Crafton earns pole at Chicagoland

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/28/2009 - Bristol, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Crafton will start on the pole for Friday's inaugural EnjoyIllinois 225 Camping World Truck Series race after posting the fastest lap in qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway.

Crafton rounded the 1.5-mile oval at 171.914 m.p.h. in his No.88 ThorSport Chevrolet for his second career Truck Series pole, but his first since September 2005 at New Hampshire.

Chad McCumbee will start alongside Crafton after turning a lap at 171.636 m.p.h.

Todd Bodine qualified third, followed by Kyle Busch, last week's race winner at Bristol, and Rick Crawford.

Ron Hornaday Jr., the current points leader, will start sixth. Hornaday saw his five-race winning streak end at Bristol, but still holds a commanding 211- point advantage over Crafton.

Brent Sherman, Stacy Compton, Jason White and Colin Braun completed the top-10.

Michelle Theriault, John Jackson and Ryan Hackett failed to qualify.

Today's 225-mile race is scheduled to begin around 9:00 p.m. (et).

Wcnbc Autoracing Betting News

<< K.C., RSL square off with valuable points on the line
Kansas City, KA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two bottom-third Major League Soccer clubs meet on Saturday night when the Kansas City Wizards host Real Salt Lake in an inter-conference match-up at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The Wizards are in desper

<< Indians get Pino from Twins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians acquired right-handed pitcher Yohan Pino from the Twins to complete the August 7 trade that sent righty Carl Pavano to Minnesota. The 25-year-old Pino has split the 2009 season

<< Gonzo to announce retirement, return to Diamondbacks
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Longtime outfielder Luis Gonzalez is returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but his playing days are finished. The team will hold a news conference Saturday at 4 p.m. (et), when the 41- year-old Gonzalez

<< Soriano's blast helps Cubs top Mets
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 and hit the game- winning three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs over the New York Mets, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Wrig

<< Briscoe leads Penske front row for Chicagoland
Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Briscoe will start on the pole for the Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 after edging his Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves in Friday's qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway. Briscoe, the current In

Real expects big things with Kaka, Ronaldo >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid captain Raul knows the additions of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo - the last two FIFA World Players of the Year - have raised expectations, but he thinks the team is "capable of achieving what this cl

Chicago hosts D.C. with eyes on top spot in East >>
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire wasted a chance to overtake the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference last week, but after escaping with a 3-2 win over Colorado, felt good to earn six points in an eight-day span. Chicago

Colorado hopes to rebound from tough loss vs. Houston >>
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo travel to Colorado to take on the Rapids in a key Major League Soccer Western Conference clash on Sunday afternoon. The Dynamo (11-6-7) currently hold the top spot in the West, but

Simpson leads Barclays by two strokes >>
Jersey City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PGA Tour rookie Webb Simpson carded a three-under 68 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of The Barclays, the first event of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Simpson, who is in search of his first PGA

Bears DT Dvoracek undergoes season-ending ACL surgery >>
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bears defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek underwent season-ending ACL surgery on Friday the team announced. A third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2006, Dvoracek has appeared in just 13 games i

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard