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Swiatek stunned by Andreeva, 17, in Dubai quarters
World number two Iga Swiatek is out of the Dubai Tennis Championships after a shock 6-3 6-3 quarter-final defeat by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
The Russian teenager is the youngest-ever player to reach the last four of the tournament.
She was 3-1 down in the second set before reeling off five games in a row to beat Poland's Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, in one hour 36 minutes.
Andreeva set up a tie against either Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina or the United States' Sofia Kenin later on Thursday.
"Honestly, I was really nervous before the match and we played in Cincinnati last year [which Swiatek won] and it was pretty intense," Andreeva said.
"So I just told myself that I played great and I just need to continue to play aggressive and go for my shots.
"It was also not easy with all the fans [supporting Swiatek] but I think we were even. I had a lot of people supporting me."
Victory means the Russian has now beaten both of the world's top two ranked players in the past 12 months, having defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in last year's French Open quarter-finals.
The teenager becomes the youngest player since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007 to win five matches against players ranked in the top 10.
Man who 'exhibited fixated behaviour' to Raducanu given restraining order
A man who "exhibited fixated behaviour" towards British tennis player Emma Raducanu was detained and given a restraining order, Dubai Police said.
An clearly upset Raducanu was seen hiding behind the umpire's chair two games into a second-round defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
Raducanu, 22, had spotted the man in the first few rows of the stand during her match against Karolina Muchova.
Raducanu was approached by the same man, who gave her a letter and took a photograph, in a public area close to the tournament on Monday.
Dubai police said the man was detained before Raducanu decided not to press charges.
"Following Raducanu's complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress," Dubai police said.
"While Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments."
Wales debut for Mee as Anscombe & Llewellyn return
Sherratt outlined why he had changed more than half the side.
"There are numerous reasons," said Sherratt.
"There were a couple of little injury doubts and then probably just in general, my mindset coming in was just to make sure I enjoy it and try to do things my way, with the way I think the game should be played.
"Some of the selections are geared towards that. It was important to pick a team that had some familiarity.
"I don't feel playing Ireland is a time to experiment, so just having those combinations together, who have got relationships and can talk to each other on the field and pick up each other's habits, is important."
Sherratt stated the return of Gloucester duo Anscombe and Llewellyn would compensate for the loss of experienced injured pair Liam Williams and Owen Watkin.
"I felt we needed some players who have relationships with each other and play with each other every week," said Sherratt.
"I've coached Gareth and Max so they know my style of play. That was an advantage.
"Gareth is very good at driving the week. With Tomos (Williams) and Gareth, I've got relationships with them and knew they'd grab what I was trying to do and spread it through the team. It's just that familiarity."
On the other end of the scale Sherratt was not afraid to blood Mee.
"He's looked brilliant this week," said Sherratt.
"I'm sure his family are proud of him and to see his face after selection was part of the reason you coach."
Scotland's Russell fit to face England but Graham out
Tom English, BBC Sport Scotland's chief sports writer
Sir Clive Woodward gave the Scottish forwards a blast in his newspaper column on Thursday, a withering assessment of their lack of power and how England's supposed monsters up front are going to take them to the cleaners. We shall see.
This ought to be grist to the mill of the Scottish pack. Ritchie is back in for his breakdown prowess. Scotland have been beaten on the floor in this championship and England's back-row could do it again if Scotland don't make massive improvements.
On his best days, Ritchie is belligerence personified. Saturday needs to be one of his better ones.
Fagerson being dropped from the back row is not a surprise. He has not hit fever pitch yet. Not even close. Maybe he'll find the fire off the bench.
Russell has been at the heart of Scotland's four in a row against England and it's a relief that he's made it through his concussion protocols.
He's not been himself so far in the Six Nations. Time for the genius to reappear.
Graham was always fighting an uphill battle to recover, but Rowe is a stellar replacement. He doesn't posses the game-breaking wonders of Graham, but he's a reliable and intelligent footballer.
Some thought that Gregor Brown would start this one given the lack of dynamism from the second-row against Ireland. That's still a worry in this team.
Not enough go-forward men up front. However, Pierre Schoeman's return does add some ball-carrying grunt.
From more than one source this week we've heard the Scottish forwards being all but written off. There's only one way to answer that.
Lock George Martin has been ruled out of England's Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday with Bath flanker Ted Hill replacing him on the bench.
Martin, 23, started England's win over France in round two, but was named as a replacement against Gregor Townsend's side - initially the only change made by head coach Steve Borthwick as Ollie Chessum came into the second row.
Despite being named in the matchday squad on Tuesday, England confirmed Leicester Tigers' Martin has failed to overcome a reported knee issue sustained against Les Blues.
In-form Bath flanker Hill, 25, has made two appearances for England and was last capped by former head coach Eddie Jones in 2021 against the United States.
Given Hill plays in the back row, the loss of Martin puts pressure on Chessum, who is making his first England start in nearly a year, as England do not have a specialist lock on the bench - although Hill has on occasion played in the second row.
England have lost their past four matches against Scotland and are looking to keep alive their title hopes, with Townsend's side also in need of a win after a disappointing defeat by Ireland in round two.
Hurricane Montgomery Set For Dave Steel Championship
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. A Hurricane is confirmed to hit Showtime Speedway Saturday night during the winged portion of the Dave Steele World Sprint Car Championship.
Jeff The Hurricane Montgomery will be competing for the first time in the state of Florida.
Montgomery comes to the state of Florida to compete in next weekends Childrens Dream Fund event at Citrus County Speedway all the way from Langford Station, B.C. That is approximately 3,300 miles each way or 51 hours of drive time each way.
We decided last fall we were gonna do the Childrens Dream Fund event this year, explained Montgomery. I sat down with my car owners Rob and Lee Leighton and we talked about it. The money at the Childrens Dream Fund is pretty good since theyre paying $10,000 to win each night. We decided to go a week early so we could also run the Showtime wing races and use that race to do some testing.
Montgomery has never been to Showtime Speedway.
The tracks down there are pretty much what we run on back home. They are mostly smaller quarter mile tracks. Ive been watching a lot of online videos of sprint car races from Showtime and Citrus County. Thank God for YouTube, said Montgomery with a laugh.
Montgomery may not be a name familiar to Florida fans, but hes very accomplished in his neck of the woods. He is a six-time winner of the Daffodil Cup, the biggest winged pavement sprint car race on the Canadian West Coast.
The Hurricane is a nickname he picked up nearly 25 years ago.
When I started racing about 2001, the Western Speedway announcer started calling me The Hurricane, and it just stuck. The same announcer nicknamed my brother The Tornado. Theyve called me that ever since.
Montgomery is highly confident he can make some noise at Showtime Speedway and Citrus County Speedway the next two weekends.
If I didnt feel like I had a chance to win, I wouldnt go, added Montgomery.
The sixth annual Dave Steele World Sprint Car Championship kicks off this Friday night with a 100-lap non-wing sprint car race that will pay $7,500 to win.
The following night will see the wings return with twin 35-lap feature events paying $2,500 to win each feature.
CONCORD, N.C. Kubota Tractor Corporation and Trackhouse Racing announced that Kubotas familiar black and orange paint scheme will appear on the teams Chevrolets through the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Kubota will also continue as the Official Tractor Company of Trackhouse Racing as it has since 2022.
Its awesome to continue an authentic partnership with a world-renowned brand like Kubota, said No. 1 Chevrolet driver Ross Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer. Kubotas support of Trackhouse Racing and agriculture means the world to me, and I hope to get them back to victory lane this year.
Chastain piloted the No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet six times in 2024 and secured three top-five and five top-10 finishes, including his victory at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on Sept. 29.
Chastains Trackhouse Racing teammate Daniel Suárez will race the Kubota paint scheme at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on May 4.
Its great to have a brand like Kubota supporting our race team, said Suárez, who earned his second Cup Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February 2024. I think their continued partnership says a lot about them and Trackhouse Racing and how to build a successful relationship.
As part of the partnership extension, Kubota will serve as the primary sponsor when Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen drives JR Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet in the Aug. 9 Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
The New Zealander is competing in the Cup Series in 2025 as a rookie after winning three Xfinity races in 2024.
Im an outdoorsy guy and its great to be connected with a brand like Kubota, said Van Gisbergen who plans to run at least three more Xfinity races in 2025. Ive already put their equipment to use building out a racetrack at my house, so the timing has been perfect. Im looking forward to driving the Kubota car in the Xfinity race at Watkins Glen and going for the win.
For the third consecutive year, Kubota and Trackhouse Racing are putting the partnership in overdrive to support farmer veterans. In the races Kubota is serving as the primary sponsor of Chastains No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet, a $10,000 donation will be made to the Farmer Veteran Coalition for a top-10 finish.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is a national nonprofit organization that assists military veterans and currently serving members of the Armed Forces to transition into careers in farming, and since 2015, Kubota has partnered with FVC on the Geared to Give program which has provided more than $1 million to the coalition in the form of organizational support, grants to veterans and 46 pieces of donated equipment.
Chastains top-10s throughout the last two seasons have generated a total of $70,000 in donations.
Caymus Vineyards Continues Support Of Haas & Custer
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. Iconic wine producer Caymus Vineyards will sponsor the Haas Factory Team in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The family-owned and operated winery will feature Bonanza, its heralded California Cabernet Sauvignon, on the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse of Haas Factory Team driver Cole Custer.
The 2025 season marks Caymus Vineyards 12th year of NASCAR involvement and its third with the Haas Factory Team organization.
In 2024, the Napa-based winery celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a special primary livery at the Sonoma Raceway event in June, while later adorning the No. 41 Ford Mustang with its eye-catching Bonanza Cabernet primary paint scheme at Las Vegas and Homestead in October.
Bonanza Cabernet was created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, with the wines name inspired by the bonanza of the great state of California, home to diverse vineyard land where delicious Cabernet can be produced.
Were proud to partner with Haas Factory Team, and were excited to have Bonanza Cabernet ride along with 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer as he makes his return to the Cup Series, said Karen Perry, Executive Vice President of Caymus Vineyards. Gene Haas has his own heralded track record, and his ongoing commitment to putting quality race teams on the track in both Formula One and NASCAR makes him a great partner for our winery. What excites us most is the pursuit of excellence whether in winemaking or on the track. We look forward to continuing to engage racings most passionate fanbase with Bonanza Cabernet.
Since initially connecting in 2023, Caymus Vineyards has expanded its role with the Haas Factory Team organization. In 2025, the winery will continue to have a prominent presence, featuring Bonanza Cabernet on the lower rear quarter panel of the No. 41 Ford Mustang and branding on the drivers firesuit.
Additionally, the Bonanza Cabernet primary livery will be featured at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on March 2 and at the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12.
Caymus Vineyards and the Wagner family have a long history in NASCAR, and we have a shared passion for excellence, making them the ideal partner for our team, Custer said. Caymus makes exceptional wines under a range of labels, and Haas Factory Team is dedicated to building competitive racecars. Im excited to have them on board, and I look forward to driving the No. 41 Bonanza Cabernet Ford Mustang at Circuit of the Americas in March and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.
SEBRING, Fla. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is set to kick off the season at the site of its inaugural race in 1966, Sebring Intl Raceway, as part of the Sebring SpeedTour.
The challenging 3.74-mile track has hosted 29 previous Trans Am races and has served as the season-opener for the series every year since 2013.
This weekend, Sebring will host more than 60 cars between the TA/GT race and the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, in addition approximately two dozen Historic Trans Am cars in the HTA races.
Watch Trans Am at Sebring LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1.
Prior to race action, Friday will see the inaugural class of the Trans Am Hall of Fame inducted during a celebratory dinner at Sebring. The new Trans Am Hall of Fame was announced in November to honor the longest-running professional road racing series in North America.
The inaugural class consists of 18 legendary drivers, team owners and series officials: John Clagett, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Mark Donohue, Chris Dyson, Ron Fellows, George Follmer, Ernie Francis Jr., Paul Gentilozzi, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Tommy Kendall, Roger Penske, Greg Pickett, Scott Pruett, Willy T. Ribbs, Jack Roush, Amy Ruman and Bob Tullius.
Three of the inductees will be on track this weekend: Wally Dallenbach Jr., (No. 4 Ultimate Headers Ford Mustang), Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang), and Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette). Paul Gentilozzi will also be in the paddock as the owner of 3GT Racing.
Storylines
- Lyn St. James will serve as the Grand Marshal for this weekends Sebring SpeedTour.
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Five Trans Am Series drivers have been named recipients of the Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) Powering Diversity Scholarship, assisting them as they continue their careers in North Americas longest-running professional road racing series.
After winning last years SGT Championship, Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Systems Inc. Chevrolet Corvette) will move up to the faster XGT Class with Sam Pierce Racing. Two-time TA champion Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette) will mentor several of the younger drivers, as she once again returns to the Trans Am Series TA class with her family-owned Ruman Racing team.
In Trans Ams CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, Silver Hare Racings Rafa Matos (No. 57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro) will serve as an additional mentor for the younger members of the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship class after winning last years TA2 championship. Nitro Motorsports teammates Julian DaCosta (No. 30 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Tyler Gonzalez (No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) will both utilize support from the scholarship to fight for podiums and search for their first wins in the TA2 Series.
NEWS: @GoTransAm will air LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1 this weekend!
Watch the TA and TA2 Series from @sebringraceway for FREE!
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SPEED SPORT (@SPEEDSPORT) February 19, 2025
- Of the 23 competitors driving in this weekends TA/GT race, nearly half of the of the entrants are former champions, with 11 past title winners responsible for 20 championships taking the green flag in Sundays race.
Past TA champions are defending title winner Paul Menard (No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang), Wally Dallenbach Jr. (No. 4 Ultimate Headers Ford Mustang), Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro), Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) and Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette), while CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro) will compete for the TA title this year.
Danny Lowry (No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.
Lee Saunders (No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper) returns to SGT as a past champion, and Chris Coffey (No. 97 Traffic Grafix/Chill Out Motorsports Maserati MC GT4) looks to defend his GT title.
- Drissi On A Role
Tomy Drissi enters the season hoping to extend a four-race podium streak, which he has held since the series visited Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Intl last year. He also drives into the new season with two new partners, Trench Shoring Company and Motul, in addition to welcoming back Franklin Road Apparel.
Drissi has four top-five finishes in the last five years at Sebring, with a best finish of second in 2020. Drissis No. 8 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro will compete alongside teammate Keith Grant at Sebring, who will pilot the No. 5 Trench Shoring Chevrolet Camaro. Grant scored his first TA class podium at Sebring as a rookie in 2023, and finished fifth in last years event.
Drissi is also pulling double duty this weekend, competing in Historic Trans Am. Hes piloting the No. 1 Chaparral Racing Chevrolet Camaro. Driven and built by Jim Hall, Drissis is one of only three of these cars that were built, and the only one known to still exist.
Past Sebring Winners
13 drivers in this weekends field have previously driven to GYM WEED Winners Circle at Sebring International Raceway. Lee Saunders in the SGT class has the most Sebring victories by far, with seven wins dating back to 2014.
TA
Paul Menard, No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang: 2024
Wally Dallenbach Jr., No. 4 Ultimate Headers Ford Mustang: 2023, 2022 (TAH)
Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2022, 2021
Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette: 2015
XGT
Danny Lowry, No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.
Billy Griffin, No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes AMG GT3: 2022 (GT)
SGT
Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2016 (SGT) 2015, 2014 (TA3-I)
GT
Chris Coffey, No. 97 Traffic Grafix/Chill Out Motorsports Maserati MC GT4: 2024
CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series
Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tuners/Franklin Road/Cope Ford Mustang: 2021
Mike Skeen, No. 48 CUBE 3/Franklin Road/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro: 2020
Rafa Matos, No. 57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro: 2023, 2022, 2019
Doug Peterson, No. 87 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang: 2014, 2013 (TA)
CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge
Barry Boes, No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro: 2024
In addition to those who have won in the Trans Am Series, Roberto Sabato (No. 61 6th Gear Garage Ford Mustang) has won at Sebring in IMSAs L2 class, and Matt Griffin (No. 67 Griffin Concrete Construction Chevrolet Camaro) has won at the track in SCCA.
SEBRING, Fla. Abbie Stockard, Miss America 2025, has been named grand marshal of the 73rd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Stockard, 22, was crowned Miss America in the annual competition in Orlando in January. A nursing student from Auburn University, and a former Auburn cheerleader, she was named Miss Alabama last June before the start of her senior year.
She will give the command to start engines to the nearly 60-car field at approximately 10 a.m. March 15.
Stockard will be joined at Sebring by Miss Florida, Casana Fink, who also competed in the 2025 Miss America pageant. Fink finished third runner up in the competition, also a significant accomplishment for the Ocala native and University of Florida graduate.
Drivers and teams have come to Sebring international Raceway for almost 75 years in hopes of being at the top of their field, and Abbie has already achieved that level of success both through the Miss America competition and her many achievements early in her life, said Wayne Estes, president of Sebring International Raceway. We are honored to have both the current title holder of such a prestigious competition join us at Sebring, and her participation will be remembered as yet another significant event within the storied Mobil 1 Twelve Hour of Sebring.
With plans to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse, Stockard will fully fund her education using the $89,000 in scholarships she earned through the Miss America Opportunity. Her commitment to service extends beyond health advocacy. She has worked with state and national leaders to advance impactful legislation and plans to continue using her platform to amplify awareness for Cystic Fibrosis while demonstrating the powerful influence of women in leadership. A dedicated Mission Partner and Best Buddies Champion, Stockard also has raised funds for the American Heart Association (AHA) and was recognized with the prestigious AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award during the Miss America Competition.
As a member of Auburn Universitys Tiger Paws Dance Team, Stockard experienced the transformative power of an active and balanced lifestyle. This passion inspired her personal initiative, High Five for Kids, which promotes the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life. Guided by five key pillars of health, the program teaches children that wellness is not a set of rules but an exciting and attainable way of life. Through High Five for Kids, she encourages children, including those with chronic illnesses like CF, to embrace their potential and make positive choices that will serve them for a lifetime.
Inspired by her best friend, Maddie, Stockard is a passionate advocate for CF. She was honored as the 2024 Hero of Hope by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and named an Official National Ambassador for the organization. Her advocacy efforts have raised more than $200,000 for CF research, including leading Alabamas largest CF fundraiser and collaborating with researchers nationwide to accelerate progress toward a cure.
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