WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – With the Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli TA2 season winding down, every lap matters, even in qualifying.

The TA2 presented by AEM class drivers felt that urgency on Friday afternoon as the field of American muscle machines were flat out from the drop of the green flag.

By the time the checkered flag flew on the 20-minute session, the top-five drivers were only separated by seven tenths of a second with the front three rows claimed by a mix of  TA2 class veterans and rookies.

Not only fighting against his competitors, Rafa Matos was also fighting off an illness, but the defending champion didn’t let that keep him down as he captured his fourth pole of the 2019 season. Driving the No. 88 3Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro, Matos was able to  eclipse TA2 points leader Marc Miller by seven hundredths of a second with a fast time of 1:51.197 seconds on his third flying lap.

“I had a rough night trying to recover from this sickness,” Matos said. “We are doing everything we can to recover points from Marc (Miller). We are getting better every day. Every point counts. We need to get pole position point, the fastest lap of the race point and the win, all while hoping that Marc doesn’t have a good result, but this thing is far from over.”

Feeling the pressure from other drivers right from the start, Miller in the No. 40 Prefix/Stevens-Miller Racing Dodge Challenger drove hard from the green to the checkered in qualifying, but stayed focused on the big picture to claim another front row start, just 0.070 of a second adrift of Matos.

“Qualifying is one of those times where we should be spread out and not around each other, but today that just wasn’t the case,” Miller explained. “I got passed more in qualifying than I did in any of the three sessions just on the out lap. Things got a little haywire out there. Guys were really trying to push themselves and the track limits.  While a lot of the guys were racey, we were a little bit more methodical and got a couple good laps in and were just shy of pole position.”

The 2016 NASA Eastern States Spec Miata National Champion Tyler Kicera is making his professional motorsports debut  in TA2 class competition, wheeling the No. 4 Carbotech Brakes Kicera Motorsports Ford Mustang. While Kicera is new to the TA2 class, he has a lot of experience on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit. Kicera claimed the track record at Watkins Glen in a Spec Miata on his way to his 2016 title.

Kicera’s first outing in TA2 was bittersweet. The Pennsylvania-native set the third fastest time of the day on the opening lap with a time of 1:51.500-seconds, but incidental contact with another car in Lap 2 wrecked his front end and his chance of taking pole.

“The opening lap was pretty full on,” said Kicera. “I thought we would go out and warm the car, but the other guys ahead of me kind of went, so I figured I probably needed to follow suit being the new guy. I got a really good first lap in and then got mixed up with some people, and ruined my shot at pole. It’s frustrating that we sit P3 on the grid and have to spend a lot of time this evening to try to make the race tomorrow.”

Sharing second row is another top contender, Thomas Merrill. Returning to the No. 81 Skip Barber Ford Mustang, Merrill slid into a P4 start his first time driving the Big Diehl Racing prepared TA2 car at Watkins Glen.

“These things are awesome to drive around Watkins Glen,” Merrill said. “This place is super fast, super smooth and flying these things through the chicane is a special experience.”

Scott Lagasse Jr. in the No. 92 SLR/Fields Racing/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro rounded out the top five.

Outfitted in a BC Race Car, 17-year-old Kent Vaccaro made his mark in the TA2 class, driving the No. 25 BC Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro. Piloting a car with a roof for the first time, the open-wheel young gun finished just outside the top-five in sixth place with a fast time of 1:52.302.

“It was a tremendous day,” Vaccaro beamed after his first qualifying session. “I got comfortable with the car pretty quickly. My coach told me today to lick the stamp and send it, and that’s exactly what we did. BC Race Cars gave me a fast car this weekend, and I was able to showcase that in qualifying. I’m used to running open wheel cars for around 30-minutes per session. The heat and extended track time in the car are things that I’ve had to get used to, but the Cool Shirt really makes a difference.”

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Ty Gibbs session was cut short after breaking a right lower ball joint on his No. 26 Mike Cope Racing machine entering the first turn of The Loop, placing him in Row 4 for Saturday’s 100-mile race.

“Breaking the ball joint ruined our qualifying session,” Gibbs said. “We only got two laps in and will start seventh. Mike Cope Racing gave me a really good car and we will kill it in the race tomorrow.”

Duke officials said outside investigators spent five months looking into attorney Michael Avenatti's claims that Nike funneled money to players, including former Blue Devils star Zion Williamson, to steer them toward college basketball programs it sponsored and found no evidence supporting his allegations.

Duke said it found no proof that Williamson, the 2019 ACC Player of the Year as a freshman and the No. 1 pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in June's NBA draft, received improper benefits that would have made him ineligible to play for the Blue Devils last season.

"As soon as Duke was made aware of any allegation that might have affected Zion Williamson's eligibility, we conducted a thorough and objective investigation which was directed by individuals outside the athletics department," Duke spokesman Michael Schoenfeld told the News & Observer, which was first to report results of the investigation. "We found no evidence to support any allegation. Zion thrived as both a student and an athlete at Duke, and always conducted himself with integrity and purpose."

In a statement to ESPN on Friday, Avenatti said the people conducting Duke's outside investigation never contacted him.

"I never heard from anyone associated with Duke in connection with my allegations or any investigation," Avenatti said. "I was never asked a single question. I was never asked what information or documents that I was aware of. Who the hell conducted this investigation? Inspector Clouseau?

"The documents and the hard evidence do not lie. Zion Williamson was paid to attend Duke. [Coach Mike Krzyzewski] has made and facilitated payments to players for years. And when the truth comes out -- and eventually it will -- Coach K and Duke's reputation will forever and rightfully be tarnished.

"And if what I'm saying is untrue, I challenge Coach K and Duke University to file a defamation lawsuit against me tomorrow and we can let the chips fall where they may."

Last month, Avenatti's attorneys filed a court motion that alleged a Nike employee at least approved under-the-table payments to Williamson and former Indiana star Romeo Langford when they were still in high school in February 2017.

The alleged offers -- $35,000 or more for Williamson and $20,000 for Langford -- were purportedly discovered among "text messages, e-mails and other documents from 2016-17 ... proving that Nike executives had arranged for and concealed payments, often in cash, to amateur basketball players and their families and 'handlers,'" according to the motion filed in U.S. District Court in New York.

Federal prosecutors charged Avenatti in March with attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to expose the shoe company's alleged improper payments to high-profile players in its grassroots basketball league, the EYBL.

Avenatti has pleaded not guilty, and last month his lawyers asked a federal judge to dismiss the charges on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Vlade Divac is leading off the festivities at the Basketball Hall of Fame's 2019 enshrinement ceremonies.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star was the first to be inducted Friday night at Springfield's Symphony Hall. He would be joined later by Jack Sikma, Sidney Moncrief, Paul Westphal, Bobby Jones, Al Attles and Teresa Weatherspoon.

Chuck Cooper and Carl Braun were inducted posthumously, and Bill Fitch was unable to attend for health reasons.

Divac, born in the former Yugoslavia, was one of the first Europeans to star in the NBA, playing seven-plus seasons with the Lakers and six with the Sacramento Kings. He was presented by Jerry West, the Lakers executive who drafted him. West, who was inducted in 1980, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday.

NEW YORK -- Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper exited Friday night's game against the New York Mets with a right-hand contusion after he was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Mets starter Steven Matz in the third inning.

Harper, batting with one out and a runner on third, was ahead in the count 1-0 when Matz's 93 mph fastball sailed up and in on him. Harper recoiled and the ball ricocheted off his hand.

The 26-year-old fell to his knees and gripped his hand in pain before getting to his feet and walking back to the plate, where Mets catcher Wilson Ramos appeared to ask Harper how he was doing. Harper put his head on Ramos' shoulder before Ramos, a former teammate with the Washington Nationals, patted him on the shoulder.

After a brief visit from a trainer and manager Gabe Kapler, Harper trotted to first base. He was retired at second on an inning-ending double play by Rhys Hoskins, after which Sean Rodriguez trotted out to replace Harper in right field.

Harper's plunking might be the latest chapter in what has become a volatile rivalry this season. The Mets have been hit by a pitch 14 times in 16 games against the Phillies, who have been hit by a New York pitcher eight times.

Hoskins took offense to a pair of up-and-in pitches from Jacob Rhame on April 23 and punctuated his displeasure by taking a 35-second home run trot after going deep off Rhame the next night.

On July 6, Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta hit three Mets batters. Todd Frazier, the second batter plunked by Arrieta, was ejected for arguing after home plate umpire Tripp Gibson warned both teams. Two batters later, Arrieta wasn't ejected after hitting Amed Rosario with a changeup, though New York manager Mickey Callaway was tossed for arguing. After the game, Arrieta said if Frazier was unhappy about being hit, "he can come see me and I'll put a dent in his skull."

Harper, in the first year of a 13-year contract worth $330 million, is batting .254 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs in 136 games.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs shortstop Javy Baez will get an MRI on his left thumb Saturday as he continues to remain out of the lineup after jamming it on a headfirst slide last Sunday.

"When he came in today [Friday] he tried to swing," manager Joe Maddon said. "It still didn't feel right. As opposed to continually waiting, we just want to find out what we're dealing with."

Baez will miss his fourth consecutive game Friday and will miss Saturday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers as well. He was a late scratch Thursday after attempting to take batting practice.

The Cubs won't have a timetable for him until after they see the results of the MRI.

Meanwhile, pitcher Yu Darvish was cleared to start his game Saturday after missing his previous outing with tightness in his right forearm. Darvish said he's been dealing with the injury for over two months, having first felt something during a game July 3. It hasn't affected his performance, as the right-hander has compiled a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since that appearance, but it might have limited some outings.

"Every time in the fifth or sixth inning, I start feeling tightness," Darvish said. "That's why Joe [Maddon] sometimes pulls me."

Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel said he is optimistic he'll have a short stint on the injured list as he recovers from elbow inflammation. He hasn't pitched since Sunday.

"We were pleased with what we saw on the MRI," Kimbrel said. "Take a few days off, let it rest and crank it back up."

Kimbrel isn't sure if his June signing with the Cubs has led to the two different injured-list stints for him, including one for a sore knee.

"We'll never know," the right-hander said. "I've been pitching in the big leagues for a few years. You don't go through a season without ups and downs."

Kimbrel is available to come off the injured list Thursday.

INDIANAPOLIS — Chase Briscoe remembers the first time he saw Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His father was driving the car and young Briscoe was only 6 years old. The family was buying the youngster a fire suit for quarter-midget racing.

He was amazed by how big the speedway looked from the outside. As he aged, the native of Mitchell, Ind., watched both the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 from the stands at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It’s always special just getting to come here; but it’s even more special getting to drive a race car here,” Briscoe told SPEED SPORT Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Briscoe is a native Hoosier getting to live his dream of racing for another Indiana born and bred racer, Tony Stewart. Briscoe drives the No. 98 Ford Performance Ford and will be on the grid for Saturday’s eighth annual Indiana 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

So, what’s it like for a native Hoosier to get to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“It’s honestly one of the most humbling experiences you can have,” Briscoe said. “I was thinking as I was walking to the car, coming here four years ago, passing out business cards and having to sneak in here to do that.

“It’s crazy now that I’m driving for my hero in Tony Stewart at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a top NASCAR series,” Briscoe added. “It’s unbelievable and humbling.

“To get to run one lap here, one race here for a small town, Southern Indiana kid is something very special.”

Earlier this week, Briscoe was one of the many drivers who got to take part in the BC39 Midget Classic at the Dirt Track at IMS. The event wrapped up Thursday night and honors the memory of Bryan Clauson, who was killed in the Belleville Nationals on Aug. 7, 2016.

“Bryan Clauson was someone I looked up to,” Briscoe said. “He was four or five years older than me and my Dad was still racing when Bryan started when he was 13. I thought, ‘Man, that kid isn’t much older than me and he’s racing against my dad, running up front and battling for wins.’

“Then, I started racing sprint cars when I was 13 and Bryan is the guy I always looked up to.

“It’s special that Indianapolis Motor Speedway honors Bryan the way they do,” Briscoe added. “Bryan had a lot of history here, running the Indianapolis 500. He is the only guy in the last 15 or 20 years that has opened that doorway to sprint car guys having a chance to run in the Indy 500 without having money behind them.”

Briscoe has high praise for both the BC39 and the work Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles has done by adding grassroots racing to the NASCAR weekend at IMS.

“Doug Boles does an amazing job supporting grass roots racing,” Briscoe said. Last night was the first night I met him in person, but he has revitalized the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. How he is able to tie in dirt racing with IndyCar and NASCAR, the grassroots level of racing. Everybody feels welcome when they come to IMS to promote the sport.

“Both sides benefit,” Briscoe continued. “There are dirt fans who wouldn’t go to a NASCAR race or watch a NASCAR race, but there is Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell and myself, guys they watched at the local dirt-track racing here. There are also NASCAR fans that would probably never watch a dirt track race or a midget race of a sprint car race, now they see guys like us in NASCAR go down there and it piques their interest.

“I think it’s the perfect circle, in my opinion.”

With NASCAR Xfinity Series’ playoff field determined next week at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Briscoe is hoping and confident he is ready for that challenge.

“I think it’s going to be one of those guys laying in the weeds and I think that’s going to be us,” said Briscoe, who is locked into the playoff field after a victory at Iowa Speedway earlier this year. “The last seven weeks, we haven’t run outside of the top six or seven. We’ve been up front every week.

“I like the fact we are doing it quietly. There is not as much pressure to run up front. We’ve put ourselves in positions every week and people don’t recognize us.

“We’ve been peaking at the right time and hitting our stride at the right time,” he said. “If we can get to Homestead, I believe we will be one of those guys that is tough to beat. Getting there is the hardest part.”

Mexico forward Hirving Lozano has said Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated him after he scored on his Napoli debut.

Lozano, 24, was introduced at half-time at the Allianz Stadium with his side 2-0 down before Ronaldo added a third. However, he helped inspire a fight back with the second goal as they came back to draw level before Kalidou Koulibaly's stoppage time own goal handed Juve a 4-3 win.

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And, despite Lozano's goal creating tension for the Juventus players, he said Ronaldo complimented him as he ran back to his own half.

"When I scored the 3-2 in Juve-Napoli, Ronaldo came to me and congratulated me," Lozano said.

"He welcomed me to Italy. It was a really nice thing, because he is a spectacular player and at a very high level.

"I really enjoyed the game, because the team was great, despite the fact we played against top players -- not just Ronaldo."

Despite scoring just 23 minutes into his Napoli debut, Lozano said he is still getting used to life in Serie A.

"I am adapting to the Italian habits, even if I have only recently arrived," he added. "I thank God and the manager [Carlo Ancelotti].

"His faith [in me] helps me, it is going well. My objective is to work, to integrate well within the squad, to improve my football and to learn from more experienced players as well as Ancelotti."