I Dig Sports
ORRVILLE, Ohio — The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 fell victim to Mother Nature yet again, this time at Wayne County Speedway.
Heavy rain and high winds invaded the Orrville, Ohio-area just after 4 p.m. and lasted nearly 20 minutes, ultimately leaving Wayne County Speedway heavily saturated.
Additional heavy rain fell on the speedway just before 6 p.m. leaving All Star and Wayne County Speedway officials with no choice but to cancel the evening program. The event has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 2.
Mother Nature is now responsible for 12 cancellations and/or postponements during the last 14 All Star Circuit of Champions events.
Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions will conclude their three-day, Memorial Day weekend sweep of the Buckeye State with a Sunday night visit to Fremont Speedway on May 26.
TULSA, Okla. – Concerning two-day events with the American Sprint Car Series, an amendment has been made to the ASCS rule book in regards to lock-in drivers from the first night.
The Top-Four drivers from the first night of competition will no longer lock into the second day of a two-day show, meaning all two-day events are treated with each night as it’s own standalone event.
One thing not changed is that, in order to be eligible for the redraw on the second night, the driver must have drawn in and attempted to compete on the first night.
“I apologize for making the change after the season started. We talked about this last season and meant to make the change before PRI, and it got overlooked,” said ASCS founder Emmett Hahn. “We raced last weekend at I-96 Speedway and honored it because it was already a part of the weekend program, but going forward there will be no lock-ins from the first night to the second on ASCS two-day events.”
Events like Dirt Cup, Knoxville 360 Nationals, and the Hockett/McMillin Memorial do not follow the two-day format and are special events with unique formats that use event points.
The rule now reads as follows:
“On the second night for a two-day event at the same track, all drivers will re-qualify. No lock-ins from the first night. The top four in passing points (who drew in and attempted to compete on the first night) will draw for positions one through four, with the next four drivers in passing points drawing for positions five through eight.”
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – Heavy showers and a bit of hail during 410 time trials was too much for the Knoxville Raceway to take Saturday night during Slideways Karting Center/Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Night.
The wet grounds caused a cancellation of racing.
Racing resumes at the black-dirt half-mile oval on Saturday, June 1 with McKay Group/West Bend Insurance Night.
CONCORD, N.C. – Logan Schuchart survived an overtime-extended, rubber-down war of attrition to win the finale to the United Rentals Patriot Nationals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday night.
Schuchart, who started 14th for the 30-lap main event, methodically moved his way forward and then found himself in position to pounce when many drivers began blowing right-rear tires in the final laps.
He took over the top spot with three to go in regulation, when Brad Sweet pulled to the infield from the race lead with a flat right-rear tire, then held on through a green-white-checkered finish for the victory.
The Hanover, Pa., native’s triumph was his third World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of the season, tying David Gravel for the most of any driver on tour through 20 completed features.
“Man, does this one feel good!” Schuchart said in victory lane. “A lot of times, a driver has a pretty good idea of how much tire you have left, but those last couple laps … (the right-rear) stuck and it still felt like I had grip. It was funny because that (tire) started off used. I’m pretty sure it was on the rack from last year because we didn’t want to waste a new tire starting 14th, but it didn’t matter tonight.
“It’s been a great season so far,” Schuchart added. “I didn’t know who was behind me (on the last lap), but I knew some guys who had problems probably had a new tire. That last lap, I came off turn two and I heard another engine … so I knew I had to make it as wide as I possibly could.”
Outside polesitter Kraig Kinser took the lead off the initial start and paced the first 16 laps, but 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz snuck pas Kinser in traffic with 14 to go and appeared to be on his way to victory.
Track conditions and circumstances ultimately dictated otherwise, however.
The drama began with six to go, when Dominic Scelzi exploded a right-rear tire and stopped off turn two to bring out a late caution flag. That was the first of multiple tire-related yellows which ultimately changed the game – as well as the final outcome.
A three-car melee involving Ian Madsen, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Cale Thomas brought the yellow back out with five laps left, and that was followed by a third yellow for Sheldon Haudenschild losing a right-rear tire at the three to go mark.
Once lap 27 went up on the scoreboard, it didn’t pay to lead, as first Schatz and then later Brad Sweet both slowed from the race lead with flat right-rear tires, ending their respective chances at victory.
Once Sweet pulled off, the race was in Schuchart’s hands, and he rocketed away on the ensuing restart before a caution waved after the white flag for a triple tire failure biting Shane Stewart, Ian Madsen and Carson Macedo.
That set up a green-white-checkered finish, pushing the feature one lap beyond its scheduled distance, but Schuchart was not to be denied despite a hard-charging James McFadden on the final lap.
As Schuchart alluded to, though he took the victory, his right-rear tire was all but bald after the race.
“I don’t think I would have survived another lap, and even if I could have gone another lap with the tire like it was, James definitely would have passed me,” Schuchart admitted. “It worked out, though. A lot of it’s luck, and maybe a little bit about saving the tire at the right times and passing cars when you can.
“We won the race, though, and that’s all that matters. It feels great.”
McFadden restarted third at the final green flag, but hauled around Kerry Madsen and nearly got alongside Schuchart coming to the twin checkers before settling for second.
“Everyone started looking after their tires after the first couple of (cautions). I figured we had nothing to lose,” said McFadden, who started 18th. “I’m not here to points chase. I just wanted to win, but I kind of used my left rear up a little bit too much. I thought I waited a little bit on Logan in (turns) one and two and had a good enough run going into turn three. He just did a really good job.
“I’m pumped with second. In my second night with Kasey Kahne Racing … this is awesome.”
Kerry Madsen completed the podium, putting two Australians in the top three finishing positions, with 1995 World of Outlaws champion Dave Blaney crossing the line fourth and Friday winner Gio Scelzi rallying back from a flat tire under caution with five to go to complete the top five.
Jacob Allen was sixth ahead of Daryn Pittman, Jason Sides, Kinser and Haudenschild. Schatz was 11th.
To view complete race results, advance to the next page.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Mark Stone scored his tournament-leading eighth goal, Matt Murray made 39 saves, and Canada beat the Czech Republic 5-1 on Saturday to advance to face Finland in the world hockey championship final.
"I think we can beat anybody in this tournament,'' Stone said. "It's just a matter of whether we play well or not. We're going to have to bring our best game to beat [Finland], but I'm comfortable with the team that we have.''
In the first semifinal, Marko Anttila scored midway through the third period in Finland's 1-0 victory over Russia.
Darnell Nurse, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Turris and Thomas Chabot also scored for Canada.
"I think as a team we're just thankful for the opportunity,'' Murray said. "One, to be here and play for our country, and now to get this opportunity to play for gold. It's very exciting, and that's what we're here for.''
Tomas Zohorna scored for the Czechs.
"The score was 5-1, but it felt closer than that,'' Dubois said. "The Czechs played a really good game. They did a lot of good things. I thought we defended well as a unit of five. We didn't give them a lot. Murray was really good when we made mistakes, and that's what made the difference.''
Canada has won eight straight games since opening with a 3-1 loss to Finland. The teams last met in the final in 2016 in Moscow, with Canada winning 2-1. The title game is Sunday.
In the first semifinal, Anttila grabbed the loose puck after Henri Jokiharju's point shot bounced off defenseman Nikita Zaitsev's leg and fired it through goalie Andrei Vasilevski's five-hole.
"He took a stick in the face and came back and scored the game-winning goal,'' Finnish goalie Kevin Lankinen said. "That shows a lot of character. He's a good leader and a really nice guy to be around.''
Lankinen made 32 saves for his second shutout of the tournament.
"We've believed in ourselves all tournament,'' Lankinen said. "I don't know if anybody else has, but the way we're playing, we can beat any team in this tournament. I like to think we've got one more win left in us.''
Thanks to a third-round 69, Kevin Na will take a two-shot lead over five players into the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Here’s where things stand through 54 holes at Colonial:
Leaderboard: Na (-9), Mackenzie Hughes (-7), C.T. Pan (-7), Jordan Spieth (-7), Jim Furyk (-7), Tony Finau (-7), Charley Hoffman (-6), Austin Cook (-6)
What it means: Playing one of the “seven or eight” courses on which he believes he can contend, Na is 18 holes from his third PGA Tour victory. Having gone seven years between Tour titles Nos. 1 and 2, Na is just 10 months removed from his win last July at The Greenbrier. He has fired rounds of 62 or better in three of his last seven rounds at Colonial, including a course-record 61 in the final round last year. He’ll try to hold off five players tied for second place, two back. Spieth is the 2016 champ looking for his first win in nearly two years, since the 2017 Open. Finau is hunting his second Tour title in a brief career that has included 4 runner-ups and 28 total top-10s. Furyk finished second to Rory McIlroy earlier this year at The Players and is at age 49 trying to capture his 18th career victory. Pan broke through for his first win last month in Hilton Head. Hughes was the winner of a five-way playoff at Sea Island back in 2016.
Round of the day: Charley Hoffman poured in seven birdies during a bogey-free 63 to move to 6 under for the week, three back. Hoffman is third this week in proximity to the hole. Only Spieth (16) has made more birdies at Colonial than Hoffman (15).
Best of the rest: Hughes and Cook both signed for 65. Hughes was mistake-free, despite hitting only 11 of 18 greens, going 7-for-7 scrambling.
Biggest disappointment: The 36-hole leader, Jonas Blixt will start Sunday four back after a Saturday 74. He opened with a bogey and added three more to a card that didn't include a birdie.
Shot of the day: Francesco Molinari’s tee ball at the par-3 fourth, from 216 yards to 7 inches:
The reigning champion golfer of the year is 1 over for the week following rounds of 71-70-70.
Quote of the day: “I was disturbed by a fan a little bit [on 13], but [caddie Kenny Harms] yelled at her. I almost felt bad for the lady. She was shocked.” – Na, laughing
Perhaps trying to force the issue, having gone 15 holes without a birdie, Tony Finau hit it a little too far on Colonial Country Club's par-4 18th Saturday.
Sailing his drive over the trees on the left, Finau first found the fairway but then found the water when his 344-yard tee shot rolled into the pond left of the green.
"I was extremely surprised," Finau said. "I couldn’t believe it went that far. Pulled it, and it almost feels like the trees should have gotten in the way and slowed it down."
Finau wedged up to 7 feet but was unable to save his par, tapping in for bogey and a round of 1-over 71 that included a just one birdie, at the par-4 second. Finau had made 12 straight pars and was solo second, just one behind leader Kevin Na, when he bogeyed 18.
He'll start Sunday two back, looking for his second Tour victory, having recorded four runner-ups and 13 top-10s in the last two seasons.
"I hit it good off the tee, gave myself some looks, just wasn't able to make them fall," he said. "But again, it played tough out there, as the scores have shown. I just kind of grinded my teeth out there and made pars when I needed to and we’ve got a shot at this thing tomorrow."
Spieth, two back, valuing process over results: 'I don't need to win'
Jordan Spieth hasn't won since the 2017 Open Championship.
And as much as he'd like to end the drought Sunday at Colonial, he doesn't "need" to. He's content to go out there and — to borrow a phrase from Joel Embiid — trust his process.
Seven under for the week, Spieth will begin the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in a five-way tie for second, two behind 54-hole leader Kevin Na.
He's in position to put on the plaid jacket for a second time thanks to his performance on the greens and in spite of everything else. Spieth leads the field in strokes gained: putting, but he's hit just 17 of 42 fairways. He's last in the field among players who made the cut in proximity to the hole, at 45 feet, 8 inches.
Spieth has spent much of the last 18 months battling himself, working to recapture the form that netted him three majors and 11 PGA Tour wins in four years. Once again confident with his putter, he's trying to round out the rest of his game.
"I have complete confidence in what we’re doing," he said after his third-round 68. "It’s just a matter of going out at trusting it. There’s no reason not to trust it. I don’t need to finish high. I don’t need to win. There’s no reason for me not to trust every swing tomorrow."
If he is going to end his winless drought, he'll have to find a few more fairways. He hit just 4 of 14 Saturday and not a single one after the 11th hole.
"Well, there’s a spot to miss off the tee on each side, and what the stats don’t show is the four or five first cuts I was in, which I count as a fairway out here, so it’s not that far off," he said.
After making the turn in 3 under, Spieth didn't card a birdie over his last 11 holes, finishing with 10 pars and a lone bogey at the par-4 17th.
"This golf course will yield less fairways hit than just about any other one on Tour, so I’m not really worried about the numbers. But I do need to find more [fairways], especially from 12 in. I didn’t hit a fairway from 12 in today, and so you’re just not going to have any birdie looks if that’s the case. Certainly, closing tomorrow, it’d be nice to be playing out of the short grass."
Na, after caddie yells at fan: 'She's going to pee in her pants'
Kevin Na was cruising along at 10 under par Saturday when he — and caddie Kenny Harms — came briefly unglued at the par-5 11th.
Playing what seemed like a fairly straightforward layup from a fairway bunker, Na's second shot hit the lip and bounded out into the fairway, leaving him 287 yards to the pin.
Trying after his third shot to save his par from the front bunker, Na bladed his fourth over the green and immediately reacted in disgust. CBS announcers suggested a cell phone had gone off during his swing. Playing his fifth from over the back, he left his chip short of the putting surface and needed two more shots for his double bogey-7.
"Yeah, there was a fan distraction let's call it," Na said after the round. "Kenny being Kenny, he went off on her. He was screaming at her, and he has every right to do so. [But] I felt bad for the lady.
"I was upset at first, and then I saw the lady's face, and I was like, 'Oh, my God. She's going to pee in her pants.' So I said, 'Come on, Kenny. Let's forget about it. Let's just go.'"
Na looked ready to unravel when he sniped his drive into the trees at 12. But he steadied himself with a scrambling par and made up one of his lost shots with a key birdie at 13.
Five more pars and he was in the clubhouse, the leader by two at 9 under.
Na said earlier this week that there's really only "seven or eight" courses on Tour that give him a chance to win. Colonial is certainly one of them. Over the last two years, Na boasts a 66.7 scoring average at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He's the only player in PGA Tour history to have three rounds of 62 or lower at Colonial, and he co-owns the course record of 61.
"It’s a golf course where everyone hits their tee shot in the same spot, whether it’s an iron or a driver," he said. "It’s more of a second-shot-and-in golf course, and I feel like I’m a really good player from the fairway in. My strokes gained: off the tee has never been that great over the years. And that’s just me. I get better as I get closer to the green, and this is a golf course you need to get better as you get closer to the green."
Brian Fernandez scored twice in his first MLS start as the Portland Timbers completed their season-opening 12-game road stretch with a 3-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
Diego Valeri scored an insurance goal in the 87th minute for the Timbers (4-6-2, 14 points), who are spending the first three months of the season on the road while their home stadium is undergoing renovations. Portland finished the trip with a flourish, going 4-1-1 in its past five matches after an 0-5-1 start.
Kacper Przybylko got the lone goal for the Union (7-4-3, 24 points), who fell one point behind D.C. United -- who drew with New England on Saturday -- for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Fernandez, a 24-year-old Argentine who just arrived from Mexican club Necaxa for a reported seven-figure transfer fee, also scored in his Timbers debut after coming on as a second-half substitute May 15 in a 1-1 draw at Houston.
Fernandez scored twice in a five-minute span in the first half, giving the Timbers a 2-0 half-time lead.
On the first goal, in the 31st minute, Andy Polo's cross from the right wing found Fernandez behind a defender at the far post, and he put a header into the back of the net before Union goalkeeper Andre Blake could scurry across the netmouth.
In the 36th minute, Fernandez created a 3-on-1 with some nifty dribbling near midfield. He passed to Valeri on the left wing, who fed Diego Chara on the opposite wing. Chara dribbled into the penalty area, where he dropped off a pass for Fernandez in the center of the field, and his 12-yarder found an open net.
The Union pulled within 2-1 in the 47th minute, as Przybylko took a cross from Fabrice-Jean Picault and nearly whiffed on a shot from less than 5 yards. The left-footed strike glanced off Przybylko's right leg, bounced off the left post and spun over the goal line as Timbers goalie Steve Clark was left flat-footed.
Valeri capped the victory on a give-and-go with Sebastian Blanco, blasting a low shot from 25 yards just inside the right post.
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