MARTINSVILLE, Va. – NASCAR Event Management and Five Star Race Car Bodies officials have confirmed that NASCAR has approved the Five Star 2020 Late Model Stock Car Body for competition and sales.

The new model will hit the market and be able to be raced in NASCAR late model competition following the conclusion of this weekend’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.

Five Star officials had one of the new 2020 bodies on display in front of their infield booth at Martinsville Friday afternoon, prior to practice for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

“There has been lots of talk about the new Five Star bodies … we wanted to get it right,” said Brandon Thompson, Managing Director, NASCAR Touring Series. “The same staff, same tools and the same process for Cup (Series) submission were used for weekly racing because it’s equally important. Five Star’s team couldn’t be more supportive. They’re great partners.”

The 2020 Late Model Stock Car Body design from Five Star is based on the company’s new late model body for offset chassis, which was extensively tested for aerodynamic parity and first introduced for competition earlier this season.

The 2020 body design was modified to fit the current late model stock car chassis and meets all NASCAR specifications.

The approval comes after a thorough test procedure by both NASCAR and Five Star. The two entities worked hand in hand throughout the process and met for formal wind-tunnel testing at Aerodyn Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, N.C., back in May.

Testing was conducted by NASCAR aerodynamic engineers and followed the same procedures used for body approval in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

During the controlled test, the current approved body style was mounted on the NASCAR LMSC Submission Chassis to establish baseline aerodynamic information. Once that information was obtained, the team from Five Star removed that body in the tunnel and mounted the new body, ensuring that it met ride height and dimensional requirements.

Testing of the new body showed that with only a spoiler adjustment, as requested by NASCAR engineers, all aerodynamic targets required for approval were met.

“We appreciate NASCAR’s commitment to establish a formal body design approval procedure for late model stock car bodies,” said Carl Schultz, President of Five Star. “We feel this will ensure the long-term success of NASCAR late model stock car racing, while providing fresh-looking body styles that will compete equally and create excitement for fans.”

Some of the upgrades to the 2020 late model stock body include a flame-retardant greenhouse, which is also wider for improved driver accessibility; added fender clearance; and increased engine clearance in the hood.

Tech inspection will benefit due to design features which make the body easier to install and more difficult to manipulate the shape.

The body uses common panels across all makes, with a brand-specific front nose and graphics packages for identity. It also allows for future styling updates that align with current OEM designs, without affecting aerodynamics and without requiring a complete body change.

The currently-approved models are the Chevrolet Camaro, the Ford Mustang and the Toyota Camry, available in white, black, blue and red.

A re-skin package will hit the market at $1,172 for either a black or white body, with $100 added for blue or red versions.

Meanwhile, a complete body package will retail for $3,133 in black or white, and $3,326 in blue or red.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Last fall at Martinsville Speedway, Josh Berry appeared to finally have the keys necessary to unlock victory lane in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

Then came a skirmish with longtime rival Peyton Sellers, and Berry went from seemingly on top of the world to pinned underneath a pile of scrap metal – so to speak – in a matter of moments.

Berry, who led the most laps in the 2018 edition of the Martinsville late model stock car spectacular, was leading on a late restart just ahead of Sellers when a multi-car crash broke out just beyond the start/finish line.

NASCAR officials placed Sellers in front, by virtue of his positioning at the last timing line crossed, and Berry was forced to the outside for the ensuing green flag. His No. 88 inched ahead, but by the time the pair reached turn one, Sellers was down low, there was contact, and Berry was around and out of it.

Berry ultimately finished 19th following another late-race incident and triple-overtime finish, but it was the latest in a growing series of missed opportunities for the veteran at the half-mile paper clip.

Back for more in the JR Motorsports-prepared No. 88 Chevrolet, Berry is hopeful of ticking what he views as the lone empty box left on his short-track resume.

“It would be huge to win at Martinsville,” Berry said during a media session last week at Martinsville, following a Thursday test session. “I feel like I say this every year, but I feel like this is the last race I really need to check off. With where we race and how we race in late model stocks, we’ve never been able to win there. It’s a big deal, and I think it’s awesome that we have two great shots at the win (as a team).

“Last year was tough; it was one that definitely got away from us. We want one back this time.”

Berry sits second in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour standings, nine back of defending champion and current points leader Bobby McCarty, going into the non-sanctioned Martinsville crown jewel.

By all accounts, he’s had a successful season already. A Martinsville win would be the icing on the cake.

“We’ve had a pretty good year,” Berry said. “I base a lot off performance, and we’ve been in contention in nearly every race we’ve been to. That’s all you can ask for. We’ve been right up front in nearly every race we’ve been to, but we didn’t get as many wins as we might have had. That’s part of racing. Overall, I’m pleased with how we’ve run and how we’ve continued to get better throughout the year. We started out great and just continued to get better. For these last few races of the year, I feel like we’re in a really good spot.

“Martinsville has been pretty tough on us over the years,” Berry continued. “Last year, we had an incredible car, and that gave us a lot of confidence heading back this year. I feel like we’re going to be able to pick up where we left off. We had a really good test. Over the years that I’ve been at JR Motorsports, that’s definitely the best Martinsville test we’ve had. The car was really good, had a lot of speed in it. Conditions are going to be a little different this weekend, but we feel like we’re right where we need to be.

“It was pretty warm on test day, but this weekend it’s probably going to cool off a little bit.”

In a sort of “good news, bad news” situation for Berry, some of his toughest competition may come right out of the JR Motorsports stable, in the form of his teammate for the weekend, Georgia’s Bubba Pollard.

Pollard will pilot the No. 98, a sister car to Berry’s No. 88, and Berry said Pollard will push him to perform.

“I think it helps,” Berry said of Pollard’s arrival. “Bubba is a very accomplished racer and we’ve been able to lean on each other a little bit. We have been able to make our program better, which was the main goal throughout all this, to give us two good shots at running up front and winning. I feel like Bubba and I have some differences in driving style, and we’ve been working on getting the cars where we need them. It’s been a positive experience for all of us. We’re excited to have him.”

But regardless of who he has to beat, Berry’s focus is singular. He wants to finish what he started a year ago and leave Martinsville with a Ridgeway grandfather clock on Saturday night.

“I have full confidence that we’re going to be in the thick of it like we have been all year,” Berry said. “Martinsville, a lot of times, comes down to circumstances outside of your control. Hopefully, we can do just a little bit better job than we did last year. We had almost a perfect night. If a couple of things had gone a little different for us, we’d have been in victory lane.

“For us, if we can bring as good a car as we did last year and just execute a little better right at the end, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in contention for the win.”

The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 goes green at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, with live coverage through FansChoice.tv and the Motor Racing Network.

LAS VEGAS – It’s your fault if you didn’t take him in fantasy – or at a nearby book.

Patrick Cantlay was once again atop the leaderboard at TPC Summerlin on Friday.

He took a share of the second-round lead at the 12 under with a 7-under 64, highlighted by an eagle-2 at the par-4 15^th.

“Yeah, I hit a 3-wood on the green – it’s always good to hit that green – and then just rolled in the putt,” he said. “I had a good line. I got a good teach from Bryson [DeChambeau] and got the right pace on it and it fell in.”

It was DeChambeau who edged Cantlay at this event last year. He’s the reason Cantlay isn’t the two-time defending champion this week, hunting for his third Shriners Hospitals for Children Open title.

Cantlay broke through for his first PGA Tour victory here in 2017, winning a three-way playoff in the wind and dark over Whee Kim and Alex Cejka.

In 10 careers rounds at TPC Summerlin, he’s a combined 41 under par, with a 66.9 scoring average. He’s failed to break par just one time, and has signed for 67 or better in his last five rounds in Las Vegas.

Midway through the second round, he led the field in strokes gained: tee to green and was second off the tee and on approach.

“Most of the tee shots out here look really comfortable to me,” he said. “Leaves me lots of wedges, lots of opportunities for scoring.

“I think that's a big part of playing this golf course well – hitting driver a lot. I hit driver a lot out here when other guys might lay up.”

LAS VEGAS – Maybe Bryson DeChambeau’s game really is in the third standard deviation.

Some people live their entire lives that way.

Before we move on to Bryson’s second-round 68, a bit of required reading from Wednesday:

Now that we’re all on the same page, the defending champ finds himself four shots off the lead heading into the weekend at TPC Summerlin.

Even par through 15 holes on Friday, DeChambeau closed with three straight birdies, on Nos. 7-9. His holeout from the greenside bunker at the par-3 8^th produced something of an ambivalent response. 

Asked about it, DeChambeau said he had a firm lie in the sand, didn’t hear any applause, and by the time he was able to climb out of the bunker and see the ball, it was trickling in.

“And then it goes in and everyone goes crazy,” he said. “And I’m like, ‘That went in.’ And then I’m like, ‘Figures – that would be today after lipping out 10 putts.’

“For the past couple weeks, I’ve felt like there’s been some really weird stuff going on,” he continued. “I just can’t get a normal round in. I just want to go play golf and have a good time, make a couple putts, miss a couple; I’m OK with that. Nah, I’ve gotta lip out 10 and hole a bunker shot. It’s like, what’s going on?”

Third standard deviation.

“It is,” he replied. “It is. Hey, you know what? Some people live in that area their whole lives.

“And maybe that’s me.”

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers won't be able to go to Davante Adams for any last-minute heroics this time against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Packers on Friday ruled out their Pro Bowl receiver for Sunday's road game.

Two years ago, when Adams' status was in doubt until the eve of the game at Dallas because of a concussion, he not only played but scored two touchdowns -- including the winner with 11 seconds left.

Adams, 26, did not practice this week because of the turf-toe injury he suffered in Week 4 against the Eagles. Even the extra few days because that game was on a Thursday night didn't help Adams. First-year coach Matt LaFleur could have listed Adams as questionable or doubtful but decided not to wait.

"If he can't go, it will say he's out," LaFleur said Friday before the injury report was released.

Before his early fourth-quarter injury, Adams caught 10 passes for a career-high 180 yards against the Eagles, but the Packers' offense stumbled without him, failing on two drives that advanced inside Philadelphia's 5-yard line. Without Adams, the Packers failed on four tries from the Eagles' 1-yard line on the first of those drives, and then Aaron Rodgers threw an interception from the 3 to essentially end the game.

The Packers (3-1) also will be without backup running back Jamaal Williams, who remained in the concussion protocol after getting knocked out of the game against Philadelphia.

Without two key offensive weapons, the Packers might have to rely even more on running back Aaron Jones. The third-year pro had a 100-yard game in Week 2 against the Vikings (23 carries, 116 yards) but hasn't topped 39 yards in any of the other three games.

His first career 100-yard game came at Dallas as a rookie in 2017, when he rushed for 125 yards on 16 carries and outgained Ezekiel Elliott (116 yards, 25 carries).

"I definitely think I can go toe-to-toe with him," Jones told ESPN this week. "I feel like that's something I did a couple of years back in Dallas when not a lot of people knew me. That was my first start. I definitely think I can go toe-to-toe. I'm excited to be in the same stadium and to compete against him."

Two defensive contributors -- starting cornerback Kevin King (groin) and backup Tony Brown (hamstring) -- also missed the entire week of practice. Brown was ruled out and King was listed as doubtful.

Five-star forward Jaemyn Brakefield announced his commitment to Duke on Friday, just one day after the Blue Devils extended a scholarship offer.

Brakefield took official visits to Auburn and Louisville, and planned to take visits to Ole Miss and Michigan -- but coach Mike Krzyzewski called Brakefield on Wednesday night to express Duke's interest. On Thursday, the Blue Devils reached out again to extend the offer.

Brakefield, who attends Huntington Prep (West Virginia), is a 6-foot-8 forward who can play multiple positions. He's ranked No. 23 overall in the 2020 class, slotting in as the No. 5 power forward.

He played for Phenom University (Wisconsin) on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists playing alongside top-five recruits Jalen Johnson and Patrick Baldwin Jr. He recorded five games of 20 or more points and also notched two double-doubles.

Brakefield is the fifth commitment for Krzyzewski in the 2020 class, solidifying Duke's position atop the recruiting class rankings. He's the fourth five-star pledge, following Johnson (No. 4), Jeremy Roach (No. 15) and D.J. Steward (No. 26). Top-50 power forward Henry Coleman (No. 42), who committed last week, rounds out the group.

Duke is still looking for a true center to finish off its class, with Mark Williams (No. 30) and Hunter Dickinson (No. 36) atop the Blue Devils' board.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. confirmed Friday that he was fined by the NFL for his skirmish with Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey.

Beckham and Humphrey tangled Sunday, which escalated with Humphrey pinning Beckham to the ground. Both players were flagged on the play, though neither was ejected. Cleveland coach Freddie Kitchens has said this week that Humphrey should've been tossed for what he perceived to be Humphrey choking Beckham.

Beckham said, given the heat of the moment, he couldn't tell if Humphrey was choking him. But he did say he had to restrain himself from escalating the incident further.

"I've come a long way," said Beckham, who was suspended four years ago for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Josh Norman. "I probably would've been suspended for the next game if I would've done what I wanted to do -- or more, knowing how I get treated. It was just something I had to [do] for my teammates and not hurt them even more than the 15-yard penalty.

"This is football, not MMA, not Street Fighter."

Earlier this week, the Ravens went to the extent of posting a story and slow-motion video on their website arguing that Humphrey didn't choke Beckham. Humphrey said after the game that it was Beckham who should have been ejected for the incident.

Beckham declined to reveal the amount he'd been fined, but he did take the opportunity to question the logic the NFL uses in fining players.

"I think it's crazy. ... The NFL finds ways to just take it. They're going to take it from you," said Beckham, who has been reprimanded by the league this season for the $190,000 watch he wore during Cleveland's opener and for the tint of his visor in Week 2. "I understand a penalty, getting fined for that. But pants above the knees, a shirt hanging out -- and we're talking about a T-shirt that cost $5 to make, and you're getting $5,000 taken from you. Pads above your knees, and I'm like, you really think that this little knee pad covering my kneecap is going to affect, if somebody hits me, weighs 250 pounds, running 18 mph. I don't do physics, but if I get hit, this is not going to protect me.

"It's just stuff like that [that] I feel like we can come to a better agreement and simplifying things and not taking the money out of the pockets of the players who are putting money into this entire game. It's just tough. It sucks to get fined for socks. Or in the middle of the game, have someone come up and it's like, 'Oh, your jersey is out.' I'm like, 'Bro I'm not worried about my jersey in the middle of the game.' I'm worried about what assignment do I have. A visor, this. All those little things that could be eliminated ... stuff that doesn't need to be so strict."

Cleveland center JC Tretter said he was fined $14,000 in the Beckham-Humphrey incident for trying to help break up the fight.

Beckham said he is going to pay Tretter's fine.

"That's a rule that they're trying to implement, so that people are coming in to pull you off a pile and then more fights start," Beckham said. "But it's just like, I'm trying to break it up for my team and get the thing situated and I've got however much money coming out of my pocket."

Beckham said he plans to appeal his fine.

"It's money out of my future family and kids' pocket. It's enough. I don't care if it's $5. Still taking money from me," Beckham said. "I just wish they could not worry about some of that stuff. Worry about the game. Worry about the other things that are going on."

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Clay Matthews suffered a broken jaw against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night and will be out for a month, coach Sean McVay said Friday.

Matthews, who had five tackles and a sack in the Rams' 30-29 loss, will have surgery.

McVay said he thinks the injury occurred on a physical play with Seahawks running back Chris Carson.

Matthews, 33, has six sacks this season -- with at least one in each game -- and has forced two fumbles.

ESPN's Lindsey Thiry contributed to this report.

Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman make it a first for Britain as they progress through tough semi-final stage in Doha

Three British athletes will feature in the men’s 1500m final at the IAAF World Championships for the first time in memory after Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman all made it through an incredibly difficult semi-final stage to reach Sunday’s showpiece contest.

After both semi-finals had been staged, a mere 0.35 of a second separated the times clocked by the 12 finalists, with Filip Ingebrigtsen and Ben Blankenship among those who did not progress.

It was Gourley’s turn first in a race which opened proceedings in front of the large Khalifa Stadium crowd and also featured Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot.

The London 2017 silver medallist led from start to finish but he had to work for his win in 3:36.53 and there was a sizeable crowd of runners right on his tail as they came careering down the finishing straight together.

Gourley, who had run confidently and positioned himself well, waited for his gap and charged through to take third place in the blanket finish in 3:36.69, the same time credited to Algerian runner-up Taoufik Makhloufi.

American Craig Engels (3:36.69) and Sweden’s Kalle Berglund (3:36.72) took the other two automatic qualifying slots as Blankenship (3:36.98) and Filip Ingebrigtsen (3:37.00) were left to sweat it out to see if they would be fast enough to qualify.

The second semi-final was similarly thrilling affair, however, and also came right down to the wire.

Kenya’s Ronald Kwemoi attempted to emulate the front-running exploits of fellow countryman Cheruiyot but he was overhauled in the closing stages by Marcin Lewandowski, the Pole crossing the line in 3:36.50.

Kwemoi clocked 3:36.53, the same time recorded by European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in third.

Kerr timed his run to the line perfectly and finished fourth in 3:36.58, with Youssouf Hiss Bachir of Djibouti taking the last automatic spot.

Who would get the two remaining ‘fastest loser’ places? Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz grabbed one with his season’s best 3:36.77, while Commonwealth and European bronze medallist Wightman got the other after coming seventh in 3:36.85.

“I was trying to stay inside as much as possible, conserve energy and stay patient because inevitably there are gaps in the last 200m you just need to make sure you can take advantage of them – you don’t get a second look and I was able to steal one in the last straight,” said Gourley.

“Recovery is a battle and I feel like I beat some people just by recovering better for today so I need to do that again come Sunday.”

He added: “A medal is the goal, its going to be tough but I’d be selling myself short if I wasn’t trying to do that.”

Team tactics or every man for himself in the 1500m final? Josh Kerr gives a diplomatic answer after 3 Brits make it through. #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/GHZdFGz87z

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 4, 2019

Kerr’s confidence was evident when he said: “I felt really strong. I had to trust my kick really well and I was able to do that. I got pushed in the back at points but my coach and I spoke about keeping a cool head and wherever I am at I know I can kick hard.

“I feel like I had another gear there if I needed to be so when I looked around and no one was gaining I had a little smile to myself. It was about making smart decisions, trusting myself and trusting my strength.”

Wightman admitted to a sense of relief.

“I made a mistake that I should have been punished for but I just got away with it,” he said. “I need to just chill out in rounds, I was just a bit too fixated in making that final and thought I could get into it a bit more easily than it turned out being.

“It doesn’t matter what size ‘q’, big or little, it’s just the point of getting that there and everyone’s on a level playing field now for the final.”

British relay teams were in great form too. The men’s 4x100m quartet led the qualifiers with a fast 37.56 with South Africa clocking an African record of 37.65 and Japan 37.78 and China 37.79 but the United States was only ninth quickest with 38.03 and the US survived an appeal by Italy and Canada that they had failed to exchange the baton at the last changeover.

The GB team of Adam Gemili, Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran a world lead for 2019 as they passed the baton in slick style.

Even without the world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith, Britain posted a fast 42.25 in the 4x100m heats, a metre down on Jamaica’s 42.11. The team of Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Ashleigh Nelson and Daryll Neita pushed a Jamaican team that might well be their team for the final with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce running the second leg.

The earlier semi was won in a slower 42.46 though the USA team may be stronger in the final.

Neita said: “The only way is up. We have come in here with such good preparation that we are not going to limit ourselves, we are going to go out there and do the best we can. We are not going to give away all of our secrets, just know that we practice a lot and we are very confident.”