Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving is changing representation and is expected to partner with Roc Nation Sports, league sources told ESPN.

Irving parted ways with longtime agent Jeff Wechsler on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to ultimately work with Jay-Z's Roc Nation prior to the start of NBA free agency on June 30, sources said.

Irving, a six-time All-Star, will become an unrestricted free agent, and league sources say he remains intensely interested in the Brooklyn Nets. The New York Knicks are expected to remain competitive for Irving, too, sources tell ESPN.

The Nets and Knicks have both hoped to sign Irving and Kevin Durant together into max salary slots. Durant's free agency has been complicated by a ruptured right Achilles tendon that will keep him out of the entire 2019-20 season. The Knicks and Nets are both still interested in signing Durant and Irving together, league sources said.

Wechsler had represented Irving since he was the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in 2011, negotiating multiple national marketing campaigns and helping to launch his Uncle Drew soft-drink commercial and movie character. Wechsler helped Irving navigate his way out of Cleveland and into a trade to the Celtics in 2017.

Wechsler also represents Celtics star Jayson Tatum. He previously represented Alonzo Mourning and Penny Hardaway.

Roc Nation represents several top NBA players, including Nets guard Caris LeVert. One of the draws of Roc Nation to players has been its close connections to the entertainment industry.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during Monday's victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and underwent surgery Wednesday in New York City.

"What's good everybody I wanted to update you all: I did rupture my Achilles. Surgery was today and it was a success," Durant wrote in an Instagram post, which accompanied a picture of him in a hospital.

View this post on Instagram

What's good everybody I wanted to update you all: I did rupture my Achilles. Surgery was today and it was a success, EASY MONEY My road back starts now! I got my family and my loved ones by my side and we truly appreciate all the messages and support people have sent our way. Like I said Monday, I'm hurting deeply, but I'm OK. Basketball is my biggest love and I wanted to be out there that night because that's what I do. I wanted to help my teammates on our quest for the three peat. Its just the way things go in this game and I'm proud that I gave it all I physically could, and I'm proud my brothers got the W. It's going to be a journey but I'm built for this. I'm a hooper I know my brothers can get this Game 6, and I will be cheering  with dub nation while they do it.

A post shared by 35 (@easymoneysniper) on Jun 12, 2019 at 12:54pm PDT

The Warriors said the surgery was done at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley.

Durant injured his right Achilles in the second quarter of Game 5. He had not played since injuring his right calf May 8 against the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Wednesday's practice that Durant's Achilles tear came as a "complete shock" to the organization.

"I completely understand the world we live in," Kerr said. "As [Warriors general manager] Bob [Myers] mentioned the other night, there's going to be blame. There's going to be finger-pointing, and we understand that. And we accept that. This is kind of what you sign up for when you get into coaching, general management in the NBA. There's all kinds of coverage, judgment, criticism, and it's all part of it, so we accept that. The main thing is our concern for Kevin and these last couple of days just checking on him. Obviously, everybody feels horrible for what happened.

"As Bob mentioned the other night, this last month was a cumulative, collaborative, effort in his rehabilitation. And that collaboration included Kevin and his business partner Rich Kleiman, our medical staff, his own outside opinion, second opinion, doctor outside of our organization. Kevin checked all the boxes, and he was cleared to play by everybody involved."

Kerr made it clear that the organization did not feel it was putting Durant, 30, at risk for further injury, despite the fact he hadn't played in over a month and was still recovering from a strained calf on the same leg.

"Now, would we go back and do it over again? Damn right," Kerr said. "But that's easy to say after the results. When we gathered all the information, our feeling was the worst thing that could happen would be a reinjury of the calf. That was the advice and the information that we had. At that point, once Kevin was cleared to play, he was comfortable with that, we were comfortable with that. So the Achilles came as a complete shock.

"I don't know what else to add to that, other than had we known that this was a possibility, that this was even in the realm of possibility, there's no way we ever would have allowed Kevin to come back."

Warriors guard Stephen Curry defended Myers and the organization's decision to clear Durant for Game 5. Durant, the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP, holds a $31.5 million player option for 2019-20.

"I trust our medical staff and know Bob Myers has our best interests," Curry said. "In terms of not just what we can do in this series, but long term in our overall health. You see how hard he took it, talking to you guys after the game. And that's really genuine and authentic. So you can waste time talking about the what-ifs and this and that. Injuries are tough and they suck. They're a part of our game, and they're going to continue to be a part of our game. But everybody putting their collective brains together to make the sound, smart decisions, you kind of just live with that, because that's what's a part of our game."

Kerr and several of his players acknowledged the shock and sadness that still exists within the organization following Durant's injury. The coach specifically mentioned Rick Celebrini, the team's director of sports medicine and performance.

"So it's devastating, mostly for Kevin, obviously," Kerr said. "But I feel horribly for Rick Celebrini, as well, who is one of the best people I've ever been around and one of the smartest, brightest minds that I've ever been around. He's devastated. Bob, the team, we all are. But we made the decision collaboratively with all the information that we had and we thought it was the right one."

Warriors swingman Klay Thompson said it was "stupid" for fans to question the fact that Durant wanted to be back on the floor before his injury.

"That's just the nature of the game these days," Thompson said Wednesday. "It happens to the greatest athletes to ever play. Every athlete at his level has gone through it, whether it's been Kevin, Muhammad Ali, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, baseball players, Wayne Gretzky. They have all been questioned, especially in this day and age with the media and the 24-hour news cycle. There's going to be talking heads talking about his game and whatnot. That just comes with the territory.

"But we know who he is. We have won championships with him. I've played in international games with him. I've seen him every day in the gym. You don't need to question someone's heart or desire to play when you see their daily work and their résumé. This man has won every accolade there is. So for these people to say that, it's really just irresponsible and stupid, because this man has been a basketball prodigy since he was 15, and his skill level is not attained unless you put the work in."

As the Warriors, trailing 3-2 in the Finals, prepare for Thursday's Game 6 -- which also marks their final game at Oracle Arena before moving to San Francisco next season -- they do so with the belief that Golden State fans will show even more support than usual in the wake of Durant's injury.

"I expect us obviously to come out and play as hard as we can," Thompson said. "We're not even thinking about the future. We're just thinking about enjoying this last show at Oracle we're about to give our fans. And I expect our fans to be the loudest they have ever been, especially in the name of Kevin and bringing his type of spirit he would bring to the fight and the competitiveness.

"I know our fans will do that because we deserve it, but more importantly, Kevin does for what he gave this team, this organization. There wouldn't be banners if it wasn't for his presence. So we expect our crowd to be loud for him."

DENVER -- Despite the bumps and bruises after four players -- two on each side -- got hit by pitches in the Chicago Cubs' 10-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, both teams played it cool afterward.

Rockies star Nolan Arenado was the first to get nailed, as veteran Cubs starter Cole Hamels hit him in the left forearm in the bottom of the third inning.

"I kind of had a feeling it was going to happen," Arenado said after the game. "I don't have to explain what's going on. You saw the games in Chicago. You saw them here. It's baseball. I just thought it was a little high. If you were here for the series you saw what was going on."

Arenado is referring to several Cubs players being hit by pitches last week, most notably third baseman Kris Bryant. Bryant was hit by German Marquez in Chicago and was then plunked two more times Tuesday night by rookie Peter Lambert. Marquez also hit Bryant in the helmet last year at Coors Field. Hamels was asked if hitting Arenado was part of any retaliation.

"Not that I know of, no," Hamels said with a straight face. "I'm trying to get guys out. You don't want to see that and you don't want guys to get injured."

After getting hit, Arenado yelled over at the Cubs dugout about the high pitch and jawed with Hamels as well. He left in the fifth inning with a contusion.

"It's just baseball," Hamels said nonchalantly. "People yell at me all the time, good and bad."

X-rays on Arenado's forearm were negative and he's day-to-day. Hamels should also be fine after getting hit in the ankle by Bryan Shaw in the top of the seventh inning. He was walking gingerly in the Cubs clubhouse afterward.

"Those balls are hard," Hamels said. "They don't feel too good."

The back and forth wasn't over. In the eighth inning, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was hit by rookie Phillip Diehl, who was making his second career outing. That finally drew warnings from the umpires.

"I don't think that was on purpose," Arenado said. "We're not asking some second-appearance young kid to go throw at Rizzo."

Finally, Rockies catcher Tony Wolters was hit by struggling Cubs reliever Brad Brach in the bottom of the ninth with the game well in hand for the visitors. Colorado manager Bud Black argued that Brach should have been tossed since warnings had already been given. The umpires disagreed.

"I'm not trying to hit anyone, especially with the way I've been pitching," Brach said.

So as is the trend when these things occur, all the parties involved -- save perhaps Arenado -- denied there was anything nefarious going on. Cubs manager Joe Maddon also dismissed most of the extracurricular activity, urging those inflicted to simply make a quick decision.

"I've always had a rule among my guys," Maddon explained. "You have two options: Go to the mound or go to first base. But don't sit there and jabber. Make up your mind and do one or the other -- and either one is fine."

The two teams can only meet in the playoffs now as the season series is over after they played each other six times in eight days, with each team winning three games. Arenado was asked what he thought of more games against the Cubs.

"It would be a spicy series," he responded.

HOUSTON -- On a night when the Milwaukee Brewers struck out again and again, piling up a season-high 24 K's against the Houston Astros, one big swing by Mike Moustakas made all those whiffs way easier to swallow.

Moustakas hit a two-run homer during Milwaukee's three-run 14th inning, and the Brewers struck out 15 times against Houston ace Justin Verlander before rallying for a 6-3 victory over the Astros on Wednesday.

Christian Yelich started the 14th with a single against rookie Cionel Perez (1-1) for Milwaukee's first hit since the ninth. After Ryan Braun lined out, Moustakas hit a drive to right for his 21st homer.

"Obviously, 24 punchouts isn't what we were looking for, but ... we got a W so we turned a negative into a positive and found a way to win against a great ballclub over there," Moustakas said.

Jesus Aguilar added a pinch-hit RBI single as Milwaukee won for the fifth time in six games. Braun, Yasmani Grandal and Eric Thames also went deep for the Brewers, and Adrian Houser (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. "I bet you there's not too many times a team struck out 24 times and won the game," Yelich said. "All those weird baseball things happen and that's another example of it. Honestly, it's just a really good win and a hard-fought win."

Verlander set a career high for K's while allowing three runs in seven innings. The 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner led the way as Houston set a franchise record for strikeouts, surpassing its previous record of 23 during a 15-inning game on May 31, 2003, against the Chicago Cubs.

Verlander joined Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in Astros history with at least 15 strikeouts and no walks in a game, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. (Johnson had 16 strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 28, 1998.)

"It would feel a lot better if we won," Verlander said. "Yeah, cool, great, but we didn't win the baseball game."

Houston had a 3-2 lead before Thames connected in the seventh inning for Milwaukee's third homer off Verlander. It was Thames' ninth of the season.

Each team had late chances to go in front.

Jake Marisnick singled off Houser with one out in the 13th. Marisnick stole second base, but Houser retired Josh Reddick and Alex Bregman to end the threat.

Pinch hitter Myles Straw walked leading off the Houston 10th, but was caught trying to steal second base. He was initially called safe, but the Brewers challenged the call and it was overturned. Josh Hader walked Tyler White, but Marisnick grounded into a double play to end the inning.

"Hitting is hard. They threw some pretty good arms at us," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "They're a good team, and yes, it doesn't feel good when you go quietly like that."

Singles by Yelich and Moustakas left runners at first and third with one out in the ninth. But Roberto Osuna struck out Grandal and Thames to escape the jam.

Verlander surrendered solo drives to Braun in the first and Grandal in the second before settling into a groove. He retired 17 of 18 after Grandal's 15th homer, with Milwaukee's only baserunner coming on a double by Thames to start the fifth.

Verlander, who had fanned 14 four times in his career, struck out eight of his final 10 batters, including the side in the sixth.

Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff also yielded three runs and four hits in seven innings.

The Brewers led 2-0 before the Astros scored three times in the fourth. Robinson Chirinos singled in Yuli Gurriel before Tony Kemp doubled in two runs.

ANNIVERSARY

Verlander got the start on the 12th anniversary of his first career no-hitter, a 4-0 victory over Milwaukee. Brewers manager Craig Counsell led off in that one and finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (lower back strain) will come off the injured list to start against San Diego on Monday.

Astros: 2B Jose Altuve (leg fatigue) and OF George Springer (hamstring) are both improving, and Hinch said they could start rehabilitation assignments sometime this weekend. ... C Max Stassi (knee soreness) is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday.

DYNAMIC DUO

Yelich and Moustakas each had two hits. Yelich extended his hitting streak to 10 games, which is the longest streak for the Brewers this season, and Moustakas has hit safely in 10 of the past 11 games.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Milwaukee is off Thursday before Zach Davies (7-0, 2.41 ERA) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at San Francisco. Davies allowed three runs in five innings in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh in his most recent start.

Astros: Following an off day, Houston hosts Toronto on Friday in the first of three games. Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.72 ERA) is scheduled to start. Cole yielded three runs -- one earned -- and struck out a season-high 14 in seven innings but did not factor in the decision in a 4-3 win over the Orioles in his previous start.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Boston Red Sox infielder Eduardo Nunez lamented the fact that David Ortiz was shot in their native Dominican Republic, calling the incident an "international shame."

Nunez, who is friends with Ortiz and shares an agent with the former Red Sox star, told ESPN's Marly Rivera that he spoke with Ortiz on the phone Tuesday, less than two days after the shooting at a club in Santo Domingo.

Although Nunez said he was happy to hear that Ortiz is recovering, he said Dominican players feel "embarrassed" that a "legend" like Ortiz was shot in their homeland.

"Just thinking about the fact that this happened to him in the Dominican Republic, it is unimaginable," Nunez told Rivera on Wednesday. "For us, as Dominican players, it's a very bad image. It is an international shame.

"We feel very embarrassed about what happened to him because he is a legend from our homeland, and this happened to him in our homeland."

Nunez said he was happy to have had the opportunity to speak with Ortiz.

"I'm very pleased that he's already recovering. ... [Ortiz] said to me, 'How are you, homie? How are you doing?'" Nunez said. "I replied, 'Hey, it's not about how am I doing, it's about how you're doing! You tell me!'

"It was just a brief greeting, but it felt good to have the opportunity to talk to him over the phone."

Ortiz's wife, Tiffany, announced earlier Wednesday that Ortiz will remain in the intensive care unit at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital "for the coming days."

Ortiz underwent emergency surgery Sunday night in the Dominican Republic to repair damage to his intestines and his liver. He was stabilized and then flown to Boston and taken to Mass General, where a second surgery was performed late Monday night.

Authorities say Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at nearly point-blank range around 8:50 p.m. local time at the Dial Bar and Lounge.

The Dominican Republic's chief prosecutor on Wednesday said police have five people in custody, including the alleged gunman, and that others also are being pursued.

Witnesses said the attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle and two other groups of people in cars, and authorities said the coordinator of the shooting was offered 400,000 pesos (about $7,800) to carry out the crime.

Nunez, who spoke with Rivera before Boston's game Wednesday afternoon against the Texas Rangers, called Ortiz a "very special person" for all Dominican players.

"I feel terrible," Nunez said. "He is an international figure, an icon of our sport. He's someone who's opened so many doors for younger Dominican players and Latinos in general. He always advocates for the best for the Dominican Republic. For young Latinos, he's always there offering you advice. He's a very special person for all of us."

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Six suspects, including the alleged gunman, have been detained in the shooting of former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, the Dominican Republic's chief prosecutor said Wednesday.

Other suspects also were being pursued in the shooting, which witnesses said was carried out by two men on a motorcycle and two other groups of people in cars.

"At this moment, they are being interrogated, and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened," chief prosecutor Jean Alain Rodriguez said.

"Nobody involved in this lamentable episode will remain in impunity, not even the material or intellectual author" of the crime, he said.

Authorities have declined to give a motive for the shooting at a popular Santo Domingo bar Sunday night.

Among the suspects in custody is the alleged shooter, identified by authorities as Rolfy Ferreyra, aka Sandy.

Police Maj. Gen. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said the alleged coordinator of the attack was offered 400,000 Dominican pesos, or about $7,800, to carry out the shooting. He said the alleged coordinator also is among those in custody.

Among the other suspects still at large were Luis Alfredo Rivas Clase, aka The Surgeon, as well as a woman known as The Venezuelan, or Red, and two other men, prosecutors said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Boston, Ortiz's wife said in a statement that the former Red Sox slugger was able to sit up and take some steps as he recuperates in the intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"His condition is guarded, and he will remain in the ICU for the coming days, but he is making good progress toward recovery," Tiffany Ortiz said in the statement.

Prosecutors have said the two men on the motorcycle were seen on security camera footage talking with other people in a gray Hyundai Accent and in another Hyundai on a nearby street before the shooting.

One of the suspects, Oliver Moises Mirabal Acosta, was seen driving the Accent before mounting a motorcycle driven by 25-year-old Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia, the prosecutors said in a court document.

"In one of the videos, it was possible to observe both the accused and the shooter planning the commission of the incident right on Octavio Mejia Ricart Street, which is parallel to the place where the event took place," the prosecutors said.

The document also revealed ineptitude, saying the motorcycle driver, Feliz Garcia, was captured after he skidded and fell off his bike as the pair tried to flee. Enraged onlookers captured Feliz Garcia and beat him bloody before handing him over to police.

Mirabal Acosta was captured Tuesday night in the town of Mao in the northern Dominican Republic.

Feliz Garcia's lawyer said his client, who has been charged with being an accomplice to attempted murder, is an innocent motorcycle taxi driver who had no idea his passenger was going to commit a crime.

"He didn't know what they were going to do. He's a fan of David's," the attorney, Deivi Solano, said Tuesday.

The 43-year-old Ortiz frequently travels to Santo Domingo, where his father and a sister live. He was active in the social scene there, hitting nightspots with friends who included TV personalities and Dominican reggaeton musicians.

Beloved in his hometown, Ortiz traveled the dangerous streets of the Dominican capital with little or no security, trusting his fans to protect him, according to friends.

The Dominican Republic is one of the world's most dangerous countries. The murder rate stands at 12.5 killings per 100,000 people, placing the Dominican Republic in the top 10% to 15% of the most violent countries in the world, according to U.S. State Department data.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

A look ahead to the Diamond League meeting in Oslo, where Norwegian stars Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Karsten Warholm are among those in action

A stadium where 69 world records have been broken since 1945 looks like staging another top-class Diamond League event as the series moves on to the Bislett Games on Thursday.

In the 100m, world indoor 60m champion Christian Coleman will be looking to continue his great form after his season-opener of 9.86 in Shanghai. Usain Bolt’s track record of 9.79 may be a stretch this early in the year, but he will be pushed by fellow American Mike Rodgers, plus Brits Reece Prescod and Chijindu Ujah and Italy’s up-and-coming Filippo Tortu.

Another highlight will be the men’s pole vault where last year’s world No.1 Armand Duplantis, the current AW cover star who has already gone over 6.00m this year, takes on world champion Sam Kendricks and European champion Pavel Wojciechowski.

.@samkendricks speaks with @stuartweir about tomorrow’s @BislettGames, @mondohoss600 and the global pole vault scene right now #BislettGames #OsloDL pic.twitter.com/fEI8tljWrY

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) June 12, 2019

Organisers are claiming to have assembled possibly the best women’s steeplechase line-up in Diamond League history. World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech will start favourite after dominating the chase in Rome, but world champion Emma Coburn will hope to push her as she makes her 2019 Diamond League debut. Olympic silver medallist Hyvin Kiyeng, European champion Gesa Felicitas Krause, Norwegian record-holder Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal and Britain’s Rosie Clarke are also on the start list.

World junior 400m hurdles record-holder Sydney McLaughlin will compete in her main event in a Diamond League for the first time. The athlete rated to be America’s next female track and field star was second in the flat 400m in Shanghai and here takes on Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad and European champion Lea Sprunger.

The men’s event includes home favourite Karsten Warholm, the world champion, but is missing Abderrahman Samba through injury.

The women’s 100m hurdles features Norwegian record-holder Isabelle Pedersen, plus Diamond League leader Sharika Nelvis and Olympic champion Brianna McNeal, while in the women’s 200m, world champion Dafne Schippers goes up against Gabrielle Thomas and Jenna Prandini of the US.

Last year’s IAAF world female athlete of the year Caterine Ibarguen switches back to triple jump after opening up her 2019 campaign in the long jump. The double 2018 Diamond League champion will meet Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams and Shanieka Ricketts, European champion Paraskevi Papachristou and former world champion Olga Saladukha.

For more than 50 years, the Bislett Games Dream Mile has assembled the world’s best middle-distance runners. In this year’s edition, double European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and brother Filip will enjoy plenty of home support.

The men’s 3000m features Selemon Barega and Muktar Edris, plus Henrik Ingebrigtsen and Britain’s Andrew Butchart.

Andreas Hofmann goes up against his fellow Germans Johannes Vetter and Thomas Rohler in the javelin, while the women’s high jump features Britain’s Morgan Lake and world champion Mariya Lasitskene. In the women’s shot, Shanghai winner Chase Ealey again takes on world champion Gong Lijiao.

Britain’s Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Lynsey Sharp race in the non-Diamond League 800m.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway for NASCAR late model stock cars will see significant changes later this year.

The changes to the event will see the purse increase for the top-five finishers, a new qualifying procedure, and a new race format.

“We’re adjusting the purse this year to better reward the top-five finishers in NASCAR’s most prestigious late model stock car race, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “This is, no doubt, the biggest Late Model Stock Car race in the country, and with the format and purse changes, we feel the 2019 edition will reflect that fully.”

The winner’s share of the $110,000 purse will now be $32,000, with second paying $8,000, third paying $6,000, fourth paying $5,000, and fifth paying $4,000.

All 40 teams to make 200-lap feature will receive a minimum payout off $1,000.

As for the format, time trials on Friday, Oct. 4 will be more important than ever in the competitive modern world of NASCAR late model stock cars.

Single-car qualifying will set the top-20 starting positions for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 feature race on Saturday, Oct. 5. There will also be a $5,000 bonus for the driver who wins the pole.

The remaining 20 positions will be set on Saturday, Oct. 5, with two 50-lap heat races.

The top 10 finishers from each heat race will advance to the feature race. Caution laps will count during the heat races.

“This format really rewards the drivers who can perform under pressure, and rewards the fans in the grandstands,” Campbell said. “The drama of single-car qualifying on Friday night will really be something to watch. By making the heat races 50 laps, we are giving the drivers more time to work their way through the field, giving the fans two dramatic heat races on Saturday afternoon to set the field.”

The feature race will also see format changes.

The 200-lap race will be stopped at lap 75 and at lap 150. The leader at each break will receive a $1,000 bonus. There will be no invert after either break.

DRP Performance Products has also added a bonus of $25 for each lap a driver leads, for a total of $5,000.

As in 2018, teams will have four fresh tires behind pit wall at the start of the race. The teams will be able to use those four fresh tires as they desire throughout the 200-lap feature event, with two opportunities to change tires during the planned breaks.

The breaks will set up a 50-lap dash to the finish for the $32,000 winner’s check and a grandfather clock trophy.

“When it comes right down to it, the changes we are making are for the fans,” Campbell said. “We want them to feel like they just saw the best race possible when they leave our parking lots on Oct. 5. I feel confident these changes will produce just that.”

Another change to the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 involves the overtime procedures for the race. There will be an unlimited amount of attempts at a green-white-checkered finish, a change from previous years, where the amount of attempts was limited to three.

The engine rules for the race will be governed in accordance by the 2019 NASCAR rule book, and no changes will be made outside of the NASCAR rule book by Martinsville Speedway to create parity between engine suppliers.

“The engines teams find work best each and every week, from a competitive standpoint, will not be compromised or enhanced based on speeds during testing and practice,” Campbell said.

Car numbers will still be issued, and garage stalls assigned, for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 weekend based on the postmark date of the completed official NASCAR entry form.

C.E. Falk III is the defending winner of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is earning a Major League Soccer-record $7.2 million salary this season.

The 37-year-old Ibrahimovic, who earned a relatively modest $1.5m last year, broke the previous mark set by former Toronto FC midfielder Sebastian Giovinco, who had $7,115,556 in total compensation in both 2017 and 2018.

- Carlisle: Does MLS have a double standard for Ibra?
- Ibrahimovic on criticism: 'I eat it for breakfast'

The MLS Players Association said Wednesday the average base salary for all players this year is $376,174 and the average guaranteed compensation is $417,643, including a prorated share of guaranteed money not attributable to a specific year. The average salary for senior roster non-designated players increased 13.3 percent to $345,867 and is up from $138,140 in 2014.

Striker Giovani dos Santos, released by the Galaxy in March, is second with a base salary of $4.75m and total compensation of $6.5m.

Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley ($6m base, $6,428,571 total) is third, followed by Toronto striker Jozy Altidore ($4,891,250, $6,332,250), LAFC forward Carlos Vela ($4.5m base, $6.3m total), Chicago midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger ($5.6m base and total), Montreal winger Ignacio Piatti ($530,000, $4,443,333), Toronto midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo ($3.8m), DC United forward Wayne Rooney ($3.5m, $3,507,500), Atlanta forward Josef Martinez ($3m, $3,058,333), Seattle forward Nicolas Lodeiro ($2m, $2,502,500), Orlando midfielder Nani ($2,333,333, $2,486,250) and Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard ($2m, $2,475,000).

The minimum salary for each team's 18-20 senior players rose to $70,250 this season and the minimum for its maximum eight reserve players increased to $56,250.

This is the final season of a five-year labor contract.