I Dig Sports
Bakersfield Speedway Operations To Move To Kern Raceway
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. The 80th season of dirt track racing in Bakersfield and Kern County will be an impactful one, as Scott Schweitzer at Bakersfield Speedway and Tim Huddleston at Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway have announced a partnership.
Bakersfield Speedways 2025 operations will relocate to the one-third mile Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway Dirt Track with a full season of racing.
Bakersfield Speedway held 79 years of dirt track racing at its current home on Chester Ave. Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway at Enos Lane and I-5 opened in 2013, while its dirt track began operations in 2015.
Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway combines two of Californias signature venues into one racing season. The Kern Raceway dirt track is undergoing a transformation with a reshaping of the exit of turn two into the entrance to turn three. More than 2,000 additional seats will be added along with a new VIP Booth, scoring tower, and press box are also planned.
Track championships will be awarded in the IMCA Modifieds, Sport Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and American Stocks. The new era of dirt track racing in Bakersfield begins on March 8 with IMCA opening night.
Schweitzer and his staff will continue their roles as the steward of racing operations while the bulk of marketing will fall upon Huddleston and his team.
We cannot begin to express our excitement at this opportunity to partner with Scott Schweitzer, Huddleston said. Kevin and I are looking forward to this chance to elevate motorsports in Kern County with a full season of dirt track racing.
Schweitzer echoed the excitement.
Crissy, Dakota, Brody and myself are overwhelmed that everyone at Kevin Harvicks Kern Racing was excited to have us as a part of this state-of-the-art racing facility, he said. We look forward to taking the dirt racing experience at Kern Raceway to the next level for all the racers, crew members and race fans starting March 8. Partnering with Tim and Kevin on the dirt track is an amazing opportunity for us and we cant wait to get started.
A highly anticipated debut is scheduled for Friday night March 21 with the Kubota High Limit Racing 410 sprint cars. After a thrilling appearance at Bakersfield Speedway in 2024, the NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws race into Kern Raceway on Friday Sept. 12. NARC 410 Sprint Cars make their 10th Kern appearance on Oct. 25. The USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets close the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway season on Nov. 25.
Annual IMCA traditions continue at the new facility with the McGowan Memorial on June 28, Mike Moshier Classic on Aug. 16, and the Bud Nationals on Oct. 10-11.
Ultimate Sprint Car Series wingless sprints hit the track for two appearances on April 12 and June 7. USAC Western Midgets, California Racesaver Sprints, SoCal Dwarf Cars, California Lightning Sprints, Western Midget Racing, Western Racing Association, West Coast Sport Compacts, NMRA TQ Midgets, and many other series will compete throughout the season.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The final 60-minute practice session for Saturdays 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona was perhaps more eventful than anticipated for some.
Three notable cars briefly stopped on track the No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06, the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 and No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
The Acura pulled off course exiting Turn 3, the Porsche had nose damage on the Daytona International Speedway banking and the Corvette stopped on the backstraight, and only the Corvette stoppage caused a red flag.
Kamui Kobayashi was the fastest overall and Grand Touring Prototype class driver in the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R at 1 minute, 36.380 seconds (132.973 mph).
Other class leaders were Toby Sowery in Le Mans Prototype 2, Shane van Gisbergen in Grand Touring Daytona Pro and Anthony McIntosh in Grand Touring Daytona.
Sowery shares the No. 04 CrowdStrike by APR ORECA LMP2 07, van Gisbergen is part of the combined No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3 and McIntosh is part of the debuting No. 19 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
Cooper Lifts McLaren From Fifth To First In 20 Minutes
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Michael Cooper took charge of the Grand Sport class in the final stages of the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona Intl Speedway to claim overall victory in the four-hour opening round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Cooper guided the No. 44 Accelerating Performance McLaren Artura GT4 from fifth to first in the closing 20 minutes, executing a series of clean passes to seize the lead before maintaining an advantage of 0.327 seconds over Jan Heylen (No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS) at the checkered flag.
Moisey Uretsky drove a lengthy two-hour, 40-minute opening stint prior to handing the McLaren to Cooper in eighth place. Cooper, who has extensive ties to McLaren, enjoyed coming to grips with the latest evolution of the Artura as he diced with Heylen and Billy Johnson, who eventually finished third in the No. 59 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4 he shared with Robert Michaelian.
Leader Heylen allowed the front end of his Porsche to drift slightly wide at the apex of Turn 7, the corner that takes the cars from the infield section of Daytona International Speedway onto the iconic banking between Turns 1 and 2 of the oval with about seven minutes on the clock. The McLaren drew level on the back stretch and eased in front entering the Le Mans chicane.
Heylen, who co-drove with Luca Mars, was unable to pressure Cooper into a mistake in the final three laps, allowing Cooper and Uretsky to claim their first race win in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. It was McLarens first win at Daytona since 2021. Additionally, the rebranded team (previously Baby Bull Racing) won on debut with the McLaren, after campaigning the Porsche in previous seasons.
That was a lot of fun, said Cooper, who also has a Rolex 24 At Daytona win on his résumé (2022, Le Mans Prototype 3 class with Riley). I drove the previous version of the McLaren, so this felt very familiar. Its an amazing GT4 car and all the guys did an incredible job.
Moisey ran the first couple stints, way longer than we needed him to, and he handed me over a clean car that I was able to fight with Jan and Billy and take it to the front. Right after I passed Jan, we both just sailed it into (Le Mans) and sailed it into Turn 1 a couple times, using everything up and trying to get away.
Uretsky added, Cooper brought it home. The Porsche is a fast car, but Cooper was smart about it, and he picked the right moment. I knew once he had the lead, he wasnt going to give it up.
Heylen, a former GS class champion in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, looked to be in solid shape until Cooper made his charge as the race crept into twilight on Daytonas 3.56-mile road course.
Its tough to be this close and then lose it in the last two or three laps, Heylen said. Maybe I could have been a bit more aggressive early on, but they were the better car today its as simple as that.
Sam Paley and Jenson Altzman (No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport Ford Mustang GT4) finished fourth, while Spencer Pumpelly, Andy Lally, and Thomas Collingwood rallied to claim fifth in the No. 38 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
With five straight drivers and six straight Touring Car manufacturer championships in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian and Hyundai has had little left to achieve in the category.
However, one white whale that has eluded the erstwhile dominant force of the class was a win at Daytona Intl Speedway. At long last Friday, a BHA Hyundai drove into victory lane.
Team co-owner Bryan Herta, whose team has won two Indianapolis 500s in addition to all his IMSA accolades, reflected on adding this win at one of North Americas most special racing venues.
This place is amazing and has so much history, so to win here is special, Herta said. You know, this place and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are cathedrals of speed in our sport. This one has eluded us, so Im very proud to get it.
Denis Dupont and Preston Brown were the lucky pair who achieved the feat for the team, driving the No. 76 Hyundai Elantra N TCR from ninth to the win and played the better pit strategy game to leapfrog the otherwise pace-setting sister car driven by Bryson Morris and Mark Wilkins.
Morris qualified on pole in the No. 33 Hyundai and led a race-high 48 of 109 laps in class, but fell behind the No. 76 car as the race progressed past the final pit stop sequence. Wilkins pushed Dupont hard enough in the finish and made one final passing attempt high in the tri-oval on the final lap, only to come up short by just 0.067 of a second.
The win is the second for both Dupont and Brown in Michelin Pilot Challenge action and coincidentally, their second straight four-hour race win in the series. The pair won their first race together at last Junes OReilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio, courtesy of an intentional fuel-saving final stint.
It was a fight, Dupont said. (Wilkins) was in the draft, he was fast. I had to close the door sometimes and sometimes we had traffic. He was super close on the finish line, but we held him off.
Brown added, Its about as special as you can get.
Behind the pair of Hyundais, Audi completed the podium with Ryan Eversley and IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship recipient Celso Neto sharing the No. 7 Precision Racing LA Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
Islanders bringing in divisive DeAngelo for season
Tony DeAngelo is back in the NHL, signing with the New York Islanders for the rest of the 2024-25 season.
The contract, announced Friday, is for the league minimum salary of $775,000 and is prorated for the remaining games of the season.
The 29-year-old defenseman started the season with SKA Saint Petersburg of Russia's KHL, signing with the club in the offseason after not finding an NHL opportunity in free agency. He had 32 points and 33 penalty minutes in 34 games. SKA announced a mutual termination of his contract Jan. 14 for what the team said were family considerations in North America.
As a player returning to the NHL, DeAngelo needs to clear waivers before playing his first game with the Islanders.
The Islanders recently lost top offensive defenseman Noah Dobson to a lower-body injury. Dobson, who has 24 points in 46 games, is considered week-to-week.
DeAngelo is considered an offensive defenseman. He has 210 points in 371 career NHL games.
The Islanders are DeAngelo's fifth NHL team. He was drafted 19th overall in 2014 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who traded him to Arizona in 2016. After his rookie season with the Coyotes, he was traded to the New York Rangers, where he spent the majority of his career (167 games) and had his best offensive season in 2019-20 with 53 points in 68 games. His time with the Rangers ended after a physical altercation between DeAngelo and goalie Alexandar Georgiev in January 2021.
He signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021 offseason and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers one year later. The Flyers attempted to trade him back to the Hurricanes in 2023, but the deal violated the collective bargaining agreement; instead, they bought out the last year of his contract. He re-signed with the Hurricanes for the 2023-24 season and played 31 games, having been a healthy scratch for multiple games.
DeAngelo's outspoken nature in interviews and on social media has made him one of hockey's most divisive players among fans for his views on politics and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2014, while playing junior hockey for the Sarnia Sting, DeAngelo was suspended twice for violating the Ontario Hockey League's abuse/diversity policy. That included an eight-game suspension for "a most inappropriate statement to a teammate."
Kyle Walker has completed a move from Manchester City to AC Milan after the two clubs agreed terms, the teams announced on Friday.
Walker has joined the Italian side on loan until the end of the season. Milan also have an option to make the move permanent in the summer, but there is no obligation built into the agreement.
The 34-year-old England defender has a contract at City until 2026 but has not featured for the team since the 4-1 win over West Ham on Jan. 4.
He wrote a farewell post to City on Instagram after the transfer was confirmed.
"Manchester City ... where do I start?," Walker wrote. "Signing for this incredible club in 2017 was a dream come true. Seven years later, winning 17 trophies, including the Champions League and the famous treble is something I could only have dreamt as a child.
"To play alongside so many talented players has pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity I've had at the Etihad. A huge thank you to so many people, the coaching staff, the kit men and all the backroom staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. You make every day enjoyable and provide the platform for us to perform at our best.
"To my teammates, from the moment I walked through the door I felt at home. Thank you for the great memories and for all the success we have shared together. You are friends, but also family for life. To Pep Guardiola, thank you for believing in me and working so hard to bring me here in 2017.
"Lastly, to the fans -- thank you for embracing me as one of your own from day one. Your unwavering support, week in, week out, home and away, will never be forgotten."
Walker's departure leaves Guardiola short of recognised right-backs despite the signing of two new defenders this month.
Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and 19-year-old Vitor Reis from Palmeiras have both joined City in the January window.
Walker's move to Milan ends any chance that Marcus Rashford will end up at San Siro.
Milan had expressed interest in Rashford, but Serie A rules around the signing of non-EU players means that any chance of a deal materialising is dead.
Walker leaves City having won six Premier League titles and the Champions League following his move from Tottenham in 2017.
Arsenal and Manchester City are battling to sign teenage midfielder Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg, sources have told ESPN.
Mikel Arteta's team are in talks with the 18-year-old over a possible deal with the club viewing him as a first-team squad addition despite his relative inexperience, the sources added.
Nypan has played just 56 times for Rosenborg but emerged as one of Norway's brightest prospects, operating primarily as a No. 8 or a No. 10.
Sources have told ESPN that Nypan's representatives are also due to meet with City, who view him as a signing for the City Football Group. That would likely mean him joining one of their sister clubs on loan should a deal be agreed.
No final decision has been made on his future and no agreement has yet been reached with any club, sources confirmed.
Should Arsenal prove successful in their pursuit of Nypan, it would cast further doubt over the futures of Jorginho and Thomas Partey with both players out of contract at the end of the season.
Nypan's arrival in addition to the likely signing of Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad -- talks are at an advanced stage over a transfer which would see Zubimendi move this summer -- would reshape the midfield department and ensure Arsenal were in a strong position to allow both Jorginho and Partey to leave should they wish.
Speaking earlier on Friday, Arsenal boss Arteta reiterated his desire to bring in an attacking player this month following long-term injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
"If we can get the right player, that's why we are actively looking at it," he said. "Any player, no. Someone that makes us better and has an impact in the team.
"It is clear that in the period that we lost them, ideally we need some help. We were short already and now we are even shorter. The team still copes with that. We have to do what is right for the club."
City have already made three signings this month with Pep Guardiola confirming on Friday that Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and forward Omar Marmoush are all eligible to face Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Austin FC announced the acquisition Friday of Albania forward Myrto Uzuni for a club-record transfer fee.
Multiple reports put the price tag at $12.3 million to acquire the 29-year-old from Spain's second-division Granada CF.
Uzuni joins Austin as a designated player on a guaranteed three-year contract with an option for 2028.
"One of the main reasons I want to join Austin FC is the ambition that Anthony Precourt and Rodolfo Borrell have for this team, which matches my own ambition always to succeed with a winning mentality," said Uzuni, who will wear the No. 10 jersey.
"I can tell Austin fans that I will do everything in my power to score goals and help the team push toward achieving our objectives. I'm coming here to break records."
Uzuni tallied 49 goals and eight assists in 106 matches with Granada over the past three seasons, including 14 goals in 18 league matches this season.
"Myrto has shown himself to be a prolific goalscorer in every team and league where he has previously played," said Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell.
"His high work rate during games, finishing ability, ambition, determination, and versatility to be able to play both centrally and in the wide areas will all be big assets. We're very excited to have him join."
Since turning pro in 2013, Uzuni has accumulated 126 goals and 42 assists over 322 matches in Albania, Croatia, Hungary and Spain. Internationally, he has five goals and seven assists in 38 caps with Albania.
The transfer fee breaks the previous club record of a reported $10 million set earlier this offseason to acquire Brandon Vasquez from Mexico's CF Monterrey.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has compared forward Cole Palmer's influence on the team to that of Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah's on Liverpool.
Palmer joined the west London club from Manchester City in September 2023 and has been their standout performer since, scoring 22 league goals last term under Mauricio Pochettino and adding 14 more to that tally this season, along with six assists.
Salah, meanwhile, sits atop the league's scoring chart this campaign having contributed 18 goals and 13 assists to help Arne Slot's Liverpool establish a six-point gap at the top of the league with a game in hand.
Maresca said, however, that it was not just Palmer's efficiency in the final third that make comparisons to the Egypt international pertinent, but his willingness to compete in challenging situations.
"He [Palmer] is improving a lot but not just in terms of numbers of goals and assists," Maresca said in his news conference on Friday. "The second half against Wolves for me was one of the best moments since I arrived here. He was showing personality, he was asking for the ball in any moment that the team needed it.
"Liverpool when they have some [tough] moments, Salah is asking for the ball. Arsenal when they have some problem, [Martin] Ødegaard is asking for the ball.
"We need that kind of player when we are in some difficult moments, who is turning to his teammates and saying: 'Give me the ball, don't worry, I will be in charge.'
"This kind of personality that we have to show in a difficult moments. Against Wolves in the second half he was top."
Chelsea take on City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday in a rematch of both teams' opening game of the season -- a game that Pep Guardiola's team won 2-0 -- and Maresca said that despite Palmer's irrepressible form since moving to the capital, his former club will have few regrets.
"Having so many options there I think it was difficult for Pep to give Cole minutes," Maresca said.
"No one at City was thinking that Cole was not good enough. Everyone was sure that he is a top player.
"The problem was that if Cole played then Phil Foden has not to play, or [Kevin] De Bruyne. It's a matter of balance and a matter of decisions."
Chelsea head into the clash in fourth place in the Premier League, two points ahead of City in fifth.
Manchester United have asked to be kept informed of developments regarding Christopher Nkunku's future, a source has told ESPN, while Chelsea continue to weigh-up a formal move for Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho's future at Old Trafford is in doubt amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli. United's financial position means that, although they've been clear that they are not trying to force Garnacho out, they are willing to listen to offers.
A source has told ESPN that the 20-year-old's preference is to join Chelsea if he has to leave United.
Nkunku is open to leaving Stamford Bridge this month and has been the subject of interest from Bayern Munich. Chelsea would likely need a replacement if the Frenchman does leave and have been linked with Bayern striker Mathys Tel.
United looked at Nkunku during his spell at RB Leipzig. He moved to Chelsea in 2023 but has struggled with injuries.
He has scored 16 goals in 42 games for the Premier League side and has often been used as an understudy to Nicolas Jackson this season.
Most of Nkunku's minutes this season have come in the UEFA Conference League and he has started just three league games this term.
United have drawn up lists of targets for a number of positions, but their limited budget has meant viable options are restricted.
Signing a left wing-back is seen as a priority, sources have told ESPN, and discussions are ongoing around a deal for Lecce's Patrick Dorgu.
Antony, meanwhile, is set to seal a loan move to Real Betis until the end of the season. The Spanish side have indicated they will cover the majority of the Brazilian's wage, a source has told ESPN, which should give United greater flexibility with their finances in the final days of the January window
Hasan, 30, has not played since suffering an elbow injury during his stint at Edgbaston last season, which ruled him out after taking 10 wickets in five Vitality Blast appearances. Surgery followed and he has been undergoing rehab overseen by both Warwickshire and Pakistan's medical staff.
"I said last year that Edgbaston felt like a second home to mebut it's becoming more like a first home now," he said. "I love playing for Warwickshire, playing for the Bears fans. And I hope they see by the way I play how much I want to win for this club.
"Being awarded my White Bear Cap in 2023 was among the proudest moments in my career and I want to make lots more special memories with the Bears next season.
"Last year was unlucky with the injury. I felt I was bowling well and taking plenty of wickets in the Blast. But I'm back bowling 100 percent in training and focused on joining up with Warwickshire next season."
Hasan has taken 27 wickets in nine County Championship appearances for Warwickshire across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, as well as 19 in the Blast.
His availability was restricted last summer after a surprise late recall to Pakistan's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but Warwickshire's head coach, Mark Robinson, said they had been in contact with the PCB about securing the player, who is no longer centrally contracted, for an unbroken spell.
Robinson said: "His call-up last May came out of the blue and took Hasan away from our County Championship start. We've had reassurances this year from the PCB that Hasan will be able to focus on the Bears which is great news.
"Obviously the contract comes with the caveat that Hasan continues making good progress on his post-op rehab and arrives to us fully fit.
"Hasan is a heart-on-the-sleeve performer who always gives his all to the cause. He's a proven wicket-taker at the highest level and was flying with us last season before the injury. He brings a real energy to the place, the dressing room and on the pitch and inspires everyone around him with his enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to welcoming him back into the Bears fold."
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