Joe Medley: Keep Chase on, NASCAR ... please!

TALLADEGA — Sunday's Amp Energy 500 fueled arguments for yanking Talladega from NASCAR's Chase for the Championship … and that's why Talladega should Chase on.

First to cross finish line finishes 18th

TALLADEGA — Drivers have long utilized NASCAR's version of Muhammad Ali's rope-a-dope strategy to success at the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway.

Big and bigger: Last of 2 big wrecks proved to be most costly to Chase

TALLADEGA — First, there was the Big One. Then, there was the Really Big One. You didn't really think the wreck Brian Vickers started on Lap 86 was going to be it, did you?

9th and happy: Two-time Chase champ Johnson extends lead

TALLADEGA — The start wasn't great and the finish wasn't as good as it could have been, but in a quiet moment back at the shop, Jimmie Johnson's team probably will look back on Sunday's Amp Energy 500 and consider it a good day.

Wreck No. 2 collects many Chasers, helps the leader pull away

TALLADEGA — Instead of the three-driver breakaway that was brewing after last week's race at Kansas, the drivers left Talladega, much like the racing at the Superspeedway — all bunched up.

DEI not ready to say DIE

TALLADEGA — It was just like old times in the AMP 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, with DEI cars running up front, leading laps and coming within a heartbeat — and a controversial interpretation of NASCAR rules — of adding to the Earnhardt legacy at Talladega.

Tires to blame for wrecks

TALLADEGA — Unfortunately for officials at Goodyear, many eyes were fixed squarely upon the Sprint Cup Series' lone tire supplier after several scary crashes were ignited by tire problems in the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR notebook

TALLADEGA — Kevin Harvick might not win every race he starts, but he at least finishes them. Although he finished 20th in Sunday's race, he was running when the checkered flag dropped, pushing his modern-era record of consecutive races running to 74.

Joe Medley: Into high gear — College season heating up with NASCAR in town

TALLADEGA — Funny thing about life in Alabama. You can try to immerse yourself in a NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway, but you still think about college football.

Looking down: Auburn players upset with return to spread

AUBURN — Offensive players were still searching for answers a day after Auburn's offense fell apart during the final three quarters of Vanderbilt's 14-13 win.

Tide ready to catch its breath

TUSCALOOSA — The college football world can change quickly, and Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban knows this better than anyone. Last week he saw his team jump from No. 8 in the country to No. 2 after its victory against Georgia.

Gamecocks must rely on their backups

JACKSONVILLE — Every football season is going to have some kind of adversity to it. It's the thing that tests the character of a team. Jacksonville State faces its first real crisis this week.

JSU's Whisenant wins

HOWIE-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. — Jacksonville State's Mark Whisenant shot a 4-under par 67 on Sunday to finish with a 5-under par 208 to win the Mission Inn Collegiate Classic, played on the par-71 El Campeon Course.

Falcons moving up: Atlanta gets big NFC win against Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Matt Ryan turned in another sharp performance as the Falcons beat the Green Bay Packers 27-24 at Lambeau Field on Sunday, upstaging a gritty showing by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Phillies move on to NLCS

MILWAUKEE — Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run, Pat Burrell connected twice and Jayson Werth added a solo shot Sunday to lead the Phillies to a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that clinched their first trip to the NLCS since 1993.

White Sox escape exit again

CHICAGO — John Danks pitched another big game to save the season and well-traveled DeWayne Wise delivered a two-run double as the White Sox beat Tampa Bay 5-3 Sunday, trimming the Rays' lead in their American League playoff series to 2-1.

Angels snap playoff slump vs. Red Sox

BOSTON — Francisco Rodriguez wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th inning, Mike Napoli hit two early homers before scoring the go-ahead run in the 12th and the Los Angeles Angels avoided another playoff sweep by beating the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Sunday night in a game that lasted 5 hours, 19 minutes.

Creamer gets win for home fans

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — Paula Creamer calmly won her biggest LPGA Tour title yet, holding off a large pack to win the Samsung World Championship on Sunday, about 1 1/2 hours west of where she grew up in Pleasanton, Calif.