Jeff Hart

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY -- Big Brown was pulling away from the field, accelerating with every powerful stride toward the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. The crowd of 157,770 was on its feet and cheering as the big, unbeaten, muscular bay crossed the line first, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the filly Eight Belles.

Clint Bowyer was a surprise winner at Richmond International Raceway, stealing a win that first seemed destined for Denny Hamlin, then Dale Earnhardt Jr. Neither made it to Victory Lane, though, because of a wild ending that saw three drivers denied the trip Bowyer made to Victory Lane.

STATESBORO -

ATHENS -- The 25th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels used a six-run outburst in the eighth inning Saturday to post a 9-4 win over eighth-ranked Georgia at Foley Field.

DULUTH -- Chris Griesen completed 23 of 31 passes for 296 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Georgia Force to a 66-39 win over the New Orleans VooDoo Saturday night.

WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS -- The Boston Celtics played hard all season for home-court advantage in the playoffs. They just didn't expect to need it this soon. The Celtics are back in Boston and hoping to finish off the pesky Atlanta Hawks on Sunday in Game 7.

ATLANTA -- David Sappelt's three-run home run highlighted a five-run second inning that helped No. 15 Coastal Carolina even the weekend series against Georgia Tech as the Chanticleers held off a Yellow Jacket comeback to win, 10-9, Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Dennis Guinn hit an RBI double off the centerfield wall to break open a 5-5 tie as Florida State scored four runs in the 10th inning and held off a Clemson rally to win 9-8 Saturday night.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- Local favorite Denny Hamlin used a late pit stop for tires to foil the strategy of fellow NASCAR stars Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards, blowing by them to win the Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- Denny Hamlin didn't realize how much he was feeling the pressure to perform in front of his hometown crowd until he was hurtling around the track in qualifying.