Clan-Members » Since Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to the national

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Carl Edwards got the victory he desperately needed to earn a championship-contending spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, winning at Texas on Sunday night in a race shortened by 41 laps because of rain after the start was delayed nearly six hours.With his fourth career win at Texas, Edwards joined Jimmie Johnson as drivers locked into the championship-contending spots in Homestead.That leaves two spots up for grabs next Sunday at Phoenix.Edwards entered the second-to-last race before the Nov. 20 season finale eighth in points among the drivers still eligible for the championship.This is huge. I dont think its sunk in yet. Thats all we said was needed, just a shot, Edwards said. Now were going to go to Homestead, were going to do what we need to do. This was a great test. We came here and did what we needed to do, we performed, and I really believe we can do that at Homestead.The rain-shortened victory was certainly appropriate for Edwards after how his championship Chase ended last year.Last years race at Phoenix was delayed nearly seven hours as a series of storms passed through the area, and then once it started under the lights was called after 218 laps. Edwards finished fifth, leaving him five points out of the final spot for the Chase finale.Edwards three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are among the six other drivers still in contention this season, and clearly not all of them can advance.Light rain had already been falling, and plenty more was on the radar around the track, when the caution came out with 45 laps remaining of the originally scheduled 334-lap race.All the cars were brought to pit road four laps later, and it was only a few more minutes before NASCAR declared the race over and official after 293 laps. It could have taken two hours or more to dry to track.We were in a bad spot if we went green again, Edwards said. But the last run before it rained, I think we could have held off, Im not sure.Edwards had taken the lead on lap 258 late Sunday after beating Martin Truex Jr. off pit road, and led the rest of the way.It was Edwards first win at Texas in eight years. He swept the two Cup races there in 2008, the season he had nine wins overall and a career-best finish of second in points.Joey Logano, another Chase contender, finished second while leading a race-high 178 laps. Truex finished third and Chase Elliott fourth.Logano is third in season points, with Kyle Busch fourth. Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch are in the fifth through eighth spots. If one of those six drivers dont win Phoenix, the final two championship spots would be determined by points.Harvick got his track-record eighth win at Phoenix in March, and has won five of the last six races there.Weve done it I dont know how many times, Harvick said. Well just go there and do what we always do and race as hard as we can.Some other things from Texas:TRAILING AFTER GREEN: Polesitter Austin Dillon led only the races first six laps, but didnt lead a green-flag lap. He was passed by Logano for the lead on lap 7, the first lap after the green flag.BIG BOBBLEHEAD: The first 30,000 fans were given Tony Stewart bobbleheads commemorating the retiring Sprint Cup drivers final race at Texas. During driver introductions, track president Eddie Gossage presented Stewart with his own bobblehead -- a life-sized replica with an oversized head.HELD OUT: Matt DiBenedetto wasnt allowed to drive because of NASCARs concussion protocol. He was involved in a hard crash in the Xfinity Series race Saturday, and wasnt cleared by doctors to drive in the Cup race even though he said he felt perfect on Sunday.LOUD POP: A tire specialist for Richard Childress Racing was treated and released from the infield care center after a tire just taken off Paul Menards car popped while being checked behind the wall. Air Max 270 Bowfin Noir Pas Cher .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Air Max 270 React Pas Cher .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.airmax270reactpascher.fr/fausse-air-max-270-react-noir-et-blanc.html . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Air Max 270 React Eng Pas Cher . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Air Max 270 React Blanche Pas Cher . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short.PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Oscar, Hernanes and Lucas scored second-half goals on Sunday as Brazil defeated France 3-0 in its final warm-up before the Confederations Cup. Chelsea playmaker Oscar opened the scoring with a shot from close range in the 54th minute. Hernanes added to the lead with a left-footed attempt from inside the area in the 85th, and Paris Saint-Germains Lucas sealed the victory by converting a penalty kick in injury time. The result ended Brazils 21-year winless run against France, and gave the "Selecao" its first victory over a former World Cup champion in nearly four years. A two-time defending champion in the Confederations Cup, Brazil will play Japan in the tournaments opener next Saturday in the capital of Brasilia. Brazil hasnt won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup. "Its good to finally beat a top team, but more importantly, its good to be playing well again," Oscar said. "Hopefully we will be able to get off to a great start at the Confederations Cup as well." The Brazilians hadnt beaten France since a 2-0 win in a 1992 friendly in Paris. In the six matches since, the teams drew twice and France won four times, including the final of the 1998 World Cup and in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup. Led by Karim Benzema but without many of its top players, France was coming off three losses in four matches this year: to Spain in World Cup qualifying, and to Germany and Uruguay in friendlies. Its only win was against Georgia. The French are second to Spain in its World Cup qualifying group. "We didnt have a lot of opportunities, but we had enough to get a better result," France coach Didier Deschamps said, through a translator. "Its the end of the season and that made things a bit more difficult for us. Facing Brazil here gave us a good chance to show our football." Sunndays result marked Brazils first win over a former World Cup champion since 2009.dddddddddddd The last victory came against England in a friendly in Doha. Brazil has since failed to beat teams such as Argentina, Portugal, England and the Netherlands. The Brazilians beat Argentina in 2011 and last year, but the teams were using players from local clubs. Brazil struggled during most of Sundays match in front of more than 50,000 at the Gremio Arena in the southern city of Porto Alegre, allowing France to create dangerous scoring opportunities from the beginning. The Confederations Cup hosts improved a bit in the second half and controlled possession after Oscar got them on the board. Oscars goal came after Fred gained possession near midfield and made a run through the left side before passing the ball to the Chelsea midfielder. Oscar easily found the net as the goalkeeper charged toward him. Hernanes came on as a substitute and scored the second goal after a breakaway. Neymar set him up with a one-touch pass inside the area, and the Lazio midfielder fired a left-footed shot that struck the post before going in. Substitute midfielder Lucas scored after Real Madrid left back Marcelo was fouled inside the area. "It was an important victory to give us more composure as we continue on our path to try to win the Confederations Cup," Hernanes said. Since Luiz Felipe Scolari returned to the national team in December, Brazil had previously won only won one of six matches, against Bolivia. The coach who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title couldnt manage more than draws against Italy, Russia and Chile. Brazil lost 2-1 to England in the coachs debut. But Brazil was coming off a 2-2 draw with England at the new Maracana a week ago. Scolari made only one change to the starting lineup since last Sunday, replacing left back Filipe Luis with Marcelo. ' ' '