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Darlington will honor late NASCAR Cup champion Yarborough during throwback weekend in May

Darlington will honor late NASCAR Cup champion Yarborough during throwback weekend in May

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 27 - 10:26 a.m.  |  Save Story

Darlington Raceway will honor the late Cale Yarborough at its annual NASCAR throwback weekend in May. The track will display Yarborough's No. 29 Oldsmobile Cutlass that he drove in 1987 and 1988 at its museum just outside the facility. Yarborough died on New Year's Eve after a long illness at the age of 84. Yarborough was a South Carolina native who grew up not far from the track. He won five Southern 500s there, second all-time to Jeff Gordon's six victories. The NASCAR Cup Series garage at the track already bears Yarborough's name.
Another Byron win has Hendrick on a roll heading toward NASCAR team's 40th anniversary party

Another Byron win has Hendrick on a roll heading toward NASCAR team's 40th anniversary party

Jim Vertuno, Associated Press  |  Updated March 25 - 11:50 a.m.  |  Save Story

Hendrick Motorsports has a lot to be happy about as the team barrels toward its big 40th anniversary celebration in two weeks. William Bryon dominated in his second win of the NASCAR season, which came Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas. Alex Bowman earned his third top-four finish of 2024 at COTA. Kyle Larson snatched a wild Xfinity Series win. That's quite a roll ahead of the team's planned celebrations for race weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
Pole to checkered flag: Byron dominates NASCAR's 1st road course race of season, wins at COTA

Pole to checkered flag: Byron dominates NASCAR's 1st road course race of season, wins at COTA

Jim Vertuno, Associated Press  |  Updated March 24 - 6:06 p.m.  |  Save Story

William Bryon started on pole and delivered a dominant drive Sunday to win NASCAR's first road race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas. The Daytona 500 winner earned his second win of the season and delivered the fourth in six races for Chevrolet. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 42 of 68 laps and held off hard-charging Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell over the final two laps. Bell shaved nearly three seconds of Byron's lead to create some late drama before Byron slammed the door over the final corners. Byron earned career win No. 12.
Angry Verstappen an early retirement from Australian GP in race won by Sainz

Angry Verstappen an early retirement from Australian GP in race won by Sainz

Stewart Bell, Associated Press  |  Updated March 24 - 3:50 p.m.  |  Save Story

An angry Max Verstappen was an early exit from the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with the Red Bull driver sustaining a fiery mechanical failure on the fourth lap of the race and experiencing his first race retirement since Albert Park in 2022. Minutes after his retirement, he was seen on TV coverage of the race in a heated discussion with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Verstappen had won the first two F1 races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and was on a nine-race winning streak. The three-time F1 world champion began the race from pole, but was passed by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on lap two at turn nine. Verstappen kept on the Spaniard's tail, but just two laps later was spewing smoke from the back of his car. Sainz won the race.
Carlos Sainz wins F1 Australian GP after early exit for Verstappen with engine fire

Carlos Sainz wins F1 Australian GP after early exit for Verstappen with engine fire

Stewart Bell, Associated Press  |  Updated March 24 - 2:05 p.m.  |  Save Story

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz ended Red Bull's Formula 1 winning streak when the Spaniard took advantage of Max Verstappen's early exit to win the Australian Grand Prix just two weeks after missing the previous race in Saudi Arabia due to an emergency appendectomy. Sainz, who started on the front row alongside Verstappen, kept his place into turn one, but passed the Dutchman on lap two at turn nine for the lead and took control once his rival retired two laps later with a fiery mechanical failure. Verstappen had won the first two F1 races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Sainz led home teammate Charles Leclerc for Ferrari's first 1-2 finish since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, with McLaren's Lando Norris finishing in third for his first podium at Albert Park.
Rosenqvist and Palou lead qualifying for races that will set field for IndyCar $1 million challenge

Rosenqvist and Palou lead qualifying for races that will set field for IndyCar $1 million challenge

Jenna Fryer, Associated Press  |  Posted March 23 - 7:10 p.m.  |  Save Story

Felix Rosenqvist and Alex Palou will lead the field to green in Sunday morning's pair of heat races that determine which 12 IndyCar drivers will advance into the exhibition Thermal $1 million Challenge. The made-for-TV all-star race of sorts will consist of only 12 of IndyCar's 27 drivers, but the dozen who do compete will have to get into the event via a pair of earlier heat races. The starting lineups for the heat races were set Saturday in a pair of eight-minute qualifying sessions. The top six finishers in the heat races will advance into the "A Main" and race for a $500,000 prize over a 20-lap race split into two 10-lap segments.
Larson lurks, snatches Xfinity overtime win at COTA to spoil van Gisbergen's impressive race

Larson lurks, snatches Xfinity overtime win at COTA to spoil van Gisbergen's impressive race

Jim Vertuno, Associated Press  |  Updated March 23 - 6:26 p.m.  |  Save Story

Kyle Larson passed Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill on the final lap in double overtime to win the Xfinity road course race Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas. Van Ginsbergen looked to be in control and heading to his first career Xfinity win ahead of his season debut in the Cup series on Sunday. But two caution flags forced two overtimes and Larsen snuck in for the win.
Catching Freedom wins $1 million Louisiana Derby, qualifies for the Kentucky Derby

Catching Freedom wins $1 million Louisiana Derby, qualifies for the Kentucky Derby

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 23 - 6:06 p.m.  |  Save Story

Catching Freedom stormed from last to first to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by nearly a length. That earns the Brad Cox-trained horse 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. That's enough to enter the opening race of the Triple Crown. Catching Freedom trailed the other 10 horses in the field entering the final turn before jockey Flavien Prat steered him to the outside and past the entire field at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Catching Freedom ran the 1 3/16-mile race distance in 1:56.16 and paid $8.60, $4.40 and $3.20. Honor Marie finished second and Tuscan Gold was third. Lecomte Stakes winner Track Phantom was the favorite at 2-1 and led most of the way before fading to fourth.
Ford still winless in 2024 as NASCAR heads to first road race of the season at COTA

Ford still winless in 2024 as NASCAR heads to first road race of the season at COTA

Jim Vertuno, Associated Press  |  Updated March 23 - 11:09 a.m.  |  Save Story

Five races into NASCAR's 2024 season and Ford is in a funk. Ford cars have been fast, just not quite fast enough to produce any wins yet. At the race in Atlanta, the razor-thin margins at the finish meant 0.003 seconds was the difference between first and third. But winning is what counts the most and Ford drivers are searching for answers to break the drought as NASCAR holds its first road race of the season Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas.
Verstappen takes pole position for F1 Australian GP, resurgent Carlos Sainz also in front row

Verstappen takes pole position for F1 Australian GP, resurgent Carlos Sainz also in front row

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 23 - 9:32 a.m.  |  Save Story

Max Verstappen not surprisingly clinched pole position for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix. More surprising was record eight-time Australian pole winner Lewis Hamilton not making it into the final round of qualifying. Verstappen who has won both races to start the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez second both times, will start in the front row for the 58-lap race on the Albert Park street circuit. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz returning from appendix surgery was second-fastest. McLaren driver Lando Norris will start third after a three-place grid penalty pushed Perez down to sixth. Charles Leclerc is fourth for Ferrari, followed by Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri.
Against post-surgery odds, Sainz returns to F1 racing with 2nd place in qualifying in Australia

Against post-surgery odds, Sainz returns to F1 racing with 2nd place in qualifying in Australia

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 23 - 5:22 a.m.  |  Save Story

Carlos Sainz has gone from a hospital bed a few weeks ago to the front row of the grid for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Ferrari driver Sainz was forced to miss the last race in Saudi Arabia due to appendicitis and despite undergoing surgery he attempted a swift comeback for the third round of the season in Melbourne. It was a successful return to the cockpit. He has finished second-fastest behind Max Verstappen during qualifying on the temporary street circuit at Albert Park.
McLaren Racing extends Zak Brown's contract as CEO through 2030

McLaren Racing extends Zak Brown's contract as CEO through 2030

Jenna Fryer, Associated Press  |  Updated March 22 - 5:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown said Friday he's signed an extension to remain in charge of the organization through 2030. Brown made the announcement on social media. He has been CEO since 2018 and the American oversees all of McLaren's racing programs from its England-based headquarters. McLaren is the only team that competes in Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E and esports.
NASCAR brings out the ringers as Cup Series stages first road course race of the season at COTA

NASCAR brings out the ringers as Cup Series stages first road course race of the season at COTA

Jim Vertuno, Associated Press  |  Posted March 22 - 3:56 p.m.  |  Save Story

NASCAR's return to the road courses always brings out the ringers. New Zealand's Shane van Gisbergen will make his season Cup Series debut after making a splash last year by winning the Chicago street race. Japan's Kamui Kobayashi, one of the top road racers in the world, also makes his season debut in Austin. Sunday's race at the Circuit of the Americas will be first of five on road or street courses this season.
McLaren Racing extends Zak Brown's contract as CEO through 2030

McLaren Racing extends Zak Brown's contract as CEO through 2030

Jenna Fryer, Associated Press  |  Posted March 22 - 1:23 p.m.  |  Save Story

McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown said Friday he's signed an extension to remain in charge of the organization through 2030. Brown made the announcement on social media. He has been CEO since 2018 and the American oversees all of McLaren's racing programs from its England-based headquarters. McLaren is the only team that competes in Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E and esports.
Amid drama around Formula 1, FIA president issues letter to membership defending his leadership

Amid drama around Formula 1, FIA president issues letter to membership defending his leadership

Jenna Fryer, Associated Press  |  Posted March 22 - 12:54 p.m.  |  Save Story

The head of Formula 1's governing body issued a passionate defense of his leadership and claimed a pair of whistleblower complaints against him were meant to destabilize him as president of the FIA and question the integrity of the organization. In a letter sent to FIA membership, Mohammed Ben Sulayem wrote the whistleblower complaints against him have "shaken the FIA." He say he remains dedicated to his job.
F1 champion Sebastian Vettel gets back behind the wheel with Porsche to test a Le Mans car

F1 champion Sebastian Vettel gets back behind the wheel with Porsche to test a Le Mans car

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 22 - 6:36 a.m.  |  Save Story

Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel is getting back behind the wheel. Vettel is joining Porsche as a test driver on its Le Mans program and says "we will then see what happens next." The German manufacturer says Vettel will drive the Porsche 963 car for works team Porsche Penske Motorsport as part of a 36-hour test session at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain next week. Porsche adds that Vettel has already driven the car in a brief "rollout" session Thursday at Porsche's private test track in Germany.
F1: Logan Sargeant out of Australian Grand Prix after Williams gives his car to teammate Alex Albon

F1: Logan Sargeant out of Australian Grand Prix after Williams gives his car to teammate Alex Albon

The Associated Press  |  Updated March 22 - 4:17 a.m.  |  Save Story

Williams driver Logan Sargeant will take no part in the Australian Grand Prix after his team chose to give his car to teammate Alexander Albon, whose own vehicle was wrecked in a crash in Friday's practice. The decision leaves F1's only American driver on the sidelines for Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race at the Albert Park circuit. Albon lost control and slid into the barriers in the first practice session before bouncing off into the barrier on the other side of the track. Williams confirmed the team had not brought a spare third chassis to the event.
Sainz returns to F1 racing in Australia after missing the Saudi GP because of appendix surgery

Sainz returns to F1 racing in Australia after missing the Saudi GP because of appendix surgery

The Associated Press  |  Posted March 22 - 2:47 a.m.  |  Save Story

Turns out Ferrari's Carlos Sainz didn't need to "raise his hand" and have another driver take his place during the first two practice sessions for Sunday's Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Sainz was eighth-fastest in the first session and improved to third quickest in the second on the Albert Park circuit on Friday. Earlier in the week Sainz said he felt he was ready to return to the cockpit but wasn't feeling 100% after surgery for appendicitis ahead of the March 10 race in Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old Sainz finished third behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at the season-opening Bahrain GP before skipping the Saudi race.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hopes his wife's legal action brings F1's governance into the real world

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hopes his wife's legal action brings F1's governance into the real world

The Associated Press  |  Posted March 22 - 2:24 a.m.  |  Save Story

Toto Wolff believes his wife Susie Wolff's criminal complaint against the Formula 1 governing body will help increase transparency within the sport by bringing it "into the real world." The Mercedes F1 team boss is in Melbourne this week for the Australian Grand Prix. Susie Wolff, director of the all-female junior racing series F1 Academy, didn't travel for the third GP of the season after announcing Wednesday she'd launched legal action in a French court "in relation to statements made against me" by the FIA. The Wolffs were the subject of an FIA investigation last December after media allegations of a conflict of interest. Wolff says "Susie is a strong woman ... and has always, always followed through on her convictions and values."