CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It has not been an easy march through NASCARs playoffs for Denny Hamlin, who once again must race his way into the next round.Hamlin was on his own at Talladega Superspeedway, a track that requires help from other drivers to be successful. Hamlins teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing had too much to lose that day and rode around in the back of the pack. He needed a strong finish, and had to figure it out alone.Now he again goes into an elimination race with the pressure on to pull off a big finish. Carl Edwards is the only JGR driver who already has earned a berth in the championship race, and Hamlin is competing with teammates Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch for a spot in the final four.All three of the JGR drivers are within two points of each other in Chase standings. Busch is tied with Team Penskes Joey Logano for the lead, with Kenseth one point behind them and Hamlin two behind. Hamlin finished third at Phoenix earlier this year.Phoenix was a good track for us in the spring, Hamlin said. I look to go back there and have another great run and go out there and try to win. Thats what were going to do. Any time Ive been below (the cut line) in an elimination race, Ive found a way to get in (to the next round).I like our chances. Its a pressure race and I like pressure.CREW CHIEF FINEDTeam Penske crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined $10,000 because a lug nut was not properly installed on Joey Loganos car at Texas.The penalty was the only monetary fine issued by NASCAR on Wednesday. But, five drivers were docked 15 minutes of practice time for inspection issues at Texas.Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr. all failed the pre-qualifying template inspection three times. AJ Allmendinger failed the laser inspection three times before qualifying. All will miss practice time Friday at Phoenix.DIBENEDETTO CLEAREDMatt DiBenedetto was cleared to race at Phoenix International Raceway after NASCAR held him out of one event because of a possible concussion.DiBenedetto missed last Sundays race at Texas Motor Speedway, where he was involved in a crash during the Xfinity Series race one day earlier. Jeffrey Earnhardt replaced DiBenedetto for BK Racing and finished 34th.It was the first Cup race DiBenedetto had not started since early in the 2015 season.DiBenedetto had said Sunday morning at Texas he felt fine and able to race, but said he had to respect the decision by NASCARs doctors.They decided they wanted to err on the side of caution, which I understand, he said. Theyre doing their job.DEJORIA-CONCUSSIONAlexis DeJoria has a concussion that will sideline the Funny Car driver from this weekends NHRA Finals in Pomona, California.DeJoria suffered the concussion in a crash during qualifying at the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas, where her head hit the roll cage after the impact. Shell be replaced this weekend by Jeff Arend. DeJoria is not cleared to race, or even fly in a plane.I underwent a series of cognitive tests and the doctors diagnosed me with a full-blown concussion that required me to step away from the seat for the time being, she said. It takes two weeks for these symptoms to subside and even then, because of the trauma from the concussion, it would be unsafe for me to race this weekend.DeJoria missed two races earlier this season with a fractured pelvis.MERCEDES-IMSAMercedes-Benz USA will race next season in IMSAs SportsCar Championship as Riley Motorsports will race two Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars in the GT Daytona class. One of the teams cars will run as AMG-Team Riley Motorsports, and the other as WeatherTech Racing.The No. 33 AMG-Team Riley Motorsports entry will be co-driven by Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen, and the No. 50 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be shared by co-drivers Cooper MacNeil and Gunnar Jeannette. MacNeil and Jeannette got their first seat time in the car in a late September test at Germanys Hockenheim circuit.Other cars announced for the new-look IMSA GT Daytona class next year include the Acura NSX GT3 and the Lexus RC F GT3.Yeezy Mujer Baratas . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Replica Jordan España . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. https://www.zapatillasbaratasspain.es/ . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Zapatillas Mujer Baratas . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Air Jordan Baratas España . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery.BOSTON -- Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg admits there is a sense of relief within the organization that Michael Carter-Williams left knee injury isnt more serious. Carter-Williams, who is expected to be out four to six weeks, injured the knee during Monday nights win over the Brooklyn Nets.An MRI on Tuesday revealed that he had no ligament damage, just a bone bruise and a sprained left wrist.First and foremost there was a sense of relief that it wasnt more serious than that, Hoiberg said after Wednesdays shootaround. Obviously when he went down he had a lot of pain. Were thankful that he will be back in uniform this season. Hes brought us an element that we lacked with that second group. Hes picking up full court, he does a great job getting into the paint, making the right play. So well miss hhim.ddddddddddddThe Bulls played the Boston Celtics?on Wednesday night.?We got to have all our guys ready, Hoiberg said. Paul Zipser is going to have to keep himself ready based on certain matchups. I thought he gave us good minutes in the preseason. Denzel obviously will have to be ready and give us some minutes. And then Jerian Grant, after being inactive for the first three games, theres a chance hell get a shot as well. A lot of it will be based on matchups, but all three of those guys will have to be ready.Bulls small forward Doug McDermott?did not play against the Celtics. McDermott entered the leagues concussion protocol after taking a few hard shots in Mondays game. ' ' '