Category: Sports

Allmendinger wins on NASCAR oval for 1st time

Oval master: Allmendinger wins on NASCAR oval for 1st time
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — A.J. Allmendinger won a NASCAR oval race for the first time in his long career. Taking advantage of mistakes by the three leaders, the 38-year-old Californian cruised to victory by nearly 2 seconds over pole-sitter Noah Gragson in the Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Allmendinger claimed a single victory during more than a decade in the top-level Cup series, and he had three previous Xfinity wins _ all on road courses. Now, he’s filled in a big hole on his resume. Pole-sitter Noah Gragson took the runner-up spot, followed by Justin Haley.

Dixon wins again at Texas in IndyCar’s delayed season opener

Dixon wins again at Texas in IndyCar’s delayed season opener
By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Scott Dixon was the fast driver for most of the all-in-one-day delayed opener for IndyCar. Five-time champion Dixon took the checkered flag at dusk Saturday for his fourth win at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked oval in Texas. He had been the fastest in practice earlier in the day and qualified second. The 39-year-old New Zealander raced to his 47th career victory and matched A.J. Foyt’s record of 18 seasons with a win. After a restart with three laps left, Dixon sped away in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Honda.

Conor McGregor makes 3rd retirement announcement in 4 years

Conor McGregor makes 3rd retirement announcement in 4 years
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from fighting for the third time in four years. McGregor abruptly made his latest dubious declaration on his Twitter account, where the former two-division UFC champion also announced his retirement in 2016 and 2019. The 31-year-old McGregor revitalized his combat sports career in January with an impressive first-round stoppage of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246. McGregor remains the UFC’s biggest star and biggest financial draw. UFC President Dana White has already said McGregor is next in line for a title shot at the winner of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s bout with Justin Gaethje this summer.

NHL: Players can start voluntary group workouts next week

NHL: Players can start voluntary group workouts next week
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer
The NHL cleared the way for players to return to practice rinks next week and firmed up its playoff format even as a ninth player tested positive for the coronavirus. Teams can reopen facilities and players can take part in voluntary workouts starting Monday. It’s another step toward hockey returning this summer. Earlier in the day, the league announced every playoff series will be a best-of-seven after the qualifying round and teams will be re-seeded along the way instead of bracketing. That news came on the heels of the Pittsburgh Penguins revealing one of their players tested positive for the coronavirus and has recovered from COVID-19. That brings the total of NHL players testing positive to nine.

NASCAR announces another wave of races through August

NASCAR announces another wave of races through August
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR’s All-Star Race will be a midweek event on July 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of a new revision to the schedule that runs through the first weekend of August. The revisions involve Pocono Raceway and the speedways in Indianapolis, Kentucky, Texas, Kansas and New Hampshire. NASCAR made no mention of whether spectators will be allowed at any of the events but Indianapolis, Kentucky and Kansas all said their events would not have fans. NASCAR leadership has not been available for public comment since May 17.

Chris Archer Out For 2020 Season

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer won’t pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and his time with the club may be over.

Pittsburgh announced Wednesday that 31-year-old Archer underwent surgery to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. The procedure was conducted on Tuesday in St. Louis, and the Pirates said Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.

The Pirates were banking on a bounce back year by Archer, who is 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts since he was acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2018 trade deadline for outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Archer has struggled to find any consistency with the Pirates, while Meadows became an All-Star last season and Glasnow also blossomed.

Archer’s contract includes a $9 million salary this year, but he will receive only a portion due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pittsburgh holds an $11 million club option for 2021, with a $250,000 buyout.

Another win falls into Keselowski’s lap in final moments

Another win falls into Keselowski’s lap in final moments
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Brad Keselowski inherited his second win of the season when Chase Elliott and Joey Logano collided as they raced for the victory Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski was in third with a lap and a turn remaining when he lucked into his second victory in three Cup races. Logano had cleared Elliott for the lead with three laps remaining but Elliott was stalking him while seeking his second win in three days. They made contact in the fourth turn and drifted into the wall. Keselowski slid past for the win.

Chase Elliott ends week of misery with overdue Cup victory

Chase Elliott ends week of misery with overdue Cup victory
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott ended a week of miserable finishes with an overdue Cup victory.  Elliott raced to his first win of the season Thursday night in the rain-postponed event at Charlotte Motor Speedway to close a frantic 12 days for NASCAR. The event marked the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17 and Elliott had two frustrating losses in that span. There was little suspense in this one for Elliott, who reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott also won the Truck Series race Tuesday night at Charlotte.

Fitzpatrick: modified schedule could benefit Steelers

Fitzpatrick: modified schedule could benefit Steelers
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick thinks a potentially altered preseason schedule could benefit one of the league’s best defenses. The Steelers are returning 10 of 11 starters from a unit that finished fifth in the league in 2019. Fitzpatrick believes that continuity would be an advantage if the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts preparations for the 2020 regular season. Fitzpatrick says while he is missing the chance to hang out with his teammates during organized team activities, he believes the team will get up to speed quickly whenever players are allowed to get together.

Ex-Pirates infielder Kang banned 1 year by Korean league

Ex-Pirates infielder Kang banned 1 year by Korean league
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The Korean Baseball Organization has suspended ex-Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang for a year and ordered him to perform 300 hours of community service over a series of historical drunk driving cases. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports the suspension for Kang will come into effect when he joins a KBO team. He applied to come off the voluntarily retired list last week in a bid to return to the Korean league. Yonhap said the 33-year-old Kang was in the U.S. and didn’t attend Monday’s KBO disciplinary committee hearing. Kang was the first position player to jump directly from the KBO to the majors when he signed with Pittsburgh in 2015.