Sports briefs for September 6, 2005

Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

Worsham's double earns him $225,000

Del Worsham became the sixth driver in Mac Tools U.S. Nationals history to sweep the Funny Car eliminations and Skoal Showdown bonus race , beating Frank Pedregon in the final Monday at Clermont, Ind.

Worsham, who earned more than $225,000 during the weekend, had a quarter-mile run of 4.874 seconds at 320.05 mph in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo to hold off Pedregon, who finished in 4.904 at 313.07 in a Dodge Stratus.

"People always ask me which of my wins is more special," said Worsham, who has two victories this season and 21 overall. "It used to be my first win at Atlanta in 1991, but I'm thinking now that the win this weekend overtook Atlanta as my favorite."

Larry Dixon, Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also won their divisions in the $2.6 million event at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Local favorite Dixon claimed his third U.S. Nationals Top Fuel victory, beating points leader Tony Schumacher with a 4.521-second run at 326.71 in his Miller Lite dragster.

Long shot captures All-American Futurity

Hard-charging Teller Cartel, a 17-1 long shot, got a clean break on a muddy track, surged into the lead and stayed clear of traffic to win $1 million in the 440-yard All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, N.M.

Oklahoma-bred Teller Cartel broke his maiden and gave trainer Paul Jones and 29-year-old jockey Cody Jensen their first victories in the All American, the most prestigious event in quarter horse racing. Teller Cartel won the sprint in 21.5 seconds from the No. 3 post.

FIFA suspends coach

Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes was suspended by FIFA for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago. FIFA imposed the penalty following Guimaraes' ejection by U.S. referee Kevin Stott during Saturday's 3-1 victory at Panama. Costa Rica (3-3-1) is third in the final round of North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying, trailing the United States (6-1), which has 18 points and has clinched a berth, and Mexico (5-1-1).

Appeal denied

An Olympic showjumper lost his appeal of a drug disqualification that cost Germany the team gold medal at the Athens Games. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, upheld a Jan. 6 decision by the International Equestrian Federation that found Ludger Beerbaum and his horse, Goldfever 3, guilty of a doping offense. The horse tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in Athens. The international federation stripped Germany of the title, giving the gold to the United States. -- Sun wire services