BATESVILLE, Ark. – Kyle Busch will get a little extra experience on dirt ahead of the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway by competing in the Bristol Dirt Nationals on March 19-20.

Busch, the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series, will race as a teammate to three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Jonathan Davenport at Double L Motorsports during the Bristol Dirt Nationals.

The Bristol Dirt Nationals are being held one week before the Food City Dirt Race on March 28, the first NASCAR Cup Series race on dirt since 1970.

Busch isn’t a rookie in a dirt super late model, having raced in and won the 2012 edition of the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway.

“Most of my experience in super late models have come on pavement, but I’ve really enjoyed dirt super late models races when I’ve had the chance to run them,” said Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. “The Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway was a race I looked forward to every year and bringing home the win there in 2012 was something I’ll always remember. ”

Busch will drive the No. 51 Longhorn Chassis out of the Double L Motorsports stable with sponsorship from Nutrien Ag Solutions. Additional sponsors will be announced later.

“I want to thank Nutrien Ag Solutions and Double L Motorsports for the opportunity to get some seat time at Bristol in one of their dirt late models,” Busch added. “Jonathan Davenport’s resume speaks for itself with all the success he’s had in the dirt late model cars, so I’m looking forward to learning all I can from him. While the cars are completely different than the NASCAR Cup Series cars we will run at Bristol, just getting some experience on dirt with a great team and a knowledgeable teammate will be invaluable for the following weekend.”

The Bristol Dirt Nationals will be the first event held on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in 20 years. The event is scheduled to include multiple divisions, headlined by the super late model class that Busch and Davenport are competing in.

Drivers will battle for $10,000 on March 19, with $50,000 on the line on March 20.

“This is an event that we have been eyeing since it was announced during the off-season,” said Davenport. “The first dirt races at Bristol back 20 years ago were huge for our sport and since then, we have come a long way in the amount of exposure that our type of racing gets. I believe that this year’s Bristol Dirt Nationals and having Kyle compete in it along with a bunch of talented dirt drivers, will put even more eyeballs on our sport.

“He is a heck of a wheelman in anything he drives, so I am definitely looking forward to teaming up with Kyle and see what we can both do on the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway.”

Former USA Olympic gymnastics coach John Geddert died by suicide Thursday, hours after he was charged with two dozen crimes stemming from allegations that he physically, emotionally and sexually abused gymnasts under his care.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel confirmed that Geddert took his own life Thursday afternoon, calling his death "a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved."

Michigan state police confirmed that Geddert's body was found at an interstate highway rest stop at 3:24 p.m. ET.

Geddert, 63, was scheduled to be arraigned in Eaton County, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon.

Michigan state officials charged Geddert with 24 felonies: 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor, one count of first-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault, racketeering and lying to a police officer. A lawyer from the Michigan Attorney General's office also said Thursday that Geddert knew disgraced Team USA doctor Larry Nassar was sexually abusing patients at the gym where both men worked and lied to police about it during a 2016 investigation into Nassar.

The remainder of the charges against Geddert are all tied to his own behavior with gymnasts he coached at gyms he owned in Michigan. Law enforcement started investigating Geddert in February 2018 in the wake of complaints raised about his abusive coaching style during Nassar's sentencing hearing.

Court documents released Thursday allege that, among other things, Geddert in January 2012 digitally penetrated a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 16.

Geddert previously owned Twistars USA Gymnastics in Dimondale, Michigan, just outside of Lansing, where dozens of women say they were sexually assaulted by Nassar under the guise of medical treatment. Geddert and Nassar worked side by side for more than a quarter-century while both rose to the pinnacle of elite gymnastics.

Geddert has long been viewed within the gymnastics community as one of Nassar's chief enablers. As far back as the late 1980s, at Great Lakes Gymnastics Club in Lansing, before he was even a licensed physician, Nassar began sexually assaulting minor gymnasts on his training table, according to the accounts of multiple women.

Geddert rose to national prominence in the early 2000s and was named the U.S. national team coach for the 2012 London Olympics. His role as a national coach led him to travel around the globe with America's top gymnasts. Many of those gymnasts, including all members of the famed Fierce Five who won gold in London, say Nassar abused them during their international trips.

Former Olympian McKayla Maroney says she was in a car with Geddert on one such international trip, in Tokyo during the 2011 World Championships. During the car ride Maroney gave a graphic description of how Nassar had touched her inappropriately during a treatment session the night before, according to multiple people who overheard her remarks. Geddert didn't react at the time, according to the accounts of the passengers in the car but has since denied overhearing Maroney's comments.

USA Gymnastics suspended Geddert during Nassar's sentencing hearing in January 2018 amid a flood of public complaints from former gymnasts about his abusive coaching style. Geddert announced he was retiring from coaching days after he was suspended by USA Gymnastics. He transferred ownership of Twistars USA to his wife and coaching partner in 2018. The gym was sold to new owners earlier this month.

Geddert was the fifth person to face criminal charges that stem from the Nassar case. Former USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny was arrested on evidence tampering charges in 2018. At Michigan State, where Nassar was employed, former president Lou Anna Simon, former medical school dean William Strampel and former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages were all charged with crimes. Strampel, Nassar's former boss, was charged with misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty and served eight months of a one-year prison sentence before he was released last spring. Klages was found guilty of lying to police in August 2020 and sentenced to 90 days in jail. Charges of lying to police against Simon were dismissed in May 2020, but the attorney general's office is appealing that decision, Nessel said Thursday.

Nassar, 57, is currently serving a 60-year prison sentence for child pornography charges at a federal prison near Orlando, Florida, but he also faces an additional maximum of up to 175 years in prison for his sentencings on state charges in Ingham and Eaton County, Michigan. Earlier this month, Nassar appealed his case to the Michigan Supreme Court. Nessel said Thursday that Nassar's trial court sentence should stand, describing it as "a fair and just sentence."

If Philadelphia Phillies right-fielder Bryce Harper is to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017, he knows his team will have to earn it by getting through a stacked NL East.

"I think this is the best division in baseball, I don't think that's even a question," the 28-year-old star said in a videoconference call on Thursday. "We have five teams...that are really good. I think this is going to be a juggernaut of a division."

The Phillies finished in third place last season, four games under .500, as Harper played with a bad back, which at times prevented him from throwing a baseball. After an offseason of rehab, the pain is gone and he's ready to lead the Phillies, though there were times this winter he had doubts what the club's roster would look like.

"We were kind of sitting there, figuring out what we wanted to do as an organization," Harper said.

Then Dave Dombrowski was hired as team president and everything changed. Harper knew the organization meant business.

"When he came in, it was kind of like 'Whoa, here we go," Harper said. "You don't really bring in Dombrowski unless it's a win-now kind of move. I think Dombrowski has done a great job. ... The way Dombrowski works, he may not be done yet."

Harper cited the re-signing of catcher J.T. Realmuto and revamping a depleted bullpen as difference-making moves by Dombrowski this winter. But the Phillies will have to outduel a revamped New York Mets team as well as the defending division winners, the Atlanta Braves, to assure themselves a postseason bid.

"I hate being home for Halloween," Harper said. "I can tell you that. ... The town needs it [the postseason]. The city of Philadelphia deserves it. Everyone knows what the last couple years looks like. We're looking forward."

Harper signed a 13-year, $330-million deal with the Phillies before the 2019 season only to see his former team, the Washington Nationals, win the World Series that fall. The Nationals are also an NL East contender in 2021 while the Miami Marlins were a postseason entrant in 2020, giving all five teams in the group reason for hope this season. Harper's assessment of the division might be spot on.

"I just want to be able to win," he said. "We're going to try everything in our power to do that as an organization. Success as a team instead of success as individuals is what you want."

Harper had nothing but positive things to say about the Phillies as an organization, despite some failings on the field. They've let him be himself, and with Dombrowski in the fold, Harper might finally get his wish to return to the playoffs.

"I love postseason baseball," Harper said. "I love the mentality of it. It's always a lot of fun. The fans are craving it so much."

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Weedsport Speedway is set to return to racing with a nine event schedule slated to begin on Sunday, May 30 with the Super DIRTcar Series Heroes Remembered 100.

The Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds will be one of 10 different sanctions to compete at Weedsport this season, including the return of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars on Saturday, July 31.

“As we inch closer to spring, we are excited to feel as though we can finally put some firm focus toward racing in 2021,” said Weedsport Speedway promoter Jimmy Phelps.  “We have been fortunate to schedule a good mix of exciting divisions and series across a packed nine event schedule and we are eager to welcome fans back to Weedsport as soon as we can.”

Weedsport Speedway was one of several facilities in New York State to remain shuttered during the majority of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Only DIRTcar’s OktoberFAST saw action at Weedsport last season with Max McLaughlin, Kevin Root and Nick Stone reaching Victory Hill.

In 2021, the Super DIRTcar Series Heroes Remembered 100 will kick things off on Sunday, May 30 alongside the DIRTcar Sportsman and the CRSA Sprints.

The month of June will be highlighted by the seventh running of the DIRTcar Sportsman Series Sportsman Classic 75 on Sunday, June 13, joined by a Big Block/Small Block Modified Shootout and 600cc Micro Sprints.

The Fourth of July will be fast and furious at Weedsport as the ESS Sprint Cars will round out their CNY Speedweek on Sunday, July 4 with a trip to Victory Hill on the line.  The winged sprints will be paired with big-block modifieds.

The Super DIRTcar Series Modifieds return on Sunday, July 25 with $10,000 in their grasp as part of the Hall of Fame 100.  The DIRTcar Sportsman and Vintage Mods will make for a trio of action on July 25.

Less than a week later the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars will make their triumphant return to Weedsport on Saturday, July 31, paired with the DIRTcar 358-Modifieds.

August belongs to the two-wheeled stars of American Flat Track as the series will hold a special AFT Bike Night and Media Special on Friday, Aug. 13 before returning to the 3/8 mile oval on Saturday, Aug. 14.

Now over a year in the making, Cavalcade Cup Weekend will finally see the green flag on Sept. 11-12 with two nights of Super DIRTcar Series Modified action in conjunction with the DIRTcar Sportsman, DIRTcar Pro Stocks and the ESS Sprint Cars.

Saturday’s opener will see a 50-lap SDS main along with Sportsman and Pro Stocks, while Sunday will feature the 100-lap SDS finale, the ESS Sprints and the Sportsman Challenge Invite special.

NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week will finish the season as the Super DIRT Week Kick-Off will again see the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and the DIRTcar Sportsman Series on the card.

Tickets and camping details for events are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks with purchasing anticipated to open in late spring.

CLAREMONT, N.H. – Claremont Motorsports Park officials have confirmed the Modified Racing Series will return to the track this year for a Labor Day weekend event.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring the M.R.S. back to Claremont,” said track promoter Mike Parks. “Tour-type modifieds were the lifeblood of the speedway for many many years so to bring them back is an honor.

“Jack (Bateman) and general manager Willie Doucette are bringing the series back to its roots for 2021 and we are excited to be a part of that process.”

The Modified Racing Series is aiming to become more of a racer friendly, affordable series that any modified competitor can be competitive in. Thorough technical inspection, cost containment and a return to the series original tracks, are all part of this initiative.

“We want to be a more affordable New England short track series,” said Modified Racing Series General Manager Willie Doucette. “Claremont Motorsports Park is the reason the series started and we want to remember the places and people who got this started.

“We want to leave something positive for the next generation of modified racers.”

Other divisions on the card on Sept. 5 will be the Claremont Motorsports Park street stocks, pure stocks, six shooters and the NELCAR Legend cars.

“This is a big weekend for the speedway and we have some ideas for our entry level divisions,” said Parks. “We don’t have anything set in stone but we hope to get those teams a little extra glory that weekend.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Ilmor and Edelbrock Group have joined the Superstar Racing Experience as official parts suppliers.

The six-race short-track series airing this summer on Saturday nights in primetime on CBS features purpose-built race cars designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham. Each will be powered by Ilmor’s 396 engine, a 700-horsepower V8 with 530 ft-lb of torque. Inside the engine is Edelbrock Group’s COMP Cams camshaft, push rods and rocker trunnions, and outside are Edelbrock Group’s water pump, timing cover and ignition coils.

“The engine is the heart of any race car, and the Ilmor 396 with Edelbrock Group components is the heart of the SRX race car,” Evernham said. “Performance was obviously important, but so was reliability and equality. SRX is about the drivers and who can make this racecar work the best for them. The combined technologies from Ilmor and Edelbrock Group ensure that the drivers are the ‘X’ factor in SRX.”

Ilmor has been making horsepower since 1983 when two engineers – Mario Illien and Paul Morgan – designed and built an innovative turbocharged engine for IndyCar that would dominate the series. Ilmor’s success in IndyCar expanded to championships in Formula One, ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Ilmor also took to the water, powering multiple P1 World Championship boats and a thriving marine engine division.

“We are truly excited to contribute to the success of SRX and to be collaborating with Edelbrock,” said Paul Ray, President, Ilmor Engineering. “This series, which showcases the talents of so many celebrated drivers spanning the spectrum of motorsports, aligns perfectly with Ilmor’s 35-year history of providing power to many of the world’s greatest drivers.”

Edelbrock Group’s history dates back to 1938 when company founder Vic Edelbrock wanted to better the performance of his 1932 Ford Roadster so he designed a new intake manifold. Today, Edelbrock Group designs, manufactures and distributes performance parts for the entire automotive aftermarket.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of SRX,” said Chris Douglas, Chief Commercial Officer, Edelbrock Group. “The unique format of SRX is sure to bring added excitement and new fans to the sport of auto racing. The diversity of the racers with their unique backgrounds and personalities, coupled with fast and powerful cars, will provide ‘must watch’ events. The Edelbrock Group’s racing heritage of speed and performance made SRX a perfect fit, and we’re certain our partners and customers will be excited about our participation.”

SRX features sprint races with drivers from a variety of motorsports backgrounds competing in identically prepared race cars on a variety of tracks, including pavement and dirt. The SRX driver lineup currently includes Tony Stewart, Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy, Bobby Labonte, Willy T. Ribbs, Bill Elliott, Ernie Francis Jr., Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Michael Waltrip.

SRX debuts June 12 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. After Stafford, SRX visits back-to-back dirt tracks – Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway on June 19 and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on June 26. SRX returns to pavement July 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis and then ventures north to Slinger (Wis.) Speedway on July 10. SRX’s inaugural season culminates July 17 at the iconic Nashville (Tenn.) Fairgrounds Speedway.

The Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday announced a multiyear partnership with UpickTrade, a sports betting recommendation service based in Mexico.

UpickTrade.com becomes the Official Sports Pick Service Partner of the Knights and will be featured on the team's web and social media platforms as well as on the boards around the rink at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The deal, according the press release announcing it, is the first sponsorship agreement between a Mexican-based company and an NHL club, as well as the first partnership between a professional sports franchise and a sports betting recommendation service.

"We are hopeful our fanbase will make UpickTrade.com a part of their sports pick betting process," Mike Mungiello, vice president of global partnerships for the Knights, said in the release.

Carlos Lazo Reyes, CEO of UpickTrade, called the deal a "historic moment in the sports betting market" and claimed his company has more than 6,000 customers worldwide.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UpickTrade charges clients $89 a month for its selections, including on the NHL. According to the picks posted on the UpickTrade website from January and February, the service has not offered predictions on any game involving the Knights.

Asked if UpickTrade is allowed to sell picks on Knights games or would have access to injury and lineup information, Eric Tosi, vice president of communications for the team, told ESPN, "At this time the organization does not have any additional comments beyond what was included in the press release."

A request for comment to UpickTrade from ESPN was not immediately returned.

The deal drew criticism from the sports betting community, including problem gambling experts, bookmakers and bettors, who have disdain for the sports pick-selling industry.

Keith Whyte, executive director for the National Council on Problem Gambling, noted on Twitter that the UpickTrade's website does not include prominently displayed responsible gambling information.

Picks-sellers have had a notorious reputation for decades, dating back to 1-900 premium phone lines in the 1980s and 1990s and blossoming further on the internet. Services have been accused of selling one side of a game to one client and the other side to a different client, falsifying records and pretending to have inside information.

On Wednesday, after the deal was announced, the Knights' logo was displayed on the front of UpickTrade's site. The logo was removed from the front of the site as of Thursday.

Broadcast access to transmit live tournament cricket, in nations far off the beaten path of Full Member nations, used to be a major obstacle impeding the ability to grow the sport. But that may now be a thing of the past as the ICC on Wednesday announced a major agreement with IMG that will introduce web streamed broadcasts for more than 500 ICC global pathway events at men's and women's level through 2023.

These will include regional qualifiers from each of the five Associate regions - Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and East Asia-Pacific - for the next men's and women's T20 World Cups in 2022 and 2023 respectively, as well as the seven-team Men's ODI League Two and Challenge Leagues being used as qualification for the 2023 Men's World Cup.

"The objective of the program is a response to a demand not only from fans around the world but that of the members," Will Glenwright, ICC head of global development, told ESPNcricinfo in a phone interview after the ICC's announcement on Wednesday. "We do an annual survey of the members, the 2020 version of which we just completed, and getting international cricket on television was the second-highest priority that they have communicated to us. Growing awareness of the game, in the eyes of the members, is the biggest inhibitor to the growth and development of the sport.

"So this is a direct response to that demand that comes from our members and it is absolutely an awareness motive rather than a profit-driven or revenue-driven motive. Whilst it's a good financial outcome for the ICC, it's driven primarily about the need to get more international cricket and get more Associate member cricket to the fans around the world."

Over the past decade, traditionally strong Associate members such as Nepal have regularly commanded impressive viewing traffic figures thanks to broadcasts of events coordinated by local media houses. However, demand for access in recent years has spread further afield such that the regional T20 men's qualifiers were web streamed throughout the summer of 2019 from locations such as Guernsey, Malaysia and Bermuda.

The appetite for Associate content had grown exponentially in recent times. According to an ICC press release from February 2020, digital views from clips of various regional pathway events totalled more than 128 million. This culminated in the 2019 Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE which set a record for digital consumption with an additional 80 million views for digital clips across various ICC social media and web platforms during the three-week tournament in spite of the fact that neither Nepal nor Afghanistan - another major traffic driver before their elevation to Test status - participated in the final qualifying tournament. It was enough evidence to demonstrate that a bigger effort had to be coordinated to expand the ICC's broadcasting footprint.

"We know the quality of the cricket has improved from a high-performance perspective and we know the context of the pathway events makes for compelling viewing," Glenwright said. "That, in addition to the demand that we have received from our members, the fact that lack of awareness of the game is one of the biggest barriers to growing the game for our Associate members, all pointed to us examining this properly.

"I think it's part of the digital evolution that we're undergoing as an organization, the increased capability that we've brought into our team to deliver this, has meant that for the first time we've been able to give this the attention it deserves, to point the resources in the right direction and the outcome is as we've announced today a groundbreaking partnership with a reputable organization that's going to deliver over 500 Associate member cricket matches to the world."

In the past, regional ICC events were broadcast on more of an ad hoc basis, often determined by the existing infrastructure and capability of host countries to facilitate a broadcast. That is now expected to be a thing of the past according to the new broadcast arrangement.

"The broadcasting of those events was done sporadically and often depended on the capabilities of the host member themselves," Glenwright said. "One of the criticisms that we faced from the members was that perhaps our minimum standards around that were too overbearing which made it difficult for the members to deliver and stream those events to those standards. That's something we sought to overcome by standardizing it under this agreement with IMG."

...we know the context of the pathway events makes for compelling viewing

Will Glenwright

Perhaps the most significant part of this deal is that, according to the ICC release, more than 50 countries will be featured on global broadcasts for the first time as a consequence of the new arrangement. That includes several women's teams in countries that do not currently field a men's team competitive enough to feature in the corresponding regional qualification pathway for a T20 World Cup such as the Brazil Women, who announced central contracts for 14 squad members in January 2020. The exposure that these web streams offer is something that can see new financial opportunities open up to many other countries in the same manner.

"That's not something that we take lightly at all," Glenwright said. "It opens up all sorts of opportunities for the members, not only from a performance perspective but from a commercial and a fan engagement perspective as well. In setting the minimum standards, we've been mindful of the need to ensure that all of these events can be streamed by our smaller members as easily as it can be done by our more established members who have more experience in streaming and broadcasting their events.

"Our member boards plus other sports have done some really innovative stuff, I think particularly during the pandemic around broadcasting and streaming and bringing content to fans around the world. The European Cricket League has been brilliant from a cricket perspective and initiatives like that of Finland, Japan and some of our smaller members to get their cricket streamed has encouraged us, motivated us, but more just strengthened the resolve of us as an organization to provide that exposure to all 92 of our Associate members. It is as important to our smaller members as it is to our larger members. We feel there's an obligation as an international federation to facilitate that and that's what's driven us."

Quarterback Deshaun Watson met with new Houston Texans coach David Culley last Friday, according to sources, and informed Culley that he has no intention of suiting up for the team again.

Upset over the way the organization has operated in recent years, Watson has asked the Texans to trade him and has had very little contact with the team since the season ended. The conversation with Culley is believed to have been the first between the two. Culley said in his introductory news conference that he expected Watson to be on the team in 2021.

But according to the sources, Watson's message to Culley in Friday's meeting was that nothing has changed on his end and he still would like to be traded. So far, the Texans have told interested teams that they don't intend to trade Watson, who just last summer signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension that runs through 2025.

Trading Watson would cost the Texans $21.6 million in dead money against this year's salary cap -- a significant hit since his cap number if he's on the team is just $15.94 million.

Any team acquiring the young superstar would get a tremendous bargain in 2021, as Watson is scheduled to earn just $10.54 million in salary this year before that number jumps to $35 million in 2022, $37 million in 2023 and $32 million each in 2024 and 2025.

If the Texans choose not to trade Watson, he could opt not to report to mandatory team activities or training camp, but at a cost. Houston can fine Watson $95,877 for missing minicamp and can fine him $50,000 per day for each day of training camp missed, plus one week's salary -- $620,000 -- for each preseason game missed. In the unlikely scenario that Watson chooses to retire, the Texans can collect $21.6 million.

Watson's trade request came after he was reportedly unhappy with the process used by the team to hire new general manager Nick Caserio in early January.

Watson set career highs in the 2020 season in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. He also threw a career-low seven interceptions. His 33 touchdowns and 4,823 passing yards were single-season franchise records.

He is the NFL's career leader in completion percentage at 67.8%, ahead of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. In 2020, Watson became just the 11th player in NFL history to complete at least 70% of his passes in a season.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.