Sport

CONCORD, N.C. — Summer typically consists of swimming, beach trips, and family barbecues. On a late June day, a group of high school students took a moment away from the standard summer scene to experience their possible future with NASCAR. Twenty-two young NASCAR fans, encompassing all regions of the nation, traveled to the Leavine Family Racing headquarters in Concord, North Carolina, for Camp 95. Handpicked, these students came to Camp…

Ryan Blaney is only 23 years old, and he’s already living the American dream. The third-generation NASCAR driver gave the storied Wood Brothers Racing Team its 99th victory on June 11 when he took his first checkered flag in a Cup race in the Pocono 400. Now he’s hoping to trip the odometer to 100 for NASCAR’s longest tenured race team, which has notched wins in each of…

Ryan Blaney is only 23 years old, and he’s already living the American dream. The third-generation NASCAR driver gave the storied Wood Brothers Racing Team its 99th victory on June 11 when he took his first checkered flag in a Cup race in the Pocono 400. Now he’s hoping to trip the odometer to 100 for NASCAR’s longest tenured race team, which has notched wins in each of…

By Michelle R. Martinelli June 29, 2017 12:54 pm Follow @MMartinelli4

By Michelle R. Martinelli June 29, 2017 12:54 pm Follow @MMartinelli4

Like Ledecky, a five-time medalist in the 2016 Rio Games, Olmstead emerged from the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome as the outstanding female teenage swimmer, with four medals, including three golds. Only two freestyle events were on the women’s program, and Olmstead, then competing under her maiden name, von Saltza, raced in both. She placed second in the 100 freestyle to the Australian superstar Dawn Fraser and won the 400…

Like Ledecky, a five-time medalist in the 2016 Rio Games, Olmstead emerged from the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome as the outstanding female teenage swimmer, with four medals, including three golds. Only two freestyle events were on the women’s program, and Olmstead, then competing under her maiden name, von Saltza, raced in both. She placed second in the 100 freestyle to the Australian superstar Dawn Fraser and won the 400…

It will be hot, it will rain, and all eyes will be on Dale Earnhardt Jr. all weekend long. The first two are unavoidable facts of nature in midsummer at Daytona International Speedway, and the third might as well be. The 14-time most popular driver always garners heavy attention at NASCAR’s most famous track. That will be multiplied even more than usual this weekend, and rightfully so. Saturday night’s Coke…

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP Canadian rider Antoine Duchesne‏ was one of the last cuts from Direct Energie’s Tour de France team. The team decided not to bring sprinter Brian Coquard, which made Duchesne’s role on the team somewhat unnecessary. All that training for nothing is a huge bummer, especially because Duchesne turned his legs into statuesque vein monsters. Because cyclists basically rely on nothing but their legs to do their jobs,…

Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son, Christopher, died in the Hillsborough soccer disaster, reacts after families of the 96 people who were killed were told charges are being filed over the case Wednesday. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son, Christopher, died in the Hillsborough soccer disaster, reacts after families of the 96 people who were killed were told charges are being filed…

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 27, 2017) – As part of the continued efforts to show appreciation for the United States Armed Forces through NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola, NASCAR XFINITY Series™ drivers will bear the names of active military units and installations on their race car windshields during Friday’s Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Military installations like U.S….

Facebook will stream more than a dozen matches from European soccer’s top tournament, the highest-profile event to join the small but growing lineup of live sports programming. UEFA Champions League Credit: UEFA Starting in September, the social network will show live Champions League matches in the U.S. through a partnership with Fox Sports. The deal with the sports division of 21st Century Fox Inc. includes double-headers during the group stage,…

The question comes up whenever someone meets Reece Whitley for the first time. Whitley is too polite to respond with the classic teenage show of disdain: the eye roll. But inside? Inside, his eyeballs are on the other side of their sockets. “How big are your shoes? I hear that all the time,’’ Whitley said with an exasperated chuckle. “I mean, I’m a swimmer. I don’t wear shoes. It’s not…

TENNIS Serena Williams Responds to McEnroe Serena Williams has no interest in John McEnroe’s thoughts on what would happen if she tried to play on the men’s tour. Williams responded via Twitter to comments McEnroe made during a weekend interview with NPR to promote his latest book. In her post, Williams tells McEnroe, “I adore and respect you,” but she asks him to “please please keep me out of your…

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are getting closer with 16 of the 26 regular-season races in the books. When the circuit heads to Chicagoland Speedway in September, 16 drivers will be competing for a championship. Here is a look at where things stand heading into this weekend’s fast-track race at Daytona International Speedway: Locked in Kyle Larson: The No. 42 driver clinched a spot in the playoffs in…

Video: Selanne, Andreychuk, Recchi, Kariya elected to HHOF Selanne, who set an NHL rookie record with 76 goals for the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93 and scored 684 times in 21 NHL seasons, was elected in his first year of eligibility. He broke the previous record of 53 set by Hall of Fame forward Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders in 1977-78, and his 132 points also are a record…

Fruitful seasons for riding the Algarve The summer heat would make southern Portugal particularly challenging for cycling, but spring and autumn – with cooler temperatures and coastal breezes – are perfect for it. This new cycle holiday from Chapters Holidays is a week-long trip around the lesser-known eastern Algarve based in Monte Gordo and starting this autumn. Cyclists will ride around 25km a day on coastal paths, finding secret beaches…

SONOMA, Calif. — Joe Gibbs Racing, which has endured a winless first 16 races of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, got another setback after the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway: Kyle Busch’s No. 18 JGR Toyota had two improperly attached lug nuts, according to NASCAR officials. Customarily, that’s a one-race suspension and a $20,000 fine per the NASCAR rule book. But Busch’s regular crew chief, Adam…

SONOMA, Calif. — Joe Gibbs Racing, which has endured a winless first 16 races of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, got another setback after the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway: Kyle Busch’s No. 18 JGR Toyota had two improperly attached lug nuts, according to NASCAR officials. Customarily, that’s a one-race suspension and a $20,000 fine per the NASCAR rule book. But Busch’s regular crew chief, Adam…

SANTA ANA – A friendly game between former players of two professional Mexican soccer clubs on Sunday afternoon, June 25, turned violent when dozens of fans rushed the field and began beating each other, forcing authorities to suspend the match. The “game of legends” between former Club America and Pumas players at Eddie West Field at 602 N. Flower St. was intended to benefit Santa Ana-based United Soccer Talents Foundation, which…