Akhtar Sarfraz, the former Pakistan and Peshawar batsman, has died aged 43 after a battle with colon cancer. He passed away at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial cancer hospital in Lahore.

A left-hander, Sarfraz played four ODIs between December 1997 and October 1998, scoring 66 runs in four innings. He had a more successful domestic career - 5720 runs in 118 first-class games and 2636 runs in 98 List A games - which spanned over a decade. His last competitive game was for Peshawar in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in 2007.

After ending his playing career, Sarfraz worked as a regional coach and then served as a selector for the Pakistan women's side between 2018 and 2019.

Inna lillahi, wa inna illahi raajeoon - Extremely saddened to hear about the loss of #AkhtarSarfraz who was a great human being. He has been a good coach, manager & most importantly a great friend to me. Thoughts with his family at this tragic time. Allah magfirat farmaaye, Ameen pic.twitter.com/EzOP2bcKFR

— Imran Khan (@ImeeK218) June 10, 2019

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani paid tribute to Sarfraz, saying, "The PCB is shocked to hear the sad news of Akhtar's passing. It is very difficult to accept and comprehend if you lose someone from the cricket fraternity, particularly as young and lively as Akhtar who was admired, respected and loved by everyone.

"It's tragic that death cut short his life at such a young age, but he will live in our memories for a very long period. On behalf of the PCB, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Akhtar's family and assure them that in these difficult times, we stand firmly with them."

Yuvraj Singh called time on an illustrious playing career on Monday, saying the voice inside him had finally told him the time was right to leave. In an interaction with reporters after his announcement, he dwelled at length on the captains who made the most impact on him, how he would always prefer having a World Cup to scoring 10,000 runs, his regret at not having the same impact in Test cricket that he had in ODIs, and how he spurned the offer of a farewell match. Excerpts:

On making peace with his father, the former India fast bowler Yograj Singh, with whom he has had a fraught relationship

I think I actually made peace a couple of days ago when I was talking to my father. So I spoke to him and all the demons inside as a younger kid came out. That conversation happened and he said his side of the story. It was a very peaceful moment for me to have that closure and have that chat with him, because I've never had that chat with him in the last 20 years. He's always been like a dragon to me… I think me and my father both have a very different relationship now. We both have grown up. Well I have grown up, I don't know about him! All his life he has taken off on me in the media, now it's my time.

But yes, I've had closure with him. He never appreciated me playing any other sport. He only appreciated if I played cricket. So I said, "So be it." And luckily for me, later on in my career I started enjoying it and made something good out of it.

I think it was a very beautiful moment talking to my father and talking to my mom about my journey and I was looking for closure.

On why he wasn't able to do as well in Test cricket:

Yes, definitely, that will always be a regret. I think I played at a time when it was very difficult to get a spot. Played with [VVS] Laxman, [Sourav] Ganguly who was captain, Sachin [Tendulkar], Rahul [Dravid], Viru [Virender Sehwag] started opening… it was very hard to find space in the middle order. And that time we used to get one or two Test matches [to prove ourselves] compared to guys today who get 10 to 15 Test matches to play all the time.

So I never really got that spot. Every time I failed, I would lose my spot because it was just me, or Sourav or Laxman… Over seven years I think I sat out of 40 Test matches. And then when Sourav retired, that one year I was actually playing Test cricket. I finally got my spot, but then I got diagnosed with cancer, so… I don't know what to say. It's been unfortunate. If you look at the whole journey it's been great, but unfortunate not to play… another 40 Test matches would have been awesome.

I was batting at No. 6, I averaged about 34-35, which is not great. I would have loved to average 40. But for me, at the end of the day, it's about winning games, and every time I scored runs I'm sure it helped win the game for India. It's a regret, definitely, but I've given my all.

On whether he regrets not scoring 10,000 ODI runs:

No… Scoring 8000, 9000, whatever, definitely you can look at the books and say, "Oh he scored 10,000 runs." But winning the World Cup… I'd rather have winning the World Cup than scoring 10,000 runs. I never thought about 10,000 runs, I always thought about winning the World Cup. 10,000 would be very special, but I think winning the World Cup is far more special.

On his biggest high and his defining moment on the field:

I think the biggest moment in my career would definitely be winning the World Cup in 2011 and being Man of the Series. And we won it in India as well, and after 28 years. There cannot be a bigger high.

Defining moment in my career, I think it would be when I batted for the first time in my career and scored 84 against Australia. First game, and you score 84 against the best team in the world… It was quite a dream. Because of that, I came and failed in a lot of games. But because I had started so well I always got an opportunity.

On his family's reactions when he told them:

I'd been talking to my wife and mother since two years, that I want to retire and go on with my life. But mentally I was not happy. Because after playing international cricket for so many years, going back and playing domestic cricket was a bit of a struggle.

I spoke to my father recently and when I had told him I want to speak to him he was expecting that I would tell him I'm going to retire. He was also saying that, "It's been enough. Almost 19 years and about 25 years of playing cricket." I think he was very happy I was retiring, and he hugged me. He was very satisfied with the journey because he lived his dreams through me. He was very happy with my career and told me that when Kapil Dev had lifted the World Cup [in 1983], he had the regret that he wasn't in that team, but he felt happy when I lifted the World Cup. He was very content with what I had achieved.

On whether he would have wanted a farewell match:

I didn't tell anyone in BCCI that I want to play a last match. If I was good enough and had potential, I would have gone to the ground. I don't like to play cricket in that fashion, that "I want a [farewell] match." I had been told that if I can't pass the yo-yo test, I can play a retirement match. I said then that I don't want a retirement match. If I don't pass the yo-yo test, I'll go home quietly.

On whether the yo-yo test is needed in a bat-ball game:

See, I'm sure in life I will have a lot of time now to discuss these things. I will have a lot to say. I'm not saying it right now because India is playing the World Cup, and I don't want any controversies around the players. Because I want the players to be in the best phase possible to win the last four. I'm sure my time will come to speak. I don't want to be in that space where I retired during the World Cup time and whatever… I just retired because I want to move on with my life, and I'm sure my time will come to talk about these things.

On which current player reminds him of himself:

Not exactly myself, I think he has the potential to be better. Rishabh Pant, he's already scored two Test hundreds away, in Australia and England. I think that boy has great potential to be a very attacking, match-winning left-hander. I'm looking forward to seeing him in the next few years.

On mentorship or coaching in the future:

Not now, I've just retired! I'll enjoy myself for a year or two. After that I'll think about it. Right now I'm going to take some time off. I definitely want to give something back to cricket, and hopefully do some work in the future with the younger generation.

On the captains who had the most impact on him:

I think Sourav Ganguly, under whom I started. He supported me a lot. And with MS Dhoni, I've won a lot of major championships, so definitely these two captains.

Ganguly was very authoritative when it came to fighting for his players. He wanted certain players in the team, like myself, Ashish [Nehra], Bhajju [Harbhajan Singh], Zaheer Khan, [Virender] Sehwag. I think he built us guys together.

Dhoni was very composed under pressure. He had a very good mind behind the stumps for how the game was going.

On his thoughts before the first time he batted in international cricket:

The previous night, Sourav Ganguly told me I have to open. Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and [Glenn] McGrath were the bowlers. I remember it was a night of a lot of anxiety. But I got up in the morning all ready to open and Sourav said, "No no, I was just joking, playing a prank on you." I told him that "Hopefully I will be able to repay the prank some day!"

I think there's less pressure when you're actually going in to bat. There's more pressure outside, I've always felt it. And the moment I was in the zone, it was just like me and the ball.

On how he took revenge on Ganguly:

Gave it back to Sourav? Nicely, after a couple of years, against Pakistan. Bhajji and me made a false newspaper cutting of him accusing his own players. And Sourav got all red on the field and he said, "I don't want to captain this team anymore." And then we said, "April fool, Dada."

On the toughest bowlers he's faced and his favourite overseas cricketers:

You're asking me this now?! (laughter)

I think Muttiah Muralitharan would be the toughest I've faced. The other would be Glenn McGrath. The overseas cricketers I admire… Ricky Ponting is someone I really admire as a batsman. AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle… I think these guys were serious powerhouses when I played against them.

On playing under pressure:

Under the sword, under pressure, I always play my best cricket. I used to enjoy the challenge when we were three or four down. When Kaif and me won that Natwest final, a lot of belief came from that situation, that if I can do this now at such a young age, I can do more in the future.

I felt the pressure a lot when I came back after cancer. I was not that fit, I went to France for training. When I came back in the team, Duncan [Fletcher] was the coach. And I felt there was a lot of pressure just to perform at that time. Everything had changed. Because everybody thinks I've come back from cancer and I'm not the same player anymore. That added up a lot of pressure on me, but that's how life is.

ST. LOUIS -- With the Boston Bruins facing elimination Sunday, Tuukka Rask came up big.

Perhaps you've heard this story before.

Rask was once again exceptional for Boston, making 28 saves -- including one that rolled off his back -- as the Bruins defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-1 in Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Wednesday.

It has been a familiar trend for Boston this postseason: Rely on the 32-year-old Finn when it matters most. In three games in which the Bruins faced elimination this postseason -- Sunday's Game 6, along with Games 6 and 7 of their first-round series against Toronto -- Rask is 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .953 save percentage, allowing only four goals.

"He's been a big reason why we're in this position," teammate Patrice Bergeron said. "He was definitely in the zone."

Added defenseman Charlie McAvoy: "He just steps up when it matters, and we have all the faith in the world in him, and to see him play the way that he did, it's really not a surprise to us. We just believe in him so much, and we know the kind of person and player he is. He's our rock."

It was all the more impressive considering the atmosphere in St. Louis. Before puck drop, nearly 30,000 fans poured into a downtown square surrounding the arena, and the crowd buzzed as the Blues looked to clinch their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. St. Louis came out aggressively on the forecheck, maintained possession and had the first power play as it began the game with a 5-1 lead in shots. Rask took it from there.

St. Louis finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Many Bruins players called Rask their best penalty killer.

"We killed that penalty in the first period. That's huge," Rask said. "Last time we were here, they scored 30 seconds in. Obviously you don't want that to happen again. We weathered the storm pretty good and then got the lead. It was a great start."

Rask's unflappability has been apparent in these playoffs. In interviews throughout this postseason, he has never wavered in tone. He has exuded confidence and calmness.

With another standout performance on Sunday, Rask catapulted to the favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. After all, no goalie has played as many games in a playoff year as Rask's 22 while posting a better save percentage than his current mark of .941. Coincidentally, the goalie who previously held that record? Tim Thomas, who led Boston to its most recent Stanley Cup in 2011 with a .940 save percentage in 25 games. Rask was the backup on that team.

Rask pitched a shutout through two and a half periods and was close to becoming just the fourth goalie in the past 60 years to record a shutout on the road while facing elimination in a Stanley Cup Final. The others in that elusive group: Thomas, Ed Belfour and Patrick Roy.

Perhaps Rask's most ridiculous save came in the second period, when a puck bounced off the post and deflected off Rask's back before McAvoy batted it away.

Rask had already seen a replay by the time he met with reporters.

"I didn't know where it was, and I figured it might be somewhere behind me, so I just tried to corral it with my hand behind my back -- and then it stuck in my pants, and then it fell somewhere," Rask said. "I think Chucky made a great play to keep it out of the net originally, and it's never a good thing for a goalie to kinda be facing the play with your back, but luckily it stayed out."

The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring former UConn and WNBA star Swin Cash for a senior front-office position, league sources told ESPN.

The team will name Cash vice president of basketball operations and team development, sources say. She will scout, help guide player development on and off the floor, and assume other roles within the organization.

This is the latest in a string of major hirings by David Griffin, the Pelicans' new executive president of basketball operations -- and the man charged with handling the Anthony Davis situation. Last month, Griffin hired Aaron Nelson, head of the Phoenix Suns' highly regarded training staff for two decades, as the Pelicans' new vice president of player care and performance. Two weeks later, Griffin hired Trajan Langdon away from the Brooklyn Nets to serve as the Pelicans' new general manager.

Cash, 39, played 15 seasons in the WNBA and made four All-Star teams. She was a member of the 2000 and 2002 national championship teams at UConn, and she won three WNBA titles. In 2017, the New York Liberty named Cash director of franchise development. She also has appeared across several television platforms in an analyst role, including on NBA TV last season with Griffin.

CHICAGO -- The best anyone had seen of Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber was back in 2016, when he helped his team to a World Series title, playing on one knee after missing almost the entire regular season. That is, until now, as Schwarber has gotten red-hot as the Cubs' leadoff man in 2019.

"That's as good as I've seen him -- ever," manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs' 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. "If we could put this in a little bit of time capsule, heads up."

Schwarber was on base three times and drove in two runs while completing a scorching homestand for him. He hit .435 with a .463 on-base percentage to go with two home runs and five driven in -- all while batting leadoff.

"I don't know," Schwarber said when asked what the key was. "I'm just going out there and playing. That's all I want to do. Just keep putting together quality at-bats."

Maddon saw a change in Schwarber's batting stance during spring training, as he's in more of a crouch than in the past. The results have been mixed -- until recently.

"Love his stance right now," Maddon said. "Love what he's doing in the box. That's it. That's why he's punishing the baseball. He's made some beautiful adjustments."

Sunday night's starter, Kyle Hendricks, echoed Maddon's thoughts.

"Right now, he's absolutely locked in at the plate," Hendricks said. "Being a leadoff guy like that for us is huge -- setting the table, driving in runs, he's really doing everything."

Schwarber noticeably struggled when he was moved to first in the batting order back in 2017. This time around, he has been more respectable, getting on base at the top of the order just under 35 percent of the time. He'll remain there for the time being.

"Just a little bit more experience there and taking away that leadoff hitter [label] and just going out there and taking my at-bats," Schwarber said. "Just have to keep the consistency in the cage and trust it."

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright was pulled in the fifth inning of St. Louis' 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday because of left hamstring tightness, the team said.

Wainwright pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs before Giovanny Gallegos relieved him with the Cardinals trailing 3-1.

Wainwright, 5-5 with a 4.34 ERA, had minor elbow surgery after the 2017 season and was just 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA last year, appearing in only eight regular-season games.

In six seasons through 2014, Wainwright finished second or third in National League Cy Young Award voting four times.

Coming off a $97.5 million, five-year contract that paid him $19.5 million last season, the 37-year-old right-hander agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn $8 million in performance bonuses as a starting pitcher, $3 million for relief appearances and $4 million more for games finished.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Max Muncy added another layer to the Dodgers-Giants rivalry with a long home run off Madison Bumgarner that landed in McCovey Cove and left the San Francisco ace fuming.

Then, Muncy tossed in a verbal jab for good measure as he rounded the bases.

"I told him: `If you don't want me to watch the ball you can go in the ocean and get it,''' Muncy said. "Honestly, I thought it was probably one of my tamer bat-flips that I've ever done. I didn't actually think it was anything outrageous. I took one or two steps out of the box, started jogging, and that was really all it was.''

On a day highlighted by strong pitching from both teams, Muncy's blast into the San Francisco Bay accounted for the only run in the Dodgers' 1-0 win over the Giants on Sunday.

Walker Buehler and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as Los Angeles remained unbeaten in its last 11 series (nine wins, two splits), the longest active streak in the majors.

"It was kind of an old-school baseball game,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "You get two No. 1's going head to head. We saw the best of Madison Bumgarner and matched Walker pitch for pitch. Fortunately for us, we scored one more than they did.'' That one run nearly sparked fireworks between the NL West rivals after Bumgarner became upset watching Muncy stroll out of the box following his home run.

"He said, `You don't watch the ball, you run,''' Muncy said. "That's what he told me. Truth of it is, it was just a guy out there competing. He was upset he made a bad pitch. That's really all it was to it.''

Bumgarner (3-6) left a 92 mph fastball high over the plate to Muncy, who crushed the ball 426 feet into the waters past the walkway beyond the right field wall.

Already frustrated by two pitches that didn't go his way against leadoff hitter Kike Hernandez, Bumgarner was even more angry after Muncy admired his home run while slowly walking toward first base. Bumgarner walked toward Muncy and the two players appeared to yell at one another as Muncy rounded the bag.

"He just struck a pose and walked further than I liked,'' Bumgarner said.

Plate umpire Will Little rushed out and walked Bumgarner back toward the mound as Muncy continued around the bases. Muncy then shouted toward Bumgarner again as he crossed the plate.

The fiery Bumgarner acknowledged he's struggling adapting to the new age of baseball with exaggerated bat flips and slow home run trots.

"They want to let everybody be themselves. Let me be myself,'' Bumgarner said. "I just as soon fight than walk or whatever. Just do your thing, I'll do mine.''

Muncy grounded out and walked without further incident in two other at-bats against Bumgarner. Nine of Muncy's 13 home runs have come on the road.

Buehler (7-1) allowed five hits, struck out nine and walked one over seven innings. The right-hander allowed one runner past second base and struck out the side in the fourth. Buehler also beat the Giants on April 30 and is 3-0 in five starts against San Francisco.

Pedro Baez worked around a walk in the eighth, and Kenley Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances to complete the Dodgers' major league-high ninth shutout this season.

DEJA VU

This was the Giants first 1-0 loss at home since June 12, 2015. The losing pitcher in that game? Bumgarner.

NO SUPPORT San Francisco was 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 2 for 27 in five games. San Francisco got back-to-back singles leading off the sixth but Mike Yastrzemski was run down from behind by catcher Austin Barnes trying to scramble back to third on Pablo Sandoval's grounder to third. Buehler then retired Stephen Vogt and Kevin Pillar on flyouts.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LF Joc Pederson was rested because of a sore lower back, an injury he sustained sliding home Saturday.

Giants: 1B Brandon Belt was scratched from the lineup because of a stomach illness. ... Buster Posey (right hamstring strain) ran on a treadmill before the game and will run the bases during Monday's off day. If all goes well, the team expects to activate the Posey off the inactive list Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.35 ERA) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Ryu has the lowest ERA among qualifying pitchers in the majors to go with a 0.77 WHIP.

Giants: RHP Tyler Beede (0-2, 8.15) takes another shot at his first major league win when he faces the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

Former Boston Red Sox slugger and Dominican star David Ortiz is out of surgery and doing "fine," according to his family, after he was shot Sunday at a club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Ortiz's media assistant, Leo Lopez, told ESPN's Enrique Rojas that Ortiz is stable but still in intensive care.

"Doctors say he is out of danger, but he is heavily sedated and will be in intensive care for the next 24 hours," Lopez said.

Lopez, a veteran reporter, said the operation lasted six hours and was performed by three doctors, led by Dr. Abel Gonzalez. The team had to remove part of Ortiz's intestines and colon, as well as his gallbladder. Ortiz suffered liver damage.

"Doctors say that David is out of danger, thank God," Ortiz's father, Leo Ortiz, told ESPN. "What they have told me post-op is that the doctors believe he will recover quickly."

Leo Ortiz added: "Big Papi will be around for a long time.''

Authorities say Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at nearly point-blank range around 8:50 p.m. local time Sunday at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo.

Ortiz, 43, was taken to the Abel Gonzalez clinic, where he underwent surgery.

The gunman was identified as Eddy Feliz Garcia, 25, according to police spokesman Col. Frank Duran Mejia. Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Garcia was captured and beaten by a crowd of people at the bar. He suffered a cranium contusion and trauma to his thorax, left knee and right leg, according to the Dominican Republic's National Health Service. He was treated at the Dario Contreras Hospital in Santo Domingo and then released to police custody.

Investigators are trying to determine whether Ortiz was the intended target, Bautista said. Leo Ortiz told local media he has no idea why someone would have shot at his son.

Two other people were wounded, Bautista said, including Jhoel Lopez, a Dominican TV host who was with Ortiz. Bautista said police believe Lopez was wounded by the same bullet.

Lopez was shot in the leg, and his injuries were not life-threatening, said his wife, Liza Blanco, who is also a TV host.

Police did not identify the third person or detail that person's injuries.

Dionisio Soldevila, a reporter from the Dominican who hosts a radio show with ESPN's Rojas, told ESPN that he spoke with the doctor who first treated Ortiz and was told Ortiz was shot in the lower back and that the bullet went through his body. According to Soldevila, Ortiz told his doctors, "Please don't let me die. I'm a good man."

The Dial Bar and Lounge is located in eastern Santo Domingo on Venezuela Avenue, a bustling nightlife district packed with dance clubs and pricey bars that Ortiz is known to frequent. Ortiz, who lives at least part of the year in the Dominican, is often seen getting his cars washed and hanging out with friends, including other baseball players, artists and entertainers.

Hall of Fame pitcher and fellow Dominican Pedro Martinez was among several current and former baseball players to send out tweets in support of Ortiz.

I'm at peace knowing you out of danger; you a strong man Compai, can't wait to hear your voice. My thoughts and prayers are with you, see you soon.
Me siento tranquilo de saber que estás fuera de peligro, usted es fuerte Compai, ya quiero oírle la voz. Orando, nos vemos pronto pic.twitter.com/jdSnNsM7eI

— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) June 10, 2019

Ortiz, who was born in Santo Domingo, played major league baseball for 20 seasons and was best known for the 14 years he spent with Boston.

The Red Sox issued a statement late Sunday night that said in part, "We have offered David's family all available resources to aid in his recovery and will continue to keep them in our hearts."

Ortiz made 10 All-Star teams and won three World Series with the Red Sox before retiring in 2016. He was named World Series MVP in 2013, when he helped the Red Sox knock off the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SONOMA, Calif. – The Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R team of Scott Hargrove and Patrick Long were victorious in Sunday’s Blancpain GT World Challenge America race at Sonoma Raceway.

Southern California team GMG Racing’s James Sofronas and Dirk Werner won in the Pro/Am class.

Pole sitter and Pro/Am category competitor Matt Campbell, in the No. 91 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, took the green flag and led the pack through turn one to start the 90-minute, 48-lap contest.

Second-on-the-grid and Saturday’s co-winner Toni Vilander slotted into second in his No. 61 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3. California native and former GT Driver’s Champion Long slotted into third in his No. 58 machine, with Werner in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in fourth. Another former GT Driver’s champion Alvaro Parente, in the Sonoma based K-PAX Racing No. 9 Bentley Continental GT3 deftly moved up two positions on the start and into fifth.

Before competitors could complete the first lap, Race Control issued a full-course yellow to retrieve a disabled car. On the restart the top 5 held their positions, with Campbell stretching his lead to 1.7 seconds by lap seven. By lap 19, the top-five – Campbell, Vilander, Long, Werner, and Parente – continued to hold their positions, with Campbell leading by over four seconds on Vilander.

The 10-minute pit window for refueling and driver/tire changes opened on lap 22, and Long brought his No. 58 machine into the pits first. Vilander pitted near the mid-point of the window, while Campbell pitted near the end of the window.

With the pit stops complete, Imperato, who took over for Campbell, maintained a slight lead, while Hargrove slotted into second, Molina, who took over for Vilander, in third, Soucek (Parente) fourth and Pro/Am Saturday race winner Mike Hedlund now in fifth in the No. 43 RealTime Racing Acura NSX. Sofronas slotted into third in class, seventh overall.

On lap 30, Hargrove moved into the overall race lead overtaking Imperato through turn seven. On lap 37, contact between two machines approaching turn 4 brought out a full-course yellow. On the restart, Hargrove led Molina, Soucek and Imperato to the line. By lap 41, with 14 minutes remaining in race, Hargrove held a .676 of a lead over Molina, while in Pro/Am Imperato led Sofronas who had moved past Hedlund. Another full-course yellow was issued when the No. 63 of David Askew in the DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 went off at the exit of turn six.

The lap 45 restart with four-minutes left in the race initiated a green, white, checkered shootout. Hargrove once again led Molina and Soucek to the line, while behind them Imperato worked to hold off Sofronas. On the white flag lap, Sofronas executed a pass through turn 3/3A to take over the lead in Pro/Am.

At the checkered, Hargrove won over Molina by 1.3 seconds with Soucek in third overall. Sofronas finished sixth overall and first in Pro/Am over Hedlund (seventh overall) and Imperato (eighth overall).

Unofficially, Vilander and Molina co-lead the Pro category Driver’s Championship leaving Sonoma with 148 points. Parente and Soucek sit second with 134 points. Hargrove and Long sit third with 101 points. Pro/Am championship leaders coming into the weekend, Kyle Marcelli and Martin Barkey finished fourth in Pro/Am and ninth overall in the race and leave Sonoma in the lead in category with 128 points.

“It’s been a hard-luck year and it’s finally over. Pat (Long) had an awesome qualifying and held it in third and the Wright Motorsports guys did a great job in the pit stop and were on it and we managed to jump the Ferrari. Our Porsche was absolutely on rails and I’m just so happy to be back in victory lane,” said Hargrove. “The Wright Motorsports guys have I think been the fastest in the pit lane all year, and they got the job done today.”

TOPEKA, Kan. – Steve Torrence raced to his fifth consecutive victory Sunday afternoon at the 31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park when he beat his father, Billy Torrence, in the final round.

Robert Hight was also victorious in Funny Car at the 10th of 24 events on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Defending world champion Steve Torrence raced his Capco Contractors dragster to a run of 3.750 seconds at 326.16 mph to defeat Billy Torrence’s 3.768-second run. Steve Torrence was the No. 1 qualifier, secured his first event victory at Heartland Motorsports Park and the 32nd of his career.

“There are no losers or winners today,” Steve Torrence stated. “My dad has given me the opportunity to do anything and everything I’ve wanted to do in life and to be able to come out here and race with him as a family and to do this its pretty unbelievable. My mom, my dad and all of those Capco boys are great guys but we’re going to go home to Capco and brag a little bit, but I don’t know what the race was. I saw him right beside me when we shut it off. So, it was an unbelievable day. This is probably one of the most special ones ever.”

Steve Torrence faced Terry Totten and Antron Brown before entering the finals. Billy Torrence defeated Lex Joon, Richie Crampton and Austin Prock.

Hight locked-in his 49th career victory at the race that started it all for him 25 years ago when he worked on John Force’s Funny Car. He defeated Jack Beckman with a run of 3.895 seconds at 330.88 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS for his fourth victory of the season.

“I think that was the second time this year we’ve qualified in the bottom half of the field,” Hight said. “We just had bad luck. We didn’t miss it or do anything wrong, we just simply had bad luck every run. Finally, we get it together for Q4 and have low E.T. of the session and then low E.T. every session on race day. Once you get going with this team, you just start rolling.”

Hight raced Shawn Langdon, defending world champion J.R. Todd and Tommy Johnson Jr. before entering his 77th career final round. Beckman defeated teammate Matt Hagan, Tim Wilkerson and John Force en route to his second final round of the season.