Join us » Tyrrell Pigrome.Barrett made it 28-3 with a 1-yard

Tony Stewart wouldnt make predictions during the preseason about his final Sprint Cup year. He knew he had struggled since 2013, and he didnt want to put on a bold face and guarantee a win or a Chase berth. He only promised he would do his best and try to have fun along the way.Many in sports equal fun with winning. Second is the first loser. But while he has compiled a house full of racing-winning and championship trophies, racing for Stewart also revolves around speed and fervent competition. Go hard or go home but go at it with respect. The atmosphere: Raw with the smell of fuel amid the blinding speed in cars driven by the fearless.Racing at the Sprint Cup level doesnt feature that grass-roots feel. Along with the boatloads of money earned and money spent come mudslides of manure that drivers and owners must trudge through. Stewart gets the double-whammy of both driver and owner. He needs his own tanker trailer of Port-o-John suction power to navigate his racing season.So he will retire after this year and go back to the pure form of racing sprint cars when he wants, not when some sponsor tells him to. He will get to the track, practice, qualify and race all in the same day and either go have pizza and beers, go light fireworks (did you see that display on Periscope?) or head to the next track. Or he could just go to sleep. Or get on his plane and go somewhere remote, away from the bright lights and the adoration.He will still rank as a superstar and he will have to contend with public perception, but it wont drain him as much as it does now. If things get too overwhelming, he can decide to change his plans.And after winning Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, Stewart can also say he went out of NASCAR as a winner in his final Sprint Cup season. Not every great driver can say that. And not every great driver had gone three years -- 84 races (plus 26 more that he missed) -- before winning in his final rodeo.For someone so brash, Stewart also apparently has a sensitive side. He doesnt understand how some people could have such venom, which they spew on social media, critical of his racing ability, his demeanor, and his past transgressions. Certainly, Stewarts resume and at-track persona -- and more than a few antics -- dont sit well with everyone and he has earned some of that hate.He reads hes too washed up, too slow and obviously cant drive the good equipment that Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch take to wins. And it might not hurt for long, but Stewart saw enough of those comments to mention in his postrace news conference at Sonoma.His win at Sonoma wont change that type of vitriol. His lengthy resume has allowed fans to form opinions. If he got on social media this week, he might stumble among those who believe that Denny Hamlin purposefully went wide in the final corner to give Stewart the win. (The video does not help the cause, especially the overhead shots. Hamlin had a good gap on Stewart and went wide, blowing the corner in epic fashion. How in the world could Hamlin mess up so bad?)But to believe Hamlin gifted the victory, you would have to assume Hamlin first made a mistake in passing Stewart in the first place.Knowing the competitiveness of a race-car driver, it is rational to believe Hamlin just delivered the choke job of ultimate proportion. Even the best make mistakes, and Hamlin has made a few in his career, especially in the 2010 championship hunt. Great pitchers hang a fastball at the wrong moment. Great basketball shooters miss from close range. Sometimes the best golfer two-putts when a 12-year-old can sink it on the first try.Stewart earned this win. He didnt get passed on either of the restarts after he assumed the lead. As he said, he probably hit all but three corners on the final 14 laps. He delivered a winning performance no matter what happened on that last lap.Now comes the Chase. In 2011 he predicted he didnt have a chance and then won five races to capture the title. So dont ask him now, hell say.Dont look on the track for answers. Teams ran the proposed 2017 package at Michigan, where Stewart had his best performance of the season prior to Sonoma. The road course at Sonoma has no correlation to any turn in the Chase, and this week the series heads to the restrictor-plate event at Daytona. Then comes another look at the 2017 package with Kentucky. Not for another month will Stewart race a car that has a potential Chase setup.The odds dont favor him. But truthfully a driver doesnt have to run great in the entire Chase to advance to the championship round. A driver could race mediocre in the first round, good in the second round and then must have those great moments over the last four events.Stewart could get there. But if he doesnt, he gave his fans one more chance to celebrate. Actually, theyll have plenty of more chances to celebrate. When he gets to running the cars that truly make him happy, they could see him race closer to their hometowns, and theyll pay cheaper prices for tickets and concessions. As long as they can see through the clouds of dirt rising from the surface, they will see Stewart wheeling a car with a smile on his face.When he wins, hell celebrate. He might have to thank a few sponsors, but hell celebrate in a victory lane void of much of the butt-kissing and media stops one has to do as part of the big-money Sprint Cup machine.It will be raw. It will be real. And it will prove once again that he has the talent. No questions asked. Wholesale Paul George Shoes . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Cheap Paul George Shoes . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Paul George Shoes For Sale . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Paul George Shoes Deals . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Ohio State seems to be getting into a rut -- the good kind that can lead to championships.J.T. Barrett accounted for four touchdowns, Curtis Samuel scored three TDs and the sixth-ranked Buckeyes enjoyed another 62-3 rout -- this time, against Maryland on Saturday.After beating then-No. 10 Nebraska by the identical score last week, Ohio State poured it on against the Terrapins, going up 21-3 after the first quarter and 45-3 at halftime.Its just that time of year where youre getting closer to the playoffs and championship games, Samuel said. We know weve got to step it up. Weve got to come out here every day and give it our all, put up numbers.Unlike last week, this blowout was no surprise because it came against a struggling team with quarterback issues and a porous defense. But playing well in November is what counts, no matter the level of the competition.Thats where you really hang your hat on for the season, Barrett said. We try to do our best in those games.Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) has won three straight to remain in contention for the Big Ten title and, more importantly, a berth in the College Football Playoff.We know exactly whats coming down the road, coach Urban Meyer said.Maryland (5-5, 2-5) lost 59-3 to Michigan last week and has allowed 163 points during a three-game losing streak.Back to back weeks when the game got away from us early, coach DJ Durkin lamented. Obviously, the level of competition the past couple weeks factors in, but weve kind of lost our way ourselves.With Barrett and Samuel leading the way, the Buckeyes eliminated any potential drama by scoring touchdowns on three of their four possessions in the first quarter.Samuel got things started with a 2-yard touchdown run. Barrett then took it in from 4 and added a 36-yard TD pass to Samuel.In between, the Buckeyes punted for the first time two weeks. Also, backup quarterback Caleb Rowe led the Terps to a field goal. But even that was disappointing because Maryland failed to get into the end zone after a 37--yard completion produced a first down at the Ohio State 3.dddddddddddd.Rowe took over for Perry Hills, who was injured at the end of Marylands second drive. Rowe proved ineffective and was replaced in the second half by true freshman Tyrrell Pigrome.Barrett made it 28-3 with a 1-yard run early in the second quarter and Samuel got his third touchdown around right end from the 5.Meyer replaced Barrett during a third-quarter drive that ended with a TD for a 55-3 lead. Barrett ran for two touchdowns, threw two scoring passes and finished 18 for 27 for 253 yards.Samuel ran for 38 yards and caught five passes for 74 yards. Freshman Mike Weber carried 12 times for 93 yards.POLL IMPLICATIONSThis blowout victory , combined with No. 3 Clemson losing to Pittsburgh, should boost the Buckeyes up a notch or two in both the AP poll and the CFP.THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: The Buckeyes are gaining momentum heading into the most important part of the season. The offense has been unstoppable over the past two weeks and the defense limited Maryland to 176 yards and 10 first downs. With one defeat, Ohio State cant afford to slip up as it heads toward a Nov. 26 showdown with No. 2 Michigan, the undefeated East Division leader.Maryland: After opening 4-0, the Terrapins are now a .500 team still in search of the sixth win needed to become bowl eligible. Maryland cant seem to keep Hills healthy and has come unglued defensively this month.MISSING YOUThe Terrapins announced the suspension of three players before the game, including running back Lorenzo Harrison, who leads the team with five rushing touchdowns.UP NEXTOhio State travels to Michigan State, which whipped Rutgers 49-0 Saturday. Its the Buckeyes final tuneup before the regular-season finale at home against Michigan.Maryland faces Nebraska on the road in a matchup of the Buckeyes last two victims.---www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '