Motor sports

Gilliland lands pole at Daytona — David Gilliland won the pole for today’s Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway after rain shortened qualifying. Gilliland’s top speed during a hectic, cat-and-mouse qualifying session was 199.322 mph. The top 24 drivers Friday in the first knockout stage were supposed to advance to the next round, but rain prompted NASCAR to cancel the final two sessions. Reed Sorenson qualified second, followed by Landon Cassill, Bobby Labonte and Jimmie Johnson. It was the first time NASCAR’s new qualifying rules were used at Daytona, and it produced some hairy moments as groups of cars slowed to a crawl around the 2 1⁄2-mile superspeedway.

Kahne nips Smith for Nationwide victory — Kasey Kahne nipped Regan Smith at the Daytona International Speedway finish line Friday night for his first Nationwide Series victory since 2007. Kahne weaved his way through traffic during a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish, but didn’t appear to be in the mix for a shot at the win as Smith pulled away from the pack. But as the field hurtled through the final turn, Kyle Larson jumped out of line and made it three-wide behind Smith. Kahne moved into the top lane and, using a push from Ryan Sieg, charged alongside Smith and beat him to the line.

Kalitta leads Top Fuel qualifying — Points leader Doug Kalitta led Top Fuel qualifying Friday night in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals with a run of 3.771 seconds at 326.48 mph. Del Worsham topped the Funny Car field, points leader Erica Enders-Stevens took the Pro Stock lead, and Eddie Krawiec was the fastest in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Olympics

Vancouver says Winter Olympics broke even — Officials in Vancouver, British Columbia, have released their final financial and operating report on the 2010 Winter Olympics, claiming to have broken even on the Games. The organizing committee said revenues and expenses matched up at about $1.8 billion. The games were almost entirely privately funded, with the International Olympic Committee contributing $721 million from broadcast rights fees, sponsors, ticket sales and other sources. Local authorities recently sold the remainder of the athletes village as condominiums, making a reported profit of $66 million.

Basketball

Texas Tech basketball player suspended for fight — Texas Tech guard Amber Battle has been suspended for a month for her involvement in a fight with a football player at the university’s recreation center. The school says the senior is “suspended from competition for the entire month of November.” Battle also says in Friday’s statement that she “initiated first contact” in the fight with freshman defensive back Nigel Bethel II during a pickup basketball game last weekend. Bethel then responded and, according to a police report, caused serious bodily injury with “hands, fists, feet, etc.” He has been dismissed from the team.

— From wire reports