In Richmond, Randy Hallman writes after the debut of Charlotte Motor Speedway's Roval course last weekend, "no one doubts there will be a Roval II." The TV ratings "were up," which is a "rare thing for a NASCAR race these days." The crowd "wasn’t all that great, but Charlotte’s fall event has not been a hot ticket in recent years." The turnout in '19 "will be a better measure of the success of Sunday’s race and how it galvanized interest among longtime fans and those who are new to the sport" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 10/4).
MAKE THE CROWD GO BOOM: In S.F., Ron Kroichick notes Fred Couples is playing in this week's PGA Tour Safeway Open, which begins today, and the tournament "desperately needed Couples and his star power, because nearly every big-name pro steered clear" of the event. That is the "reality of an unappealing spot on the calendar, one week after the Ryder Cup and two weeks after the Tour Championship." The result is that "no players in the top 20 of the world ranking" are in the field. Only "two in the top 50, Patrick Cantlay (No. 22) and Phil Mickelson (No. 24)," are playing (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/4).
CROWNING A CHAMP: In Albany, Pete Dougherty noted the PBA is "creating plans for a playoff system." PBA members "will accumulate points in 13 regular-season events" and the top 24 "will advance to the PBA playoffs, which will play out through a 10-event, nine-week series" on Fox and FS1. The playoff winner "gets $100,000" (Albany TIMES UNION, 10/2).
