Watkins Glen, N.Y. — Smoke loves it when the Glen heats up.

Tony Stewart won the rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International on a steamy Monday, holding off Australian Marcos Ambrose over the final 25 laps for his Cup-record fifth victory at the famed road course.

“I love it when it gets slick,” Stewart said. “I was watching him (Ambrose). I think we were stronger in the parts we needed to be, and we never looked at the fuel.”

It was Stewart’s third win in his first season as an owner-driver and the seventh road-course win of his career, second to Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR-record nine. Stewart has seven consecutive top-two finishes at The Glen, also winning in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007 and finishing second in 2006 and 2008. He also has finished first or second in eight of the past 11 road races; he was second to Kasey Kahne at Sonoma in June.

The race originally was scheduled for Sunday, but a string of thunderstorms forced it to be postponed until Monday. Last week’s race at Pocono also was postponed to Monday because of rain.

Ambrose was second, a career best, and Carl Edwards third. Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Max Papis, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10. Polesitter Jimmie Johnson, seeking his first career road win, finished 12th.

Kyle Busch, 13th in points, closed the gap on 12th-place Matt Kenseth for the cutoff spot in the Chase for the championship.

Busch, who entered the race 102 points behind Kenseth, narrowed the gap to 58.

The chaos that everybody was expecting on the double-file restarts never materialized. There were no major incidents in the hard, downhill, 90-degree right-hand first turn.

College football

OSU QB doesn’t practice

Stillwater, Okla. — Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson didn’t fully take part in the Cowboys’ first full practice because of a leg injury.

Coach Mike Gundy says Robinson has a slight pull in his lower leg.

Gundy says Robinson has suffered this type of injury in the past and it doesn’t appear serious.

Baseball

Martinez to start vs. Cubs

Philadelphia — Pedro Martinez will make his return to the majors Wednesday when he starts for Philadelphia against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Monday that the three-time Cy Young winner will come off the 15-day disabled list.

To make room for Martinez in the rotation, the NL East-leading Phillies are sending 46-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer to the bullpen.

Boone playing again

Corpus Christi, Texas — Aaron Boone is back playing baseball, appearing in a minor-league game in Texas less than five months after open-heart surgery.

Nats RHP needs surgery

Washington — Washington Nationals rookie right-hander Jordan Zimmermann probably needs reconstructive elbow surgery, a procedure that would sideline him for at least a year. He’s considered one of the last-place team’s top building blocks.

White Sox claim Rios

New York — Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox, sending him to a contending team and giving Toronto financial flexibility.

College basketball

GTech loses Holsey

Atlanta — Georgia Tech forward Kammeon Holsey is preparing for knee surgery that will force him to miss the upcoming basketball season.

Pitt gaining point guard

Pittsburgh — Chase Adams, a point guard at Centenary who was the defensive player of the year last season in the Summit League, is transferring to Pittsburgh for his senior season and will be eligible immediately.

NBA

Pistons hire Hill

Auburn Hills, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons have added a veteran NBA coach to help their rookie on the bench.

The Pistons said Monday they have hired Brian Hill to work as an assistant coach on John Kuester’s first staff as an NBA head coach.

Celtics re-sign Davis

Waltham, Mass. — The Boston Celtics are bringing back Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

The Celtics announced Monday that they’ve re-signed the power forward to a new deal. It’s reportedly for two years.

T’wolves pick Rambis

Minneapolis — After years spent playing under Pat Riley and coaching under Phil Jackson, Kurt Rambis is finally getting a chance to run a team.

Rambis has been hired as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves in hopes of transforming a struggling franchise into a contender. Terms were not disclosed, but the team said Monday that they reached an agreement in principle. Rambis will be introduced today.

The 51-year-old Rambis has been an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers for most of the past seven seasons.

Nuggets lose Kleiza

Denver — The Denver Nuggets have lost another player who helped them reach the Western Conference finals.

Forward Linas Kleiza, who played four years in Denver, is taking his game to Europe.

Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said Kleiza has chosen to play for Olympiakos, agreeing to a two-year deal worth more than $12 million.

76ers re-sign Ivey

Philadelphia — The Philadelphia 76ers have re-signed guard Royal Ivey.

NFL

Steelers sign center

Pittsburgh — The Pittsburgh Steelers, thin at center due to two injuries, have signed former Arizona Cardinals center Alex Stepanovich.

Justin Hartwig has been bothered by a toe injury since training camp started July 31, and Darnell Stapleton is expected to be out for several weeks following left knee surgery.

Panthers’ Smith injured

Spartanburg, S.C. — Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith has an injured right shoulder after a collision at practice.

X-rays taken Monday night were negative. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney had little information and was uncertain how long the four-time Pro Bowl selection will be sidelined.

Rams’ Avery out 4-6 weeks

St. Louis — The St. Louis Rams will be without No. 1 wide receiver Donnie Avery for four to six weeks after the second-year player injured his foot during a scrimmage last week.

Bucs’ Bryant out

Tampa, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will sideline him for the remainder of training camp.

Bryant will undergo arthroscopic surgery.

Two Eagles injured

Bethlehem, Pa. — Two more Philadelphia Eagles have gone down during an injury-filled training camp.

Backup quarterback Kevin Kolb sprained a ligament in his left knee, and former Pro Bowl defensive end Trent Cole sprained his left shoulder in practice on Monday.

Lions sign DL Smith

Allen Park, Mich. — The Detroit Lions acted quickly to bolster their injury-depleted defensive line.

Veteran defensive lineman Shaun Smith signed a $1 million, one-year deal Monday soon after the Lions lost Jared Devries for the season.

golf

Woods to be fined

Chaska, Minn. — Tiger Woods will be fined by the PGA Tour for his public criticism of a rules official after winning the Bridgestone Invitational, a tour official said Monday.

NHL

Lawyer: Case overblown

Chicago — The attorney for a cab driver who says he was beaten up by Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin over pocket change said Monday that the incident had been blown out of proportion.

Attorney Andrew LoTempio told WGN radio in Chicago he thinks both sides “should be able to work things out.”

Obit

Merlyn Mantle dies

Merlyn Mantle, the widow of Yankees Hall of Fame centerfielder Mickey Mantle, died at 77 Monday afternoon in the Dallas area because of effects from Alzheimer’s disease.