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SPARTA, Ky. – After a one-off deal with ThorSport Racing last year at Eldora Speedway resulted in a victory in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series competition, Chase Briscoe is back for more.
Briscoe, joined by ThorSport Racing Team Manager David Peppers, confirmed in a press event Thursday at Kentucky Speedway that he’ll be back to defend his victory in the Eldora Dirt Derby aboard the No. 27 Ford F-150 DiaEdge Ford.
“Super exciting for me to go back to Eldora to try and win two in a row,” said Briscoe. “Nobody’s been able to do that, so it’s certainly something I’d love to do. It’s the only dirt race that we get to go back and race that has dirt on it. There’s a lot of pride in being the guy to win that race. Eldora’s dirt racing is what Daytona is for pavement racing. It’s the pinnacle. If you win at Eldora, it’s like winning at Daytona.”
The Sandusky, Ohio-based Thorsport Racing will field the same Ford F-150 truck and crew in an effort to get Briscoe his third career Truck Series victory. Bud Haefele, the team’s current shop foreman, will be Briscoe’s crew chief.
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SPARTA, Ky – ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes comes into Thursday’s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway as the defending race winner.
Rhodes’ No. 99 Carolina Nut Ford has been plagued with tough times throughout the current campaign. When it looks like a great run is coming, something unexpected happens.
With Kentucky Speedway considered his home track, Rhodes thinks there isn’t a better time to be home.
“I like the challenge the truck series presents, and I think we do a good job with it,” said Rhodes. “It can be frustrating, but it can also be fun and rewarding when you outrun the other guys. I feel good about the Kentucky race, I do, I got the confidence, my team does a good job. Typically, our best races are on half-mile tracks. And for bad things to happen, it is really going to set us back in points.
“If we just don’t have any issues tonight, on pit road, get caught up in someone else’s messes, we should have a really good night. We should get into the top five, top-10. Usually if we are not in top five or top-10, we are caught up in a mess.”
One year ago, Louisville, Ky., native Rhodes scored his second NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory in front of his home crowd. A late gamble in the pits on a fuel-only stop gave him the track position he needed to lead the final 24 laps and hold off Stewart Friesen for the win.
“When I got the win here last year everyone was overflowing with emotion,” said Rhodes. “They were all happy, but I was angry. I was happy, but angry at the same time because it took so long for me to get the win. Kentucky is a special place; it holds a special place in my heart. Certainly, the last win is the most special, but Kentucky just holds a special place in my heart. I saw my first NASCAR Cup race here and pass the place every time I go up to the ThorSport shop.”
So far in 2019, the 22-year-old ThorSport Racing driver has finished runner-up three times at Martinsville, Kansas and Iowa. He’s had two additional top-five performances and eight top-10 finishes in the 12 races run.
He now sits fifth in points and currently would be the final driver in the Playoffs on points if Ross Chastain is able to work his way into the top-20 in points.
A win Thursday would make Rhodes’ odds of making the Playoffs much easier.
“The stage has been set at this race for us here at Kentucky,” Rhodes said. “We have been leading multiple times this year and something happen. Whether it be mechanical, pit road, or something else, we have just been set back. I been coming here for a very, very long time, I have so many memories of this place when I raced Bandoleros and Legends. I hope to make another memory tonight. Kentucky is special, it holds a place other tracks don’t.”
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SPARTA, Ky. – Grant Enfinger earned his second pole of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season during qualifying on Thursday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway.
Enfinger toured the unique 1.5-mile oval in 29.678 seconds (181.953 mph) with his No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford F-150 to earn the top starting spot ahead of the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225.
The pole is the fifth of Enfinger’s Truck Series career. He’s seeking his first win of the season.
Joining Enfinger on the front row will be rookie Sheldon Creed, who qualified a career-best second with a lap of 29.706 seconds (181.781 mph) in the No. 2 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet Silverado.
Todd Gilliland completed the top three (29.721/181.690) in the No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, with Enfinger’s teammate Matt Crafton and two-time winner Ross Chastain following.
Harrison Burton was sixth, ahead of defending series champion Brett Moffitt, defending race winner Ben Rhodes, Tyler Ankrum and Brennan Poole.
Johnny Sauter, the 2016 Truck Series titlist, starts 11th. Daytona winner Austin Hill rolls off 22nd.
Stewart Friesen starts last in a backup truck after his primary truck was confiscated by NASCAR during initial inspection earlier in the day. Consequently, he posted the slowest qualifying time.
With 34 drivers on hand for 32 starting spots, Norm Benning and Ray Ciccarelli missed the field.
STARTING LINEUP: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series; Kentucky Speedway; July 11, 2019
- Grant Enfinger
- Sheldon Creed
- Todd Gilliland
- Matt Crafton
- Ross Chastain
- Harrison Burton
- Brett Moffitt
- Ben Rhodes
- Tyler Ankrum
- Brennan Poole
- Johnny Sauter
- Chad Finley
- Gus Dean
- Tyler Dippel
- Jordan Anderson
- Austin Wayne Self
- Natalie Decker
- Joe Nemechek
- Codie Rohrbaugh
- Dylan Lupton
- Spencer Davis
- Austin Hill
- Mason Massey
- Clay Greenfield
- Spencer Boyd
- Tyler Hill
- Brandon Jones
- Jeb Burton
- Camden Murphy
- Josh Bilicki
- Jennifer Jo Cobb
- Stewart Friesen
DNQ: Ray Ciccarelli, Norm Benning
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CONCORDIA, Kan. – Thursday’s Chad McDaniel Memorial, round two of Mid-America Midget Week from the Concordia High Banks, has been canceled.
A combination of wet grounds from previous precipitation that have created parking difficulties, plus track safety concerns, have forced cancellation of the event.
The race was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed by wet weather.
“Mid-America Midget Week continues for two-straight nights at Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway on Friday-Saturday, July 12-13 for the Midwest Midget Championship. The mini-series concludes this Sunday at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in Sweet Springs, Mo.
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FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Stars have re-signed center Jason Dickinson to a $3 million, two-year contract, bringing back an emerging leader after he established career highs in scoring and playing time.
Dickinson was a solid playoff performer in his postseason debut as the Stars reached the second round before losing a Game 7 to eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis. He had five points (three goals, two assists) in 13 games.
The 24-year-old Dickinson had career highs in goals (six), assists (16) and points (22), while averaging the most minutes in his four seasons (13). He hadn't played more than 27 regular-season games before getting into 67 in 2018-19.
A first-round pick in 2013, Dickinson has nine goals and 18 assists in 105 career games.
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Facts and figures for the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush
Published in
Golf
Thursday, 11 July 2019 07:03
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Facts and figures for the British Open golf championship:
Event: 148th Open Championship
Dates: July 18-21
Site: Royal Portrush
Length: 7,344
Par: 71
The course: The club dates to a nine-hole course in 1888, expanding to 18 holes a year later. Harry Colt designed the Dunluce Links in 1929. Royal Portrush in 1951 hosted the only British Open not held in Scotland or England. To allow for the size of the championship, two holes from the Valley Links were used to create a new seventh and eighth holes on the Dunluce Links, while the previous 17th and 18th holes are now the site of the tented village.
Field: 156 players
Playoff (if necessary): 3 holes, aggregate score
Prize money: $10.75 million
Winner's share: $1,935,000
Defending champion: Francesco Molinari
Last year: Francesco Molinari became the first Italian to win a major when he closed with a 2-under 69, playing the final 37 holes without a bogey at Carnoustie. A birdie on the final hole gave him a two-shot victory. Tiger Woods briefly had the lead on Sunday. Jordan Spieth had a share of the 54-hole lead and didn't make a birdie in the final round. Seven players had a share of the lead at some point Sunday, and six were still tied on the back nine.
Last time at Royal Portrush: Max Faulkner built a six-shot lead through 54 holes and held on with a 74 for a two-shot victory over Antonio Cerda in the only British Open not held in Scotland or England.
Tiger Tales: Tiger Woods has played only three tournaments (two majors) and 10 rounds since he won the Masters.
Key statistic: Americans have a chance to sweep the majors for the first time since 1982.
Noteworthy: Support for a return to Royal Portrush began earlier in the decade when three players from Northern Ireland - Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke - won three of six majors.
Quoteworthy: "It's hard to argue that this will be the finest piece of links land which The Open Championship is played. No other venue, I don't think, has such pure links undulations throughout its 18 holes." - European golf architect Martin Ebert
Television (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 1:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 5-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 4-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (NBC)
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Wolff (67) keeps momentum going at John Deere Classic
Published in
Golf
Thursday, 11 July 2019 08:36
The Matthew Wolff Show resumed Thursday at TPC Deere Run, as the newly minted PGA Tour winner picked up where he left off following his maiden professional victory in Minnesota.
There weren’t many fireworks – and certainly a lack of no-look eagle makes – but Wolff’s encore was still impressive.
The 20-year-old phenom has had a whirlwind of a few days since capturing the 3M Open in dramatic fashion on Sunday – hundreds of text messages, an Instagram following that has now pushed past 100,000, a brand-new Tour card, little sleep.
“Been catching up a little bit,” Wolff said.
A hangover from his celebratory “virgin pina colada” would’ve been very much understood despite Wolff entering the week with 25-to-1 odds to win at TPC Deere Run. However, golf’s newest – and arguably most promising – Next Big Thing looked as comfortable as ever Thursday, playing alongside fellow Oklahoma State alums Charles Howell III and Kevin Tway while carding a bogey-free, 4-under 67.
“The weight off my shoulders is really big, just going out here, freeing up, and not just really worrying about I have to get my Tour card or I have to do this,” Wolff said after his round, which concluded with the former Cowboy just three shots back of leader Adam Long. “There's really no pressure on me anymore.”
Full-field scores from the John Deere Classic
Full coverage of the John Deere Classic
Wolff was slow out of the gates in the first round, though he wasn’t careless. He started on the back nine, hit seven greens and didn’t really come close to dropping a shot until he left himself a 30-footer for par at No. 18. (He made the putt.)
Then came the fireworks. Wolff admittedly pulled his tee shot on the par-4 first hole, but his supreme length bailed him out. Wolff’s tee shot traveled 350 yards, cutting the dogleg on the 403-yard par 4 and ending up just steps shy of the green.
Wolff birded the hole, and then followed with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3. He piped a 369-yard drive at the par-5 second before showing off his precision with a 171-yard tee shot to 8 feet at the par-3 third.
“It was little things like that that gave me that little bit of an advantage,” Wolff said.
Whether or not Wolff can repeat and win for the second time in just four professional starts remains to be seen. But the youngster keeps putting on a show and again has another stage that seems to suit his eye-popping game, which continues to fire on all cylinders.
“Everything in my game feels really good right now,” Wolff said. “… Looking to get another win.”
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Kuchar (63) grabs share of lead in low-scoring first round of Scottish Open
Published in
Golf
Thursday, 11 July 2019 09:53
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland – Matt Kuchar shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to share the lead with three players in a low-scoring opening round at the Scottish Open.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, the highest-ranked players in the field, opened with 67s - a score only slightly better than the field average on a day when 118 players broke par at The Renaissance Club, which was softened by heavy early-morning rain.
Kuchar, who has two previous top-four finishes at the Scottish Open, made two eagles on his first nine and ran off four birdies in five holes to reach 9 under before bogeying his last hole of the day, the par-3 ninth.
"Conditions were pretty easy when we started the round. Still, 8-under on a links golf course, I didn't see those kind of scores for myself, or even for anybody," Kuchar said. "Wind picked up there the last two hours. It was challenging. I was awfully glad to keep the ball in play and I snuck in a couple eagles, which were awfully helpful."
He was joined atop the leaderboard by Romain Wattel, Nino Bertasio and Edoardo Molinari.
The leading three players not exempt for the British Open who finish inside the top 10 will earn spots in the field next week at Royal Portrush. Wattel, Bertasio and Molinari - whose brother Francesco is the defending champion - have yet to qualify.
Lee Slattery, Erik Van Rooyen, Thomas Pieters, Andy Sullivan, Jamie Donaldson, Kalle Samooja and Thomas Aiken had 64s. Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter were among those at 65.
Rickie Fowler, who won at nearby Gullane in 2015, struggled to a 71.
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Rhian Brewster started Liverpool's pre-season as he means to go on with an impressive display crowned with two goals and an assist in a 6-0 win at Tranmere Rovers.
The 19-year-old, who manager Jurgen Klopp revealed will have "an important role to play" as attacking cover for the front three in the upcoming campaign, was the standout performer in the opening 45 minutes at Prenton Park.
The striker -- stepping up after Daniel Sturridge was released this summer -- spotted Nathaniel Clyne in space on the right flank, playing a low ball into the area for the fullback, who took a touch and found the top corner on six minutes.
Brewster's work off the ball will have impressed Klopp as much as his quick, clever passes in possession. The teenager, who has battled back from a serious ankle and knee injury picked up while playing for Liverpool's U23s last January, deservedly got on the scoresheet himself before the interval.
First, he headed in Harry Wilson's deflected cross and then was alert to convert the rebound after Tranmere goalkeeper Scott Davies couldn't hold James Milner's effort.
Yasser Larouci, the Algeria-born speedster signed to Liverpool's Academy from Le Havre in 2017, was another player to catch the eye in the first half.
Signed as a winger, he was switched to a left-back by Under-18s coach Barry Lewtas to brilliant effect.
Aggressive, always available and displaying variety in his game, the star of the FA Youth Cup victory will get more opportunities to make an impression on Klopp during pre-season.
It was all change to the XI in the second half, which featured Champions League hero Divock Origi -- wearing the captain's armband -- who signed a new contract with the club on Wednesday.
A more attacking line-up promised more goals and so it proved, with Curtis Jones tapping in Ben Woodburn's cross towards the back post on 53 minutes.
A fifth goal arrived courtesy of Joel Matip lifting a long ball into the path of Origi's run. The Belgium international applied a stunning first touch, taking it around Davies before drilling it in.
Bobby Duncan, cousin of Steven Gerrard, added another after Paul Glatzel was challenged inside the box after fine work from the excellent Ki-Jana Hoever.
A rare moment of relief for Tranmere arrived when Danny Walker-Rice put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled offside to boos from all corners of the ground.
Glatzel had to be replaced through injury after falling awkwardly while trying to close down the goalkeeper, with Klopp throwing on Academy stopper Daniel Atherton on as his replacement in outfield.
That sight will not have been unfamiliar to Liverpool fans, who watched gloveman Shamal George come on to replace Lucas during pre-season in 2016.
The European champions travel to Bradford City next, before flying to the United States where they will tackle Borussia Dortmund at Notre Dame Stadium, Sevilla at Boston's Fenway Park and Sporting at New York's Yankee Stadium.
A test with Napoli at Murrayfield follows, before they tackle Lyon in Geneva and close off pre-season by contesting the Community Shield with Manchester City on August 4.
First-half team: Mignolet, Clyne, Phillips, Gomez, Larouci, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Kent, Wilson, Brewster.
Second-half team: Jaros, Hoever, Matip, Johnston, Lewis, Fabinho, Jones, Woodburn, Duncan, Glatzel, Origi.
Additional substitute: Atherton
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Jason Roy avoids suspension after outburst against umpires
Published in
Cricket
Thursday, 11 July 2019 12:17
Jason Roy has avoided suspension, and only been slapped with a 30% fine of his match fees, for his animated outburst aimed at umpire Kumara Dharmasena after being given out - incorrectly - in the World Cup semi-final against Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Roy, leading England's chase of Australia's 223, was batting on 85 when he attempted to pull Pat Cummins' short delivery and missed by a fair margin, as replays later confirmed. Alex Carey dived to his left behind the stumps and pulled off an excellent collection and went up in appeal along with the bowler and some of the Australian fielders. Umpire Dharmasena looked uncertain but raised his finger, and with Jonny Bairstow having wasted England's review earlier in the innings, Roy had to go.
He stood his ground at first and then walked off clearly unhappy, remonstrating with the umpires - Marais Erasmus was the other on-field official - on his way out and making his displeasure obvious. The stump mics even caught a furious Roy yelling "that's f***ing embarrassing".
It seemed that he might draw the ire of the match officials for his show of dissent and cop a serious sanction, but was allowed to get away with the fine and two demerit points.
Demerit Points stay for a period of two years on a player's disciplinary record from the date of enforcement. If Roy is handed two more demerit points, he will run the risk of a suspension point, two of which will then lead to a ban of one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever is scheduled first.
Roy's performance with the bat - 85 off 65 balls with nine fours and five sixes - made a big difference to England's cause as they crossed the line with eight wickets and 107 balls in hand, reaching their fourth World Cup final and first since 1992.
Roy is a key member of their plans, his blazing starts, which have so far added up to 426 runs in six innings, a big part of their success in recent years. So the fact that he has been let off with a rap on the knuckles and not handed a more severe punishment, perhaps even a one-match suspension, will make the England camp happy.
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