Victories elevate NHRA rankings of duo

CONCORD, N.C. -- Cory McClenathan and Robert Hight shot up the playoff rankings by winning their first races of 2009 yesterday at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway.

McClenathan won Top Fuel with a pass of 3.857 seconds at 312.64 mph to beat rookie Shawn Langdon and take over first place in the Countdown to 1.

Hight flew from 10th play to third by beating another rookie, outpacing Matt Hagan in 4.097 seconds at 307.02 mph in his Funny Car. Regular-season champ Tony Pedregon remained in first place and Ashley Force Hood moved up a spot to second place.

Mike Edwards won Pro Stock in 6.618 seconds at 209.39 mph to take over the top spot for the first time all season.

Tryson's access to team is limited

LOUDON, N.H. -- Penske Racing crew chief Pat Tryson says he's only welcome at the race shop for the once-weekly debrief meeting on Tuesdays.

Because Tryson is moving to Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of this season, the team does not want him present during any preparations for 2010.

It could make things difficult as Tryson and driver Kurt Busch attempt to win the championship this season. But Tryson says he's still committed to the No. 2 team, and can do a lot of his planning from home.

F-1 hearing today

PARIS -- The Renault Formula One team will learn its fate today at a hearing into how its former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. was ordered by management to deliberately crash his car, a life-threatening move that further tarnishes a sport rocked by scandals and cheating.

F1 has been shaken by the news that Renault ordered its struggling Brazilian driver to plow his car into a concrete wall so that teammate Fernando Alonso could win the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault faces a points deduction, suspension or even exclusion from the championship at the FIA's Paris headquarters.

Short tracks

LANGLEY: Danny Edwards grabbed the lead on the fifth lap and cruised to a dominating victory in the 100-lap Late Model Stock Car feature race Saturday night at Langley Speedway in Hampton.

Edwards had a margin of 1.768 seconds -- nearly half a straightaway -- over Mark Wertz at the finish. Casey Wyatt took third.

VMS: David Williams held off challenges from Stephen Evans and Anthony Kincaid in the closing laps to the 40th annual Fall Classic at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica. Kincaid wound up second, followed by Sommey Lacey.