Nextel Cup points leader Johnson wins pole at Dover

Jimmie Johnson, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series points leader, got another boost in his bid for a second consecutive title, winning the pole for Sunday’s Dodge Dealers 400 with a fast lap of 154.765 mph in a Chevrolet at Dover International Speedway in Delaware on Friday.

Johnson leads the points standings heading into the second race of the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship. He hasn’t started worse than ninth in any of the last eight races.

“It’s tough to say how important track position is going to be,” Johnson said. “The thing I’m most excited about is having the first pit stall.”

Johnson and Jeff Gordon both have 5,210 points, but Johnson’s series-high six victories give him the edge. Gordon has four.

Johnson will be joined on the front row by Cup rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, who turned a lap of 153.833 in a Dodge.

Six of the Chase drivers will start in the top 10. Denny Hamlin was third, Kurt Busch fourth, Martin Truex Jr. fifth, Kevin Harvick seventh and Matt Kenseth was 10th.

As for other Chase drivers, Carl Edwards was in 15th and Kyle Busch in 22nd. Gordon (second in the standings) and Tony Stewart (third), both former champions, will start a disappointing 27th and 28th.

Clint Bowyer, who posted his first win last week at New Hampshire, was the worst Chase qualifier. He started in the back of the field at 42nd after having to qualify on owner’s points. He did not record a lap speed.

Three-time Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr., hoping to make his Nextel Cup debut, failed to qualify on speed for the second week in a row.

SOCCER

U.S.-Catalonia match in Barcelona canceled

The U.S. soccer team’s exhibition game against Catalonia on Oct. 14 in Barcelona was canceled after the Royal Spanish Football Federation failed to approve the match.

“We are disappointed that the match will not be played, since we believe playing Catalonia would be an excellent experience for our players,” U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. “Nonetheless, we respect the decision of the Spanish federation.”

Catalonia is not a FIFA member and the Spanish federation’s permission was needed for the game.

The Americans have two remaining games this year: Oct. 17 against Switzerland in Basel and Nov. 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg. The U.S. has lost five consecutive games, its longest skid since 1994, following a 10-0-1 start under new Coach Bob Bradley.

BASEBALL

Angels ask court to reject Anaheim name request

The Angels formally asked a state appellate court to reject requests from the city of Anaheim to bar the team from using Los Angeles in its name or to grant the city a new trial over the issue.

The court filing is the latest step in the city’s appeal of a jury’s February 2006 ruling that the Los Angeles name did not violate the Angels’ stadium lease with Anaheim. The appellate court is not expected to rule until next year.

--Mike DiGiovanna

BOXING

Maskaev pulls out of WBC title bout

World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev pulled out of his Oct. 6 title defense against Samuel Peter, citing a back injury.

Maskaev’s decision to postpone his mandatory defense infuriated Peter’s representatives, who called on the WBC to stage an interim title fight on the same date at Madison Square Garden. Peter, considered the sport’s top rising heavyweight, has been chasing a title shot for two years.

RUGBY

France moves closer to World Cup quarterfinals

France defeated Ireland, 25-3, in their World Cup group match in Paris to keep alive its chances of advancing to the quarterfinals. Winger Vincent Clerc got both the home team’s tries, and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked five penalties. Fly-half Ronan O’Gara got Ireland’s only points with a first-half drop goal.

ACTION SPORTS

Britain’s Bestwick wins BMX Vert

Jamie Bestwick moved closer to a third consecutive Dew Cup title by winning the BMX Vert finals at the Dew Action Sports Tour event in Salt Lake City.

Bestwick scored 94.00 points to beat the 92.50 of fellow Brit Simon Tabron. Australia’s Steven McCann was third with 91.00.