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FONTANA, Calif. -- With tires and tempers blowing up all over the track for 400 crazy miles, Kyle Busch stayed calm and relied on his remarkable knack for big finishes at Fontana. Busch won on this 2-mile oval for the second straight year Sunday, holding off Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart and his older brother Kurt on a frantic two-lap sprint to the finish. Kyle Busch capably blocked Larson and outlasted a crowded field to win a race featuring a track-record 35 lead changes and numerous tire problems. Busch stayed out of trouble and roared up late for his second straight stunner in Southern California, following up the Las Vegas natives final-lap surge to victory a year ago. "Holy cow, what do you expect when youve got a green-white-checkered finish and everybody has to come down pit road and put four tires on?" Busch asked after his third career win at Fontana. "That was Days of Thunder right there. Unbelievable day." With his 29th career Sprint Cup victory in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch is NASCARs fifth winner in five races already this season. He led just five laps -- the fewest of his career in a win. Jimmie Johnson was comfortably in front when he blew a tire with seven laps left, precipitating the wild finish. Jeff Gordon moved in front until Clint Bowyer spun with two laps to go, setting up an overtime finish. Gordon was hoping to finish on old tires when Bowyer spun, but then elected to pit along with most of the leaders. Kurt Busch gambled with just two tires, allowing him to restart in second, but his younger brother came up from fifth in the final two laps to win. "I came off the fourth turn in disbelief that we won this thing, because we were mediocre all day," Kyle Busch said. "It was really weird for us, not a race that were typically used to. But now theres a load off your shoulders that you can go out the rest of the season and race the way you want to." He also got a thrill from outlasting Larson, the 21-year-old rookie who held him off Saturday to win the Nationwide Series race. "I guess you couldnt ask for more, but I was surprised to get up there late in the race," Larson said. "We were probably a 12th-place car for most of the day." He had to settle for the best finish of his Sprint Cup career in the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. Kyle Busch, who went to Larsons car Saturday to congratulate him on his Nationwide win, pointed out his window at Larson after Sundays finish, pumping his fist in approval. "What a shoe that boy is," Kyle Busch said of Larson. Kurt Busch finished third, with Matt Kenseth in fourth and 2012 champion Stewart in fifth. Several teams had serious tire problems on this weathered track, with multiple flats and cautions for various problems throughout the hot afternoon. The problems likely were the latest effect of NASCARs new aero rules, which are producing higher speeds that lead to extra stress on the tires -- particularly on the bumpy asphalt on Fontanas back straightaway, which already wears out tires aggressively. Those problems might frustrate pit crews, but they can also lead to phenomenal racing, as the sellout crowd on its feet for the finish could attest. "By no means is this a problem for Goodyear," Kurt Busch said, referring to NASCARs tire manufacturer. "Its just a thumbs-up for NASCAR for allowing teams to get aggressive in all areas." The intrigue and weirdness started early on at Fontana -- which somehow seemed appropriate for a race in which the Muppets Gonzo told the drivers to start their engines. Several drivers complained during an early pit stop that the red light was on, indicating pit road was closed. Gordon, Bowyer and Brad Keselowski did not pit because of the red light, and all were adamant NASCAR needed to correct their position in the running order. Robin Pemberton, NASCARs vice-president of competition, was told that the official in charge of displaying the flag got his uniform caught in a hole in a fence and couldnt move, preventing him from flipping off the red light. Its the second consecutive week an issue with the caution light affected the race: At Bristol last Sunday, someone in the flagstand leaned on the button that turned the caution lights on right before Carl Edwards took the white flag. Rain then began to fall heavily, and the race could not be resumed, so Edwards won under caution. Edwards finished 10th at Fontana and stayed one point ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 12th, for the overall points lead. Fontana didnt get a repeat of last years exciting duel between Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, the unfriendly rivals who crashed into each other on the final lap while racing for the win. Hamlin was a last-minute scratch with a sinus infection, depriving him of the self-described chance for redemption after getting airlifted away from the track last year with a broken vertebra. Sam Hornish Jr. took his place in the No. 11 JGR Toyota and finished 17th. Logano, in a backup car after a crash earlier in the week, had to go to the garage after 114 laps, knocking him out of contention. He finished 39th. Custom Nike Chicago Cubs Jerseys . "Theyve been good against everybody," he said. Carlos Gomez launched a three-run homer and Matt Garza battled into the seventh inning for his first win in four starts to help the Brewers continue their mastery of the Rockies with a 7-4 victory Saturday. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Online . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/201n-custom-nike-houston-astros-jerseys-baseball.html . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Custom Nike Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Sale . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.A look at the respective runners of Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls on Saturday as the pair battle for the National Hunt trainers title. With the jumps trainers championship reaching a thrilling climax at Sandown on Saturday, Ashley Iveson runs the rule over seven races that will define a season.Paul Nicholls has a lead of £53,592 heading into Saturday, but with £150,000 up for grabs in the bet365 Gold Cup alone, its all to play for. Click here for the latest betting in the trainers championshipWillie Mullins - £2,275,659 (before racing Saturday)Paul Nicholls - £2,329,251 (before racing Saturday)2.20 - bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Prize-money £50,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Tommy SilverWILLIE MULLINS: Voix Du ReveVOIX DU REVE looked sure to go close when coming to grief at the final flight in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham. He is 5lb higher now, though, and might have to make do with minor honours behind Wolf Of Windlesham. Paul Nicholls relies upon TOMMY SILVER, but he perhaps needs softer ground.OUTCOME: 1 Wolf Of Windlesham, 2 Voix Du Reve 3 Duke Street3.00 - bet365 Oaksey Chase (Prize-money £50,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Saphir Du Rheu, Rocky Creek, Wonderful CharmWILLIE MULLINS: Valseur Lido, BallycaseyVALSEUR LIDO has an excellent opportunity to secure an important victory for Mullins. The testing nature of Sandown will play to his strengths and he is well treated by the conditions of the race. Nicholls saddles SAPHIR DU RHEU, ROCKY CREEK and WONDERFUL CHARM, with the former taken to finish third.OUTCOME: 1 Valseur Lido, 2 Menorah, 3 Saphir Du Rheu3.35 - bet365 Celebration Chase (Prize-money £125,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Dodging Bullets, Solar Impulse, Ulck Du LinWILLIE MULLINS: Un De SceauxA key contest in many respects and Sprinter Sacre can confirm Cheltenham authority over the Mullins-trained UN DE SCEAUX, who is expected to pick up the second prize of almost £27,000. Former champion chaser DODGING BULLETS can make a slight return to form by finishing in the money for Nicholls.OUTCOME: 1 Sprinter Sacre, 2 Un De Sceaux, 3 Dodging Bullets4.10 - bet365 Gold Cup (Prize-money £150,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Southfield Theatre, Just A ParWILLIE MULLINS: Sir Des Champs, MeasureofmydreamsHuge amounts of money at stake, but it could be that the two title-chasing trainers are out of luck in what is always a terrifically difficult race to win.OUTCOME: 1 Sausalito Sunrise, 2 Henri Parry Morgan, 3 Bishops Road, 4 Le Reve4.45 - bet365 Select Hurdle (Prize-money £50,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Ptit Zig, San Benedeto, SilsolWILLIE MULLINS: Vroum Vroum MagThe Mullins-trained VROUM VROUM MAG is the banker of the afternoon and should win cosily. PTIT ZIG is an interesting contender for Nicholls, though, and can chase him home.OUTCOME: 1 Vroum Vroum Mag, 2 Ptit Zig, 3 Ubak5.20 - bet365 Josh Gifford Novices Handicap Chase (Prize-money £30,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: 5.20 As De Mee, Some Buckle, CaliptoWILLIE MULLINS: No runnersNicholls can cash in with SOME BUCKLE, who opened his account over fences in good style at Haydock last month, appearing to relish the sound surface. Stablemate Calipto is a good horse and must also have sound place claims.OUTCOME: 1 Some Buckle, 2 Thomas Crapper, 3 Calipto5.55 - bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Prize-money £30,000)PAUL NICHOLLS: Qualando, Red Hanrahan, Alcala, ChartbreakerWILLIE MULLINS: McKinley, Burgas, Bellow MomeThe progressive BELLOW MOME looks the pick for Mullins, but staying-on Taunton runner-up QUALANDO is also respected for Nicholls. Both trainers might find it tough if Ma Du Fou makes amends from a rather puzzling run at Aintree.OUTCOME: 1 Ma Du Fou, 2 Qualando, 3 Bellow Mome, 4 MatoricoCONCLUSION: Willie Mullins to claim two victories on the card, but Some Buckle and a raft of placed horses can haul Paul Nicholls over the line.Mullins following trail blazed by the great Vincent OBrienWillie Mullins will join exalted company should he defeat Paul Nicholls to claim what has been an enthralling race for Britains trainers title.The Closutton handler would emulate the great Vincent OBrien, who broke new ground when crowned champion in two successive campaigns in 1952-53 and 1953-54.Considering what OBrien went on to do on the Flat, no one ever imagined his feat would be repeated on UK shores.OBrien was a trainer without parallel and was very much a pioneer and an innovator. For example, he was the first trainer to use flying as a means of transporting horses across sea.He saw the advantage of horses going on an away day rather than be absent from their usual surroundings overnight or longer.Times may have changed enormously in those 62 years, but like OBrien in his day, Mullins is a supreme master of his trade.Totally dedicated to the sport and always willing to learn and try new techniques, both quickly realised you have to be a step ahead of your contemporaries if you are to be number one. Once there, you must continue with that philosophy and double your efforts.OBriens success was remarkable. He is the only man to have trained three consecutive Grand National winners and with three different horses - Early Mist (1953), Royal Tan (1954) and Quare Times (1955).He did the same in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cottage Rake who was the first to win the blue riband three years in a row, between 1948-50.Hattons Grace won three successive Champion Hurdles (1949-51) for OBrien and was also successful on the Flat, winning the Irish Lincolnshire in 1949 and the Irish Cesarewitch.Mullins has made his mark in the Grand National and the three top Cheltenham races and he does not too badly with his little forays to the big Flat meetings. He has had four winners at Royal Ascot, though not yet anywhere near the level of OBrien because he concentrates chiefly on the jumps.Amazinglyy, OBrien had never been to Cheltenham before 1948 when he had the first of 23 Festival winners that spanned up until 1959 and he never drew a blank there.dddddddddddd.In that time he won the Gloucestershire Hurdle, the forerunner of the Supreme Novices Hurdle, 10 times.Strangely, after beginning the 1950s as champion jumps trainer in Ireland, he was beaten first Tom Dreaper and then Paddy Sleator as his focus turned to Britain.That has not happened to Mullins. His dominance in Ireland is stronger than ever, despite the emergence of young trainers such as Gordon Elliott. His first title came in 2000/1 when he split Noel Meades total of eight in nine years and it has been his alone since 2007-08.This is the first season Mullins has really had a go at winning the British title, starting by tackling the big Saturday races, which the UKs top two, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson, have usually farmed in recent times.Cheltenham was the only meeting he really targeted until this year, when he sent a big team to Aintree without compromising his chances at the big Easter Festival at Fairyhouse and the end-of-season meeting at Punchestown in late April.Not only do you need the right ammunition, but even the best horses have to be primed to be at their best for the big races, wherever and whenever they may be.Mullins has proved a dab-hand at that and whatever happens on Saturday, he has set the bar staggeringly high, just as OBrien did before him.Nicholls: Weve given it our best shotPaul Nicholls intends to be gracious in victory or defeat as his enthralling title battle with Willie Mullins comes to what promises to be a thrilling conclusion at Sandown on Saturday.By his own admission this season has been a relatively low-key one for the master of Ditcheat, and yet he is tantalisingly close to being crowned Britains champion National Hunt trainer for the 10th time.Mullins - aiming to become the first Irish-based trainer to be claim the British crown since Vincent OBrien in the 1950s - has remarkably trained less than 30 winners this side of the Irish Sea this term, but his dominance of the top-class events at Cheltenham and Aintree this spring - where he saddled seven and six winners respectively - looked to have put him in a commanding position.However, Nicholls came roaring back last weekend, with Vicentes Scottish Grand National triumph the highlight of an Ayr four-timer and he has continued in similarly spectacular form since to ensure he now holds the aces ahead of the final day.Weve had a great season and being competitive you want to win the championship. We want to keep it in the UK rather than it go to Ireland, said Nicholls.ts been quite tough this year. We only had five winners by October 1 and we didnt have the Grade One horses weve had in the past.Arguably we only have one Grade One horse in training, Silviniaco Conti, and he has had more than his share of problems this season.You cant just go out and buy horses like Kauto Star and Master Minded any more. Those days are gone.We have concentrated on recruiting and bringing on promising young horses for the future such as our juveniles and the group of bumper horses that have been so successful lately.Nicholls insists he is proud of the yards achievements this season, no matter what the result this weekend, and if he does come up short, he will be happy to congratulate the new champion.He told Betfair: Im thrilled that we have won over 120 races, earning over #2.3million in prize-money for their owners and we have had more winners than any other yard this season, which is, I think, a first for us.I do tend to feel the pressure on these big days because I hate the idea of letting people down when things dont work out.But ours has always been a team effort and I am encouraged by all the messages of support that we have had in the past few days.Weve fought back and kept chipping away and last Saturday was a big day for us.Me and Willie Mullins get on great. We always shake hands and we text from time to time if we want to help each other.Hes a gentleman, hes a brilliant trainer and we have huge respect for each other. Weve always got on great and always will do.Win or lose we have given it our best shot and if Willie Mullins is crowned champion trainer on Saturday I will be the first to shake his hand and say well done.With significant ground to make up, for most trainers the battle would be as good as over with only one day remaining, but the Mullins army is out in force in Esher.The likes of Un De Sceaux, Valseur Lido and Vroum Vroum Mag are all major contenders on a fantastic card, but the trainers son and assistant Patrick is hopeful rather than confident that the Closutton team can wrestle back the advantage.He said: Its a big day and I think the general feeling in the yard at the moment is were up against it.We might have to have four or five winners on the day, which is not impossible but its a tough ask as when you need things like that to happen theres normally one that either gets beat or falls.Paul has two or three in a few of the races, so even if we win them, hes chipping away at us all the time picking up prize-money.You never know, though, and I think well all be heading over there and well see what happens.Its great to be in this position and you never know when it might happen again.It would be fantastic to win it but its the end of the world.Whats interesting is when Vincent OBrien won the English title in the 1950s he wasnt actually champion trainer in Ireland which is a strange piece of information.If it can be done, great, but if Paul manages to retain his title fair play to him. 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