NRL at the start of the season.ddd

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Alex Bowman still has no ride for next season. On a weekend when the championship contenders are making a bid for the title race, Bowman made a case for a full-time job.Bowman won his first career pole Friday with a strong run at Phoenix International Raceway. Bowman, the replacement driver for concussed Dale Earnhardt Jr., turned a lap at 140.521 mph to earn the top starting spot.Im still waiting for the right opportunity to come along, Bowman said. Theres nothing that has really fit that has come along. Ill still probably have my day job at Hendrick Motorsports driving the simulator. Well go from there.Bowman, who is from Tucson, ran Earnhardts car to the top of the leaderboard with NASCARs most popular driver in attendance.This is his hometown, kind of, so its awesome that all his friends are around to see him do this, Earnhardt said. This is great for his career; this is exactly what we were hoping to happen for him. Hopefully, he can put it together on Sunday.Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott qualified second and third as Chevrolets swept the top three. They also shut out the championship contenders from the top of the scoring pylon.Only Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards have spots locked down for next weeks season finale, and six drivers are vying for the remaining two slots.Of those trying to race their way into the final four, Joey Logano qualified fourth and was followed by Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.We are in good position right now, said Logano. If that was the end of the race we would move on, I think. We just have to keep looking ahead and make sure we keep the big picture in mind.Hamlin, who is racing against three of his teammates for a spot at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was pleased with his fifth-place qualifying lap.Four cars stand in my way. Just four, its not that big of a deal, Hamlin said.Harvick is the favorite to win Sunday and has won six of his last eight races at Phoenix. When asked why hes so good at Phoenix, Harvick joked that he found a magic wand at Disney that he waves over PIR.His mood was light considering hes in a must-win situation, and the law of averages predicts he cant beat 39 other drivers at Phoenix time and time again. But Harvick noted he didnt win last Novembers race and didnt appear to be the least bit concerned about the odds. He also wasnt worried about any potential payback from Austin Dillon , the driver Harvick accidentally wrecked last week.Everybody is in the same position we are, he said. If somebody wins, theres only going to be one points guy that goes through. You need to pretend like you are in a must-win situation if you want to plan on going to Homestead.The only Chase drivers not to make it into the final round were Johnson and defending series champion Kyle Busch. Johnson already has a spot clinched in next weeks finale, but Busch will start 19th on Sunday.Martin Truex Jr. wrecked during practice and was forced into his backup car. But it couldnt pass inspection before qualifying began and Truex will start last on Sunday.Charles Barkley Rockets Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Trevon Duval Rockets Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Michael-Carter-Williams-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. Tracy McGrady Jersey .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Eric Gordon Rockets Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career.Canberras best footy is yet to come, warns star playmaker Blake Austin, as they attempt to lock down a spot in the NRLs top four.The Raiders are just one point behind defending premiers North Queensland on the ladder after their 26-22 golden point win over the Warriors at home on Saturday.If they beat an out-of-form South Sydney on Sunday, they could leapfrog the Cowboys into third place - depending on other results.Its a position the club hasnt been in for over a decade with six rounds remaining.We havent played any of our best footy yet and thats whats most exciting, Austin said on Tuesday.Where we sit as a team I think is keeping our vision away from whos coming up.Were just focusing on us and really trying to ensure were improving every week.I think we have been (improving) for the last six weeks and still got plenty left in us.Also on the improve is Austins 13-game-old partnership with halfback Aidan Sezer, whhich had been touted as potentially the best in the NRL at the start of the season.ddddddddddddTimes going to be the best thing for us, and weve got six weeks to really get things right and thats what were aiming to do, Austin said.Ricky Stuarts men have won their past four matches, while the Rabbitohs are on a seven-game losing streak following Mondays 20-12 defeat to Manly.The loss means Souths will miss the finals for the first time under coach Michael Maguire.They havent quite got the victories on the board they wouldve liked but theyre still a good team and youve got to be on your toes, Austin added.Its important we dont talk down on South Sydney. Theyve been a force for years now and thats something were trying to create here at the Raiders.We want to be a force for years to come. ' ' '