Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — MOTOR SPORTS Gordon fined, docked 25 points

Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon avoided suspension Monday when NASCAR instead fined him $100,000 and docked him 25 points for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer at Phoenix International Raceway. Gordon also was placed on probation through Dec. 31. But he’ll be allowed to close out the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway despite his actions in Sunday’s race, which triggered a fight in the garage area between the two drivers’ crews. “I take responsibility for my actions on the racetrack,” Gordon said in a statement. “I accept NASCAR’s decision and look forward to ending the season on a high note at Homestead.” The penalty drops Gordon to 11th in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship with one race remaining. He’s now four points behind Martin Truex Jr. for 10th, and only the top-10 drivers have formal roles in the season-ending awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Rick Hendrick also was docked 25 car owner points, and crew chief Alan Gustafson was placed on probation through the end of the year. “I’ve always respected Jeff for standing his ground,” said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We also respect that NASCAR needs to police the sport and send a message when situations like this occur. It’s been a great year, and we’re going to put our focus on finishing in a positive way this weekend.” Gordon intentionally slowed his car and waited for Bowyer on the track Sunday to wreck him on what was scheduled to be the final lap. There had been contact between the two a few laps earlier, and Gordon viewed it as the final straw in an apparently escalating on-track feud with Bowyer. He said after the incident he was “fed up” with Bowyer, and had to take a stand Sunday and would wait to see how NASCAR responded.“They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do, and I guess I had to do what I had to do,” he said. The accident collected Joey Logano and Aric Almirola, and happened right in front of championship contender Brad Keselowski, who had to weave his way around the carnage. It also led to the brawl in the garage that began when Gordon appeared to be jumped from behind by a Michael Waltrip Racing team member. Gordon was grabbed by a Hendrick Motorsports crew member and pulled out of the fracas and into his team hauler. Bowyer, bewildered to find his stall empty when his burning race car came to a stop on pit road, saw the fight on the infield big screen and sprinted over the wall and through the garage to back up his guys. He was held back by NASCAR officials from entering Gordon’s hauler. Bowyer crew chief Brian Pattie was fined $25,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year for failing to maintain control of the crew. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton considered the matter closed after issuing the penalties.

Antron Brown became the first black champion in any NHRA pro series when he won the Top Fuel title on Sunday at the season-ending event in Pomona, Calif. Brown lost in the opening round of eliminations and had to wait to celebrate until the final, when Tony Schumacher lost in a photo finish to Brandon Bernstein. Brown led Schumacher by 67 points at the start of Sunday’s eliminations. It looked as if Schumacher might take the title until he lost the final to Bernstein by eighth-thousandths of a second. When the victory light went on in Bernstein’s lane, Brown was mobbed by his teammates, family and friends in a huge celebration at the starting line. Brown earned six victories in 11 final rounds and was top qualifier three times en route to his title. Also Sunday, Jack Beckman claimed the Funny Car world championship when he edged teammate Ron Capps by two points in one of the closest points margins in the history of the category.

TENNIS Djokovic beats Federer

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic recovered from early breaks in both sets and beat Roger Federer 7-6 (6), 7-5 Monday in the championship match at the ATP finals in London. Federer broke Djokovic’s serve to take a quick 2-0 lead in the first set, and then again to open to the second, but both times the world’s No. 1 player rebounded to get back into the match. Federer started well, winning the opening nine points and 12 of the first 14 to take a 3-0 lead. He then won the first point of the fourth game, but Djokovic finally held his serve - and soon broke back. In the ninth game, Djokovic broke again to serve for the set at 5-4, but Federer evened the score and forced the tiebreaker. The crowd at the O2 Arena was decidedly in Federer’s favor, but they cheered loudly throughout the match as both made spectacular shots, including a match-ending backhand passing winner from Djokovic. “It’s best way to finish the match, I guess, with a passing shot, one of my favorite shots,” Djokovic said. “He came in. That was the only space left for me to make a passing shot, and I made it.” The highlight for Federer came in the tiebreaker with Djokovic holding his second set point. Djokovic hit a forehand drop shot with Federer up at the net. The ball drifted past the second-ranked Swiss, but he chased it down and whacked a forehand winner to even the score at 6-6. Two points later, however, and Djokovic was the one celebrating, ending the set with a forehand winner on his third set point. To start the second set, Federer broke Djokovic for the third time and then held all the way to 5-3. A game later and serving for the set, Federer had two set points but he put a forehand wide and a then another into the net. Two more Federer mistakes put Djokovic back on serve and back on track for the title. The Serb closed it out with the backhand passing winner to improve his head-to-head record against Federer to 3-2 this year, and 13-16 overall. Federer finished the match with 30 winners, 11 more than Djokovic. But he also had 42unforced errors - many of them coming from his often dominant forehand - while Djokovic had only 28. It was Djokovic’s second victory at the year-end tournament for the top eight players in the world. He also won in 2008, when the tournament was in Shanghai.

GOLF

McIlroy, Woods head ballot

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were among five players nominated Monday for the PGA Tour player of the year. Players have until the end of the month to vote on the awards. McIlroy is the clear favorite after leading the tour with four wins, including an eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship. He also won the Vardon Trophy and the money title. Woods won three times. Also on the ballot are FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker, Masters champion Bubba Watson and Jason Dufner. The five candidates for rookie of the year are John Huh, Jonas Blixt, Charlie Beljan, Ted Potter Jr. and Bud Cauley, the only rookie not to win this year.

BASKETBALL NCAA announces sites

The NCAA Tournament is returning to New York’s Madison Square Garden in 2014. On Monday, the NCAA announced the arena will host the East Regional for the first time in 53 years. The Garden hosted 71 NCAA tourney games in 1943-1961. The other regional sites in 2014 will be Anaheim, Calif., Indianapolis and Memphis. The second and third-round sites in 2014 will be Buffalo, N.Y.; Milwaukee; Orlando, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C.; San Antonio; San Diego; Spokane, Wash.; and St. Louis. The Final Four will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles and Syracuse, N.Y. will be the regional sites in 2015. The second and third-round sites in 2015 are Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Jacksonville, Fla.; Louisville, Ky.; Omaha, Neb.; Pittsburgh, Portland, Ore; and Seattle. The Final Four will be held in Indianapolis. First-round games will continue to be played in Dayton, Ohio, both years.