Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — In case you missed it in Week 7 of the NFL season: It was a fitting form of protest, given the circus that NFL officiating has become, game after game, week after week: A trio of spectators wore clown makeup and black-and-white striped jerseys in the stands at the Detroit Lions’ home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Folks in the crowd booed during the pregame coin toss. And some more when the first yellow flag flew.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has won the chaotic NASCAR Cup Series elimination race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, holding off Chase Elliott on a second overtime restart to pick up some extra playoff points. Elliott managed to finish second and advanced to the round of eight on points when Brad Keselowski, whom he’d been dueling with all afternoon, got boxed in on the restart and lost too many spots.