 269.29 mph to hold off Clay Millican and regain the season points lead.

Hagan extended his Funny Car series lead with his third win of the season, edging 64-year-old John Force at the finish line. Hagan’s Dodge Charger posted a 4.605 at 315.34, while Force’s Ford Mustang finished in 4.113 at 304.80.

Jeg Coughlin topped the Pro Stock field, and Michael Ray won in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

In Pro Stock, Coughlin raced to his second win of the season and fifth at Route 66 Raceway when he drove his Dodge Avenger away from final round opponent Greg Anderson. Coughlin covered the distance in 6.603 at 209.85, while Anderson’s Chevy Camaro lost traction near mid-track. It was Coughlin’s 54th career victory.

Ray earned his second win of the season and third of his career in Pro Stock Motorcycle, beating former teammate Matt Smith in the final round. Ray used a near-perfect reaction time and powered his Buell to a 6.986 at 191.29 to hold off Smith’s charging Buell, which finished in 6.992 at 190.22.

Kimmel ties Katona’s ARCA victory
record with 79th

WINCHESTER, Ind. — Frank Kimmel won the ARCA Racing Series event at Winchester Speedway on Sunday to tie Iggy Katona’s series victory record of 79.

Kimmel, from Clarksville, Ind., won for the third time this season and the sixth at the track, leading 158 laps in 100-mile, 200-lap event. He held off teenager Austin Wayne Self at the finish.

Kimmel started to think about win No. 79 just before the end of the race.

“It crossed my mind, but then I told myself not to think about it too early,” he said. “When I saw the checkered flag, it was a sort of a flood of emotion. It is a big deal.”

From wire sources