SALISBURY, N.C. – Kyle Larson and Carson Kvapil were the top dogs during Tuesday night’s qualifying session for the sixth-annual QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport at Millbridge Speedway.

The duo led their respective time trial flights for the crown-jewel event at the sixth-mile dirt oval, putting themselves in prime position going into Wednesday night’s $5,151-to-win feature event.

Larson was the overall fast qualifier, turning a lap of 9.8145 seconds (61.134 mph) with his No. 1k Factory QRC/McDonald’s/Chevrolet Accessories outlaw kart to lead the 42-driver field.

“I felt really good about my car all day, even though I’ve changed it a lot from what I’ve typically ran here. We had it on the scales a bunch going into this deal to get it right,” explained Larson, who was fastest in flight B. “I feel really confident about it though. We ran a fast lap for being in group two.”

Kvapil, who led flight A of qualifying, was third-quick overall with a time of 9.9566 seconds (60.262 mph) in his No. 35 CorvetteParts.net/Keen Parts/Global CFS Motorsports Financing/SKE Chassis machine.

“I didn’t have my kart completely right; I wanted my wing back a little bit,” said Kvapil. “I made do with what I had, though. The first lap I took it pretty easy, but the second lap … I basically took it as hard as I could without dying. I just wanted to put a lap together; I didn’t want to wreck it or anything like that.

“I think we’ve got a really good piece though, and I think we’ll be even faster tomorrow night.”

Chase Majdic – who won Tuesday night’s $1,000-to-win Open division feature – split Larson and Kvapil with the second-fastest lap of the night at 9.9225 seconds (60.469 mph), also in flight B of qualifying.

Max Mittry and Daniel Whitley completed the top five on the speed charts, followed by Tom Hubert, Colby Copeland, Caden Kvapil, Demo Mittry and Jesse Colwell.

Former track champion Max McLaughlin was an uncharacteristic 11th-quick in time trials, with his Phantom Racing Chassis teammate and 2017 Speed51 Open winner Nick Hoffman right behind in 12th.

Other notables in qualifying included Logan Seavey (17th), Tanner Holmes (20th) and Ethan Mitchell (27th).

Heat races and the alphabet soup leading into the QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport kicks off at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

To view complete qualifying results, advance to the next page.

SALISBURY, N.C. – Chase Majdic didn’t go into Tuesday night’s Cookout Showdown at Millbridge Speedway thinking he would end up in victory lane, but he came away $1,000 richer thanks to a last-lap pass.

Majdic drove around race-long leader Caden Kvapil coming off turn two on the final circuit of the 25-lap Open division main event, charging home to the checkered flag in a photo finish with NASCAR star Kyle Larson as the younger Kvapil spun in turn three behind them.

Tuesday’s victory was the first of Majdic’s career at the one-sixth mile dirt oval.

“I could tell that he (Kvapil) was getting worn out. I was getting tired, too, so I was just trying to hang on,” Majdic said in victory lane. “He kind of bobbled down there; I don’t know exactly what happened. I just knew that was my shot, and we went for it.

“This feels really good,” added Majdic. “I hadn’t been in the car for a while, so to come out here and get a win with these guys feels amazing.”

The preliminary feature to the sixth-annual QRC Speed51 Open presented by HMS Motorsport was contested with special rules compared to a traditional weekly feature at Millbridge.

A competition caution with 10 laps to go saw all drivers outside the top 10 eliminated from competition, with Delaware double-file restarts and choose cone procedures utilized the rest of the way home.

Two early incidents set up a pair of restarts that allowed the frontrunners – Kvapil, Larson and Majdic – to figure out where they needed to be, and the second time around, Majdic’s choice of the bottom lane proved to be the move that ultimately paid off after he was able to pass Larson for second.

“I didn’t know what these restarts were. It was my first time ever doing it,” Majdic noted. “The first time, I chose the wrong line. I knew if we could get on that second row we’d have a chance. I just needed another restart to get a shot at it and we got it. I just had to be patient and pounce after that.”

Larson came through the dust to finish second by a bumper after avoiding the younger Kvapil on the final lap.

He actually passed Kvapil for the race lead twice – on laps 12 and 16 – but both times, the caution flag waved and negated the move, relegating Larson back to second and eventually into Majdic’s clutches late in the race.

“I felt really good in that feature. I just didn’t do a good job on restarts,” noted Larson. “I’d spin my tires and eventually it allowed Chase to get to my inside, and that was kind of the race after that. It was fun throwing sliders and racing like that, though. The track was really good and I thought it cleaned off well … so hopefully it’s like that tomorrow and we can put on another good show.”

Nick Hoffman completed the podium, followed by Californians Max Mittry and Chase Johnson.

Kvapil was relegated to ninth after his spin, as he stalled in turn four and didn’t take the checkered flag.

“I saw him (Majdic) peek the nose under me, so I knew he was going to try and throw a big slider,” explained Kvapil, who led the first 24 laps from the pole. “I just drove it real deep, but ended up getting loose and he took advantage of it.

“When I tried to get back to him, I just hooked his nerf bar and spun out. It’s a bummer.”

Tom Hubert completed the top 10 in the finishing order.

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.

BRIDGEPORT, N.J. – Danny Dietrich took his fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory Tuesday night in the Outlaws’ debut at the three-eighths-mile Bridgeport Speedway.

To claim the trophy, he fended off attacks from David Gravel, Carson Macedo and 10-time series champion Donny Schatz – who even stole the lead from Dietrich late in the race.

“It was pretty nerve racking,” Dietrich said after the 35-lap feature.

Dietrich’s night started on a less nerve-cringing note, setting quick time in qualifying and making him the current track record holder for the new track configuration.

From there, he went on to finish second to Schatz in his Drydene heat race and then won the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.

His Dash victory led to concern, though.

Dietrich and his team discovered an issue with the rear end of their No. 48 car and had to change it. While sweat leaked from Dietrich and his crew, their nerves never faltered.

Focused and determined, the Dietrich team – along with help from others – were able to replace the car’s rear end in about 15 minutes.

Having a new rear end in the car was of no concern to Dietrich, but the new brakes were.

“We rolled out there (for the feature) and we had new brake pads and rotors. It needed to set the brake pads in a little bit,” Dietrich said. “We didn’t have very good brakes there rolling around before the green flag, but they came in.

“That’s the only thing I was worried about.”

When the green flag flew, all that mattered was the throttle. Dietrich mashed it, jolting to the lead over second-place Macedo, and put several car lengths between them by the end of the first lap.

At the same time, Schatz – who was hungry for a win after getting passed for the win last week – almost found himself off the track on the first lap and fell from third to 10th.

Schatz wouldn’t stay there long, though.

At the front, Dietrich enjoyed a clear race track for six laps before catching lap traffic. Behind him, Gravel worked his way by Macedo for second-place and could sense the blood in the water, with lap cars slowing Dietrich’s pace.

The Watertown, Conn., native looked for déjà vu when lap cars helped him pass Dietrich at Williams Grove Speedway and he went on to win.

Gravel had set himself up to make a pass of Dietrich, finding grip on the bottom of the track, but a caution came out for a car stopped on the front stretch.

When the race went back green, Gravel didn’t let Dietrich pull too far away. Macedo didn’t let the No. 41 car get away either. On lap 11, Macedo got by the No. 41 car, while Gravel tried to set himself up for another pass on Dietrich.

At the same time, Schatz had made his way to fourth place, steadily making his way back to the front.

For the next two laps, Gravel and Macedo traded positions, while Schatz waited for his moment to strike. Macedo eventually won the battle for second-place with seven laps to go.

Less than a lap later, he was back in third, as Schatz found his way by Gravel and continued the run past Macedo. Next was Dietrich.

With three laps to go, Schatz snuck under the No. 48 car in turns three and four and took the lead.

“Slow down and just be patient,” Dietrich said is what he told himself at that point. “When he passed me, I hit the bottom of (turns) one and two … and I just had to slow down and just wait for the moisture. It felt like I was just going so slow, but patience was key.”

A lap later his patience paid off.

Dietrich slid underneath Schatz in turns three and four and fended him off to be the first series winner on the three-eighths-mile configuration of the Bridgeport, N.J., track.

“Good hard, racing,” Dietrich said. “I’m sure he’s not happy to finish second, but I’m real happy to win.”

Digesting the result back at his hauler, Schatz said he wished he could have pulled off the win, but isn’t hanging his head too low.

“He did a little better job when I got by him and I probably should have used up more of the track a little bit,” Schatz said. “But, hey, it’s racing. There will be another one tomorrow.”

Schatz also continues to hold the points lead over Brad Sweet – extending it to a 36 point lead. Daryn Pittman remains third – 74 points back – and Gravel, who finished third, remains fourth.

Dietrich had the track figured out all night. Why? How?

“I have no idea,” he said with a chuckle.

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.

As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention, we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2018-19, along with three keys to its offseason, impact prospects for 2019-20 and a way-too-early prediction for what next season will hold.

What went wrong

Their luck ran out.

Oh, the San Jose Sharks had a good amount of it throughout this playoff run. Witness that infamous Game 7 comeback against the Vegas Golden Knights after Joe Pavelski's horrific injury, scoring four times on a botched five-minute major penalty for which the NHL would apologize. Witness the successful coach's challenge on a rarely called offside in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, as a goal came off the board due to Gabriel Landeskog standing near the bench on a change. Witness Game 3 against the St. Louis Blues, when Erik Karlsson scored in overtime after a hand pass went undetected by the on-ice officials -- who, like the officials from the Vegas debacle, would not appear again in the postseason.

But the karma turned after that. The Blues outscored the Sharks 12-2 in winning three straight games to eliminate them. Injuries became the story: The ongoing groin issues for Karlsson took him out of most of the third period of Game 4; most of the second and all of the third period in Game 5, where he factored into two Blues' goals before departing; and all of Game 6. Also absent from Game 6 were Tomas Hertl and Pavelski, both injured in Game 5.

The Sharks are a deep team. But not that deep.

Saying that San Jose had a run of good fortune in the postseason isn't meant to diminish their accomplishments. They rallied from a 3-1 series deficit against Vegas, winning a Game 6 in double-overtime on the road, and won Game 7 in overtime. Their series win over Colorado came with Pavelski out of the lineup for six games. The battled the Blues until their tank hit "empty."

GM Doug Wilson meticulously constructed a roster of franchise stalwarts (Joe Thornton, Pavelski, Logan Couture, Hertl, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic), imported stars (Evander Kane, Karlsson and Gustav Nyquist) and a solid young supporting cast. It was a team that amassed 101 points in the regular season and scored the second most goals (289) in the NHL. It was a team that saw goalie Martin Jones have a mediocre regular season, start the playoffs losing three of four games, and then rebound with a series of solid efforts.

They were a team built to win the Stanley Cup this season. They won't. And now they're looking at an uncertain tomorrow.

New Chelsea signing Christian Pulisic has said he wants to fill the void left by Eden Hazard should the Belgian leave for Real Madrid this summer.

Chelsea signed Pulisic for £58 million (€64m) from Borussia Dortmund in January, a record fee for a U.S. player, although he remained in the Bundesliga for the rest of the 2018-19 season.

Pulisic could be the only new face to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer with the prospect of a two-window transfer ban hanging over the club, while sources have told ESPN FC that Hazard wants to complete a move to Real as soon as possible, with the winger's final game for Chelsea likely to be against Arsenal in the Europa League final on May 29.

But Pulisic, 20, has said he is ready to replace Hazard should he exit Stamford Bridge this summer and has set his sights on emulating the Belgian, who has lit up the Premier League since his arrival in 2012.

"It is incredible to see what Eden can do. He is a guy to look up to and what I would love to become," Pulisic told BBC Sport.

"It is definitely a goal. Any player would be dumb not to want to be in the same team as him."

Hazard led Chelsea in both goals and assists as the club finished third in their first season under Maurizio Sarri, scoring 16 Premier League goals while setting up another 15. Pulisic, meanwhile, scored on the final day of the Bundesliga campaign to take his season tally to four, although the forward was hit by injuries during the year.

During his time in Germany, Pulisic became the youngest non-German to score a Bundesliga goal and the youngest player to play for Dortmund in the Champions League. He is also the youngest player to captain the U.S. men's national team, but says he is motivated to set new records now he has arrived in the Premier League.

"I don't want to be looked at as someone who is the youngest to do this or that," Pulisic said. "I just want to be an established player and someone people respect, who is successful in this league.

"It is completely new to me and something not a lot of American players have experienced. It is a blessing to be in this position, so I can inspire American kids, to show them we can do it too."

Pulisic also wants to help Chelsea close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool, who finished 26 and 25 points ahead of the Blues last season respectively.

"Liverpool and City are two great teams who had great seasons but I have seen Chelsea compete against big teams and do well against them this season," he said.

"We want to go in with a winning mentality and compete with them right away."

The Premier League transfer window is open. You can click here to review all the latest transfers and keep up to date with all the latest gossip below.

Transfer window grades | When does the window open in Europe? | QUIZ: Which club should you join?

TOP STORY: Man United ready Rakitic raid

The Daily Record reports that Manchester United are working on a deal to bring Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic to Old Trafford.

The Croatian's future in Spain has come under question following Barca's signing of young Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong, and the Catalan club now needs to raise funds to balance the books and help finance further summer purchases.

World Cup finalist Rakitic has been identified by Camp Nou officials as an expendable asset, with the La Liga champions looking for around €55 million for the 31-year-old.

United, however, are keen to drastically lower that fee, but are willing to pay upward of €35m for the former Sevilla man. There are no concerns regarding the player's fitness, despite hitting the wrong side of 30, with Rakitic missing only nine matches through injury or illness during his five-year spell with Ernesto Valverde's side.

LIVE BLOG

09.51 BST: Juventus will be forced to pay up if they want to make Maurizio Sarri their next coach with Chelsea not minded to sack the Italian regardless of whether or not he wins the Europa League final, sources have told ESPN FC.

Sarri's future remains far from certain despite fulfilling his primary objective of securing Champions League qualification for Chelsea, and Roma have also been linked with a move to bring the former Napoli boss back to Serie A.

Sources have told ESPN FC that while Chelsea are prepared to negotiate a compensation package with any interested club if Sarri makes it clear that he wants to leave, they have no plans to dismiss him even if he fails to win a first piece of major silverware at Arsenal's expense in Baku.

09.32 BST: Radio Galega report that Barcelona have bid €25m for Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez. With the 22-year-old striker also linked to Tottenham, we'd be surprised if Vigo even considered this one given he has a release clause of £43m.

08.55 BST: Portuguese outlet Record reports that Benfica are on the verge of signing Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

Barca reportedly turned down Benfica's initial offer of €12m for the keeper. According to Record, Benfica executives will travel to Barcelona to have a meeting with their Barca counterparts to seal the deal that will be worth €20m. Benfica will pay €12m and include their 18-year-old right-back Joao Ferreira in the deal.

Cillessen, 30, is also a reported target of Porto and Valencia. The Netherlands international joined Barca from Ajax in 2016 as a replacement for Claudio Bravo but has primarily been used as a back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Cillessen has made two league appearances for Barca this season and is tied to the Catalan giants until June 2021.

08.25 BST: Tottenham is interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, according to AS. Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino considers Ceballos as an ideal replacement for Christian Eriksen, who is reported to be a target for Real Madrid and is yet to sign a new contract with his current deal expiring in 2020.

Ceballos has made 34 appearances for Madrid this season, just 19 as a starter. He is tied to Madrid until June 2023. The Spain international is reportedly keen to leave Madrid this summer in search of more playing time.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane recently suggested players that know they will not feature regularly next season would be better served leaving the club. Ceballos, who signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2017 from Real Betis for €17m, is reportedly among the players told by Zidane that he is surplus to requirements.

According to AS, Madrid don't want to sell Ceballos this summer and will only consider the player leaving on loan, but would be willing to include a purchase option in the deal.

08.00 BST: Manchester United will have to pay as much as £50m if they want to sign Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 21-year-old had a breakout season in 2018-19, making 39 appearances for the Eagles as they finished comfortably in mid-table in the Premier League, 15 points above relegation. He won more tackles, made more interceptions and completed more successful duels than any other defender in the league this season, o so it was no surprise he won the club's Player of the Year award.

Wan-Bissaka, whose contract at Selhurst Park runs until June 2022, told the Evening Standard earlier this month: "The situation just shows that my performances don't go unnoticed. But I am with Crystal Palace at the moment. That is where my contract is and that is where I will be next season.

"I have got three years left on my contract. It says I am going to be there, so that is all I can focus on now."

But if United were to make a big bid, could Palace refuse?

PAPER TALK (by James Capps)

Juve picture Milinkovic-Savic in new-look midfield

Gazetta dello Sport writes that Juventus are set to reignite their interest in Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer.

The Serbian has had a modest season in Italy, notching five goals and a further four assists in Serie A, but Juventus reportedly are keen to reshape their midfield with more physicality and bite, with Milinkovic-Savic seemingly fitting the bill.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a string of elite European clubs for more than a year, with Juventus and Manchester United heading the potential suitors at the turn of 2018, but it now appears that the Serbia international could be part of a new-look trident in the Juve midfield, moving to Turin alongside free agent Aaron Ramsey.

News of Milinkovic-Savic's potential move to the Bianconeri could also add further fuel to speculation linking Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi with the managerial vacancy at the Serie A champions.

Kroos contract puts Pogba deal in doubt

The news of Toni Kroos' new contract at Real Madrid has placed a move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba into serious doubt, according to AS.

The new deal for Germany international Kroos includes a significant pay rise, and when added to Los Blancos' considerable transfer plans, it is believed that the Madrid hierarchy are targeting prudency over big-money signings this summer.

Zinedine Zidane's other main targets are Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen, and the precarious contract situations at the two players' respective clubs places Real in a great negotiating position when it comes to thrashing out modest deals.

Pogba, meanwhile, has a contract until 2021, with United having the option of a further year, meaning that Real might need to bide their time before being able to make a move for the World Cup winner.

Tap-ins

- Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is plotting an ambitious move for outgoing Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata -- assuming Benitez remains at St. James' Park -- according to the Sun. Thirty-one-year-old Mata's deal is set to expire at Old Trafford, but Benitez has contractual issues of his own on Tyneside.

- Wolves and West Ham are set to do battle over the signing of Real Betis midfielder Victor Camarasa, reports the Mail. The 24-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Cardiff City, and the English clubs are keen to extend the Spaniard's spell in the Premier League following the Bluebirds' relegation from the top flight.

- The Sun writes that Watford have seen a £7m bid rejected by Reims for French striker Remi Oudin. Newcastle are also interested in the player dubbed "the next Robin van Persie" following the 22-year-old's goal-scoring exploits in Ligue 1 this season, with his 10 goals guiding Reims to ninth place.

David Hussey, the former Australia batsman, is the new coach of Melbourne Stars for next summer's Big Bash League, after winning a duel with ex-Victoria coach David Saker for the role to replace the outgoing Stephen Fleming.

ESPNcricinfo has learnt that, after having served in various assistant coaching roles since his retirement as a player, Hussey was ultimately considered the best choice by the Stars' management and board to maintain the steady improvement of the men's team in the 2018-19 BBL, where the club rose from its lowest-ever finish the previous season to be narrowly defeated by Melbourne Renegades in the competition final.

Formerly the captain of the Stars, Hussey has strong relationships with Fleming and also the Stars chief executive Clint Cooper, making for a more seamless transition from one coach to another than may have been the case if Saker had taken the job. Hussey was also named as a Cricket Victoria Board director in October 2018.

Hussey and Saker are believed to have interviewed for the job last week, with Hussey offered the role on Friday.

After working successfully as England's bowling coach, Saker was named as the coach of Victoria and also Melbourne Renegades for 2015-16, before he was recruited by Cricket Australia as assistant coach to Darren Lehmann. He left that role in February following the conclusion of the home Test season, amid differences with Lehmann's successor Justin Langer.

"Under Boof [Lehmann] particularly, we won an Ashes and had some really good series wins, so that was good. There were obviously some frustrating times after South Africa," Saker said earlier this month. "New coach came in, things changed quite a bit, and I probably wasn't as passionate as I was before that.

"On reflection, it's probably a good thing that I got out, just refreshed myself. As I said, I'm ready to go again. I enjoyed my time with the Australian cricket team but I think it was time for me to move on."

Fleming, also coach of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, has remained a part of the Stars set-up as an international talent advisor despite electing, after reaching two BBL finals in four seasons, to exit the role. "I feel the time is right for me to step down and allow someone else to take the reins and the club forward," he said when announcing his departure.

"The club is in very good shape having rebounded from last in BBL07 to grand finalist this season. Whilst we didn't get the ultimate prize I'm confident that the group of players we have assembled will be motivated to go one further next season."

The Stars, captained by Glenn Maxwell, appeared on course to win the BBL final comfortably at Docklands Stadium in February, before crumbling in their chase to hand the title to the Renegades.

"This will probably drive us next year, we'll use it as motivation to go one step further," Maxwell said at the time. "We were so close. With eight overs to go, we probably looked like we were winners. To fall that short is disappointing. It's hard to take right now, but once the dust settles, we'll get back into it next year."