HOMESTEAD, Fla. – After nearly 24 hours of waiting, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field hit the track Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway for its most important practice session of the year.

By the end of the 50-minute period, Kyle Busch fired the first shot among the Championship 4 with the fastest lap of the day at 31.959 seconds (168.966 mph), but the quartet still appeared evenly matched.

Busch held the fastest five-consecutive lap average, while Denny Hamlin led the 10-lap average and Martin Truex Jr. ruled the roost when it came to 15 consecutive lap averages at the 1.5-mile oval.

That meant there were no true answers as to who holds the advantage going into Sunday’s season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400, which will crown a champion for 2019.

In Busch’s case, he was happy with the decision to replace the scheduled qualifying session with a full practice, noting that he learned some things he’ll be able to use come Sunday afternoon.

“I thought with the way the schedule was, and the way it was laid out as far as a compromise, it was the best way and the best thing to do,” Busch said. “I think practice over qualifying was for sure a good idea, just for the field. With the unknown of everything coming into this weekend, to have a shot to work on your race car instead of just going out there blind and trying to run as fast as you can for a qualifying lap is a good thing and I think helped us a little bit.

“Overall, it’s what I would have done. I think it’s kind of what we all expected,” Busch continued, pointing out the lower-horsepower, high-downforce aerodynamic package. “It’s got some similarities to other characteristics of vehicles that I’ve driven here over the course of my career. I thought back to some of how that worked out, but there were definitely times in practice that I kind of tried to get behind people and feel that out, just to see what was going to happen.

“I’d say it’s as close to the characteristics of traffic that we’ve had the rest of the year.”

Truex was second on single-lap time at 32.055 seconds (168.460 mph), while Hamlin ended practice third at 32.090 seconds (168.277 mph).

Ford drivers Brad Keselowski finished fourth and fifth, respectively, on the speed charts.

Aside from the JGR trio, Kevin Harvick was the furthest back of the Championship 4 drivers, ending Saturday ninth on the practice charts but quietly confident about his Ford Mustang for the race.

“It went good,” Harvick said of his practice time. “We missed our travels a little bit the first run, but got our car a lot better. It is just business as usual now.”

Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship race goes green just after 3 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Trans-Am Series TA/SGT/GT drivers delivered another spectacular finale at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Saturday to close out the season with a title-deciding bout.

Chris Dyson needed everything to go his way to overcome the points advantage of Ernie Francis Jr. and claim the title in his No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang.

While Dyson claimed pole position in qualifying, led every lap of the 29-lap race and clocked the fastest time of the session on his way to his third win of the season, it wasn’t enough to derail Francis’ drive to a sixth career Trans-Am title.

Dyson mathematically had a chance at the championship if Francis finished last. With Francis taking second, the points from Dyson’s perfect weekend still weren’t enough to keep Francis from scoring a second consecutive TA class championship.

Despite coming up shy of his championship goal. The second-year TA driver was ecstatic after the race to keep the winning Dyson name alive at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

“I won here a few times the first part of my racing career and I am feeling fantastic after that win,” Dyson said. “It’s so great to be back at Daytona winning here, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s been a very dramatic season for us, a lot of ups and downs. We came here and we’ve done exactly what we needed to do. We came up a bit short on the title race but it was a real joy and privilege to race out there today,”

Targeting the lead right from start, Francis shadowed Dyson throughout the race. On the final lap, the 21-year-old South Floridian sliced a tire in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors that extended Dyson’s margin of victory as Francis nursed his wounded Ford Mustang to a second-place finish.

“I am really looking forward to next season racing against Chris (Dyson),” said Francis. “Chris and I go to battle every race and I think we’ve made each other better drivers because of it. We had to take it home today to clinch the championship. Wish we could have ended the season with a win, but we will be back next year even stronger.”

Adam Andretti drove from the back of the pack to finish third in the No. 17 Engineered Components Co./AnchorBolt Chevrolet Camaro, prevailing in a spirited battle to end Tomy Drissi’s bid for a fourth-consecutive podium finish in the No. 8 Lucas Oil/Axalta Chevrolet Camaro.

Kerry Hitt, in the No. 19 Advanced Composite Products Inc. Cadillac CTSV, earned the Masters Cup Award in the TA class after finishing his 100th Trans-Am career start in 13th place. In addition to his Masters Cup honor, Hitt was given a special commemorative trophy by Trans Am to celebrate his career accomplishment.

Having won the season-opening race at Sebring, Lee Saunders finished his SuperGT season with bookend wins with a Daytona victory. SGT Class champion Mark Boden finished second in the No. 46 Beverage Flavors Int’l Porsche. Tom Herb crossed the stripe third in the No. 16 Fall-Line Motorsports/Porsche 991 GT3 Cup.

Steven Davison continued his winning streak in the GT class, ending his championship season with his fifth victory in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage.

Davison went to the point during a lap 10 caution when pole-starter Mark Ramsey was issued a drive-through penalty after the first-time Trans-Am competitor missed the wave-by in the No. 92 Big Data in Action Mercedes-AMG GT4. The mistake forced Ramsey to a third-place finish. Billy Griffins took second in the No. 14 Griffin Auto Care/Sheehan’s Towing Ford Mustang.

BRASELTON, Ga. – Ben Ashline made the long trip from Pittston, Maine, count by taking a surprise win during Saturday’s Lanier National 200 for the PASS super late models at Lanier Raceplex.

Ashline’s first PASS victory came in the first event at Lanier since racing was last held here in 2011.

“We traveled down like 1,200 miles, really not knowing what to expect and made a few changes and they worked,” said Ashline in victory lane. “Mike [Hopkins] is a great competitor.  We raced hard, we raced clean, and we were racing for the win.  We came down here with high hopes.  This is probably the best race of my career.”

After taking the heat race wins, Ryan Moore and Dawson Fletcher led the field to green, with Fletcher moving to the lead on lap two.  The first caution of the day waved on lap 17 when veteran Randy Gentry went for a spin in turn four.  Fletcher continued to lead until another Georgia teenager, Jake Garcia, would bypass him for the top spot on lap 39.

The third caution of the day waved on lap 67 when Brandon Herbert blew a right front tire entering turn three.  On the restart, Ashline got the better of Garcia to take the lead for the first time of the day.  Ashline maintained the lead through lap 108 when Ryan Herbert slammed the frontstretch wall to bring out the fourth caution of the race.

Ashline continued to lead, but was joined up front by PASS National Super Late Model champion Hopkins.  Hopkins persistently tried the high line and was able to take the lead from Ashline on lap 141.  But now, the roles were reversed as Ashline applied pressure to Hopkins for the lead. With 47 laps to go, Hopkins slipped, allowing Ashline to make a run on the inside and retake the lead.

Despite a spin by Fletcher with five laps to go, Ashline would go on to take the win in the Lanier National 200 over Hopkins, Moore, Garcia and Tate Fogleman.

The finish:

Ben Ashline, Mike Hopkins, Ryan Moore, Jake Garcia, Tate Fogleman, Kyle Plott, Hudson Hadier, Kyle Seig, Dawson Fletcher, Shane Chastain, J.P. Josiasse, Randy Gentry, Carson Kvapil, Chris Dilbeck, Ryan Herbert, Brandon Herbert.

With the Presidents Cup less than a month away, Ernie Els is hoping to see his players arrive in Australia with momentum.

"They have just got to get their form going," Els said earlier this week in South Africa. "If they get themselves on form, if they play to their ability, I think we can really win the Cup."

With that said, the International captain probably didn’t like what he saw out of two of his captain’s picks Saturday in Mexico.  

Jason Day and Joaquin Niemann combined to shoot 7 over in two rounds at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, each missing the cut at El Camaleon Golf Club.

Day ended Friday’s first round by playing his final three holes in 3 over. He then shot 6-over 77 despite four birdies on Saturday to finish at 5 over.

Playing in the same group, Niemann was much better in Round 2, carding a 68 with just one bogey. But he quadruple-bogeyed his opening hole Friday to shoot 76. At 2 over, the 21-year-old also didn’t come close to sticking around for the weekend.

Day doesn’t have a top-10 finish since the Travelers in June while Niemann has now missed two cuts and finished outside the top 30 four times in five starts since winning the fall-opening event at the Greenbrier.

Just two other International Presidents Cuppers are playing this week in Mexico. C.T. Pan is 4 under after 36 holes while Abraham Ancer also will likely make the cut.

It took three days, but we’re finally halfway through the Mayakoba Golf Classic, where Harris English leads:

Leaderboard: Harris English (-13), Vaughn Taylor (-12), Brendon Todd (-11), Danny Lee (-10), Adam Long (-10), Robby Shelton (-10)

What it means: English went out in the third group off No. 1 Saturday and quickly rose to the top of the leaderboard, passing first-round leader Lee, who managed just a second-round, 1-under 70. No player was able to pull even or pass English, not even fellow Georgia product Todd, who shot 68 and is two shots back as he looks for his second straight win after prevailing in Bermuda two weeks ago.

Round of the day: It was a strong start and finish for English, who birdied four of his first six holes and then chipped in for birdie on the last to shoot 7-under 64, a round that was equaled by Robert Streb, who is 7 under overall.

Best of the rest: Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz rocketed up the leaderboard with a 6-under 65 as he joins younger brother, Alvaro, in the top 10. Alvaro, who played collegiately at Arkansas, is 9 under, a shot ahead of Carlos. Pat Perez, who won at Mayakoba in 2016, also fired a 65 to join the group at 9 under.

Biggest disappointment: Jason Day made four birdies yet somehow carded a 6-over 77 to drop to 5 over and miss the cut by a mile. Not good news for the International Presidents Cup team.

Main storyline entering Sunday: English entered the week with a Tour-leading three top-10s. Not bad for a player who began the fall with limited status after finishing the previous season No. 149 in FedExCup points. Now, English will take a one-shot lead into Sunday’s marathon day, which will feature threesomes off split tees for both rounds and no re-pair after the third round. He hasn’t won in six years, not since the 2013 edition of … the Mayakoba Classic.

Shot of the day: English’s day-ending chip-in.

Quote of the day: “Icing on the cake.” – English after chipping in to take the solo lead.

Defender Matthias Ginter scored one goal and was involved in two more as Germany comfortably saw off Belarus 4-0 on Saturday to clinch their place at Euro 2020, qualifying for the finals for a record 13th time in a row.

The inspired Ginter broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with a clever backheel, provided a dummy which allowed Leon Goreztka to score the second and the pass for Toni Kroos to add the third.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved a penalty from Igor Stasevich in the 75th minute and Kroos added a fourth to complete his first national team brace since the 7-1 World Cup semi-final win over Brazil in 2014.

Group C leaders Germany were given a helping hand by arch-rivals the Netherlands who held Northern Ireland 0-0 away to ensure the Dutch and Germans qualified with one match to spare.

Germany have 18 points -- from six draws and one defeat -- while the Dutch have 16 and Northern Ireland 14.

Belarus have four points but could still qualify as they have reached the playoffs of the Nations League which offers four more places.

"I'm satisfied, there were some very good passing exchanges," said coach Joachim Low, who took over in 2006 and will be in charge at his seventh major tournament.

"We did a good job. All in all, I'm very satisfied. Kroos is extremely important for the team, he's always ready to play, always keeps his cool -- he's elementary for such a young team. He does that very well."

As expected, Germany quickly took control although their early attacks were somewhat predictable.

They were given a fright when Stasevich's dipping long-range shot forced Neuer into a difficult save and they went ahead shortly afterwards.

Serge Gnabry wriggled past his marker and fired a low ball across the face of goal which was flicked in by Ginter for his first Germany goal on his 29th appearance.

Germany increased their lead four minutes after half-time when Kroos sent a low corner to the edge of the area, Ginter dummied and Goretzka fired home.

Six minutes later, Ginter's pass found Kroos on the edge of the area and he swept the ball home with a trademark first-time shot.

Belarus were awarded a penalty when Robin Koch tripped Pavel Nekhaychik but Neuer dived to his right to save Stasevich's spot-kick. Kroos rubbed it in when he collected the ball in the area, spun past his mark, evaded another and fired a low shot past Aleksandr Gutor to complete the rout.

NEW YORK -- A judge has ordered lawyers for the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles to submit a proposed judgment of what the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network should pay the Nationals for television rights from 2012 to '16 based on the decision issued in April by an arbitration panel of three baseball executives.

New York Supreme Court Justice Joel M. Cohen wrote in a decision issued Thursday that MASN should pay the Nationals the $296.8 million recommended by the panel, minus rights fees MASN already has paid for that five-year period. Cohen said the clerk of the court should calculate interest on the net amount from April 15 through the date the remaining money is paid.

Cohen heard renewed arguments Tuesday and denied a motion by the Orioles to reargue the case that led to his Aug. 22 decision to confirm the arbitration award. He said the sides should jointly submit a proposed judgment by Nov. 21 and also said the Orioles are not precluded from seeking recalculations of MASN profit distributions.

The Orioles and Nationals jointly own MASN and have been fighting in court for years. MASN was established in March 2005 after the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington and became the Nationals, moving into what had been Baltimore's exclusive broadcast territory since 1972. The Orioles have a controlling interest in the network.

MASN paid the Nationals for 2012-16 what the Orioles proposed, $197.5 million, and Washington argued it should be paid $475 million.

The parties agreed in 2005 to have disputes over rights fees decided by Major League Baseball's Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee. The decision by the RSDC in April was made by Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, Seattle Mariners president Kevin Mather and Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro.