NEW YORK -- With a lack of consensus after the first three picks, Thursday's NBA draft (7 p.m. ET on ESPN) comes with major questions surrounding potential trades throughout the first round.

Last weekend's Anthony Davis trade agreement between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers only added to those questions, with the Pelicans acquiring No. 4 overall and having significant interest in trade talks with teams about the pick, according to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Then on Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired the No. 23 overall pick in this year's draft in a deal that sent point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz, and initial reports suggested that pick could be on the move again.

Here's a rundown of some of the biggest things that could shake up the festivities inside Brooklyn's Barclays Center, starting with that fourth pick up for auction.

1. Who wants Darius Garland (or another prospect) at No. 4?

Zion Williamson to the Pelicans at No. 1, Ja Morant to the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 2 and RJ Barrett to the New York Knicks at No. 3 is beginning to look locked in. The Knicks brought in Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland for a workout on Wednesday, though could just be an act of due diligence. Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that the Knicks remain locked in on Barrett.

The draft really begins in earnest when the Pelicans are back on the clock at No. 4. New Orleans VP David Griffin has been fielding calls from teams looking to move up, with Garland looking like the prime target for teams hoping to get there.

One of the teams with the most assets in this year's draft, the Atlanta Hawks, is interested in swapping two of their picks -- Nos. 8 and 10 overall -- for the fourth selection, per a report by ESPN's Jonathan Givony, which also noted the Knicks shot down the same package for the No. 3 pick.

In addition to Atlanta, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls have also expressed interest in New Orleans' No. 4 pick.

As the draft has approached, it has widely been considered to drop off in talent after Barrett goes off the board. But Garland has intriguing upside, having played just five games last season at Vanderbilt before being shut down for the remainder of the season with an MCL injury -- and earning favorable comparisons to scoring point guards with shooting range like Damian Lillard and Trae Young by ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz.

If a team such as Minnesota, Boston or Chicago -- all three need point guard help -- gets the No. 4 pick, Garland would seemingly be the choice. But that doesn't mean Garland is an automatic selection there -- especially if the Hawks move up, since they already have a point guard of the future in Young. Virginia's De'Andre Hunter, Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver and UNC's Coby White also have garnered interest this high.

On the latest Woj Pod, Wojnarowski said the Pelicans are looking for an established player in exchange for the No. 4 pick, and hanging onto veteran guard Jrue Holiday indicates they want to remain competitive. If someone like Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal becomes truly available, using the No. 4 pick as the base of a deal to acquire him makes all the sense in the world for New Orleans.

Beal is both a game-changing talent and under contract for the next two seasons. Outside of a blockbuster Beal trade, it's tough to find a young player with star potential who is under contract and available. Remember, nearly half the league is about to enter free agency on June 30.

2. What if the teams with point guard needs strike out?

The Phoenix Suns (No. 6), Bulls (No. 7) and Wolves (No. 11) all have point guard needs which they could look to fill in the draft. One problem: There might not be enough reliable PG prospects in the lottery.

Both Morant and Garland are likely to be off the board before Phoenix's pick. If so, that makes Coby White (No. 8 in ESPN's top 100 draft rankings) the best available primary ball-handler. Virginia's Ty Jerome is the next PG in ESPN's rankings, but he's rated down at No. 25 -- a serious gap.

Drafting for need, rather than taking the best player available, is always risky business -- especially when it comes to teams that are rebuilding (they're in the lottery for a reason). But that doesn't stop teams from doing it, or from moving up to try to secure a position of need with a player they prefer.

So will one of these teams make a deal to go grab Garland or White? If both are off the board, do they consider moving back? This is something to keep an eye on -- and not just on draft night. If, say, Phoenix bypasses a point guard to grab a wing player, is that a sign they'll target a floor general in free agency?

3. What will the Hawks do with all of their picks?

Atlanta might be the most interesting team to watch on draft night. The Hawks hold picks Nos. 8, 10, 17, 35 and 41 (Atlanta's No. 44 pick was traded to the Miami Heat on Wednesday).

They certainly don't need to add five rookies to their roster. After general manager Travis Schlenk's successful draft a year ago, when the Hawks traded back for Young (No. 5) and hit on Kevin Huerter (No. 19), Atlanta feels confident it can find more contributors this time around.

Maybe they strike the right deal to move up for Garland or one of the wing players. They could trade back into future drafts, delaying all these young additions to the roster. There's also the possibility that Atlanta could package its picks for an established talent to augment its young core of Young, Huerter and big man John Collins -- though, like with New Orleans, finding the right fit there is challenging.

Last year's trade that saw Atlanta pass up on Luka Doncic to select Young and add a future first-round pick (now this year's No. 10 pick) was proof Schlenk has no problem making an against-the-grain transaction. It also serves as a reminder that the Hawks will be aggressive in making their best moves on draft night, regardless of outside perception.

4. What will the Celtics do with all of their picks?

A year ago, the Celtics looked to be better positioned than any team in the NBA to contend long term. Then Boston flamed out in five games against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs, Anthony Davis ended up with the Lakers, Kyrie Irving looks likely to leave in free agency and Al Horford is possibly joining him.

In short: Boston's future is now incredibly murky. The Celtics hold picks Nos. 14, 20, 22 and 51. Entering this week, the Celtics weren't expected to have an interest in carrying four rookies on their roster next season. But with Irving, Horford and Marcus Morris potentially out of the picture, Boston has six returning players age 25 or younger. They could look to pivot into a full youth movement.

If Boston chooses to do so, there certainly are players in the middle of the first round -- including Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke, Oregon center Bol Bol and Kentucky guard Tyler Herro -- who could help augment the team's current young core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

But given the history of Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who has never been afraid to make a deal, don't be surprised if the Celtics wind up shaking things up before draft night is through.

5. Will the contenders with roster constraints move up or down?

Making successful picks in the 20s or later in the draft is usually considered a bonus, not a necessity. It's hard enough to reliably find lottery talent that can help a team win. But there's added pressure on three teams -- the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets -- to pull off this difficult task on Thursday night.

Philly needs a better bench, and hitting on relatively cheap draft picks would be a great way to build that depth. The Sixers got immediate contributions from 2018's No. 26 Landry Shamet before shipping him out in the Tobias Harris trade at the February deadline. Now, as they contemplate spending well into the luxury tax to keep free agents Harris, Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick, they need to come away from draft night with at one or two potential rotation players for 2019-20.

They hold picks Nos. No. 24, 33, 34 and 42, which gives the Sixers a couple of paths to tread. In one, they could package some of those selections together to move up and get a specific guy they like. In another, they could use all four and get several bites at the apple to find another player or two like Shamet.

One thing that helps Philadelphia's decision-making: The roster is so thin behind the star-studded starting five that there's no need to worry about positional value. The Sixers just need to find guys who can step in and play.

Meanwhile, Golden State simply needs bodies. If Klay Thompson and/or Kevin Durant return, the Warriors will be over the cap with a team that was already thin this past season when both were healthy. Following injuries in the NBA Finals, they're likely to miss most or all of next season. With Shaun Livingston potentially retiring on top of that, the Warriors need to find low-cost options to fill out the rotation. Their selection at No. 28 takes on added importance now, whether they pick there or make a move.

Then there are the Nets, hoping to strike it rich in free agency with a pair of max contract stars after sending two first-round picks to the Hawks to dump Allen Crabbe's contracts earlier this month. Big spending like that necessitates finding cheap contributors on long-term deals to play around them -- something the Nets have had success with in recent years by selecting Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and Rodions Kurucs in the 20s and beyond.

The Nets will be hoping to strike gold again this year if they use their picks at Nos. 27 and 31, or package them for more desirable pieces.

CHICAGO -- Add Cubs manager Joe Maddon to the list of people wondering what's going on with the baseball this season. On an unusually chilly June night at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, the Cubs and White Sox combined to hit five home runs in the first four innings of the game.

Several of them had Maddon thinking about aliens.

"I don't know what I'm witnessing, but the way the ball is coming off the bat right now is extraterrestrial," Maddon said after the Cubs' 7-3 win. "It's an E.T. thing going on out there. It's crazy. This is my fifth year [with the Cubs], and I know what I've seen. Whenever the wind is blowing in like that, you don't see that. You don't see that."

A light rain combined with that wind and cooler temperatures should have added to a pitchers' night, but it was not meant to be. White Sox center fielder Leury Garcia led off the game with a first-pitch home run off Cubs starter Jon Lester, beginning the mini home run derby in the early innings.

"We can sit here and talk until we are blue in the face about the ball," Lester said. "It is what it is. Every pitcher in the big leagues has to pitch with it. You can comment on it all you want, but it just sounds like an excuse. I don't make excuses. Have to make better pitches."

It didn't take long for the Cubs to join in the long ball fun. Catcher Willson Contreras smacked a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning, then hit a solo shot two innings later. David Bote also went deep for the Cubs, as did White Sox backstop James McCann.

"It took off," Maddon said of the McCann home run. "You could see it from the field. It gets there [to the outfield] like a UFO. It just took off. It stood still, then took off."

Following a power drought in 2018, the Cubs are on pace to shatter records, like many other teams in baseball. After Contreras belted his second of the night, the Cubs became the only team in baseball to employ five players with at least 15 home runs. No other team has more than three. They've blasted 114 home runs already this season, after hitting just 167 last year.

As Maddon said, while shaking his head and though with a smile, "Wind blowing in, at a gale, balls flying out -- easily."

WASHINGTON -- With a broken nose, pronounced black eye and seven shutout innings, Max Scherzer provided a striking capper to the Washington Nationals' day-night doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Scherzer himself? He shrugged off his work in the Nationals' 2-0 victory Wednesday night as business as usual.

"Trust me, this thing looks a lot worse than it actually is," Scherzer said. "I felt zero pain. There's been plenty of other injuries where I felt a lot of pain and I've had to pitch through. I'll hang my hat on those starts, but tonight I felt zero pain. This is part of what you have to do. You take the ball every fifth time.

"That's my responsibility to the team, to make sure I always post, and I knew I could post tonight."

Brian Dozier and Victor Robles hit solo homers to support Scherzer (6-5) as Washington won for the 16th time in 23 games. Philadelphia has dropped seven of its past nine and 12 of 18.

In the first game, Patrick Corbin struck out eight while allowing one run over seven innings as the Nationals earned a 6-2 victory in the delayed series opener after the teams were rained out Monday and Tuesday.

Scherzer bunted a ball off his face during Tuesday's batting practice, but it didn't stop him from making his scheduled start. His injury might have provided an extra layer of intimidation in the form of a black eye more worthy of a boxing ring than a baseball diamond.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner sported a pronounced bruise arcing beneath his right eye, adding another hue to a glare that already featured one blue eye and one brown eye.

"Going out there and throwing, the only thing I had to deal with was the swelling underneath the eye," Scherzer said. "It was kind of jiggling around, and so in warm-ups I just had to get used to knowing what it was feeling like to throw the ball and just have that swelling."

While he wasn't at his most efficient on a humid night, piling up 117 pitches, Scherzer was rarely threatened. He struck out 10, yielded only four hits and permitted just two runners to reach scoring position. And he finished strong, striking out three in a row after Cesar Hernandez led off the seventh with a double.

"It really is one of the most impressive things I've seen in a while," Dozier said. "He's probably the best pitcher in our generation, and you don't get that status unless you take the ball every fifth day -- no matter if you're doing good, doing bad, you got a broken nose. You always want the ball."

Bryce Harper, Scherzer's former Nationals teammate, was 0-for-4 with four walks in the doubleheader and was loudly booed before each plate appearance -- especially in the better-attended nightcap. This series is his second trip back to Washington, where he played from 2012 to 2018, since signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia in March.

Dozier belted a two-out solo shot in the second off Jake Arrieta (6-6), who allowed two hits and struck out three over six innings and had the misfortune of matching up with Scherzer on the wrong day.

"Max is just one of the best to ever toe the rubber, honestly," Arietta said. "We have ran into him a couple of times. That's just what he does. He is tough to square up, and he is throwing three or four pitches for strikes with electric stuff. Just a tough one."

Robles homered off reliever Pat Neshek in the eighth. Neshek departed two batters later with a left hamstring strain, and manager Gabe Kapler said he was likely to land on the injured list less than a week after returning from an absence of more than three weeks caused by a shoulder strain.

Wander Suero pitched a perfect eighth for Washington, and Sean Doolittle worked the ninth for his 15th save in 18 tries.

Philadelphia was 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position between the two games.

Corbin (6-5), whose start was pushed back twice this week, allowed a solo homer to Scott Kingery in the first inning of the opener. But he let just one other runner to reach third while ending a personal three-game skid.

"It's not ideal, but you have to deal with it to make sure you are ready," said Corbin, who is one strikeout shy of 1,000 for his career. "I was glad we got that one in today."

Dozier and Gerardo Parra had RBI doubles against Phillies starter Zach Eflin (6-7). They later hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning off Cole Irvin to seal the victory.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: C J.T. Realmuto (groin) started the opening game and went 0-for-4, then struck out as a pinch hitter in the second contest in his first action since Saturday. ... OF Jay Bruce (left hamstring), who had not played since Saturday, started the second game in left and was 1-for-4. ... LHP Adam Morgan (forearm strain) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehabilitation appearance Wednesday for Double-A Reading.

Nationals: C Kurt Suzuki, who left Sunday's game with a neck injury, started the second game and went 0-for-3.

PARRA'S SHARK ATTACK

Parra debuted an eyebrow-raising walk-up music selection: "Baby Shark," a popular children's song. Parra was in an 0 for 22 slump entering the day, but he was 2-for-4 in the opener.

"I wanted to put in something different," Parra said. "My [2-year-old] daughter knows that song. ... I said, 'You know what, I am going to put in 'Baby Shark.'"

26TH MEN

Philadelphia recalled LHP Ranger Suarez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley as its 26th man for the doubleheader. Suarez allowed four earned runs in four innings on June 10 in his only other appearance for the Phillies this season. ... Washington summoned RHP Austin Voth from Triple-A Fresno. Voth, who is 3-5 with a 4.99 ERA this season, pitched in four games for the Nationals last season.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.89) is scheduled to start against the Nationals on Thursday. Nola is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts this month.

Nationals: Washington changed its pitching plans for the series finale. RHP Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.68) will now start Thursday, bumping RHP Stephen Strasburg to Friday against the Atlanta Braves.

In mid-May, just after most students had left campus, the Michigan baseball team had work to do.

The Wolverines had lost five of their past six and were by no means shoo-ins to make the NCAA tournament. They needed a strong performance at the Big Ten tournament in Omaha, Nebraska, and maybe a little luck.

Who would've thought that a month later Michigan would be one game away from the College World Series finals?

Probably not many college baseball fans. Now that we're nine games in, we decided to reseed the remaining field based off the first half of the CWS.

1. Vanderbilt Commodores (Original seed: No. 2; Reseed: No. 1)

Marlins draft pick JJ Bleday, the No. 4 overall pick in the MLB draft, is as good as advertised. Wednesday, he went 3-for-4 in a huge win over Mississippi State, and he wasn't even the biggest star of the game. If Stephen Scott keeps hitting homers -- he had two of them Wednesday -- and Kumar Rocker and Drake Fellows keep making bats miss, Vandy is going to be in Omaha for a long time.

The Vandy whistler, who has seen his share of games, even went out on a limb Wednesday and said this team is better than the 2014 national championship squad.

Odds to win CWS (from Caesars Sportsbook): -180

2. Michigan Wolverines (Original seed: Unranked; Reseed: 2)

This might be the most obvious assessment of the past five days, but Michigan's pitching staff is good.

In the Wolverines' opening win over Texas Tech, Karl Kauffmann, a second-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies earlier this month, turned in a solid seven innings.

Then in their next game, Tommy Henry's three-hitter against Florida State was so impressive that coach Erik Bakich couldn't even muster up the right adjectives to describe it. Henry struck out 10 and walked none.

Odds to win CWS (from Caesars Sportsbook): +275

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Original seed: 6; Reseed: 3)

They sure are persistent. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday, the Bulldogs clawed back to stomp on Auburn's hearts. So what if a throwing error helped decide it?

On Wednesday against a tough Vanderbilt team, MSU's rally from a six-run deficit ultimately fell short. But we've learned one thing -- never count Mississippi State out.

Odds to win CWS (from Caesars Sportsbook): 7-1

4. Louisville Cardinals (Original seed: 7; Reseed: 4)

Nos. 3 and 4 are a toss-up. But take away a late two-run homer in their CWS opener against Vandy, and maybe the Cardinals are in the winners bracket and the driver's seat.

They looked strong Wednesday in their 5-3 win over Auburn, and will need to keep their bats hot to avoid elimination Thursday vs. Mississippi State.

Odds to win CWS (from Caesars Sportsbook): 20-1

5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Original seed: 8; Reseed: 5)

Thirty-four of the past 38 national champions have won their CWS opener. The Red Raiders will have to beat Michigan twice to get to the finals.

They've now won two straight -- sending Arkansas and Florida State home -- and have played well with their backs against the wall following their CWS opening-game loss.

Odds to win CWS (from Caesars Sportsbook): 12-1

ESPN editor Rachel Marcus contributed to this story.

Aussies aim for clean sweep in Gold Coast
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

Host nation Australia will head into the knockout stage of the WSF World Doubles Squash Championships at the Carrara Squash Centre as gold medal favourites after the top seeds charged into all semi-finals.

In the mixed doubles competition, reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallists Donna Lobban and Cameron Pilley cruised through the pool phase to finish undefeated.

The cousins from Yamba in New South Wales (pictured in action above) defeated fellow Australian’s Christine Nunn and Ethan Eyles 11-4 11-5 to top pool A. Nunn and Eyles, who are teaming for the first time, will also progress to the semi-finals where they’ll face a tough matchup against Colombian pairing Catalina Pelaez and Matias Knudsen.

The second-seeded Colombians have impressed throughout the tournament, finishing undefeated at the top of Pool B. 17-year-old South Australian Alex Haydon will also feature in the semi-finals alongside partner Zac Alexander, with the duo finishing second in the pool (only losing to Colombia).

Pilley is also chasing gold in the men’s draw, where he is again yet to be beaten, this time with partner Ryan Cuskelly. The pair from New South Wales, who are defending champions in the event, defeated Australian siblings Nick and Tom Calvert to lock up top spot in Pool A.

“It was a pretty good match, it was tight early but as experienced campaigners we managed to get our way through and we’re happy to be through to the semis,” Cuskelly said.

The Calvert brothers faced a morning matchup against South Africa’s Jean-Pierre Brits and Christo Potgieter which effectively decided the other semi-finalist from the pool.

The gritty South Africans prevailed 11-1 11-4 to finish second behind Pilley and Cuskelly. The South African pair have self-funded their trip and have provided some of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far.

Brits and Potgieter will have to overcome the second seed Australian pairing of Zac Alexander (pictured right) and Rex Hedrick, who also cruised through their pool undefeated. Colombian pair Andrés Herrera and Juan Camilo Vargas will also progress to the semi-finals.

“We are excited to have made the semis and it was great to play against Zac and Rex and I think we played ok,” said Vargas.

“Tomorrow will be a good match against Pilley and Cuskelly and we’ll give it everything.”

In the women’s round robin competition, Australia are on track to claim both gold and silver with Donna Lobban/Christine Nunn (top) and Sarah Cardwell/Jessica Turnbull (second) topping the pool. Colombian sisters Maria and Laura Tovar continue to sit in the bronze medal position and will face the second placed Australians on day four.

WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, Gold Coast, Australia.

Third Pool round:
Men’s Pool A:
[5] Jean-Pierre Brits & Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt [4] Nicholas Calvert & Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-1, 11-4 (23m)
[9] Robert Garcia & David Pelino (PHI) bt [8] Madison Eggert & Thomas King (CAN) 11-7, 11-10 (29m)
[1] Ryan Cuskelly & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [4] Nicholas Calvert & Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-5, 11-4 (15m)
[5] Jean-Pierre Brits & Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt [8] Madison Eggert & Thomas King (CAN) 11-5, 11-8 (16m)
Pool B:
[3] Andrés Herrera & Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt [6] Darren Chan & Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (38m)
[7] Bradley Hindle & Kijan Sultana (MLT) bt [10] Ravindu Laksiri & Shamil Wakeel (SRI) 11-8, 11-8 (19m)
[2] Zac Alexander & Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [3] Andrés Herrera & Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 11-8, 11-6 (36m)
[6] Darren Chan & Bryan Lim Tze Kang (MAS) bt [7] Bradley Hindle & Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-7, 11-10 (13m)

Women’s Pool:
[2] Sarah Cardwell & Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [4] Taylor Flavell & Selena Shaikh (AUS) 11-7, 11-9 (20m)
[1] Donna Lobban & Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [5] Jemyca Aribado & Aysah Dalida (PHI) 11-7, 11-3 (19m)

Mixed Pool A:
[1] Donna Lobban & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [4] Christine Nunn & Ethan Eyles (AUS) 11-4, 11-5 (11m)
Pool B:
[2] Catalina Pelaez & Matias Knudsen (COL) bt [7] Aysah Dalida & Reymark Begornia (PHI) 11-3, 11-9 (19m)
[3] Alex Haydon & Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [6] Colette Sultana & Kijan Sultana (MLT) 11-5, 11-7 (12m)

Pictures courtesy of CRAIG STEWART, Brisbane Sports Photography

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – FOX Sports NASCAR analyst Regan Smith is temporarily trading in his microphone for the familiarity of a steering wheel this summer.

Smith broke the news on NASCAR Race Hub and JR Motorsports later confirmed that he’ll return to his former team to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet in NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Aug. 10) and Road America (Aug. 24).

Smith will also reunite with long-time partner Fire Alarm Services for the events.

It marks the 35-year-old Smith’s first Xfinity Series start in two years and his first for JRM since 2016. The Cato, N.Y. native started his JRM career in a memorable way in 2012, winning in his team debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Smith moved into a full-time role for the organization from 2013-2015, a highly successful three-year stint that produced five wins – including one at Mid-Ohio – 26 top fives and 71 top 10s, along with a Most Popular Driver Award.

His best points finish, a second-place effort in the 2014 Xfinity Series championship, crowned JRM the first team in 14 years to claim first and second in the series standings.

“I can’t tell you how pumped I am for this,” Smith said. “Dale, Kelley and everyone at JRM have been like family to me, so in a way, it feels like I’m coming home. I have great memories of the years I spent there and the success we had during that time. And to have Fire Alarm on board for these races makes it all the more meaningful. They’ve been both friends and supporters of mine for a long time.”

Smith’s No. 8 Fire Alarm Services entry will be nearly identical to the neon green and flat black paint scheme he carried to victory with JRM in 2015 at Dover Int’l Speedway.

With headquarters in Arvada, Colo., Fire Alarm Services, Inc. provides superior Fire Life Safety and Security services and products for protecting its clients’ real-estate investment. The company brings a fresh and innovative approach to the Fire Life Safety industry, with an emphasis on developing lasting client relationships and unmatched customer service.

“Regan is a great friend, and he means so much to our company,” said team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “He won a lot of races here, but for me his significance was no more evident than in his very first race for JRM at the end of 2012. That win at Homestead was enormous. It ended a winless streak for JR Motorsports that had dragged us down for more than two years. It was a tone-setter. It gave us momentum that, to be honest, I’m not sure we’ve ever lost.

“That’s what Regan means to this company, and that’s why I’m thrilled to have him back for these two races at Mid-Ohio and Road America.”

Smith is the ninth driver named to the No. 8 this season. The team, led by crew chief Taylor Moyer, is currently ranked 10th in owner points on the strength of four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

TULSA, Okla. – Good news for Oklahoma race fans was confirmed on Wednesday evening: the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Announced on the lower level of the River Spirit Expo Center, where the premier midget-car race is annually held, the Chili Bowl will remain at the quarter-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway through 2034.

The agreement marks an 11-year extension on top of the current deal, which ran for another four years.

“What a great day for the city of Tulsa and for our state,” said Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “The Chili Bowl has evolved into one of the country’s biggest auto races, as well as the biggest indoor event in the country. It marks economic development, through and through, for our region. This extension is not just good for our city and state, but for racing fans across the globe, as we solidify this event for decades to come.

“The Chili Bowl illustrates partnerships, improves tourism and aids in quality of life in Oklahoma, and we’re excited to make this announcement official.”

Chili Bowl co-founder Emmett Hahn called Wednesday’s press conference “a landmark moment” for the event that he and Lanny Edwards started in 1987.

“First and foremost, I wish my business partner (Edwards) was here,” noted Hahn. “He would be so proud of this moment. … We’ve had the who’s who in racing and plenty of local talent come to the Chili Bowl for years, and we’ve had a lot of great people backing this event for a long time. It’s an honor to be here and an honor to keep the Chili Bowl at home here in Oklahoma.

“This deal is a win-win, both for the city and county and for old Emmett Hahn.”

Oklahoma native Holley Hollan, who raced in her second Chili Bowl this past January and first with the powerhouse Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports organization, was among the other notable names in attendance for Wednesday’s announcement.

“It’s amazing to see Emmett and the Hahn family getting the recognition they deserve,” said Hollan. “They’ve worked countless hours to give drivers like myself an opportunity to race on the biggest stage in dirt racing. I couldn’t have imagined it when I was five years old and it’s incredible to think where it will be 15 years from now. I look forward to being here to support this event for years to come.”

Christopher Bell won this year’s Chili Bowl, his third-straight victory in the crown jewel event.

LAS VEGAS -- The Arizona Coyotes will have a new majority owner in Alex Meruelo, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hopes Meruelo can be the person to find a long-term arena solution and keep the team in Arizona.

Meruelo will take over for Andrew Barroway, who became the Coyotes' majority owner in 2014. Barroway will still keep a minority stake in the team. The transaction was unanimously approved by the NHL's Board of Governors at their meeting on Wednesday in Las Vegas, but the deal is expected to close sometime in July, according to Bettman.

"He's committed to trying to get a new arena in the right location, and making it work," Bettman said of Meruelo. "He's a person of substantial means and he's very good -- when you look at his career -- in turning around businesses and making them successful. So I think this is an extraordinarily positive step for the Coyotes and their fans in Arizona."

The NHL has a standard agreement that prevents new owners from applying for relocation for seven years after they take over. When asked if this applies to Meruelo, Bettman said: "Yes, for a period of time. But we also understand the importance of a new arena. Because Glendale is not viable long-term."

The Coyotes have played at Gila Arena in Glendale since 2003, but have been looking for a new home that is closer to their fan base for the past several years. The team's relationship with Glendale has long been fractured, and the Coyotes regularly finish close to last in NHL attendance.

"There's a hope that [Meruelo] can crack that code," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "That's part of what made him an attractive potential owner."

Meruelo, 55, is the son of Cuban immigrants. He will become the NHL's only majority Latino owner. Meruelo has several business ventures that include real estate, construction and banks as well as TV and radio stations. He had previously put in a bid to buy the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, but was not successful.

In a statement, the Coyotes called the board's approval a "major milestone" for the franchise.

"As we move forward, our team will do everything we can to continue building the positive momentum and progress we have achieved on and off the ice," the team said in a statement. "We are determined to make this summer a success as we head into the 2019-20 season. We will keep Our Pack updated on further milestones in this process."

The NHL reiterated that it is optimistic that the team can stay in Arizona. The Coyotes will move from the Pacific Division to the Central Division when the league expands to 32 teams with the addition of Seattle.

"A combination of circumstances conspired against that club for a long time now," Daly said. "We've never seemed to hit it at the right time. We're hoping that the circumstances are better and obviously Mr. Meruelo comes in and -- I know he's motivated by the market -- makes it work."

LAS VEGAS -- Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

The Russian right wing won the award for the first time after his prolific 128-point regular season. He beat out two-time MVP Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh and 2017 Hart winner Connor McDavid.

Kucherov, who turned 26 on Monday, also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's outstanding player as selected by his fellow players.

A year after scoring 100 points, Kucherov emerged as a dominant NHL forward for the powerhouse Lightning. He won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in scoring with a career-best 41 goals and 87 assists.

He tied Jaromir Jagr's NHL record for assists by a wing, and he surpassed Alexander Mogilny's single-season record for points by a Russian-born player. His 128 points were the most by any NHL player since 1996 -- and the Lightning coincidentally also had 128 points in the standings, also the most by any team since 1996.

Earlier in the night, Lightning teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy took home his first Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie.

Vasilevskiy beat out Dallas' Ben Bishop and the New York Islanders' Robin Lehner, who also won the Masterton Trophy.

Vasilevskiy led the NHL with 39 victories for the powerhouse Lightning, who took the Presidents' Trophy with 128 points. The Russian goalie had a 2.40 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in 53 games.

Vasilevskiy is the first Lightning goalie to win the Vezina.

Canucks center Elias Pettersson opened the NHL Awards show by winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie.

The 20-year-old Pettersson beat out St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington and Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin for the award. Pettersson joins Pavel Bure (1992) as the only Calder winners in Canucks history.

Pettersson provided an offensive jolt to the Canucks in his first North American season, scoring a goal on his first NHL shot and seamlessly adapting to the world's best league. One year after Vancouver drafted him with the fifth overall pick in 2017, Pettersson posted a rookie-best 28 goals and 38 assists as a tremendous playmaker with a wicked shot.

Pettersson is the 31st player in NHL history to lead all rookies in goals, assists and points.

Calgary's Mark Giordano won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman.

The 35-year-old Giordano was awarded the Norris for the first time in a 13-year NHL career spent entirely with the Flames. Giordano beat out two vaunted finalists: San Jose's Brent Burns, who won it in 2017, and Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman, who won it last year.

The Calgary captain was instrumental in the Flames' breakthrough season, leading the NHL with a plus-39 rating while regularly playing against opponents' best lines. Giordano also scored a career-best 74 points and played more than 24 minutes per game.

Giordano is the fourth defenseman to win the Norris at 35 or older, joining Nicklas Lidstrom, Doug Harvey and Al MacInnis.

Ryan O'Reilly of the Stanley Cup champion Blues won his first Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward.

O'Reilly beat out Boston's Patrice Bergeron, a four-time Selke winner and a finalist for the eighth consecutive year, and Vegas' Mark Stone.

O'Reilly was the Blues' top scorer with 77 points, including 28 goals in his first season in St. Louis. He also compiled a plus-22 rating and finished fourth in the NHL with 94 takeaways while winning an NHL-best 1,086 faceoffs during the Blues' remarkable season.

The Islanders' Barry Trotz won the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach.

Trotz beat out Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper and St. Louis' Craig Berube for the honor, which is based on regular-season performance. Trotz also won the award with Washington three years ago.

After winning the Stanley Cup and subsequently leaving the Capitals last summer, Trotz engineered an impressive one-season turnaround for the Islanders. New York went 48-27-7 for a 23-point increase from 2018 and its best single-season total since 1983-84, even after losing John Tavares to Toronto.

Boston's Don Sweeney was named the NHL's General Manager of the Year, and Florida center Alexander Barkov won the Lady Byng Trophy as the player best combining sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability.

Sweeney has built a consistent winner since the longtime Bruins defenseman took over the front office in 2015. Boston reached the Stanley Cup Final this season, losing in seven games to St. Louis.

Barkov scored a franchise-record 96 points for the Panthers, yet he committed just four minor penalties while playing more than 22 minutes per game. The Finn was a Lady Byng finalist for the third time in four seasons.

Barkov drew a few laughs when he apparently heard a few shouts in Finnish as he took the stage to accept his trophy.

"We have more fans from Finland than Florida here,'' Barkov said.

The other Lady Byng finalists were O'Reilly and Calgary's Sean Monahan.

Wild forward Jason Zucker won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions to hockey. Zucker, who is from Las Vegas, has done extensive fundraising for children's causes in Minnesota.

Lehner was awarded the Masterton Trophy, given to the player exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Lehner had an outstanding season after revealing during training camp that he has struggled with addiction and bipolar disorder. He is the third player in Islanders history to win the award.

"I'm not ashamed to say I'm mentally ill, but that doesn't mean mentally weak,'' Lehner said after accepting his award.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.