IT IS 22 minutes before tipoff, precisely, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the move.

The Bucks' do-everything forward springs up from the chair in front of his locker after a team meeting and walks barefoot from the locker room in Fiserv Forum into the training room, a path he takes before each home game.

"You know why I am here, Scottie," Antetokounmpo says. Athletic trainer Scott Faust nods.

The superstar needs his sauce.

"I put hot sauce on my knees," Antetokounmpo explains later. "It is not hot sauce. It is Icy Hot."

From his careful body maintenance to his mental preparation -- and even to his fashion choices -- the NBA's betting favorite to win MVP approaches his day with meticulous care. Indeed, every minute of Antetokounmpo's game-day routine -- which begins six hours before tipoff -- is scripted.

Antetokounmpo's eccentricities are a matter of efficiency, not superstition. Like Barack Obama and Steve Jobs before him, the 24-year-old All-Star aims to eliminate all unnecessary decisions and distractions. Instead of a blue suit or a black turtleneck, Antetokounmpo favors Nike Tech Fleece sweatsuits and has no interest in joining the NBA's nightly pregame fashion shows.

"I just want to win," Antetokounmpo says. "All that other stuff takes away from the game, and you just spend extra energy on looking good for five seconds. I don't care about that. I just want to look good on the court. Get the win and go back home and lay on my couch and just watch game film. That's it."

Coming off six-straight 20+ point scoring games, Giannis goes through his pregame regimen in Miami.

?: @MiamiHEAT x @Bucks on @NBATV (8 pm/et)! pic.twitter.com/QihwT2Fk3d

— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2019

THE BONES OF Antetokounmpo's keep-it-simple routine were set in 2016-17, his breakout fourth season that saw him earn his first All-Star nod and most improved player honors.

First up, he explains one Saturday afternoon in March, is his nap, a top priority, as it is for many professional athletes. Antetokounmpo traces his nap dependency to his teenage years. As a 14-year-old in Greece, he remembers his father, Charles, insisting he nap between school dismissal at 2 p.m. and a 7 p.m. game.

Now, Antetokounmpo indulges after morning shootaround. The Greek Freak drives from the Bucks' downtown practice facility to his home in River Hills, 15 minutes north. He tucks into his custom-sized bed at 1 p.m. and doesn't emerge until 3:45. "If I don't take a nap, I can't play," he says.

Once he's recharged, Antetokounmpo departs for the arena by 4 p.m., allowing himself 30 minutes to stretch and do some soft tissue work with Laura Tietjen, his physical therapist. Then it's time to hit the court for warm-ups, at 4:50. Assistant coach Ben Sullivan is already waiting to put Antetokounmpo through his carefully scripted shooting routine. When Antetokounmpo appears on the hardwood -- usually in a skin-tight white tank top, orange shoes and sweatshorts -- the two men don't speak.

There is one important piece of his pregame routine that has little to do with performance. He admits it borders on superstition: as players pound fists and prepare to fight for the tip, Antetokounmpo jogs past the basket and into the first row of fans, slapping his chest once with each hand before lifting his right hand to the sky. Now, finally, he's ready for tipoff.

After games, win or lose, Antetokounmpo invariably sits at his locker, icing his feet and pondering the night's action in silence, before proceeding to shower and get dressed.

"His routine is over the top," teammate Khris Middleton said. "I know where he is going to be every second before the game. When you see him not doing that, you realize something is wrong."

Antetokounmpo's routine is evidence of both his competitive hunger and his remarkable progress since entering the NBA as an unheralded teenager from Greece in 2013. During his six seasons, Antetokounmpo has dramatically improved his scoring, rebounding, passing, ballhandling and overall efficiency. He currently ranks first in player efficiency rating, third in scoring and sixth in rebounding leaguewide, while also serving as the best defensive player on the NBA's stingiest defense. His rise has been aided by his development of professional habits and his willingness to absorb the guidance of Milwaukee's coaching staff.

Case in point: his current shooting routine. The NBA's best shooters, including Stephen Curry and James Harden, perform elaborate pregame routines that double as spectacles: midcourt shots; complicated, off-the-dribble combinations; and even one-legged free throws.

Antetokounmpo, however, is still a below-average outside shooter (25.6 percent from three-point range), and his routine is geared around strict fundamentals. Former Bucks assistant Sean Sweeney, a close confidante, has preached the importance of committing game shots to muscle memory, so Antetokounmpo sticks to simple, realistic attempts.

He works mostly from midrange. He usually catches passes on the move and shoots in one motion, focusing on his balance, clean footwork and maintaining good mechanics. More advanced shots might come down the road, but for now, he is working to get warm and confident rather than to dazzle onlookers.

"[His shooting routine] is all dialed in to a very specific, 'This is what I have to do to get myself prepared to go out against the best players on the planet and dominate,'" Sullivan says.

Antetokounmpo closes his routine by shooting free throws. He takes several dribbles -- sometimes four, sometimes eight -- and pauses, cocking the ball up by his chin for several seconds before releasing. Afterward, he shakes hands with every person on the court, from Sullivan to the ball boys to the security guards, before heading back to the locker room for two 15-minute sessions in a NormaTec suit, which zips over Antetokounmpo's legs and looks like an astronaut's outfit. The machine hums as it squeezes his muscles to increase blood flow. He then has two 15-minute rounds of icing.

Save for his teammates and coaches, Antetokounmpo doesn't speak to anyone. He routinely waves off reporters and tells autograph seekers that he will oblige after the game. Antetokounmpo used to attend chapel with his friend and teammate Thon Maker one hour before tipoff, a tradition that ended when the backup center was traded to the Detroit Pistons in February. Now, Milwaukee guard Pat Connaughton brings him a piece of paper with the lesson of the day scribbled on it.

There's a good 3.5 minutes left of halftime, Ja Rule is mid-song and Giannis is already out shooting. pic.twitter.com/sPoyVnpI7x

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) February 24, 2019

WHEN RAPPER JA RULE performed at center court during halftime of a February game, Antetokounmpo returned to the court for his standard shooting work, seemingly oblivious as "Always on Time" played around him. It reflected how Antetokounmpo's adherence to schedule isn't limited to his pregame routine.

By streamlining Antetokounmpo's routine and loading it with skill development and health maintenance, Milwaukee's coaches have sought to strike a compromise with their franchise player.

Antetokounmpo's reputation as a workaholic who made regular late-night trips to the Cousins Center in St. Francis, Wisconsin, is well chronicled. After a loss or poor performance, a fuming Antetokounmpo would go to the old practice facility, where the team shared a swimming pool with elderly nuns, and re-create every made and missed shot. Back then, he wouldn't even take the time to shower and change out of his uniform.

That unwillingness to give himself recovery time was a point of concern for Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer, who replaced Jason Kidd this season. The Bucks want to encourage Antetokounmpo's intense work ethic -- especially when it comes to improving his shot -- but want to make sure he is not working himself to exhaustion.

Antetokounmpo hasn't lost the urge to correct every mistake and smooth out every shaky shot. His focused pregame drills allow him to accomplish the most useful work, in a guided environment, without overly taxing him. Budenholzer has also scaled back Antetokounmpo's minutes and given him nights off to nurse minor injuries. In his most controversial move, Budenholzer has instituted "lock-out" days -- locking the team's facilities to strongly encourage players to take the day off to recuperate.

"He is the prime example of who needs a lock-out day -- who you literally have to put a lock on the door," Budenholzer said of Antetokounmpo. "Giannis has grown a lot in being open to that and meeting us halfway. Or maybe 80 percent where Giannis is and 20 percent where we are."

Perhaps the joke is on Budenholzer: The coach locked the facility, and Antetokounmpo built a home weight room with plans on eventually expanding it to a full gym. There, he owns the keys.

Antetokounmpo's tendency to scrupulously script his day and control his own development bleeds into the offseason. While he says he approaches his summer with 50 percent of the intensity he has from October to June, close friends dispute that calculation. They estimate he dials it back only 10 percent in July and point out that he has toted a notebook to summer meetings with Kobe Bryant to track his next round of adjustments.

Antetokounmpo does make summer modifications to accommodate for relaxation and family time. Still, when approached about starring in "Space Jam 2" with LeBron James, Antetokounmpo declined. Being in the film would have required him to give up two weeks of private workouts to train with his fellow stars while making the movie, a total non-starter, given Antetokounmpo's reclusive tendencies.

"I don't like being Hollywood," Antetokounmpo says. "I don't like all this extra drama. I am just going to try to be me."

All told, it takes Antetokounmpo some 20 minutes to detail his game-day preparation and offseason preferences. When he's finished, he ticks off one final mental checklist to make sure he didn't forget anything: "Nap. Shooting. Hot sauce." He nods, confident he covered every base, then stretches his lengthy arms and pushes his chair away from the table. Then it hits him.

"Now, everyone is going to know about my routines and do the same," Antetokounmpo says. "Or they are going to try to mess up my routines and sabotage me."

Not if the Bucks' attentive staffers have anything to say about it.

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, Antetokounmpo arrived in the trainer's room seeking his hot sauce but was lost in thought. Faust, the trainer, looked up at him expectantly and asked, "Don't you have anything to say to me?" Antetokounmpo's eyes flashed, and he walked back out of the room before reappearing seconds later to deliver his customary greeting.

"You know why I am here, Scottie."

BOSTON -- Since he was hired as the Toronto Blue Jays' manager this past October, Charlie Montoyo has had a date marked on his calendar: April 9, 2019.

That's because when they announce the starting lineups for the Blue Jays and Alex Cora's Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday, it will be the first time two Puerto Rican managers face each other in a major league game.

"Let me tell you sincerely, when they gave me the job, the first thing I thought was, 'When do we play against Boston, against the other Puerto Rican?'" Montoyo said in an interview with ESPN on Monday. "I'm so proud of [Cora]. I get goose bumps just thinking about the many Puerto Ricans that are going to be in Boston [on Tuesday], waving the Puerto Rican flag.

"This is going to be historic, and I am very happy that this is going to happen. I know that we are representing Puerto Rico proudly. And the best thing about it all, is that Puerto Rico will win any way."

Montoyo, who is 53 and served as a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, became the fourth Puerto Rican manager in the major leagues when he was hired by the Blue Jays in October.

Edwin Rodriguez was the first Puerto Rican manager in the majors when he took over the Miami Marlins after the dismissal of Cuban-American Fredi Gonzalez in June 2010. Sandy Alomar Jr. served as interim manager of the Cleveland Indians during the last games of the 2012 campaign, when Dominican Manny Acta, now a coach with the Seattle Mariners, was removed from his post.

For the first time in major league history, there are three MLB managers with Puerto Rican roots, with Dave Martinez, born to Puerto Rican parents in New York City, at the helm of the Washington Nationals.

But Montoyo and Cora took very different paths to get to this point in their careers.

After 14 years in the majors, and since his retirement from playing after the 2011 season, Cora immediately became part of a short list of Latino prospects to be an MLB manager.

He then became manager and general manager of the Criollos de Caguas of the Puerto Rican winter league, was an ESPN baseball analyst and, later on, was general manager of the Puerto Rican team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Cora also won a World Series championship as bench coach for the Houston Astros before becoming the first minority manager in Boston's 117-year franchise history.

The Red Sox decided to hire Cora without his having any experience as a major league manager primarily because of his demonstrated knowledge of baseball and his potential to communicate with and inspire players of diverse ages and backgrounds. He lived up to those expectations by becoming the second Latino manager, and first Puerto Rican, to win a World Series after Venezuelan Oswaldo "Ozzie" Guillen did it with the Chicago White Sox in 2005.

Montoyo had a short career of just four games in the major leagues with the Montreal Expos, about which the always jovial manager joked, "People better not forget that in those games I hit .400!"

Before becoming Kevin Cash's bench coach, Montoyo had a 22-year managerial career in the Rays' farm system.

He was at the helm of the Tampa Bay Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, from 2007 to 2014. During his eight-year tenure, the native of Florida, Puerto Rico, won seven pennants and went to a record six Governors' Cup finals, winning championships in 2009 and 2013. His 633-515 record as manager of the Bulls is the highest number of victories in franchise history, leading him to be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016.

"I've been saying it for five or six years," Cora said of Montoyo's hiring. "This is not about minorities. It's not about him being Latino or Puerto Rican. Charlie Montoyo is a great baseball man, and he's been coaching and managing for a lot of years. I'm very happy for him."

Cora and Montoyo will also both be looking to turn things around after a poor start to the 2019 season, with the Sox and Jays sharing last place in the AL East at 3-8. However, unlike Cora's champions, who finished last season with a franchise-record 108 wins, Montoyo will have an uphill climb with the Blue Jays.

Toronto is a young team, deep in a rebuilding process after winning 73 games last season, and a clear underdog in the AL East after finishing fourth in 2018.

"All I am is grateful for this opportunity," Montoyo said. "This is not an easy sport. You have to do it day in and day out. When things are not going well, that's when people show you who they truly are. Everything I do is from experience, I think about what I would like to see from my manager if I was a player. If the players see me relaxed, they will relax.

"And one thing that relaxes me is music. I love salsa music, and when you go to Toronto and go to my office, you will see some congas, you will see bongos, there is a guiro [a Latin American percussion instrument], there are maracas. ... I play some music, and I know they relax. It's not easy, and it's not like it doesn't bother me to lose -- it bothers me to lose more than anyone -- but it's a long season, and we have to stay relaxed."

In addition to the significance of Tuesday's matchup, Montoyo said it's also his mother's birthday.

"So I'm going to tell Alex, 'It's Mom's birthday, so come on, man, you can give me one,'" Montoyo joked. "'We'll have 18 more!'"

Cora and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, on Oct. 23, became the first two minority managers to face each other in 114 editions of the World Series. And they did it at Fenway Park, home of the last major league team to break the color barrier, 12 years after Jackie Robinson's debut.

On Tuesday, all eyes will be certainly be on Cora, with the Red Sox receiving their championship rings during their home opener. But for Puerto Rico, it will be a day like no other in baseball history, which made Montoyo think of Puerto Rican idol Roberto Clemente, the first Latin American player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

"My favorite number is 25, but [Tuesday] I feel like I would like to be wearing Roberto Clemente's No. 21," Montoyo said, eyes glistening. "I feel like Roberto Clemente is looking down on us from heaven, saying, 'Look, this actually happened! Two managers, born and raised in Puerto Rico, one in Caguas and the other in Florida, Puerto Rico.'

"It's going to be very nice. It's going to be very special."

The Cleveland Indians placed Mike Clevinger on the 10-day injured list with a back injury and manager Terry Francona told reporters that the right-hander won't be able to pick up a ball for six-to-eight weeks.

The Indians said Clevinger has a teres major muscle strain in his right upper back. The move was made retroactive to Monday. Right-hander Nick Wittgren was recalled from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.

Francona told reporters it's a "significant" injury.

Clevinger left his start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays after five innings because of upper back tightness.

Clevinger had 10 strikeouts over five scoreless innings and is off to an outstanding start this season, throwing 12 scoreless innings with 22 strikeouts over his first two outings.

He was 13-8 with a 3.02 ERA in 32 starts last season, pitching a career-high 200 innings and striking out 207 batters.

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Chris Archer received a five-game suspension and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig got a two-game ban for their roles in a melee Sunday at PNC Park.

Reds manager David Bell also received a one-game suspension and, like Puig, an undisclosed fine for what the league called their "aggressive actions during the incident." Bell and Puig will begin serving their suspensions Tuesday night, while Archer's ban is subject to appeal. He was also fined.

The benches-clearing incident happened in the top of the fourth inning of the Reds' 7-5 loss to the Pirates.

Archer threw a 93-mph fastball behind Reds first baseman Derek Dietrich's back to spark the incident. Dietrich had homered in the second inning and had stared at his blast before circling the bases, apparently angering Archer.

Warnings were issued to both teams, but Bell came onto the field to argue with home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg that Archer should have been ejected. Players from both teams then began to push one another.

After the situation seemed to settle down, Puig charged toward Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams at home plate and had to be restrained, reigniting the incident. Puig grabbed Pirates bench coach Tom Prince and tried to put him in a headlock.

Three Reds (Bell, Puig and relief pitcher Amir Garrett) and two Pirates (relievers Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez) were ejected.

"I was trying to go in,'' Archer said. "I air-mailed a couple balls today, a couple that I was trying to elevate, a couple that I yanked when righties were up there. Another one that I just yanked.''

"I missed -- missed my spot,'' he added.

Puig said pitchers shouldn't try to hit batters because a batter can't retaliate in the same way.

"When people watch the ball go far away or do bat flips, like I do before, in the next [at-bat] try to strike out the guy,'' Puig said. "Don't try to hit the guy, because we can't defend you back because we can't hit you with a bat or nothing.''

Dietrich's 436-foot drive to right-center gave the Reds a 2-1 lead. Dietrich dropped his bat and stood in the batter's box and watched the ball clear the fence atop the Clemente Wall and bounce into the Allegheny River.

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli had words for Dietrich when he crossed home plate. Dietrich said that exchange of words probably resulted in the fourth-inning hostilities.

"That's probably where it started. I didn't say anything, I didn't flip my bat, nothing on my end. So people see it differently. Most hitters see it as a good swing, some pitchers see it as 'Oh he's trying to show me up.' I don't know where the game's going these days," he said. "Everyone loves to play and have fun, but I let my bat do the talking. It was good to see the guys had my back, especially my manager. We're not trying to intentionally hurt anybody; we're just trying to play baseball, play hard, but unfortunately things happen."

Vazquez said he was ejected for entering the field without his uniform top.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs ace Jon Lester is being placed on the 10-day injured list because of a hamstring injury suffered in Monday's home opener against the Pirates, a source said Tuesday.

Lester was scheduled to get an MRI on Tuesday, an off day for both teams, who meet again Wednesday.

Appearing on 670 The Score radio Tuesday, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said that Lester will miss one or two starts but didn't confirm a trip to the IL.

Lester left the game in the third inning Monday with left hamstring tightness, and the Cubs went on to a much-needed 10-0 victory.

Lester sent out a tweet about his injury earlier Tuesday. It was not clear if he knew at the time that he was heading to the IL.

Sometimes when you have elite speed these things can happen. Great to get the W in front of the home crowd though, here's to many, many, many more! #NVRQT

— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 9, 2019

"I didn't feel anything as far as a pop or anything like that," Lester said after the game. "Kind of more along the cramping sensation. We'll find out more [Tuesday]."

Lester's injury occurred while he was running the bases in the bottom of the second inning. He slid into second base on an RBI double and moments later slid into home as part of a six-run inning by the Cubs. The veteran says he's never had leg problems before. (Lester, 35, has made at least 31 starts every season since 2008.)

"In my mind, I'm making my next start," he said. "[Tuesday] may tell us something different."

While warming up before the top of the third, Lester grabbed his left hamstring. He then faced two batters, allowing both to reach, before Maddon went and got him. Brad Brach replaced Lester.

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Ulster and Ireland utility back Will Addison has been ruled out for the remainder of this season after undergoing a back operation.

The 26-year-old, who joined Ulster from Sale last summer, has not played since January because of his back injury.

The former England Under-20 player made his Ireland debut last November.

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey is a doubt for Friday's crucial Pro14 game against Edinburgh after being concussed in last weekend's defeat by Glasgow.

An Ulster statement said that McCloskey, who has earned three Ireland caps, would follow the return to play protocols.

The statement added that Ulster are hopeful Addison will "return to full fitness for pre-season".

Last Friday's 30-7 defeat by Glasgow has heaped pressure on Dan McFarland's Ulster side heading into Friday's game at Murrayfield.

With two rounds of fixtures left in the regular season, Ulster are second in the Conference B but both Benetton and Edinburgh are within three points of the Irish province.

An Edinburgh victory on Friday could see Ulster dropping out of the three play-off places if Benetton defeat Munster in Treviso on the same evening.

In the final round of fixtures on 27 April, Benetton, now two points behind Ulster following their draw with Leinster in Dublin last weekend, will be fancied to take full points when they face Zebre away.

Ulster's final fixture sees them facing Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in a repeat of the recent European Champions Cup quarter-final which the holders won narrowly.

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Leicester and England hooker Tom Youngs is set to face a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday following his red card for dangerous play in the Premiership defeat against Exeter.

The 32-year-old was sent off by referee Tom Foley for making contact with Ollie Atkins' head in a ruck on Saturday.

He was dismissed after 56 minutes having been adjudged to have made no attempt to wrap his arms around Atkins.

Youngs is due to face the three-person Rugby Football Union panel at 1700 BST.

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Wayne Pivac has brushed aside claims that he is no longer the right man to lead Wales after the Rugby World Cup.

He was announced as Warren Gatland's successor last July - with his Scarlets going on to endure a turbulent season.

The region are at risk of failing both to make the Pro14 play-offs and to qualify for the European Champions Cup for the first time since Llanelli entered the competition in 1996.

"Comments people make are out of our control," said Pivac.

Fans have vented their frustration on social media, with some saying the Welsh Rugby Union appointed Pivac as a knee-jerk reaction after Scarlets won the Pro12 in 2017 and made the Pro14 final and Champions Cup semi-final last year.

• Pivac rejects Woodward's 'lost focus' claim
• Pro14 Play-off hopes and European worries

"God help Wales next season" and "from heroes to zeroes" were among a host of negative comments posted on the BBC Sport Wales Facebook page after Scarlets' home defeat by Edinburgh on Saturday.

Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward had also accused Pivac of losing focus, suggesting he should have taken a sabbatical after his appointment with Wales.

"They appointed me after two pretty positive seasons and a side that's been built over four years," Pivac said.

"I think most people who are astute rugby people will understand that we've had some difficulties this season; it's clear for everybody to see."

Those difficulties include long-term injuries to key players such as Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Jake Ball and Blade Thompson amid Leigh Halfpenny's three-month absence as he recovered from concussion.

Losing John Barclay, Tadhg Beirne and Scott Williams have also not helped Pivac's cause.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly Podcast, former England and Lions wing Ugo Monye said he worried about Pivac filling Gatland's boots, likening his succession to David Moyes taking the reins from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

"It reminds me of the coaching and player exodus of 2003 in England," he said.

"Sir Clive Woodward's plan was essentially to win a World Cup, which he did, with not much thought afterwards.

"The slight difference with what Gatland has done is not only try to build a squad to win a World Cup, he's also given so many caps to so many young talented Welsh players. His legacy will be shown in those young guys he's entrusted over the last 18 months.

"It's not a thing against Pivac and Stephen Jones, it's just the person following into Gatland's shoes - it's a thankless task because you'll forever be reminded of what was there before."

Scarlets are fifth in their conference, with the top three making the play-offs, while finishing fourth would give them a chance to qualify for Europe's top club competition.

Pivac's men have two games left to salvage their season. They have to get a maximum 10 points against Zebre at home and against Dragons on Judgement Day while hoping other results go their way.

"Technically there's a lot to play for. For us it's about two games of rugby... we're looking for a good performance with and without the ball over 80 minutes, something we've struggled to do this year," Pivac said.

"Obviously it's our last game at home. We want to put on a special performance for the people that aren't going to be here next year and for our fanbase that have supported us through a turbulent season.

"We want to finish with a bit of a bang."

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MESQUITE, Texas – Oklahoma native Shane Stewart is looking forward to heading home this weekend — kind of.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is returning to historic Devil’s Bowl Speedway this Friday and Saturday — a track Stewart now considers home and has circled on his calendar.

The Mesquite, Texas track — where the inaugural World of Outlaws race was held in 1978 — is about four hours away from Stewart’s hometown of Bixby, Okla. With most tracks in Oklahoma either torn down, or a distant memory, Devil’s Bowl Speedway has become his surrogate hometrack. However, it’s more than just a hometrack.

“Devil’s Bowl has always been one of those bigger races on the schedule,” Stewart said. “Back when I was growing up, Devil’s Bowl, besides Knoxville, was always it for me. If you look at the drivers that have won there, especially Outlaw drivers, the list is pretty deep, with a lot of history there. It’s definitely a track that everybody wants to win at.”

He won at the track in 2016 and had a podium finish at the second race there last year. After an up and down early start to the season, Stewart’s hoping for similar results this year as he and his new CJB Motorsports team continue to learn each other.

Stewart started off the World of Outlaws season strong, finishing second on the opening night of racing at Volusia Speedway Park, but then finished 19th and 21st the next two races. Since then his results have been a mix of top-15 and top-10 finishes — placing him currently eighth in Series points.

“Our finishes haven’t really shown how we’ve been,” Stewart said. “I feel like we’ve been in contention to win three races, and I let one of them sneak away at Volusia, and we were leading the other night and had a flat at Stockton. When we Qualify in the right spot, put ourselves in the Dash, we’ve been in contention to win.”

He spent the past five years driving for Kyle Larson Racing, and while each team is unique with its own personality, Stewart said there’s been no difficulties adjusting to driving the No. 5 car with 2017 Crew Chief of the Year Barry Jackson.

Jackson agrees.

“He (Shane) and I, we communicate real well, and relate real well,” Jackson said.

David Gravel, who moved over to Jason Johnson Racing this year, spent the last three years as Jackson’s driver, and while they found success winning more than 30 races and finishing third in points all three years together, Jackson said it’s easier to connect with Stewart.

“I think with Shane and I, we come from a little bit more similar background,” Jackson said, “We’re closer in age. It’s a little harder for the older guys to work with the real young guys, at least for me. And Shane and I have a lot of similarities, and we’re clicking pretty good in that department.”

What’s hindered the team this year is consistency with races, bad luck and the team’s engine program, Jackson said.

After 12 years of working with Kistler Engines, Jackson said, at USA Raceway, he made the difficult decision to switch to engines from Gray Motorsports — which races in the NHRA Pro Stock division.

“We kind of had some issues, kind of going on for about a year,” Jackson said about the team’s engine program. “It’s going to be a little bit of a learning experience for both them and myself. They’re great engine builders, but it’s like me going over there to try and work on a Pro Stock car or a Funny Car. It’s a whole different ball game.”

He made the decision to switch engine builders after the second race at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas — where Stewart finished 21st — after about 15 hours of talking over the decision with several people. However, Jackson said he’s not sure if the engine switch is his final decision, though. Stewart finished 10th at USA Raceway and 12th at Arizona Speedway last weekend.

But if there was a time to have a slow run in the season, Jackson said he wants it to be now.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to get the season rolling,” Jackson said. “I don’t feel like we’ve got a chance to do that yet with all of the rain outs. If I’m going to have a little bit of a slow time in the season, as far as performance, I want it to be now. Because whenever May rolls around and you start looking at the races we have in May and the races we have in June, July and August, that’s where I want to get on a roll. Hopefully we’re getting this stuff out of the way now and we’ll be set to roll real soon.”

Having run well at Devil’s Bowl Speedway previously, Stewart looks for the team chemistry and momentum to grow this weekend.

“Going to different race tracks and putting yourself in different situations, knowing how to communicate with each other is one of the things that we continue to work on,” Stewart said. “I feel like we’re heading in the right direction.”

The post Stewart Looking To Build Momentum At Devil’s Bowl appeared first on SPEED SPORT.