CONCORD, N.C. — There’s a question that’s been asked since the first day there were enough cars to race: Is auto racing a contact sport, or is it not?

Decidedly, motorsports is, in fact, a contact sport. It can’t help but be one. Why?

Well, most of the racing done around the world (with notable exceptions in the case of desert racing and racing that is done in the air, on water or on ice, etc.) has defined limits. There is a course, marked by an inner barrier and an outer barrier. Racing must be done between the two.

When there are limits to where you can race, there is a further limit that involves relative physics, which means two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time without effect. Not to go all Carl Sagan on you, but it is a physical fact.

Hence, auto racing is a contact sport. Just because two cars can’t occupy the same space at the same time doesn’t mean in the least that a driver cannot move someone off the space he or she wants to occupy, and it is done quite frequently at most of the hundreds of tracks in operation around the world.

As with any action, there is a reaction, and it is usually at the very least an equal and opposite one.

YouTube is full of videos of racing crashes and their aftermath. North Carolina’s Bowman Gray Speedway features in a fair number, for some reason, and the reactions can be quite over-the-top on occasion.

All of that has been to tell you this: If you ain’t rubbin’, you ain’t racin’.

Can it be carried too far?

Certainly, and it can get drivers, crew members, spectators and track workers hurt or worse.

Now that we’ve determined racing is a contact sport and an action usually engenders a response, what can be done to control it?

Officials can do the Formula One thing, which is to assess time penalties or disqualifications based on the action, or officials can let the boys (and girls) police themselves. Somewhere between the two lies the proper response, but it can vary depending on who it is, why it happened and the end result.

For instance, say Driver A wants the lane that Driver B is using bad enough to move him/her out of the groove. The bumper is applied, physics happens, the two swap places. Driver B can return the favor, either in the same manner or in a slightly more vigorous manner. Bump turns to shove, shove turns to flat dumping the other car, and the battle keeps going.

Then what?

Well, there are always the circumstances to consider, and the potential for harm. If it settles down, let the racers race and have the security folks on call after the race. If it doesn’t, throw the yellow flag and sort it out then and there. If it keeps escalating, throw the red flag, park the cars and tell the offenders to retire to the pit area for cool-down and continue sans combatants, preferably with all those involved keeping to their own pit areas.

A lot has gone on in the nature of retaliation over the past several weeks. At Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway in July, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had enough of Kurt Busch in the late stages and turned him sideways down the Long Pond Straight, collecting Michael McDowell in the aftermath. Were there any penalties? No … at least none that were announced. That’s an example of letting the racers sort it out. That approach usually works when bigger stakes are at play.

I’ve seen it get much worse and I can tell you the intensity varies. At long-lost Flemington (N.J.) Speedway some years ago, during a huge multi-division event, the entire street stock pit area was embroiled in an old-fashioned donnybrook because one driver turned another on the final lap. That is an example of a touch too much for regular racing.

Most of the people fighting were not members of the two teams involved. That’s happened in NASCAR on many, many occasions, too. That’s when it gets scary.

I am firmly of the opinion that retaliation is fine, if done properly. If a veteran driver chooses to administer a time-honored okeydoke on a younger, more impetuous rival, so be it. Experience is a potent — and expensive — teacher.

When it gets to where it can hurt or maim someone not involved, it’s time to send a message. Make it stick, make it expensive and make an impression.

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – When you combine the last names of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier, it’s not quite as catchy as 'Moliwood.' But the pair of European standouts had perfect weeks at the Solheim Cup.

Hall and Boutier each went 4-0 at Gleneagles, teaming up three times as near-perfect complements – twice in foursomes – and then coming from behind to nab their singles matches. 

“Pretty special,” said Hall, playing in her second Solheim Cup. “Four out of four.”

Hall notched a 2-and-1 victory over Lexi Thompson, who injured her back in her warmup Sunday. Thompson led 2 up after eight holes, but Hall started to make putts – and Thompson began to miss them. 

Thompson missed short par attempts at Nos. 10 and 11, and Hall found herself 2 up after another Thompson par miss at the par-4 15th. Hall clinched the match with a brilliant up-and-down par at the par-3 17th.

“I played 33 holes [Saturday] and you saw the weather. I was pretty tired, but you go on adrenaline as well,” Hall said. “Lexi, she's absolutely an amazing player, so I had to kind of be switched on from the start. I'm very happy to have the win.”

Boutier, a rookie, beat Annie Park by the same score after a slow start. She double-bogeyed the first hole and fell 2 down after four holes. But she was able to square the match after seven despite not making a bogey.

The putts then started to fall. She birdied Nos. 9, 10 and 14, and then added another at the par-5 16th. Like Hall, Boutier won on No. 17 with an up-and-down par.

“It's unreal,” Boutier said. “I mean I would have never expected to do so well, but I had a great partner in the doubles with Georgia, and then today I just tried to focus on my game. And after that me and Annie both played very well and steady all day. We just have to make birdies to win holes. And that's the kind of golf we like to play, so it was a very good round, and kind of an incredible experience, four points for the European team.”

AMSTERDAM – Sergio Garcia won the 100th edition of the KLM Open by one shot Sunday, holding his nerve for a par on the final hole to finish on 18 under and leave Nicolai Hojgaard in second place.

Garcia kissed his young daughter Azalea and threw her up in the air on the 18th green after holing a short putt to seal his victory with a 3-under 69 in the final round that mixed four bogeys with seven birdies.

"Great week, amazing," Garcia said. "We had a great week and it's great to win again."

The Spaniard played it safe on the final hole, just moments after 18-year-old Hojgaard (68) had narrowly missed an eagle putt on the same hole to finish 17 under.

"It was nice I only needed a five on the last," Garcia said.

Matt Wallace (68) of England finished third on 15 under.

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – With the Americans’ one-point loss to Europe on Sunday at Gleneagles, Juli Inkster fell short of a Solheim Cup-record third straight victory as captain.

Inkster will likely end up just shy of another record, too.

After her team’s narrow defeat, Inkster was asked if she’d return to lead the U.S. team in two years at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, and in the process join Europe’s Mickey Walker as the only four-time Solheim Cup captains.

“No. No. No,” Inkster said, emphatically. “I'm not even getting on the call.”

Inkster, 59, has left quite the mark on Team USA. She injected an energy into her teams unlike many had before her, starting in Germany in 2015 and then again in Iowa two years ago. She danced. She deejayed. She led.

And on Sunday, after Europe’s Suzann Pettersen drained the winning putt Sunday on the 18th green, she reassured.

“We had a few tears,” Inkster said. “And I said it's OK. But the bottom line is we had a great week, and you know what, the Europeans played great. And we're going to have a great party.”

Added Lizette Salas: “She just encourages us to play with heart and class and integrity, and that is something that – it's indescribable. She's an incredible role model on and off the golf course, and this team is going to miss her.

“But I know she'll be there in Toledo, and she'll be cheering us on as we try to get that Cup back.”

And to that, Inkster replied: “You bet.”

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – As the European players rushed the 18th green to congratulate their hero, Suzann Pettersen, Sunday at Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, the highest-ranked player in the field watched with her American teammates.

This certainly wasn’t the Solheim Cup that world No. 3 Lexi Thompson had envisioned.

Thompson entered the week needing to step up as a leader for Team USA, especially without her longtime partner and American spearhead Cristie Kerr, with whom she had gone 11-1-2 with in international team matches. But in her pre-tournament presser, Thompson declined to anoint herself as one, and in some ways, it foreshadowed her performance.

Thompson paired with three different players in team play, going 0-1-2 and failed to make a single point. She struggled with her ballstriking in the wind, and her only real putt of consequence came on Friday evening, when she sank a 15-footer for birdie at the last to earn one of those half-points.

Things got worse Sunday, when she tweaked her back during her warmup and wasn’t sure if she’d be able to compete in her singles match against undefeated Georgia Hall. Thompson’s agent, Bobby Kreusler, told Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz that Thompson’s back was in “full spasm.”

She ultimately teed off but needed caddie Benji Thompson to tee up her ball for her on the first tee.

Eventually, Thompson’s back loosened up, but with it the American star also saw her lead dwindle and then disappear. Thompson missed short putts for par at Nos. 10, 11 and 15 as Hall secured a 2-up lead with three holes to play. Two holes later, Thompson again bogeyed to end her disappointing week.

“I don't think her back injury had anything to do with [her loss], U.S. captain Juli Inkster said. “She tweaked it a little bit, but she was fine after a few holes. Golf's hard. It's hard. You're going to go through ups and downs, and I know she felt like she didn't hit it the way she usually hits it. But you're going to have weeks like that.

“She'll be back. She's No. 3 in the world. And she's got so much talent. I would take Lexi Thompson on my team any day.”

Saturday's USL Championship match between Phoenix Rising and LA Galaxy II was abandoned with six minutes remaining over concerns about player safety.

Phoenix's Ben Spencer had just scored to put the Rising ahead 4-1 in the 77th minute when a beer can was thrown onto the field that landed in close proximity to several Galaxy II players. A statement from the Phoenix Rising identified the perpetrator as a "non-Phoenix Rising supporter."

*ahem*

By the way...

20 STRAIGHT WINS#UpRising pic.twitter.com/8o9qQqxmve

— x-Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 15, 2019

The referees suspended the match, which took place at Phoenix's Casino Arizona Field, and sent the players to their respective locker rooms. But as the players were walking off the field, LA Galaxy II forward Augustine Williams was struck in the back by an object that, according to the Rising statement, was thrown by a Phoenix fan.

At the point, the decision was made by the referee to abandon the match, with Phoenix declared the winner. Per USL rules, should a contest be abandoned after the 70th minute with one side holding at least a three-goal advantage, the result may be declared official, thus handing the Rising its 20th straight win.

According to the statement, "Both fans were identified and have been banned from the stadium. In addition, the club will be moving to plastic cups for future games."

Arsenal let a two goal lead slip to draw 2-2 against Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored two goals in the first half but Watford produced a great comeback in the second half with goals from Tom Cleverley and Roberto Pereyra.

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It was Watford's first match since rehiring Quique Sanchez Flores as head coach after sacking Javi Gracia during the international break and Arsenal boss Unai Emery admitted his countryman's side gave them fits with their physical play.

"They are more stronger than us so we want to break the lines from the goal kick and connect to Mesut Ozil, like we did with the first goal," he said.

"We have young players, we are working to improve and they will gain experience from matches like today. We can grow up and learn with these mistakes."

Arsenal playmaker Mezut Ozil made his first appearance of the season after missing the opening day due to a security incident.

Watford started the game brightly and Gerard Deulofeu and Cleverley forced early saves from Bernd Leno in the opening stages.

But it was the visitors who took the lead when Dani Ceballos won the ball on the halfway line and Sead Kolasinac raced into the box and set up Aubameyang for his first goal.

The Gabon international scored his second with a tap-in 10 minutes later after Ozil and Ainsley Maitland-Niles exchanged passes.

Watford got back into the game after the break through a Cleverley strike after a defensive mistake from Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

After dominating the second half, Watford levelled with less than 10 minutes remaining through a Roberto Pereyra after he was brought down by David Luiz.

Abdoulaye Doucoure had a wonderful chance to win the game in the stoppage time but his shot went straight to Leno.

"I was really happy with the performance of the players," Sanchez Flores said. "We have one point against a very tough team. It's good for our confidence. We are positive."

Victory would have put Arsenal into third place but they ended the day seventh in a cluster of clubs on eight points.

Arsenal failed to get back to winning ways in the Premier League as they surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with Watford at Vicarage Road. target="_blank">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice in the first 45 minutes to heap the pressure onto the Hornets, but a Tom Cleverley strike and Roberto Pereyra penalty ensured the two sides shared the spoils.

Positives

Arsenal were often able to carve Watford out at the back and whenever they made their way down the wings, there was an ever-present threat of a goal. There was a fluidity to their movement that took their opponents a while to figure out, to the point where you could argue there is no better attacking cohesion on display in the the Premier League.

Negatives

The visitors were incredibly sloppy from a defensive standpoint and were bullied off the ball at will, especially in the first half. They allowed Watford far too much space on the ball and appeared to ride their luck after building a two-goal lead, which came back to haunt them after the Hornets were able to string together some smart passages of play.

Manager rating out of 10

Unai Emery, 6 -- The Spaniard went with a bit more of an experimental formation and line-up, which seemed to pay off for much of the game. Yet he panicked with his substitutions when the Gunners were under pressure and bringing off Ceballos came across as a questionable decision.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bernd Leno, 6 -- The keeper's finest moment came in the 11th moment when he made a nice save from Tom Cleverley. Struggled with his catching at times, and probably could have shown more power to deny both Watford goals.

DF Sead Kolasinac, 6 -- Carried the ball forward incredibly well for Arsenal's opening goal of the game. Picked up a yellow card in the 43rd minute for a silly challenge on Hughes and seemed to lose his composure from that point.

DF David Luiz, 5 -- Never seemed overwhelmingly eager to close Watford down and always looked like he was in a state of panic when they were surging forward. Gave away the penalty for Watford's second with a needless trip inside the area.

DF Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 5 -- Looked to be on track for a strong performance after the first half, but was responsible for carelessly giving the ball away as Cleverley began Watford's comeback.

DF Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 6 -- Wasn't particularly effective at the back and always seemed to be weak on the ball. Had some great positional play for Arsenal's second goal, which he assisted.

MF Granit Xhaka, 6 -- Looked lazy at points but did his job in the middle fairly well considering the criticism he's been receiving as of late. Had a golden opportunity to steal a victory for Arsenal in the 88th minute but couldn't control the ball.

MF Dani Ceballos, 7 -- His intensity and vision continues to be one of the brightest sparks in Arsenal's starting XI. Won the ball back in vital positions and controlled the pace well. Was surprisingly substituted in the 60th minute.

MF Mesut Ozil, 7 -- Put in the kind of creative display that reminds fans and pundits as to why he can be such a valuable asset for the Gunners. Played a nice through-ball that opened the door for his side's second goal. Was substituted in the 71st minute.

MF Matteo Guendouzi, 5 -- Arguably his worst performance in an Arsenal shirt. Gave the ball away in vital areas of the pitch and picked up an avoidable yellow card for a push off the ball. Was substituted in the 67th minute.

FW Nicolas Pepe, 6 -- Moved around the pitch with such ease and was consistently able to unlock Watford at the back. Allowed the ball to get away from him on a few occasions and lost his cool during a scuffle late in the game.

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 8 -- Scored both of Arsenal's goals and was always a threat. His turn and strike for the first was great, while the second showcased his ability to get into perfect positions.

Substitutes

MF Joe Willock, 6 -- Will go down as a questionable substitution from Emery as Willock, aside from a few moments of joy, looked tense after coming on in the 60th minute.

MF Lucas Torreira, 6 -- Was quite ineffective after taking to the pitch in the 67th minute, and didn't really have enough time to get into the usual rhythm we've seen in the past from the Uruguay international.

MF Reiss Nelson, NR -- Had a few bright moments after being brought on in the 71st minute but lacked the end product that Arsenal desired.

With the T20 World Cup just over a year away, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the India captain and coach, have laid out their expectations from Rishabh Pant.

The wicketkeeper-batsman's shot selection has been under the scanner. While reiterating his faith in Pant's talent and destructive ability, Shastri said some of his decisions with the bat had let the team and himself down.

"When you see a shot like the one in Trinidad, off the first ball, [it's disappointing]," Shastri said in an interview to Star Sports, referring to Pant skipping down the track to Fabian Allen in India's third ODI against West Indies in Port-of-Spain, only to mis-time his loft to mid-off.

"He tries to repeat it a couple of times and gets out, he will be told," Shastri said. "There will be a rap on the knuckles there - talent or no talent - because you are letting the team down, forget letting yourself down. You are letting the team down in a situation where you have the captain at the other end [Kohli was at the crease when Pant got out with India needing 164 off 22.3 overs]. You have a target to chase where the need of the hour is some sensible cricket."

That innings was Pant's second first-ball duck of the tour to the West Indies. In the first T20I in Lauderhill, he top-edged a slog sweep off Sunil Narine.

"No one will change his style but match awareness becomes crucial, shot selection becomes crucial in particular situations," Shastri went on. "If he can fathom that out, he could be unstoppable. You mentioned how many games [it would take], it could be one game, it could be four games. I don't see more than that. He will learn. He has played enough IPL cricket. So it's time now for him to step on to the stage and just show the world how devastating he is."

"There will be a rap on the knuckles there - talent or no talent - because you are letting the team down, forget letting yourself down." Ravi Shastri on Rishabh Pant

Kohli said the expectation was not for Pant to change his approach and natural game but to read situations better.

"Expectations are only of reading situations," Kohli said in the same interview. "You don't expect a guy to play according to what you might be thinking. It's about analysing the situation and finding your own way of dealing with the situation. Someone like Rishabh might hit five boundaries in a difficult situation compared to me who likes to take ones and twos and get out of it. So everyone has their own game. But reading the situation and decision-making is the expectation from all the players, including myself."

India's calendar is geared towards preparing the team for the T20 World Cup, and while there is likely to be an effort at widening the pool and giving opportunities to potential candidates, Kohli said that those aiming to make a mark couldn't expect more than about five games to do so.

"Youngsters are being pushed into the side from time to time because you need to figure out who are the people who have the mentality, the mindset and the character to take the [team's] vision forward," Kohli said. "We hope they establish themselves and grab those chances. From the team and the management point of view, we are clear on the fact that you will get about five opportunities and you have to make the most of it. That's the level we are playing at.

"I think the individuals coming in need to have that mindset. The guys who grab those opportunities quickly, they just grab the opportunities. It's a delicate balance to strike but it's necessary because you have 30 matches and you have to figure it out how much time each individual can be given."

Shastri felt that a pool of approximately 18 players to choose from should be the target immediately before the T20 World Cup. "I would say a pool of 18 players [would be ideal]," Shastri said. "We already have 15, so if you get another three from the outside in that span, you have got your pool. But the important thing is to be prepared to invest, not be scared that you might lose an odd game or two."

England 294 (Buttler 70, Root 57, Marsh 5-46) and 329 (Denly 94, Stokes 67, Lyon 4-69) beat Australia 225 (Smith 80, Archer 6-62) and 263 (Wade 117, Leach 4-49, Broad 4-62) by 135 runs

For the first time since 1972 there was a drawn Ashes series as England prevailed by a convincing 135 runs at The Oval with Stuart Broad and Jack Leach taking four wickets apiece alongside two for Joe Root who enjoyed a good day as captain. Matthew Wade struck a fantastic century, which included a compelling duel with Jofra Archer, but England shifted Steven Smith for 23 and Wade could not find anyone to stay with him long enough to bring the target within sight.

After what happened at Headingley just a few weeks ago - and because Australia have the best since Bradman - even with a target of 399 it didn't quite feel like a foregone conclusion when the chase started early on the fourth day. However, with Broad continuing his stranglehold over Australia's openers - getting David Warner for the seventh time in the series - and returning to have Smith caught at leg gully (and plan 774-runs in the making) it was 85 for 4 with the feeling the end could come swiftly.

ALSO READ: How Broad has owned Warner

Wade then added stands of 63 with Mitchell Marsh, 52 with Tim Paine and 44 with Pat Cummins, each time England nabbing the breakthrough before things got troublesome. He and Archer went toe-to-toe during an hour of thrilling cricket after tea - Archer touching 95mph but staying wicketless during an eight-over spell - with Wade reaching his hundred from 147 balls before being stumped off Root which heralded the end. On a day where he saw plans come together, Root had the satisfaction of taking the final catch with a brilliant snare at midwicket.

Broad made the early moves with the new ball as he has done so often during the series. A beauty extracted Marcus Harris' off stump (of course from around the wicket) and then had a skittish Warner sparring outside off to third slip where Rory Burns was again very sharp. The first of those wickets made him the only England bowler to take 20 wickets in four-Ashes series and the Warner scalp put him in a small club of those to remove a batsman seven times in a series.

Getting through the top two has not been a problem for England (today's stand of 18 was Australia's best of the series) but the third-wicket stand has caused more difficulties. Therefore, Leach's first incision, shortly before lunch, was key when he lured Marnus Labuschagne down the pitch, beat him with spin and Jonny Bairstow completed a slick stumping.

It was six overs after the break, though, when England celebrated the wicket they surely presumed would secure victory. England have gone with a leg-side heavy field plenty of times during the series but Smith has endlessly found the gaps. This time, when he went to flick Broad off his hip, he didn't quite keep it down and Ben Stokes took a superb diving catch. Smith walked off to a fully deserved standing ovation, any lingering boos drowned out by loud applause. A personal mission accomplished.

Australia made England work hard for the rest of their success but in a theme of the series starts were not converted. Marsh, who was given a life on 6 when caught at slip off Chris Woakes' first Test no-ball, turned Root lazily straight to short leg and Paine was pinned lbw by Leach from a delivery that just pitched on leg stump. Kumar Dharmasena took an age to raise his finger; England were relieved he did as they had spurned their two reviews.

Around this, Wade dominated with a very fine innings. He had been positive from the start, driving strongly and picking off anything straight through the leg side, but the highlight was when Archer revved things up after tea against a player who has got under England's skin throughout the series. A top-edge six seemed to really get Archer's juices flowing. There was very little pitched in Wade's half - and when there was a full delivery, Wade generally pounced - and he took a stinging blow on the shoulder. Words were exchanged but Archer also responded with an extended starring contest.

Archer survived and Wade spent 14 balls moving from 96 to his century when he worked Broad into the leg side. In the next over from Root, Bairstow missed a tough stumping and next ball Stokes missed a high, fast edge at slip to just suggest that the mood was with Wade as Cummins blocked effectively alongside him. However, Broad then found Cummins' edge with a full delivery and could have had a five-wicket haul if there had been a second slip to Peter Siddle.

Wade had been given caught at slip, driving at Root the ball after Cummins fell, but the DRS showed bat had hit the ground. The England captain kept throwing the ball up outside off, extracting considerable turn from the rough, and eventually beat Wade as he charged down the pitch with Bairstow having plenty of time behind the stumps.

With that, the match was not heading into a fifth day - which was probably a good thing for everyone - and Leach finished off the series with two wickets in two balls. Root was the catcher for both, firstly at square leg and then, with his final act of an historic, draining, dramatic and thrilling summer, plucking out Josh Hazlewood's flick at midwicket. Australia's Ashes, England's match and one heck of a season.