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LEXINGTON, N.C. – Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday that part-time driver AJ Allmendinger will compete in the No. 10 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen Int’l on Aug. 3.
Allmendinger is a previous winner at Watkins Glen, having earned a victory in 2014 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for JTG-Daugherty Racing.
“It’s an honor to be able to compete for Kaulig Racing at one of my favorite tracks, Watkins Glen Int’l,” Allmendinger said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win there in the Cup Series and had a strong run finishing second last season in my only Xfinity start there.
“Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice and all of the guys made Daytona so enjoyable and fun, and I can’t wait to get to The Glen.”
In his lone Xfinity Series start at the New York road course, Allmendinger collected one stage win and led 11 laps en route to a runner-up finish.
So far this season with Kaulig Racing, the veteran driver has led 33 laps and crossed the finish line in third, all in his first start with the team at Daytona Int’l Speedway on July 5.
As previously announced, Allmendinger is also scheduled to join the No. 10 team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 10, Road America on Aug. 24 and at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sept. 28.
The primary partner for the No. 10 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen will be released at a later date.
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CONCORD, N.C. — Despite a winless week, Brad Sweet remains atop the National Sprint Car Rankings after the week ending July 14.
With an average finish of 5.154 in 39 starts, Sweet – who also leads the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car standings – holds the top spot over Donny Schatz and Buddy Kofoid, who makes his debut in the national rankings after making his 20th start over the weekend.
Danny Dietrich and David Gravel round out the top five.
Dietrich leads the Eastern region on the strength of 11 victories, while other regional leaders are Kofoid (Great Lakes), Billy Balog (Great Plains), Dominic Scelzi (West), Jacob Patton (Mid-America) and Jack Sodeman Jr. (Ohio-PA).
Dietrich leads the country with 11 victories, while Sweet follows with 10 wins. Aaron Reutzel, Freddie Rahmer and Lance Dewease have each won seven main events.
Eighty-nine drivers have combined to win 199 features run through July 14.
To view National and regional rankings, click below.
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Question remains: When will Open return to Trump Turnberry?
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 03:00
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – The R&A held its annual meet-and-greet with the media on Wednesday at Royal Portrush and it didn’t take long for the usual question about The Open’s possible return to Trump Turnberry to come up.
The Open hasn’t been played at Turnberry, on Scotland’s west coast, since 2009. For some in the United Kingdom, the question has become politically charged since the course is owned by U.S. President Donald Trump and the R&A doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to return to the layout.
“We've talked about this many times in terms of it being part of the pool of courses; nothing's changed from the previous points and comments that I've made on that in respect to taking The Open there,” said Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive. “But it's absolutely one of the pool of 10 courses.”
Unlike the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, which are scheduled years in advance, The Open is currently slated to go to Royal St. George’s next year, St. Andrews in 2021 and Royal Liverpool in ’22.
The Open has been played at Turnberry four times but with the addition of Royal Portrush, the site of this week’s championship, to the rotation and St. Andrews slated to host the event every five years, it’s going to become increasingly difficult for Ailsa Course to move back into the lineup.
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McIlroy leaning on caddie Diamond's playing experience at Royal Portrush
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 04:07
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – For most, Harry Diamond is simply identified as Rory McIlroy’s caddie. Some might take it a bit deeper and point out the two were best friends growing up in Northern Ireland and that Diamond was the best man at McIlroy’s wedding.
But as McIlroy explained Wednesday at Royal Portrush, site of this week’s Open Championship, Diamond was an accomplished amateur whose experience could be particularly helpful this week.
“I think that's one of the things people don't realize, Harry has played more rounds of golf on this golf course than I have, and definitely more competitive rounds,” said McIlroy, who shot a course-record 61 as a 16-year-old in the North of Ireland Amateur held at Portrush in 2005. “He's just as comfortable on this golf course as I am. So that is a big help this week.”
Diamond was beaten in the North of Ireland finals in 2011 and won the West of Ireland Amateur the next year.
Although McIlroy has played his share of rounds on the Dunluce Links, the first coming as a 10-year-old, he admitted that he will be relying on Diamond this week on a course that’s changed quite a bit in the last 10 years, including two new holes for this year’s Open.
“With Harry's experience around here, not that I don't let him have any say any other week, but I think with his experience around here, my ear will be a little sharper to what he has to say,” McIlroy said.
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McDowell avoids 'bittersweet' decision after qualifying for hometown Open
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 04:33
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Graeme McDowell spent much of this spring and summer sidestepping a nagging question: would he qualify for this year’s Open at Royal Portrush?
Thanks to a 30-footer for par on the 72nd hole at the RBC Canadian Open in June, McDowell finally had an answer when he earned his spot in the field at Portrush, where he grew up. He also avoided a difficult choice.
Earlier this season, McDowell committed to a charity event in Portrush the Monday of championship week, a commitment he said he’d honor even if he didn’t qualify for the event. He added, however, that he’d not stay to watch the championship if he wasn’t playing.
Asked on Wednesday if he would have been able to leave his hometown during a landmark week, McDowell sidestepped the question.
“Thankfully we'll never know the answer,” he laughed. “I'd say obviously my plan was to do those [charity events] and get out of here, because I couldn't stand to be here, it would be too bittersweet. It would be too tough to watch the guys go out there and compete on this place where I kind of learned the game.”
Fortunately, McDowell didn’t have to make the choice and will instead get a chance to play the course that inspired him to dedicate himself to golf.
“We had the British Amateur come here in '93, which I [was a standard-bearer] for most of the weekend,” he said. “I looked at those guys and realized that I wanted to be a great amateur player.”
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Rahm on bizarre Wimbledon look: Not my 'first choice'
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 17 July 2019 04:51
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Jon Rahm was forced to defend himself Wednesday at The Open, but not against some questionable course-management decision.
It had to do with a recent outfit.
Rahm’s mismatched look while sitting in the celebrity-filled Royal Box at Wimbledon drew plenty of guffaws on social media, including from some of his peers like Thomas Pieters.
Asked by a reporter whether he’d seen Pieters this week, Rahm didn’t appear to find the exchange funny. “I haven’t seen him, no,” he said, “and I’m not necessarily going to look for him after something like that.”
And what about that look?
Rahm said the starry number wasn’t his “first choice of shirt to wear,” but the one he wanted wasn’t ready at the dry cleaners.
“Still, you’ve got to wear it confidence,” he said. “I’d rather not go to a Royal Box with a starred shirt, but it’s what I had. I got compliments in the Royal Box. As far as I’m concerned, it was a good day.”
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PERTH, Australia -- Mason Greenwood is in contention to start Manchester United's Premier League opener against Chelsea, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after watching the teenager score his first senior goal in the victory over Leeds United.
The 17-year-old striker, who scored 30 goals in 29 academy games last season, got his first senior goal in the 4-0 win at Optus Stadium on Wednesday and Solskjaer says the youngster has impressed so much that he is an option to start when Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Aug.11.
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"He's got a chance to start [against Chelsea] definitely," Solskjaer told a news conference.
"He's capable, more than capable. He'll always be there in and around the box creating chances.
"I won't say that that's not a possibility [that he will start against Chelsea]. It's a good possibility if he keeps going as he does. It's difficult to keep players out if they keep playing well.
"That first goal is going to be maybe a weight off his shoulders. His movement, cleverness, he's going to be a very good player, the young boy."
Greenwood became the youngest player to start a Premier League game for United when he was picked for the 2-0 defeat to Cardiff on the final day of the season, and the teenager's emergence is well-timed with doubts surrounding Romelu Lukaku's future at the club.
The Belgian, wanted by Inter Milan, sat out the win over Leeds after picking up an injury in training on Tuesday. He only returned to training on Monday after missing the 2-0 victory over Perth Glory on Saturday.
"It's not ideal when you miss training sessions," said Solskjaer.
"He missed towards the end of the training session [on Tuesday] and he missed the game again, so he's missed two chances to play 45 minutes.
"At this stage of the season it's important for us we get everyone fit so hopefully he'll be available soon."
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PERTH, Australia -- Romelu Lukaku was omitted from the squad again as Manchester United beat Leeds United 4-0 at Optus Stadium.
The striker is being pursued by Inter Milan and sat out a second consecutive game through injury. He was able to train on Monday but United insisted he had picked a fresh problem during Tuesday's session.
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Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said at his prematch news conference he expected the 26-year-old to play in United's first fixture against Leeds since 2011 after missing the 2-0 win over Perth Glory on Saturday.
David De Gea also sat out the game with Leeds because of illness.
Sources have told ESPN FC that Lukaku wants to move to Inter this summer. The Serie A side are preparing a bid of £60 million with a further £15m in add-ons. United value the Belgium international, who has four years left on his contract, at between £80m and £90m.
A meeting between club chiefs in London last week ended with United indicating they will not entertain a loan bid or an offer that includes Inter players moving in the opposite direction.
United are set to face Inter on the next leg of their preseason tour in Singapore.
Solskjaer has said he will look to replace Lukaku if he leaves but against Leeds, Mason Greenwood made his case to be the one to fill the void.
The 17-year-old, who scored 30 goals in 29 academy games last season, scored his first senior goal to put United 1-0 up on seven minutes after a pinpoint pass from Paul Pogba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross.
Marcus Rashford made it 2-0 on 27 minutes with a beautifully taken goal that saw the England forward leave Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas in a heap on the floor before placing his finish past Kiko Casilla. The damage could have been even greater by half time had Rashford and Dan James not both seen shots come back off the post.
In front of 55,274 fans, Phil Jones made it 3-0 early in the second half with a powerful near post header from Andreas Pereira and Anthony Martial got the fourth from the penalty spot after Liam Cooper had brought down Tahith Chong.
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MLS and USMNT Rumor Rater: Long leaving for the Premier League?
Published in
Soccer
Tuesday, 16 July 2019 20:22
It has arrived. The MLS secondary transfer window, a time that traditionally has seen the most star power enter the league, just opened with a flurry of moves. This year may not be any different as plenty of big names are being linked all over the league. There's also some real interest overseas in the league's talent, especially in the emerging stars. It would continue a trend from the past several years of players using MLS as a stepping stone to one of Europe's big leagues.
We detail some of the most mouth-watering moves that could unfold this summer, in this edition of the MLS and U.S. men's national team Rumor Rater.
Aaron Long to the Premier League: 45 percent
It is no secret that Long has been a massive success story for the New York Red Bulls. A player twice cut by other MLS teams before arriving on trial in New York in 2016, Long has blossomed into a star center-back and a U.S. international. On Sunday, FS1 analyst Brian Dunseth dropped a nugget that a Premier League team is hot on Long's trail.
ESPN FC can confirm that Long has an offer from a Premier League side. And not only that, a source said that the same club has made two offers to the Red Bulls for the 26-year-old's services. The reigning Defender of the Year in MLS, Long could well be on his way out from the Red Bulls. This after signing a new contract with the club last offseason.
The Red Bulls make, the world takes.
Paxton Pomykal to Europe: 15 percent (right now)
Make no mistake about it, the 19-year-old FC Dallas midfielder is headed to Europe at some point in his career. And it will be soon, especially based off of his form for his club as well as at the U20 World Cup. But here and now, this transfer window, it appears slim for the homegrown product to move to Europe. Sources tell ESPN FC that AC Milan along with teams in England and Germany are showing a high level of interest in the central midfielder. It will be interesting to see this process play out, especially with his continued growth in MLS.
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Cristian Pavon to LA Galaxy: 45 percent
This one remains unchanged from the last edition of the Rumor Rater. The Galaxy are interested in the Boca Juniors forward and the 23-year-old has interest in coming to MLS. This is a fact. If it gets done, that's the tricky part. A source told ESPN FC that Pavon remains a Galaxy target as there is "still interest and conversations ongoing." The Argentina international is a promising young player with options. The fact that the Galaxy are one of those options is a sign of not just the league's ambition but growth in recent years.
Jefferson Savarino to Europe: 40 percent
Coming off a two-goal performance against the Philadelphia Union this past weekend, Savarino's stock is rising. Talk of a transfer is legitimate with sources telling ESPN FC that Real Salt Lake is hoping to hold onto the player until the end of the season before allowing him to make a move. One La Liga team is expressing interest, a source said, but there is also legitimate interest from the Premier League. Recently promoted Aston Villa is intrigued by Savarino and could table an offer, a source said. Interestingly enough, the English club is currently in the United States on a preseason tour.
Alex Mendez to a Champions League club: 30 percent
After a standout performance for the United States at the recently concluded U20 World Cup, former LA Galaxy academy product Mendez has seen his stock rise in recent weeks. Currently with Freiburg in Germany's top flight, big clubs are already showing interest in the midfielder, who turns 19 in September.
A source said that Ajax and Real Madrid both scouted Mendez during the World Cup and that the interest from the Dutch giants in particular is legitimate. Mendez could see a run with Freiburg in preseason before potentially going out on loan. A move to Ajax, however, might be too good to pass up. It is still far-fetched and not certain, a source said, but the fact that Ajax seems genuinely interested (and has tabled an offer in the past) makes this one worth watching down the road.
Andre Rios to San Jose Earthquakes: 95 percent
Last time the Rumor Rater appeared, the former Argentina youth international was trending in the right direction with San Jose. Now it appears that things have progressed even further. Rios, who can play up top or out wide, has been with San Jose head coach Matias Almeyda at River Plate. This is a move that makes sense given the relationship between player and coach and San Jose's need for another attacking piece. Think this move is in a good spot. San Jose gets a player who could benefit from a fresh start under a coach who has gotten the most from him in the past.
Joao Plata to Tigres: 10 percent
The out-of-favor Ecuador international has fallen on hard times at Real Salt Lake, with eight appearances this year and just five minutes played since June. Rumors of a move to Mexico are legitimate with sources telling ESPN FC that there was "strong interest" from Tigres. As of right now, this one doesn't appear likely to materialize as talks have died down.
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