GLENDORA, Calif. – NHRA officials have announced the 2020 schedule for the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Drag Racing Series, which will compete at eight of the 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

The category continues to grow in popularity as the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Drag Racing series showcases the best in American automotive muscle.

Competitors line up against each other for a heads-up contest showcasing drag-racing ready, factory-built vehicles including Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks and Chevrolet COPO Camaros.

2020 SamTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Drag Racing Series Schedule

March 12-15 – AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
April 24-26 – NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Charlotte, N.C.
May 15-17 – NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
June 25-28 – Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
July 9-12 – Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Chicago
Sept. 2-7 – NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis
Oct. 2-4 – AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis
Oct. 29-Nov. 1 – Dodge NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This Sunday the heavyweight title fight resumes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

In one corner, it’s the reigning champions, Action Express Racing – winners of four out of five WeatherTech Championship titles since 2014 – with its No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R shared by Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani. In the other corner, it’s Acura Team Penske – one of the most storied teams in U.S. motorsport history – with co-drivers Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 6 Acura ARX-05.

Cameron and Montoya come into the weekend holding the edge, a seven-point lead over Nasr and Derani with only Sunday’s two-hour, 40-minute Monterey SportsCar Championship Powered by McLaren and the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 12 remaining in the WeatherTech Championship season.

The No. 6 Acura duo has put together a championship-worthy run through the first eight races of the season with two victories and podium results in the past six consecutive races.

“We’ve been on the podium every race since Long Beach,” Cameron said. “I’m really impressed the stretch that we’re all proud of as a team. So, hopefully we can keep that going through the end of the year. Really, the consistency, continuing to be in that top-three range is kind of the key to success in this championship.”

Beyond that consistency, Cameron and Montoya also have finished ahead of the No. 31 team in each of the past six races – but not by much, hence the close margin in the DPi standings. Also, Derani and Nasr had a strong opening to the season with a runner-up result in January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona and a victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts, while Montoya and Cameron struggled in those races.

For Nasr, this is somewhat familiar territory. He was battling for a championship a year ago at WeatherTech Raceway, which he and then-co-driver Eric Curran managed to secure at season’s end.

“I’m eager to go back to my No. 31 Whelen Cadillac at a very special place like Laguna Seca, WeatherTech Raceway,” Nasr said. “It’s a pretty iconic circuit that we go to, and we’re just reaching the final stages of the championship. We are in that crucial point that every opportunity out there counts.

“Myself, the people in Action Express, we’re all aiming for a solid weekend. What I’ve learned from last year is when it comes to those last stages, it’s just crucial to minimize mistakes. Again, every opportunity counts. So, every practice, every session that we have each to maximize the potential of the car, the driving time and make sure we’re on top of everything.”

It was during this weekend last year at WeatherTech Raceway when the team announced that Derani would be joining Nasr as his full-season co-driver in the No. 31 Cadillac, with Curran shifting to an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup-only role. Two days after that announcement, Derani went out and won the race in the No. 22 Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan DPi with then-co-driver Johannes van Overbeek.

“Well, I love Laguna,” Derani said. “It’s a fantastic place, awesome atmosphere. So, I think in that regard, I’m really looking forward to the weekend. Obviously, we haven’t had the smoothest run. The last few races were not great, and we all know why, but I’m just trying to take it race by race.

“Hopefully, this weekend, we can repeat a win from last year, which would be great and put us back in the fight for the championship or stronger in the fight for the championship against the Penske No. 6.”

While they’re battling each other for the title, there’s healthy respect among the primary DPi title contenders. In fact, Cameron – who is chasing his third WeatherTech Championship title – won the GT Daytona (GTD) crown in 2014 with Turner Motorsport and the Prototype title in 2016 with the No. 31 Whelen team.

“Action is a great team,” Cameron said. “They’ve shown that with their results in the Prototype class in the last five years and a ton of championships. I enjoyed quite a lot of success together with them and with Eric. So, they’re certainly very capable and they know exactly what it takes to win races and to win this championship in particular.

“So, for us from Acura Team Penske, last year we made a lot of mistakes and weren’t able to capitalize. So, we spent a lot of time really trying to understand everything better, and really come out swinging for this.”

Nasr and Derani are going to come out swinging, too, at Acura Team Penske and every other opponent on the racetrack.

“I think all of us have great respect for the Penske organization,” Derani said. “They’ve won everything they’ve been involved with. But on the other hand, it’s just another team. We’re not going to go out there and just try to beat Penske. We have other teams that have been super strong the last few races, like Mazda, for example.

“I even believe Wayne Taylor has been super strong, compared to us. If you look at the last race, it was very close between car 31 and car 10. So, we’re going to go out there and try to do the best we can, no matter if it’s Team Penske or Mazda Joest, or whoever it is.”

Sounds like all the makings for a great title bout.

TORRANCE, Calif. – Team Honda HRC has announced its roster of riders for the 2020 race season, with a unique arrangement that will see two different riders competing in separate series alongside Ken Roczen.

Joining the factory squad during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will be Justin Brayton, who has ridden for the Smartop/MotoConcepts/Bullfrog Spas Honda team for the past three years and had planned to continue in that partnership until this opportunity arose.

In the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series, Brayton will pass the baton to current GEICO Honda rider and reigning 250SX East champion Chase Sexton, who will join the factory 450 effort full-time at that point.

A veteran rider with a solid résumé, Brayton brings experience and consistency to the table for the 17-race Supercross series. This isn’t his first stint with the team, as he raced with the factory Honda squad in 2012, when he scored his career-best series-overall placing of fourth, achieved with the help of five podium finishes and six additional top-five results.

Since Brayton’s return to the Honda brand in 2017, he and the MotoConcepts team have opted to race Supercross only, and he has continued to log impressive rides including his first victory, in 2018 aboard the MotoConcepts bike at Daytona —arguably the most challenging stop on the circuit.

The Iowa native is also a two-time Australian Supercross champion and will in fact return Down Under this fall to defend that title with the Penrite Honda squad before turning his attention to preparing for 2020 aboard a Team Honda HRC CRF450R.

“I’m beyond excited to be riding for factory Honda in the 2020 Supercross season,” said the 35-year-old Brayton. “Riding with the team in 2012 was the achievement of a dream for me, and I had my best season so far that year. Now I feel like I’m living my dream all over again, just a little older and more experienced to be able to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

“Justin has been nothing less than professional and respectful since the idea of his joining the Honda team was presented,” said Mike Genova, MotoConcepts team owner. “Justin has been a positive force on the MotoConcepts team, and I wish him nothing but the best in his future.”

Meanwhile, Sexton will have the opportunity to once again campaign the 2020 250SX series with GEICO Honda before moving up to the CRF450R for AMA Pro Motocross. The Illinois native will not defend his East crown in Supercross, but will instead ride a CRF250R in the West region before beginning his Team Honda HRC agreement, which currently runs through the 2023 season. There’s also a possibility of him periodically competing in the 450SX class at East rounds, as a wildcard rider.

“I’m super excited to be joining Team Honda HRC,” Sexton said. “Factory Honda is a team that I’ve wanted to ride for since I was a kid, so to have this opportunity is honestly a dream come true. I’m looking forward to starting this journey with them, and I think it will be a successful one. I think the CRF450R suits me because I’m a bigger guy and I ride it well. Still, 2020 is going to be a learning year for sure. I’m just getting my feet wet in the 450 class, and it will be good to have an outdoor series under my belt to get me ready for a full 17-round 2021 Supercross series. I’m also looking forward to being teammates with Ken. We’re pretty close friends and train together every day, so I think this will push us both and take us to the next level. You couldn’t ask for a better guy to have under the tent, with his speed and knowledge.”

“We’re really happy to see Chase get this opportunity,” said GEICO Honda co-owner Jeff Majkrzak. “He started with us in our Amsoil Honda amateur program and transitioned into GEICO Honda when he turned pro, and he has been a pleasure to work with the entire time. He has grown a lot in the last year or so, and he has earned this next step in his career. We look forward to working with him during his final 250SX series, and then to watching him progress on 450s.”

Brandon Wilson, American Honda’s Manager of Advertising & Motorcycle Sports, explained that although switching riders mid-year is unusual, it makes sense for the team considering the circumstances.

“It really started with Chase progressing so quickly,” Wilson said. “He’s someone that we already had our eye on for the future, and he rides a 450 really well, with a lot of speed and confidence. We thought starting him off outdoors would ease his transition, with no expectations other than to learn the team, bike and competition before rolling all that into his first full year on 450s in 2021. We also thought what a great fit it would be to have Justin come onboard just for Supercross. He’s a Honda guy, and he understands our team structure and knows many staff members from his years on a Honda, which should allow for a smooth transition. Lastly, he’s a veteran of the sport, with a wealth of knowledge, which should benefit our program on many levels. I’d also like to express gratitude to our amazing partners, Smartop/MotoConcepts/Bullfrog Spas Honda’s Mike Genova and Tony Alessi, and GEICO Honda’s Jeff Majkrzak and Rick Zielfelder, all of whom were incredibly supportive with both of these ideas. Everyone here at Honda thanks them for working with us. We’re looking forward to a solid year from all of our riders and teams.”

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenseman Josh Morrissey to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension.

The Jets announced the move on Thursday, one day before the start of training camp.

The deal, which starts in 2020-21 and carries Morrissey through the 2027-28 season, has an average annual value of $6.25 million.

The 24-year-old Morrissey had one year left on a two-year contract with a cap hit of $3.15 million.

Morrissey will be paid $8 million in the first two years and fourth year of the deal. He receives $5.2 million in the third year, $6.4 million in the fifth year and $4.8 million in each of the last three seasons.

Morrissey had a career-high 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 59 games with the Jets last season.

A first-round pick (13th overall) by the Jets in 2013, Morrissey was third on the team in average ice time last season at 22 minutes, 24 seconds.

Morrissey returns to a Jets blueline that lost Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot during the offseason.

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Danielle Kang grabbed most of the pre-event headlines at this 16th Solheim Cup, but she won’t be garnering the attention in Friday’s opening session.

When U.S. captain Juli Inkster announced her first four foursomes pairings, Kang’s name was not called. Inkster, though, insisted that Kang’s exclusion was not because of controversial comments made by Kang in the event’s leadup and during her Wednesday presser at Gleneagles.

“Just kind of the way they shook out,” Inkster said Thursday. “She’s going to play. I’m not going to play anybody five matches, so someone’s gotta sit sometime. She’ll get out there and she’ll get out there a lot.”

The flamboyant Kang first stirred the pot on a Golf.com podcast, saying the Solheim Cup is fun because “you’re trying to take souls” and “you're going there to make people cry.” She then stated Wednesday that, “I hear that I’m going to be booed.”

The comments caught the attention of the European team members. Suzann Pettersen playfully responded, “We’re just going to step on their necks.”

But Inkster isn’t worried about Kang’s words adding any fuel to the fire.

“I really don’t think the European team needs any ammunition,” Inkster said. “We’re both ready to go. We both want to play. I’m not sure someone could say anything to me to make me want to hit a shot any better than I do tomorrow morning.”

Inkster added: “It’s the whole social media thing. Everything’s kind of blown out of proportion She was just having fun with it.

“And it’s Danielle.”

While the PGA Tour's brief offseason may have felt like a blink for some, others like Robby Shelton couldn't wait to get to work Thursday at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.

"Last night it was tough to sleep," Shelton told reporters. "I've been waiting for this moment all season."

In his first round as a Tour member, Shelton channeled that nervous energy into some great play at the first event of the new wraparound season, firing an 8-under 62 to take an early advantage in West Virginia.

Shelton won a national championship in 2014 as a freshman at Alabama, and he tied for third the following year as an amateur at the Barbasol Championship. But his early career as a pro has been slower to develop than some of his former teammates, as he made a detour to the Mackenzie Tour in Canada before two seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour.

But Shelton blossomed this summer, winning twice in a three-start span to ensure a promotion for this season.

"I think my sponsor exemptions and stuff, I thought I had to change my game and try to play with the big boys," Shelton said. "Now, I mean, I know it's just golf. Been through the Mackenzie Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour, so I know what my game has. And if I can just get to that sooner, that's the goal."

Shelton is considered a "first-time member" by the Tour, with the eight non-member starts he made during the 2017 season making him ineligible for the Rookie of the Year race. He plans to stay busy this fall, with starts in each of the first five weeks of the new season and planned trips to seven of the first 10 events.

His opening round at Greenbrier included nine birdies against just a single bogey, and the 62 is two shots lower than his previous career best on Tour.

"Been a heck of a season, and the game is trending in a good direction again," Shelton said. "Super excited and just ready to get the next three (rounds) going."

AMSTERDAM – Unheralded Callum Shinkwin shot five birdies and an eagle Thursday on his way to a 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead after the first round of the 100th edition of the KLM Open.

The 26-year-old British golfer is ranked No. 446 and hasn't made the cut in his last three tournaments since the British Open as he struggled with illness and a back injury. But he started with a birdie on the second hole and an eagle on the third, before making his lone bogey on No. 5. He finished with two more birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to sit one shot clear of a group of seven players, including Gavin Green.

Sergio Garcia was among eight players sitting two shots behind Shinkwin.

Joost Luiten, who won this tournament in 2013 and '16, started badly with three bogeys in his outward nine holes before making six birdies on his back nine to leave him level with defending champion Ashun Wu and seven others on 69.

Living the life as a PGA Tour player is what most golf fans dream of, and generally it's all fun and games (and usually a little money here and there). But that's not always the case, as Justin Thomas recently found out.

In a recent trip to the dermatologist, Thomas ran into a scare where a mole on his left leg was discovered to be in the early stages of melanoma. Lucky for him, it was found early enough to likely prevent any issues moving forward.

After resolving the scare, Thomas took to social media to address the situation, and give warning to those who spend a lot of time out in the sun.

"No harm can come from [getting checked] and it's the best way to catch anything before it becomes a serious issue," Thomas said.

As the heat of summer begins to wind down, it might be time to put the sticks down and head to the doctor. Better safe than sorry.

Sungjae Im had an impressive rookie campaign on the PGA Tour, capped off by claiming the Rookie of the Year award Wednesday. But he's got no intentions of slowing down in Year 2.

Im is kicking off the new year at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier and already provided a spark to the new season after his tee shot at the par-3 16th at The Old White TPC.

This is nothing new, though, for Im. Last season, Im carded a hole-in-one at the par-3 13th at TPC Sawgrass.

Guess they do say history has a way of repeating itself.