Kahne Wins Pole in Kansas

Five days ago, Kasey Kahne had written off his chances in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. But even before his pole-winning performance Friday at Kansas Speedway, his confidence was back.

“On Sunday, I had just hit another car,” said Kahne, who dropped to ninth in the Chase standings -- 182 points off the lead -- when he got caught in Tony Stewart’s spinout and finished 38th at Dover, Del. “I was devastated. Today, I’ve been able to think about it for a week. Things change.”

Kahne took the pole for Sunday’s Banquet 400 with a quick lap of 178.377 mph in a Dodge on the 1.5 mile tri-oval. Scott Riggs will start on the outside front, also in a Dodge, after turning in a lap of 177.936 mph.

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Greg Anderson ran the quickest and fastest pro stock pass ever, a 6.626-second run at 208.91 mph in qualifying for the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Mohnton, Pa.

GOLF

Trahan (68) Takes Two-Shot Lead

D.J. Trahan shot a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Madison, Miss.

Trahan had an 11-under 133 total on the Annandale Golf Club course. Joe Durant (65) and Brad Faxon (67) were tied for second.

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Andy Bean shot a nine-under 63 to take a four-stroke lead after the first round of the Greater Hickory Classic at Conover, N.C.

Bean tied the tournament record set by Joe Inman in 2003. Chip Beck was four strokes back at 67 along with Dana Quigley and Mark Johnson.

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John Lieber of San Diego posted a second consecutive round of 67 and at nine under par holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2006 California State Open at Temecula.

Lieber carded seven birdies and two bogeys at Redhawk Golf Club while building his advantage over first-round leader Nick Jones of Los Angeles and amateur Ji-Hwan Park of Fullerton.

TENNIS

Blake Reaches Bangkok Semifinals

Third-seeded James Blake defeated fifth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, to advance to the semifinals of the Thailand Open at Bangkok. He will next play Marat Safin, who defeated Mischa Zverev, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-5.

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Qualifier Agnieszka Radwanska upset top-seeded Elena Dementieva, 7-5, 6-2, to reach the semifinals of the Fortis Championships at Luxembourg.

The 17-year-old Radwanska will play fifth-seeded Francesca Schiavone, who beat third-seeded Patty Schnyder, 6-1, 6-1.

BASKETBALL

Brown’s Dispute Goes Before Stern

Larry Brown’s dispute over $40 million in his contract following his firing by the New York Knicks went before NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Stern isn’t expected to rule for up to two weeks. Neither the NBA nor the Knicks would comment on the arbitration hearing at the league office.

JURISPRUDENCE

Attorney Wants Anderson Released

The attorney for Barry Bonds’ personal trainer argued in a federal court filing that his client should be released from prison until his appeal challenging the legality of a tape recording is settled.

Greg Anderson has been imprisoned in the federal penitentiary in Dublin, Calif., since Aug. 28, when a U.S. District Court judge ruled he had committed contempt of court by not answering specific questions before the federal grand jury weighing if Bonds committed perjury when he testified under oath that he did not knowingly take steroids.

Facing 16 months in prison, Anderson appealed, contending he was asked questions in front of the grand jury that were based on information that federal prosecutors had gained after they listened to an illegally obtained tape-recorded conversation Anderson had with another person about steroids.

-- Lance Pugmire

HORSE RACING

CHRB Files Complaint Against Trainer Mullins

The California Horse Racing Board has filed a complaint against trainer Jeff Mullins for violation of rules 1843 (a), 1843 (d) and 1887 (a) after a horse in his care, Rob’s Coin, which finished second in the seventh race at Hollywood Park on July 8, tested positive for mepivacaine in the post-race urine sample.

HOCKEY

Avalanche Forward Konowalchuk Retires

Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Konowalchuk announced his retirement after tests showed he has a disease that can lead to irregular heart rhythms. The team said the 33-year-old Konowalchuk has Long QT Syndrome, a genetic disease.