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Byron Has More Passion & Excitement For Daytona
The thrill of winning the Great American Race is a feeling that never goes away.
For William Byron, that moment came last year at the famed 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) Intl Speedway as he drove the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet back to victory lane. Jeff Gordon won three Daytona 500s sporting the same car number.
As Byron attempts to become only the fifth driver to go back-to-back in the event, he feels more joy coming down here than I did before.
I have more passion and excitement for this race than I did before, Byron explained. I feel like having experienced it the way it was last year really changed my perspective on the race as a whole in a good way, obviously. I feel thats created some more motivation to get another one.
The magnitude of victory in the 500-mile race earns a driver their own title for life Daytona 500 winner.
This race, its a lifetime achievement, Byron said. Its something people reference everywhere you go. Its something that the first time in my career Ive had something like that.
It makes it cool, it makes it more special, because you can tell people care about the race.
While Byron broke through last year, the challenge of making it to the end of the race has become increasingly difficult with the introduction of the Next Gen race car in 2022.
With the car becoming more of an equalizer in the sport, it makes passing considerably more difficult on superspeedways than in prior years.
The racing has just got really tight and competitive, and everybody is sort of in a really tight gridlock, Byron began. So its really hard to make moves. Three-wide is tough to make.
I feel like youve got to be up toward the front. Track position is really important and you have to be towards the front side coming down to the end.
I think in the past, that was the case, but you could see a guy win from 10th on the last lap. I just dont think thatll happen in this package anymore.
Entering the weekend, HMS is tied with Petty Enterprises for the most Daytona 500 victories (nine).
If Byron or one of his teammates Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott or Alex Bowman snag another Harley J. Earl Trophy on Sunday, itll be the latest record that team owner Rick Hendrick has accomplished in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson will start Team Sweden's game against Canada in Wednesday night's opener of the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.
Gustavsson gets the nod over 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators and Samuel Ersson of the Philadelphia Flyers. Ersson was added in the mix with New Jersey Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom missing the tournament due to a knee injury.
Gustavsson, 26, has posted a 22-11-3 record with three shutouts, a 2.63 goals-against average and .915 save percentage this season for the Wild.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was named Canada's starter on Tuesday.
MONTREAL -- Connor Hellebuyck will start for Team USA when they begin play at the 4 Nations Face-Off against Finland on Thursday.
The United States officially named Hellebuyck their No. 1 following Wednesday's practice -- a mammoth session that lasted well over an hour.
Hellebuyck was projected to get the call in net, with Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman vying for roles as his backup. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender is the NHL's reigning Vezina Trophy winner and on track to potentially earn a second straight -- and third overall -- trophy on the strength of another excellent campaign.
Hellebuyck leads the NHL in wins -- with a 34-7-2 record on the season -- and paces NHL starters with a .925 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against average. His elite play has been a decisive factor in Winnipeg's emergence as the NHL's top team with 81 points and a 39-14-3 record going into the 4 Nations break.
When the U.S. squares off with Finland, it will be Juuse Saros opposite Hellebuyk in net. Finnish coach Antti Pennanen confirmed Saros would get the call after Wednesday's final workout. The Nashville Predators netminder is 11-23-6 this season with an .899 save percentage and 2.95 goals-against average behind his struggling team, which owns the NHL's third-worst record (19-28-7).
Canada previously named Jordan Binnington its starting goaltender for Wednesday's opening matchup for Sweden, who will have Linus Ullmark in net. The 4 Nations tournament round-robin play will continue in Montreal through Saturday before the event flips over to Boston for a final slate of games.
Olise, Kane fire Bayern to first-leg win over Celtic
Bayern Munich scored either side of halftime through Michael Olise and Harry Kane but had to endure late pressure from hosts Celtic before securing a 2-1 victory in their Champions League playoff first leg on Wednesday.
Olise's stunning shot in the 45th minute put the German side in front and Kane doubled the lead with a 49t-minute volley at the far post.
Celtic, who put the ball in the net with Nicolas Kuehn, but had the effort ruled offside in the very first minute of the game, cut the deficit in the 79th minute thanks to Daizen Maeda's close-range header to inject late drama into the match.
"There were definitely areas in the game in which we could have done better and we'll need to improve for next week, but overall we scored at the right times," Kane said.
"They put us under pressure at the end and we had to stay strong, which we did. Whenever you win a game like this, you're always pleased because it's not an easy place to come," the England striker added.
The visitors, bidding to reach this year's final to be played in their own Allianz Arena in Munich, had close to 70% possession in the first half but struggled with Celtic's disciplined backline.
Bayern did have a chance through Kane but it took a superb effort from Olise to break the deadlock on the stroke of halftime.
AP Photo/Scott Heppell
The attacking midfielder controlled a deep cross from Dayot Upamecano, cut in and hammered an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
They struck again four minutes after the restart when Kane was left completely unmarked at the far post to volley in straight from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Kane's goal made him the first English player to score 60 goals in UEFA club competitions.
Bayern were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 57th minute after Upamecano stepped on Arne Engels' foot in the box, the referee deciding against a spot-kick after a lengthy VAR review.
The hosts came close in the 74th when Neuer was beaten to the ball by Maeda but the Japanese player's shot rolled parallel to the empty goal before being cleared. He did better a few minutes later, nodding in from close range to pull a goal back.
"The last 25 minutes, we started to press the game, we were more active at the top end of the pitch and you see what it brought - aggression," Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said.
"At 2-1, Bayern Munich are hanging on. That's what we can take from it. We've got one more shot."
Bayern defended well as Celtic poured forward, and they needed a fine save from Neuer in stoppage time to hold on to victory ahead of Tuesday's return leg in Munich to decide a place in the round of 16.
Miami signings: 'Messi factor' sealed decisions
New Inter Miami CF signings Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján and Telasco Segovia have said that the chance to play on the same team with Lionel Messi was an integral part of their respective decisions to join the Major League Soccer team this offseason.
"Well I would be playing with the best player in the world in my opinion. It was a great factor in my joining, but this is also a great club," Segovia, who arrives at the club from Casa Pia on a four-year contract, told ESPN.
Allende, who joins the Herons from Celta Vigo on loan through the end of the 2025 season, admitted he never expected to share the field with Messi before Miami presented an offer.
"It influenced [my decision] a lot, it influenced a lot because also to learn from him and not only from him but from Sergio [Busquets], Jordi [Alba] and Luis [Suárez] who, as I said before, are highly competitive players who want to win everything and that requires us to live up to them. It is not easy but we have to achieve it and that will make us improve because we have to follow in their footsteps," Allende told ESPN.
"When the proposal came to me, I was never going to imagine that I could get to play and share the field with him because I saw everything and I saw him in videos and he's my idol as the idol of so many, but being on the field with him is a different thing, not only on the field, in the locker room, seeing him up close is different."
Luján experienced a similar reaction when receiving that first phone call from new Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano before signing a two-year deal with the club.
"It was an incredible experience [to receive that phone call]. I didn't doubt the decision for a second. Masche told me he was interested in me coming, and I was interested in coming," Luján told ESPN.
"It was super important [the factor of playing with Messi], there are many players who are very great, successful and winners. It is a team that is seen a lot because Leo is there, he is very important. You can learn a lot of them, so I'm super happy. They received me very well, I am happy."
Messi stands as an integral part of Inter Miami, on and off the pitch. Since joining in the summer of 2023, the Argentina forward has contributed 22 goals and 19 assists in 28 MLS appearances while also playing a crucial role in the team's 2023 Leagues Cup title and 2024 Supporters' Shield victory.
The three players serve as some of Mascherano's first signings at the club, after being appointed manager in November 2024. The new coach craved depth in the roster as Inter Miami prepares to compete in four competitions throughout 2025 including the MLS regular season, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The campaign kicks off on Feb. 18 when the Herons travel to Kansas City to confront Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup. The team then faces a quick turnaround as the MLS season begins on Feb. 22 against New York City FC at Chase Stadium.
Van Dijk on Merseyside derby: Ref lost control
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he believes referee Michael Oliver "lost control" of Wednesday's Merseyside derby which ended in a drama-filled 2-2 draw that saw four red cards shown after full time.
The game ended in chaotic scenes, with Everton defender James Tarkowski scoring a superb volley deep into stoppage time before an interaction after the final whistle between Abdoulaye Doucouré and the away crowd sparked a brawl.
First, Liverpool's Curtis Jones confronted Doucouré before both benches became embroiled in the incident that was broken up by stewards and police officers.
Referee Michael Oliver handed out red cards to both Jones and Doucouré. Minutes later, he sent off Liverpool boss Arne Slot for his protests, as well as Liverpool assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff.
"Obviously you saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have every right to," Van Dijk told TNT Sports after the match.
"I think Doucouré in the end wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do and obviosuly you know what happens when there is a tussle.
"I think the ref didn't have the game under control in my opinion ... Both teams have to deal with it. It is what it is. We just need to move on."
Everton boss David Moyes said the emotions in the stadium were a fitting end to what was the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, although he did not reference the scuffle after the final whistle.
"It was right up there and it was great at the end and I think the night was maybe meant for something to happen," Moyes told TNT Sports. "It wasn't the cleanest, it wasn't the best game of football you've ever watched, but it was a wee bit of a throwback, bit scrappy from both sides.
"I mean it was more important that we probably made it that way. Liverpool are an incredibly talented team and are proving it in the league this year. So we had to find a way of making that gap not so big tonight and I thought we've done a good job at it."
Slot's red card meant he was unable to give a post-match news conference.
Merseyside derby ends in brawl, four reds after FT
Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré were sent off after an on-pitch brawl as Liverpool and Everton dramatically drew 2-2 in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday, with visiting head coach Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff also receiving red cards after an interaction with referee Michael Oliver.
A 98th-minute strike from James Tarkowski caused emotions to spill over after the final whistle when Everton midfielder Doucouré celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans who had been moments from seeing their side open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool midfielder Jones appeared to take exception to Doucouré's actions as he ran over to the Everton player and a scuffle developed. Their grappling led to a brawl between both teams in front of the away fans.
Both Jones and Doucouré had been booked during the 90 minutes, but they were each shown a second yellow by Oliver after coaches, stewards and police officers broke up the melee.
Liverpool boss Slot was then shown a red card, as was his assistant Hulshoff, after an altercation with Oliver.
Tarkowski's late goal was savoured by the home fans who had sought to dent their archrivals' title hopes since the match was postponed on Dec. 7 because of the effects of Storm Darragh.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk suggested he felt Oliver could have officiated the game differently and said the referee didn't have the game under control.
"Obviously you saw how they celebrated the goal, and they have every right to," the centre-back told TNT Sports. "I think Doucouré in the end wanted to provoke our fans and Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do, and obviously you know what happens when there is a tussle.
"I think the ref didn't have the game under control in my opinion ... Both teams have to deal with it. It is what it is. We just need to move on."
Slot's red card meant he was unable to speak to the media at the postmatch news conference.
The delayed fixture heightened emotions that had already been raised by the fact it would be the last meeting between the teams at Everton's 131-year-old stadium. Everton are set to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
As well as damaging Liverpool's title aspirations, the draw earned Everton a vital point in their battle against relegation. Moyes' return as head coach on Jan. 11 has sparked an upturn in form for Everton and the Scot said he felt something dramatic was always likely to happen at Goodison on Wednesday.
"It was right up there and it was great at the end and I think the night was maybe meant for something to happen," Moyes told TNT Sports. "It wasn't the cleanest, it wasn't the best game of football you've ever watched, but it was a wee bit of a throwback, bit scrappy from both sides.
"I mean it was more important that we probably made it that way. Liverpool are an incredibly talented team and are proving it in the league this year. So we had to find a way of making that gap not so big tonight and I thought we've done a good job at it."
Champions League as it happened: Bayern win, Feyenoord stun Milan
Welcome to the second day of the knockout phase playoff first legs of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season! Europe's premier club competition has now reached the knockout stage as we now figure out which teams will make it to the round of 16.
Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games such as Bayern Munich against Celtic, AC Milan against Feyenoord and AS Monaco against Benfica.
'That's the way cricket is meant to be played' - Gambhir backs India's left-right combination
"That's the way cricket is meant to be played," Gambhir said of Axar's promotion. "I know a lot of people talk about it, but that's the way we got to play the game, and that's the way cricket should be played. It's not about the batting order, it's about who can create what impact. And it's about just if you have the option of putting a quality left-hand batter in the middle; why won't you do that?
"Why would you want to have top five as right-handers? We don't look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games [in which] he got the opportunity, he delivered for us. I know there will always be talk - there will always be people talking about it - but I think that's the way we want to go in future as well."
That Gambhir likes right-left combinations is no secret. When he came back to Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor, their right-left partnerships went up from 58% in 2022 and 2023, to 74% in 2024. Having said that, it doesn't seem to be an unhealthy obsession. For example, it doesn't penalise Rahul, who has done his job in the middle order well, just for being a right-hand batter.
Gambhir: Wanted to see what Jaiswal can bring to the table
"He wasn't supposed to be benched throughout the series," Gambhir said. "We wanted to give Yashasvi a go in the first game and see what he can bring to the table because he was in really good form in Australia. So we wanted to see what kind of an innings can he play. I know you can't judge someone by one innings, but we always knew that Shreyas is going to be an important player for us. What he's done at No. 4, be it the World Cup or forget about even the World Cup, he's just an important player.
"So sometimes when you've only got three games, you want to try and rotate your squad as well. See, like for today, we could have easily played Shami but we wanted to give Arsh a go. We could have played Jadeja as well, but we gave Washi a go as well. So when you've got Champions Trophy around the corner, you want to try and maximise these three games and try and give everyone an opportunity. Shreyas was always in the scheme of things, and good that he played all the three games."
Ed Joyce to step down as Ireland Women head coach
Joyce, who represented both Ireland and England during his playing career, was appointed on a permanent basis in September 2019, having spent three months as interim head coach after the departure of Aaron Hamilton. Ireland have enjoyed some notable successes on Joyce's watch, including T20I series wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as beating Sri Lanka 2-1 in ODIs last summer.
They followed that series triumph by winning an ODI against England for the first time since 2001, then securing a maiden T20I success to draw the series 1-1.
Joyce's time in charge was interrupted by Covid-19, during which time Ireland went 20 months without a competitive fixture; the pandemic also denied his side a chance of qualifying for the 2022 50-over World Cup. Although they reached the T20 World Cup in 2023, they missed out on last year's edition after being pipped by Scotland at the qualifier.
"It has been a privilege to lead Cricket Ireland's women's performance programme and to work with this group of dedicated cricketers and support staff," Joyce said. "The last six years have been an incredible journey - not just for me personally, but for the players, coaches and, indeed, the entire performance programme.
"When I came on board we had just announced first-ever part-time contracts for women cricketers in Ireland. Those six part-time contracts have grown over subsequent years to now 23 players under some form of contract - a number of these being full-time. This process of professionalisation alone has been rewarding yet challenging. Throw the Covid pandemic into the mix, the constant need to juggle the availability of players who are still studying - all while meeting the demands of international cricket - the role has been all-encompassing.
"Just as in my professional playing career, I recognise the natural cycle of coaching. There comes a time when a system benefits from fresh perspectives and new voices, allowing players to explore and develop their skills in diverse ways."
Cricket Ireland's director of high performance, Graeme West, said the board had wanted to keep Joyce on but that they would now work to ensure a smooth handover for the team's next head coach.
"While it's a sad day to see such a respected figure step down, Ed's impact on the senior women's programme will be felt for years to come," West said. "He has been instrumental in transforming the senior women's set-up during his tenure, instilling in the players a sense that they belong at the sport's top table.
"While we tried to convince Ed to extend his time in the role, he felt that this was an appropriate time to refresh the leadership. He'll lead the team one last time at the qualifier in Pakistan this April, then handover what is a strong foundation for the next head coach to build upon. We're immensely grateful for Ed's contributions in this latest incarnation of his wonderful service to Irish cricket - and as he says, we hope to see him back in some capacity in the future. It's also important to send our thanks to Ed's family - Fran, Georgiou and Sebastian - for their unwavering support over the last six years."
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