Oct 11, 2022 4 min read

In auto racing

NASCAR said a review of data and team communications showed that Stewart-Haas Racing manipulated the results of the playoff elimination race at Charlotte, an infraction that drew an additional $200,000 in fines on Tuesday.

“Nothing contradicted that that was done deliberately,” NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said of Cole Custer slowing on the backstretch of the final lap to help teammate Chase Briscoe gain the positions needed to advance into the next round of the playoffs.

The new penalties brings SHR’s monetary fines to $300,000 over the last week; Kevin Harvick, one of the most outspoken drivers about safety concerns with NASCAR’s new Next Gen car, was penalized along with his crew chief when his Ford failed a post-Talladega inspection.

On Sunday, Custer appeared to deliberately hold up a line of traffic on Charlotte’s road course as teammate Briscoe stormed past in a desperate effort to move into the third round of the playoffs. Briscoe finished ninth, good enough to bump reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs as the field was trimmed from 12 drivers to eight.

Briscoe earned the eighth and final spot in the next round of the playoffs by two points over Larson.

NASCAR said after Sunday’s race it was reviewing Custer’s contact on the final lap. The penalties levied were a $100,000 fine for Custer and loss of 50 driver points, as well as 50 owner points for SHR. Crew chief Mike Shiplett was also fined $100,000 and suspended indefinitely.

Miller said NASCAR heard Shiplett tell Custer over the radio “‘I think you’ve got a flat. Checkup, checkup’ when he couldn’t see the car to tell if it had a flat.

Girls soccer

Brooke Opferman scored a hat trick and had an assist and Can Klein found the net as well as Peters Township defeated Mt. Lebanon 4-2 on Monday night, tightening the race for the Class 4A Section 2 title.

PT’s Jordan Klein had an assist as well and goalkeeper Molly Kubistek had the victory as the Indians improved to 9-1-2 in the section and 10-1-3 overall. Lebo is 10-2 in section and 12-2-1 overall.

• Three players scored goals, led by Tessa Charpentier’s hat trick, as Bentworth defeated visiting Uniontown 5-2 in a non-section contest Tuesday.

Meredith Allender and Brina Orsatti also scored for Bentworth (5-6-1), which led 3-0 at the half.

Boys soccer

Trinity strengthened its playoff case with a 5-0 victory over visiting Uniontown in Class 3A Section 3 Tuesday night.

Josh Lent led the way by scoring two goals for the Hillers (8-5, 10-5), who entered the night in a three-way tie for third place. Talon Garnder, Connor Smith and Andy Palm each contributed one goal.

• Everybody got into the act as Bentworth rolled to a 12-0 victory over Beth-Center in Class A Section 2.

Ryan Colbert, Jerzy Timlin, Ryan Moessner, Andrew Vipperman and Landon Urcho each scored two goals to lead the playoff-bound Bearcats (6-4, 10-5). John Scott and Julian Hays also had a goal. John Scott had four assists and Urcho three.

• Goals by Dylan Wudkwych and Derek Errett gave Washington a 2-0 victory over winless Southmoreland at Wash High Stadium.

Goalkeeper Carson Shiel made five saves as the Prexies improved to 4-7-2 in section and 5-9-2 overall. It was wash High’s third win by shutout.

Canon-McMillan clinched a Class 4A playoff berth with a 3-2 win at Allderdice.