Sonoma, Calif. ? Kasey Kahne gave struggling Richard Petty Motorsports a much-needed boost Sunday, holding off Tony Stewart at Infineon Raceway to snap a 37-race winless streak.

Kahne was met in Victory Lane by Richard Petty, who made his first trip as a car owner in more than a decade. A Petty-owned car had not won a race since John Andretti’s victory at Martinsville in April, 1999.

“I feel just as good as he does,” said The King, clad in his trademark cowboy hat and sunglasses. “It’s great, man. It’s great.”

Petty’s race team teetered on the verge of collapse at the end of last season and needed a January merger with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports to stay in business. The team was rebranded as Richard Petty Motorsports and kicked off the season with a strong showing at the Daytona 500.

But it’s been a rough ride, since. Team manufacturer Chrysler is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and funding to RPM has slowed to a crawl as Dodge restructures. The team laid off nine employees earlier this month and made companywide salary cuts, and it’s been plagued by whispers of financial instability the last several weeks.

It’s made for a frustrating season for Kahne, the star of the four-driver team, who at times this year has been vocal about RPM’s progress.

Now he has his first victory on a road course — a remedy for any disgruntled driver.

“I learned how to drive on dirt,” Kahne said. “So to come out and win on a road course … it feels great. I can’t believe it.”

The victory moved Kahne to 13th in the standings, one spot shy of qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Auto Racing

Franchitti wins Iowa 250

Newton, Iowa — Dario Franchitti took the lead with 50 laps to go and cruised to victory in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on Sunday, earning his second win in two trips to Iowa Speedway.

Franchitti beat Ryan Briscoe by just over five seconds to take his first checkered flag since the Streets of Long Beach in April and move into second place in the IRL standings. It was the 10th career IndyCar win for the Scot, who took the lead three laps after making his final pit stop on the 7/8-mile oval.

Briscoe finished second for the third straight race despite leading for 85 laps. Hideki Mutoh took third. Dan Wheldon was fourth, while pole-sitter Helio Castroneves took seventh.

Vettel wins British GP

Silverstone, England — Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, leading Red Bull to a 1-2 finish for the second time this season.

The 21-year-old German’s faultless 15.1-second victory over teammate Mark Webber duplicated their finish at China in April.

Pro Baseball

Phils’ 1B leaves hospital

Philadelphia — Ryan Howard was released from the hospital Sunday but was not expected to play for the Philadelphia Phillies against Baltimore.

Howard was hospitalized for the second time in two nights with flu symptoms. A Phillies spokesman said the slugger was released Sunday but did not know if he was at the ballpark.

Sox put Matsuzaka on DL

Boston — As expected, the Red Sox put struggling pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the disabled list, citing weakness in his shoulder, before the game against the Braves on Sunday at Fenway Park.

Matsuzaka, who has an 8.23 ERA, probably will have a brief period of rest followed by a strengthening program, the details of which are still being worked out.

Sabathia leaves game

Miami — CC Sabathia left the New York Yankees’ game Sunday against Florida in the second inning with tightness in his left biceps.

A team trainer went out to watch Sabathia while he warmed up before the inning. He gave up a one-out double to Brett Carroll, then manager Joe Girardi and a trainer came out to check on the left-hander again before taking him out of the game.

The team said Sabathia is listed as day to day and that no tests are planned.

Swimming

Phelps wins in Montreal

Montreal — Michael Phelps won the 100-meter freestyle at the Canada Cup to sweep both events he entered at the meet.

The 14-time Olympic gold medalist swam a personal best time of 50.48 in winning the 100 butterfly Saturday.

The Montreal meet is Phelps’ final tuneup for the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis on July 7-11. That’s where the team will be selected for the world championships, which will be held in Rome from July 17 to Aug. 2.

Football

Semi-pro team bus crashes

Angola, Ind. — Officials say a tour bus carrying a semi-professional football team from Canada crashed into a sport utility vehicle in northeastern Indiana. One person is dead.

Angola Fire Department spokesman T.R. Hagerty said one person in the SUV was killed and 14 other people were injured in the crash reported about 10:40 a.m. Sunday.

Hagerty said the bus was carrying the London Silverbacks of London, Ontario.

He says its passengers suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, but none appeared life-threatening.

Soccer

U.S. advances to semis

Rustenberg, South Africa — Outplayed by Italy and Brazil, the U.S. soccer team once again was on the verge of first-round elimination from a big international tournament.

To reach the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, the Americans needed to beat Egypt by at least three goals while the Italians lost to Brazil by at least three. Astronomical odds, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened.

Charlie Davies scored in the 21st minute and Michael Bradley — the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley — added a goal in the 63rd, scoring on Father’s Day for the second straight year. Clint Dempsey then broke a nine-month international scoreless streak in the 71st, giving the United States an improbable 3-0 victory Sunday.

And in a game played simultaneously, Brazil defeated Italy, 3-0.

Now it’s onto a semifinal matchup Wednesday with European champion Spain, unbeaten in its last 35 matches and the world’s top-ranked team.

Golf

Enloe victorious in playoff

Fort Smith, Ark. — Jason Enloe won the Fort Smith Classic with a putt for par on the first hole of a playoff Sunday, ending his three-year winless streak on the Nationwide Tour.

Enloe finished regulation at 15-under 265 along with Chris Tidland, who entered the final day of the tourney in the lead by two strokes.

Enloe won the tournament by sinking a 6-foot putt moments after Tidland’s 8-footer lip out. Enloe’s last victory came in 2006.

Nilsson wins by 6 strokes

Saint-Omer, France — Christian Nilsson earned his first European Tour title by shooting a bogey-free 2-under 69 to win the Saint-Omer Open by a tournament record six strokes.

Teen takes British Amateur

Formby, England — Matteo Manassero completed a dominant week at Formby Golf Club by winning the British Amateur, making the 16-year-old the youngest player and first Italian to win golf’s oldest amateur tournament.

“I never imagined once that I could win this tournament,” said Manassero, who tied for 19th last month at the Italian Open on the European Tour. “I’m shocked. It’s unbelievable.”