KNOXVILLE, Iowa – When last season ended, veteran Australian sprint car racer Kerry Madsen was unsure about his future.

With David Gravel taking over his ride in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2, the 49-year-old driver was in search of a new opportunity.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Madsen said as he peered through the turn-two catch fence at The Dirt Track at Charlotte last November.

Fast-forward three months and Madsen is in a much different place than what’s accustomed. Madsen will race in central Pennsylvania aboard Michael Barshinger’s familiar No. 24. He’ll race with a new sense of gratitude, too.

After questioning if he could continue full-time racing, Madsen slides into an established race car in fervent Pennsylvania Posse country. Not being able to return to Australia this winter to race and see family, also drives this new sense of gratitude.

“You don’t realize how much you miss it until you’re not doing it,” Madsen said. “I’m really excited to get started.”

Madsen takes over for Lucas Wolfe, who occupied Barshinger’s No. 24 from 2017 through ‘20 and will now race with Mark Coldren on the All Star Circuit of Champions tour.

Wolfe amassed 21 victories and two Pennsylvania Speedweek titles (2017 and ‘19) during his four-year tenure with Barshinger. All of those wins came in the first three years, though, as last year was a winless struggle for Barshinger’s No. 24 team.

Madsen also went without a 410 sprint car victory last season, but is optimistic that 2021 will bring better results. After all, he phoned Barshinger and was practically hired on the spot in mid-December for a reason.

First, Madsen has proven he’s one of the best qualifiers in the country. Last year, he timed in the top-five in 24 of his 65 races. Barshinger has also changed the mechanical makeup of the car, switching to RPM Chassis this season.

“I have good equipment,” Madsen said. “We’ll see how it goes. We’ll see how it pans out.”

As intriguing as the Madsen-Barshinger duo is, the two sides — driver and crew — will need time to get acclimated. While races like the Kings Royal at Eldora and Knoxville Nationals are on the team’s radar, on top of the busycentral Pennsylvania schedule, goals at this stage are compartmentalized.

“You only have short-term goals right now,” Madsen said. “Hopefully, we get together and everyone gets along, we click, and we can be fast and contend for wins. If that happens, you go from there.”

Madsen joins a Pennsylvania racing scene that’s had a recent shift in identity. Area standouts Lance Dewease, Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri and Freddie Rahmer return, but drivers such as Wolfe, Brent Marks, Brian Montieth and Brock Zearfoss have moved on. As well, Tim Shaffer returns to central Pennsylvania aboard Mike Heffner’s No. 72.

“I know I’m going to have to be on my A-game to do well,” Madsen said. “Traditionally, it’s been the toughest area. It still is.”

“[Posse fans] have always been super nice, super accommodating,” he added. “That part is going to be a lot of fun.”

Madsen lives in Knoxville, Iowa, and hasn’t yet relocated to Pennsylvania. The driver doesn’t mind the 15-hour commute, claiming “it’s not like I’m moving to the other side of the world.”

Like his living situation, Madsen is taking everything one step at a time. There is no set schedule, other than to race a lot in central Pennsylvania.

“Unfortunately, I’ve learned you can’t plan that far down the track,” Madsen said. “It’s all about getting with a bunch of guys who want to go racing. If it all clicks, then who knows. Who knows where it goes, you know what I mean?”

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series doubleheader weekend at Magnolia Motor Speedway and The Rev has been postponed due to extreme weather conditions and new dates will be announced this week.

Magnolia Motor Speedway, in Columbus, Miss., and The Rev, in Monroe, La., have experienced extreme winter weather, projected to continue throughout the weekend, forcing the postponement.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to racing Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27, for the Texas Two Step at Cotton Bowl Speedway.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Davis Fisher will have a new title sponsor for his No. 67 Indian FTR750 during this season’s Progressive American Flat Track Mission SuperTwins class.

Beaverton Motor Cycle Racing has signed on to be the primary partner as Fisher contests the 17-round Mission SuperTwins championship.

Bob Lanphere’s Beaverton Motorcycles opened in 1964, and BMC Racing has supported Fisher’s racing for 14 years. The Lanphere Auto Group owns a number of car and motorcycle dealerships throughout the Pacific Northwest.  BriggsAuto.com backed Fisher’s AFT SuperTwins program in 2020.

“When I received a phone call from Briggs Auto saying they were going to sit out this year,  I wasn’t sure if I would be able to put something together in time for the first round of the series, the March 12 Volusia Half-Mile at Volusia Speedway Park,” said Fisher.  “I am grateful that BMC Racing has stepped up its support. Bob’s dad owned the shop before Bob Jr. took it over. He has been involved in racing for many years. At one point, he supported 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp, as well as my dad, Rex.”

Fisher has high expectations since the Indian brand and the FTR750 model has captured the last four AFT crown. Fisher finished the 2020 AFT SuperTwins season eighth overall in the championship points standings, with seven top-10 placings. His best finishes were a pair of fifths at Illnois’ Springfield Mile on Sept. 5-6.

The 2021 Progressive AFT season kicks off with a Volusia (Fla.) Half-Mile doubleheader event at Volusia Speedway Park on March 12-13.

CONCORD, N.C. – Officials from the Ultimate Super Late Model Series and The Dirt Track at Charlotte have announced an all-late model card headlined by the Queen City 50 that will take place on June 19.

The Queen City 50 main event for super late models will pay $5,000-to-win. Also on the card is a $2,000-to-win event for the FASTRAK Crate Late Models and Limited/Steel Head Late Models and a $1,500-to-win feature for the 602 Late Model division. Details regarding those events are still being finalized.

The Queen City moniker pays homage to the historic events of the 70s and 80s which were held at Charlotte’s Metrolina Speedway.

“There was a lot of interest surrounding Metrolina after the recent production of the TV docu-series Lost Speedways, which is hosted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” said Ultimate Super Late Model Series Director Kelley Carlton. “That grabbed my interest, and I did some research about the track and events it used to hold. The Queen City name came up and I thought that would be a perfect fit for the identity of this event at Charlotte. The Dirt Track is obviously one of the nicest dirt racing venues anywhere in the country.”

The event will mark the first appearance of the southeast-based series at the four-tenths-mile dirt track located just down Bruton Smith Boulevard from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

More details regarding the schedule of the support events will be released as soon as they are finalized.

HARTSDALE, N.Y. – Michael d’Orlando and Indianapolis-based Cape Motorsports will continue their partnership in the Road to Indy’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

“We started this journey with Michael over a year ago and we’re extremely excited to have him back for our 2021 campaign,” said Dominic Cape, owner of Cape Motorsports. “Michael finished 4th in the 2020 Championship with one victory, five podiums and 10 top-five finishes. Michael will be one of the main contenders for the 2021 Championship, and as a team we will give him all the tools he needs to accomplish his goals.”

When the 2020 season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire season schedule was condensed into a four month time period with many races held at the same racing circuits.

The relationship and bond between driver and team grew strong quickly despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. Both parties agree that continuing the relationship this year will have the potential to be successful for both parties.

“I’m super excited to be back with Dom and Nick [Cape] and the entire team, for my second full year in the USF2000 championship,” said d’Orlando. “The amount I learned last year is impossible to put into words and I can’t wait to build on it this season. We were quick in the off season testing so I’m super excited to see what speed we can bring to all of the races this year. Together we have the ability to be fight for the championship.”

The Happy Gilmore drive? Happy Gilmore first accomplished that feat no more than 25 years ago today.

Yet, Adam Sandler, the actor who played Gilmore in the movie, decided to dust off the famous swing for the special anniversary.

We might add that that drive was absolutely pured.

Uh oh, Sandler learned how to drive...

Jordan Spieth has come close to winning the last two weeks on the PGA Tour. Is the third time the charm? In this Golf Central Podcast, senior writers Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner discuss if Riviera CC is the right spot for Spieth's breakthrough. They also weigh in on Daniel Berger's place among the elite crowd and talk about the loaded field at the Genesis Invitational.

LOS ANGELES – Playing this week at the Genesis Invitational on a sponsor exemption, Andy Ogletree was forced to withdraw from the event on Tuesday with a hip injury.

According to Ogletree’s manager, the former Georgia Tech standout's left hip started to hurt last week at Pebble Beach, where Ogletree missed the cut. Ogletree was hoping to feel healthy enough to play Riviera.

Ogletree was replaced in the field by another sponsor exemption, San Francisco senior Tim Widing, who lost in a playoff to Minnesota's Angus Flanagan on Monday in the Genesis Collegiate Showcase.

Ogletree won the 2019 U.S. Amateur and tied for 34^th in November to earn low-amateur honors at the Masters.

Pep Guardiola fears the March international break could play havoc with Manchester City's title bid if it brings with it a rise in cases of COVID-19.

City are in pole position in the Premier League table after a run of 16 straight wins in all competitions.

However, Guardiola is concerned the extra travel around international break scheduled between March 22 and March 31 could increase the risk of his players contracting coronavirus and lead to playing games with reduced numbers or fixtures being postponed.

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"The only way to be protected from this virus is to stay at home and don't move, and social distance, and have no contact and not travel," Guardiola told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Now people are going to travel and players are going to their national teams, it's difficult enough to control it, so I think something is going to rise, unfortunately.

"I would like to guess or say it's not going to happen, but from experience it has already happened in two or three waves worldwide. So if you move you take a risk to be contaminated again, to get the virus again.

"I think the Premier League should be concerned about this, all the leagues [should be] concerned."

City face Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday -- a game that should have been played in December after Guardiola's squad was hit by an outbreak of coronavirus.

After reaching the Carabao Cup final and the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, their schedule between now and the end of the season is already packed and the City boss says adding in more rearranged games does not bear thinking about.

"I try not to look [at the schedule] as I become depressed immediately," said Guardiola.

"There is many games, one more month and then international break is a bit of a relief for the managers, but for players to go to the national team it will be more difficult but it's better not to look. Look at the next game and that's it."

Liverpool capitalised from one of a number of errors from Dayot Upamecano to take a 2-0 first leg away lead over RB Leipzig in the Champions League round of 16 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in Budapest on Tuesday.

The match was moved to neutral Budapest as the rising coronavirus cases in the UK had prevented Liverpool from entering Germany.

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And perhaps the unfamiliar surroundings troubled Leipzig as Liverpool started far better and were unlucky not to be ahead before half-time.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been in terrible form domestically with three consecutive defeats in the Premier League but took a deserved lead on 53 minutes.

"It was the game we wanted, the game we needed," Klopp told reporters. "Leipzig can be a real monster, they overrun teams, they are really physical and tonight we controlled them in an exceptional way. We forced them to make mistakes. I am happy with the performance."

Leipzig centre-back Upamecano, who it was recently announced would join Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in the summer, had been guilty of some erratic passing in the first half and was caught out of position as Salah snuck in behind the defence to slot past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

Upamecano was at fault for the second goal five minutes later after a woefully timed challenge allowed Mane to run through and put Liverpool 2-0 ahead.

Leipzig had a chance to pull a late goal back but Hwang Hee-Chan put just wide when he went through on Alisson's goal.

The return leg is due to take place at Anfield on March 10, though that situation is under constant review due to the ongoing coronavirus situation in the UK.

"It was an important game for us, a tough game," Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said. "Keeping a clean sheet was important for us.

"We just want to keep going and keep fighting every time we play. There have been a lot of difficult situations throughout the season, but we've just got to take each game as it comes and take things one step at a time.

"A good win but it's only half the job done," he added.

The Germans, who came into the match on a four-game winning run in all competitions, were largely toothless in attack following the goals until Tyler Adam's miss in stoppage time.

"In the return leg we have to pick up where we left off. Then we will have chances," Marcel Sabitzer said, adding that Leipzig had played a good game apart from the two errors.

"We played a really good game and we got the result we deserved," Klopp added. "We defended really well and had good recovery. It was a tough game with only two days since the last one. "It's only the first leg, we know that but a lot of people were waiting for us to slip again," the German added.

"For two years we were really good and this year we have problems, that's fine. A lot of people expected us to slip again but the boys didn't."