losses in major tournament finals have come against New Zealand.* Ov

LOUDON, N.H. -- Carl Edwards had another hard race to the finish against Matt Kenseth. The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates had skipped the track for the bike path, and what Edwards thought would be a leisurely ride between colleagues turned into a competitive duel on two wheels.It was a pretty hard ride, said Edwards, laughing.The 44-year-old Kenseth flashed the kind of speed that made Edwards wonder how he continued to turn back the clock on all modes of transport.Hes somehow figured out how to age backward now, said the 37-year-old Edwards. Hes getting faster, hes getting stronger, hes figured something out here for sure and it gives guys like me hope, you know?Kenseth has certainly figured out New Hampshire Motor Speedway since making the move in 2013 to Joe Gibbs Racing. Winless in 26 career starts at the track driving for Jack Roush, Kenseth has three wins at New Hampshire since `13 and has won the last two races here.He had a bit of luck to win the fall 2015 race when leader Kevin Harvicks gamble to stretch his fuel backfired and Kenseth took the lead to clinch his spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. His first New Hampshire win of this season came under similar circumstances. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch each led more than 120 laps before faltering over the final 75 laps, paving the way for Kenseth to stretch his Magic Mile win streak.I think a lot of it has to do with, obviously the equipment and the people working on it, and all that stuff, but its hard to figure out sometimes, Kenseth said. This used to be probably one of my worst tracks on the circuit, honestly, and now it seems like its been one of our best. That doesnt mean its going to be this week, but it has been in recent past.Edwards joked before Fridays qualifying session that hed like to steal some tips from Kenseth and crew chief Jason Ratcliff and try and earn his own win at the track.I can lean on that and look at that and understand what he does, Edwards said.Edwards then turned the fastest lap and won the pole; Kenseth starts eighth. Edwards won the pole for the third time in the last four New Hampshire races, his sixth pole of the season, but has failed to end the race the same way he started -- in first.Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR champion, had a season more solid than spectacular with two wins, but just four top-five finishes. He had 12 top-fives and five wins last season. Martin Truex Jr. earned a spot in the next round of the Chase with a win in the playoff opener last week at Chicagoland Speedway.The 16-driver Chase field will be cut to 12 after next weeks race at Dover International Speedway. Kenseth is seventh in the standings after one race and has the kind of resume that would suggest he can survive to the next round even without a victory over the next two races.But last seasons stunning knockout of Jimmie Johnson at Dover is a reminder that win-and-in beats hoping for the best. Johnson entered Dover fifth in the standings and, with 10 career wins at Dover, seemed a lock to advance. His No. 48 Chevrolet was forced off the track for 36 laps with a torn rear axle seal and he was eliminated from contention.Kenseth, with 38 career wins, knows time is of the essence for another title shot. Kenseth said he had no immediate plans to follow fellow 40-something NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart into retirement.I havent put a ton of thought into it, Kenseth said. I realize there are more years of racing behind me then there are in front of me. But I feel great, I feel like were running good. Im having a lot of fun. I dont have any plans to quit in the near future.Here are other items of note from Saturday at New Hampshire:FAST PRACTICE: Kyle Larson turned the fastest laps in his No. 42 Chevrolet in each of the two Sprint Cup practices. He topped the second session with a lap of 132.577 mph and posted the fastest laps in practice for all sessions heading into Sundays race.Larson topped the morning session with 132.186.Larson should hope that translates into success in Sundays race. He finished 18th in the Chase opener and Chicagoland and is 15th in the standings.Our short run speed is really good, Larson said.Edwards had the best consecutive 10-lap average in the second session, with an average speed of 131.663.Chase drivers took the top seven spots on the speed chart over a 10-lap average and 13 of 15 spots overall. Chevrolet drivers took six of the top 12 spots. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Wholesale Diamondbacks Jerseys . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . JOHNS, N. Arizona Diamondbacks Store . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Arizona Diamondbacks Shirts . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND - A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FOUR NATIONS FINAL:* Australia has appeared in all eight of the Tri/Four Nations Finals since 1999, winning five and losing three.* All three losses have come against New Zealand (2005, 2010 and 2014), with Australia winning just two against the Kiwis (1999 and 2006).* Including World Cup Finals, all four of Australias losses in major tournament finals have come against New Zealand.* Overall Australia has won just five of nine against the Kiwis in finals, winning just two of the past six (2006 Four Nations and 2013 World Cup).* After losing three straight against the Kiwis, Australia has now won its past three against them by a combined 56-14 under Mal Meninga.* The Kangaroos have won their past 16 matches in Europe, dating back to their 20-all draw with New Zealand in the 2009 Four Nationns.dddddddddddd* In England, Australia has won its past 11 matches, and has lost just three of 31 Tests (with one draw) since the beginning of 2000.* Australia captain Cameron Smith will play his 33rd consecutive Test match, becoming just the second Australian player to do so behind Clive Churchill, who played 35.* Darius Boyd has won all 21 of his Tests and has scored 15 tries, including nine tries in 12 matches against New Zealand.* Johnathan Thurston is Australias leading point scorer in Test match history with 362 points, and the all-time leading goalkicker with 155 goals.* Greg Inglis has scored 31 tries in just 38 Test matches. He now sits in third place on the all-time try scoring list for Australia. ' ' '