MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – For the third consecutive season, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco hosts the kickoff party to Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway.

On Oct. 24, the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Hard Clay Finale fires off with a doubleheader of STSS big-block/small-block modifieds and 360 sprint cars.

STSS Modifieds race in the eighth and final round of the Halmar International North Region, a 50-lap main event offering a massive $10,000 to win and $500 to take the green from a posted pay structure of $40,475. The series’ $12,500 North Region title will be decided at this event.

Joining the Modifieds are the 360 sprint cars in a 25-lap, $3,000-to-win event presented by Rapid Tire. This will mark the second appearance by the 360 Sprint Cars during the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ event.

The first Hard Clay Finale hit the five-eighths-mile in the 2017 season as a precursor to Eastern States Weekend.

In the event’s first running, Stewart Friesen charged through the field after pitting with 12 laps to go to earn the victory over Andy Bachetti, Rick Laubach, Craig Mitchell and Jeremy Smith.

A year ago, Mike Gular shocked the field and won the event, which ultimately led to him racing weekly at Orange County Fair Speedway this season. Gular bested Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Tyler Dippel and Mike Mahaney.

Last year’s 360 sprint car debut saw Pennsylvania’s Lucas Wolfe invade and take the $3,000 triumph in a late-race battle with Davie Franek. Billy Van Inwegen, Justin Barger and Coleman Gulick completed the front five.

LEXINGTON, Ohio – The ARCA Menards Series will return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time since 1965 when it competes at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course on May 30.

The race will be held in conjunction with the annual NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend, which in previous seasons had been scheduled in the month of August. The move to a new late spring date is to accommodate television coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The ARCA Menards Series last raced at Mid-Ohio in 1965, with Springfield, Ohio, native Jack Bowsher earning the victory. Since then the series has raced only sporadically on road courses, with a single event on a modified oval at the defunct St. Louis Int’l Raceway in 1986, a pair of races at Heartland Park Topeka in 1991 and 1992, a street circuit event in Des Moines, Iowa in 1994, a single event at Palm Beach Int’l Raceway in 2010, a pair of races at Road America in 2013 and 2017, and nine races at New Jersey Motorsports Park from 2008 through 2016.

The Lexington, Ohio, natural terrain road course has been home to road racing since its inception, and since the 1980s has hosted series such as the NTT IndyCar Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the SCCA Trans-Am, plus various amateur and professional motorcycle series sanctioned by the AMA. Stock car racing returned to Mid-Ohio in 2013 when A.J. Allmendinger defeated Michael McDowell in a shootout.

Other NASCAR XFINITY Seres winners include 2012 ARCA Menards Series champion Chris Buescher, Regan Smith, ARCA winner at Palm Beach Justin Marks, Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish, 2008 ARCA Menards Series champion Justin Allgaier and Austin Cindric, who won August’s most recent race.

“We have worked diligently with Craig Rust and his team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for several seasons trying to get the ARCA Menards Series back on their schedule, and we’re really happy to make it happen for the 2020 season,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “We have a lot of excitement building for 2020 and additions to our schedule like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are a big part of it.”

“We are thrilled to add the ARCA Menards Series to our NASCAR XFINITY Series weekend,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “Each year, it’s our objective to showcase a very diverse schedule at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and bring the best of motorsports to our fans. ARCA fits that billing and is a great, returning addition to the 2020 schedule.”

CORONA, Calif. – Lucas Oil Products has announced it will return as title sponsor of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

The multi-year deal ensures that Lucas Oil will continue in this role with Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship through at least the 2021 season.

The partnership between Lucas Oil and MX Sports Pro Racing regarding the brand’s title sponsorship of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship began in 2009, and will continue into its 12th season next summer. On the broadcast side, MAVTV’s role as the exclusive television partner of the first motos of both the 450 class and 250 class enters its seventh season, dating back to the 2014 championship campaign.

“The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship embodies the values that make up the core of our business,” said Tom Bogner, Lucas Oil Director of Motorsports. “Our partnership with the series began a decade ago and the championship serves as a vital platform to demonstrate our support of both grassroots racers to the most elite riders in the world. We are proud to return for the 49th season of this world-renowned championship that continues to grow on the strength of its loyal fans, excellent TV coverage and strong leadership.”

ENNIS, Texas – Three-time Texas Motorplex Top Fuel winner and 34-time Top Fuel NHRA national event winner Cory McClenathan will be honored at the upcoming 34th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Oct. 18-20 as the first recipient of the Texas Motorplex Legend award.

McClenathan, who recently announced he will race the final three NHRA Mello Yello Series national events of the 2019 season and then retire, last appeared at the FallNationals in 2018.

He has 18 starts, two No. 1 qualifiers, five finals, three wins and 32-15 record at the NHRA track located just south of Dallas. McClenathan will be racing a Top Fuel dragster owned by Dexter Tuttle and sponsored by Revchem Composites and Nordic Boats.

Most notably McClenathan was the first driver to exceed 320 mph when his McDonald’s sponsored Top Fuel dragster blazed down the all-concrete track at a speed of 321.77 mph in 1997. That run was voted the Top 5 all-time Motorplex Moment. Ironically, McClenathan is recognized in the No. 9 all-time Motorplex Moment which was Don Prudhomme’s last professional victory as a driver. McClenathan was in the opposite lane against Prudhomme during that race in 1994.

“Cory McClenathan is a big part of the record setting history of Texas Motorplex and the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals,” said Andy Carter, Texas Motorplex General Manager. “We are thrilled he is closing out his amazing career with another race in Ennis. We are honored to recognize him as the first Texas Motorplex Legend award recipient. We will have a special presentation for him during opening ceremonies and he will forever be recognized in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club.”

McClenathan is a three-time Texas Motorplex Top Fuel winner, second most in Motorplex history tied with Gary Scelzi and just behind Tony Schumacher the all-time leader with six Top Fuel Motorplex wins. In his career McClenathan recorded a total of 18 Top 10 finishes; was second four times and third four other times and he won 30 or more rounds in a season eight times.

“When the track called about this award I was blown away. The Texas Motorplex has always held a special place in my heart. I have to thank Dexter Tuttle for giving me this chance to race these last three races. I can remember that 321 mph pass like it was yesterday. We went on to win that race and it was an amazing weekend. Thank you to Billy Meyer, Andy Carter and all the fans across the years that came out to support me at the Texas Motorplex. This is just a really cool honor.”

The European Cup holders return to first place, ahead of three defending league champions. Meanwhile, Germany's surprise leaders are a new entry.

Dropping out: Manchester City, Inter, Granada

Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.

Ben Stokes' wife has dismissed as "nonsense" the suggestion that she was subjected to a physical assault by her husband during last week's PCA Awards ceremony in London.

Stokes was named as the PCA's Player of the Year at a gala dinner at the Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday, after starring for England in both the World Cup final victory at Lord's in July and the Headingley Test against Australia in August.

However, according to the Guido Fawkes website on Tuesday, Stokes was alleged to have got into an altercation with his wife, Clare, during the ceremony, and at one point appeared to have raised his left hand to her throat.

Within two hours, Clare Stokes posted a clarification on her Twitter feed, which her husband retweeted, but with many followers on social media condemning what Guido Fawkes had described as a "chokehold", the ECB chief executive Tom Harrison was also moved to comment on the incident.

"Unbelievable what nonsense these people will make up!" Clare Stokes wrote on Twitter. "Me and Ben messing about squishing up each other's faces cos that's how we show affection and some pap tries to twist it in to a crazy story! And all before we then have a romantic McDonalds 20 mins later!"

Harrison added: "We have spoken with both Clare and Ben - as well as others in attendance - who have all clarified the innocent context behind the still photographs taken at last week's PCA awards.

"Whilst it is not the case here, we recognise that for the millions who are impacted by domestic violence, this is a very real and serious issue."

Stokes is the favourite to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award after a memorable summer. His successes on the field have rehabilitated his public image after the events of September 2017, when he was arrested outside a nightclub in Bristol and later acquitted of affray in a high-profile court case.

Last month he earned widespread public sympathy after the Sun newspaper chose to publish details of a family tragedy in New Zealand 31 years ago.

In a statement, Stokes described the Sun's decision as "disgusting" and "immoral", adding that his public profile was not an excuse to "invade" the privacy of his family members.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- While Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden would not speculate on whether his brother Jay might join his staff after being fired by the Washington Redskins on Monday, the elder Gruden did stick up for his younger brother.

And he did so with a nod and a wink.

"I'm obviously very disappointed for my brother," Gruden said Tuesday during his weekly media conference. "It was a long night, last couple of nights. He worked hard. Got a lot of respect for my brother. Obviously, disappointed for him getting fired."

But ...

"My dad's been fired," Gruden added. "I've been fired. Jay's been fired and ... welcome to the club, bro."

Gruden, who was traded from Oakland to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001, founded his somewhat satirical Fired Football Coaches Association when he was dismissed by the Bucs in 2008. He spent the next nine seasons in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" booth before returning to the Raiders last year.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, a former Redskins offensive coordinator under Jay Gruden who got his first NFL job on the Tampa Bay staff with Jon, said he exchanged texts with Jay Gruden on Monday and called it a "tough situation" for a close friend.

McVay worked with Jay Gruden for the Florida Tuskers of the UFL in 2009 and with Washington from 2014 to '16.

"When I was his coordinator, in a lot of ways he kind of groomed me and brought me along to where you kind of learn some of the things about how you're setting up a game plan," McVay said of Jay Gruden. "He protected me from a lot of the things."

McVay was asked whether he'd consider adding Jay Gruden to his staff.

"He'll have a lot of options," McVay said. "Those are things that I think we'll, I'm sure, discuss at some point. But right now it's more about just reaching out to a buddy and seeing how he's doing."

With consecutive wins at the Indianapolis Colts and in London against the Chicago Bears, Jon Gruden gave the Raiders (3-2) the entire bye week off, except one player -- wide receiver Zay Jones, who was officially acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.

"I'm gonna teach Zay Jones some plays today," a smiling Gruden said when asked how he was going to spend his bye week. "And I'm gonna come in tomorrow and teach Zay Jones some more plays."

Gruden opened his presser Tuesday by acknowledging the eighth anniversary of Al Davis' passing -- which occurred Oct. 8, 2011.

"My respects go out to the Davis family," Gruden said. "And I know if Al Davis was still here, he would have been proud of our team, the way they've played the last couple of weeks."

Rays slugger Yandy Diaz is not in the lineup for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Astros, but will be available off the bench, according to manager Kevin Cash.

Joey Wendle replaced Diaz at third base in the starting lineup. Diaz left in the second inning of Monday's Game 3 win because of left foot soreness.

Diaz missed two months with a fractured left foot before being activated for the last game of the regular season.

He hit two solo home runs in the Rays' victory of the Oakland Athletics in last week's wild card game, but has yet to record a hit against the Astros in this series.

The Rays are facing elimination heading into Tuesday's game, down 2-1 in the series.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf confirmed in a television interview Tuesday that Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred warned city officials that the Athletics could relocate to Las Vegas if the city didn't drop its lawsuit to stop Alameda County from selling its share of the Coliseum to the team.

Oakland and Alameda County share ownership of the Coliseum and the city wants Alameda County to sell its half of the stadium to the city instead of to the A's. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the city can't match the A's offer of $85 million for the venue.

City Councilman Larry Reid had told the newspaper earlier this week that Manfred had made the suggestion that Las Vegas could be a possible relocation site for the A's in meetings with city officials last week.

"The reports of that are accurate," Schaaf said in the interview with KTVU-TV. "[Las Vegas] is the city that came out of his mouth."

Oakland will soon lose its NFL team, the Raiders, to Las Vegas, possibly as soon as 2020. So Manfred's choice of a possible relocation city was meant to strike a nerve, Schaaf said.

"Obviously he chose his city wisely as far as exposing a pain-point that all Oaklanders feel about losing our sports teams," she said, calling the lawsuit "misguided."

Oakland had sued Alameda County to block its sale of its share of the Coliseum to the A's and a judge issued a temporary restraining order last week blocking the transaction. The A's, who want to build a new stadium at Howard Terminal on the waterfront and redevelop the land around the Coliseum, are hoping it would help subsidize the cost of a privately owned new stadium.

A's president Dave Kaval said last week that the franchise was "blindsided" by the restraining order being granted.

"I will say though that I absolutely see a path to a new ballpark right ... at Howard Terminal," Schaaf said. "As well as really giving the A's the opportunity to do a community-serving development out at the Coliseum as well as to maintain that as a background plan. I see this path. I am confident we will get there."

Schaaf told KTVU that the city's lawsuit was filed "over my objection."

"I don't think that it serves the public when two governmental agencies are suing each other," Schaaf said. "It certainly is my direction that the city and the county work collaboratively. We are co-owners of this land. The board of supervisors are so well-intentioned. They want to do right by their constituents, which are our constituents, so I believe we will get something done collaboratively and put this lawsuit behind us."

The next court hearing in the city's lawsuit is scheduled for Nov. 14, according to the Chronicle.