Labonte Has to Slow Down to Beat Gordon at Dover

Bobby Labonte slowed down for the final 107 laps of the MBNA Platinum 400 Sunday at Dover, Del., and the strategy paid off as he won his first NASCAR race of the season.

Labonte, who set a Dover Downs International Speedway qualifying record, said, “I ran about 50 laps as hard as I could, then I got hung up behind Dale Jarrett, and I said, ‘It isn’t worth it. There ain’t no sense in busting my butt to pass him because we’ll have to pit anyway.’ ”

Labonte topped off the tank of his Pontiac on lap 293--just before the end of the final caution period, and it was just enough.

“I don’t like gas-mileage racing because you want to have the fastest car and run away. But it was a great call by [crew chief] Jimmy Makar,” Labonte said.

The decision cost Jeff Gordon the race for the second consecutive year. He was forced to stop for a splash of gas with five laps remaining. Last year, he stopped with eight to go, giving the victory to Jarrett.

Tony Stewart, Labonte’s teammate who is trying to become the first rookie to win a Winston Cup race since the late Davey Allison in 1987, led the way for 127 laps but wound up fourth behind the Ford of Mark Martin in the $2.3-million race.

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Baja 500 desert racer James Baldwin, 29, of Laguna Beach crashed into a crowd of spectators after losing control of his full-sized pickup truck Saturday, killing a Mexican spectator and injuring eight other people.

Luis Alberto Valdez, 33, died shortly after he was struck by the truck during the 30th Tecate SCORE Baja 500, a 447.6-mile course over treacherous and uneven desert terrain in the northern part of the Baja California peninsula.

Baldwin’s father, Jim, who was also racing, said his son was apparently trying to pass him when the accident occurred.

The younger Baldwin, who was airlifted to Mercy Hospital in San Diego after the accident, was released Sunday morning. Baldwin’s co-driver Mike Laughlin, 32, of Irvine was in serious but stable condition.

Spectator Craig Stewart, 30, of Santee, was listed in serious condition after undergoing brain surgery to remove a blood clot at UC San Diego Medical Center.

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Paul Tracy of Canada won the CART Miller Lite 225 at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. It was his 14th victory but first since May 1997 at Madison, Ill.

Tracy won even though his fuel warning light was on for the last five laps of the race.

Greg Moore, who never led and was never really a factor, finished second, trailing Tracy across the line by nearly a full straightaway.

The rest of the top 10 was not determined until four hours after the race was over. Patrick Racing protested that two drivers passed Adrian Fernandez under the caution flag on lap 210.

CART eventually wound up penalizing Patrick Carpentier and Juan Montoya, who were initially fourth and sixth, one lap each. Gil de Ferran, who came in third, was also under review for a possible passing violation, but the decision was deferred for further review.

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In the FRAM Route 66 Nationals at Joliet, Ill., drag racer Mike Dunn claimed his third Top Fuel victory of the season.

Dunn powered his dragster down Route 66 Raceways quarter-mile in 4.702 seconds with a top speed of 316.67 mph to defeat defending event champion Kenny Bernstein, who lost traction at the start.

Tim Wilkerson upset John Force for the Funny Car title in the $1.8-million race.

Miscellany

Ivan Gotti of Italy won his second Tour of Italy in three years, one day after leader Marco Pantani was banned from the prestigious cycling race for failing a drug test.

Gotti, 30, led his closest rivals by more than three minutes in the final standings. Paolo Savoldelli finished second and fellow Italian Gilberto Simoni was third.

Defensive lineman Jeff Lageman, a key component in making the Jacksonville Jaguars competitive early in their existence, is retiring after 10 seasons in the NFL.

University of Texas quarterback Major Applewhite underwent an appendectomy after complaining of stomach pains. He should be ready for the start of fall practice.

The Red Devils of Toluca won Mexico’s summer soccer championship by scoring on a series of penalty kicks to beat the Atlas Zorros, 5-4, at Toluca, Mexico.

Former Nebraska football star Dean Steinkuhler has been arrested on suspicion of domestic assault after his wife called police during a disturbance at his home in Syracuse, Neb.

Deputies arrested Steinkuhler on May 29 after being called to the house. Steinkuhler was released from jail hours later on $1,000 bail.

Jorge Luis Gonzalez floored Alex Stewart twice in scoring a third-round technical knockout in a heavyweight bout at Las Vegas.