I Dig Sports
From hotel dash to career-best run - Kartal reaches Indian Wells last 16
Kartal had a superb end to 2024, winning her first WTA Tour title and breaking into the world's top 100.
It came after a difficult start to the year where the Englishwoman was "in and out of hospital" after a health scare.
After three months out, Kartal returned to the tour and steadily worked her way up the rankings before triumphing in Monastir in October.
She came back from an early break down against Kudermetova, winning three games in a row to take the first set, before taking advantage as her opponent's shot-making grew ragged.
"It wasn't as comfortable as it maybe looked," said Kartal.
"My goal was to hold my serve and make her play every ball and keep the scoreboard pressure high.
"I kept my cool and upped my level when it mattered the most."
She will face a tough task against Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, who described herself as "hungrier on court" after losing in the Australian Open final in January.
Madison Keys, who beat Sabalenka in Melbourne to win her first major title, also progressed on Monday, beating Elise Mertens 6-2 6-7 (8-10) 6-4.
American Keys has yet to lose a match this year and will face either compatriot Emma Navarro or Donna Vekic for a place in the quarter-finals.
Draper solves Brooksby puzzle to reach Indian Wells fourth round
Draper's only two losses this year have come against Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open fourth round - where he had to retire with injury - and the Qatar Open final against Andrey Rublev.
He adapted well against Brooksby - an unorthodox player with a variety of shots to trouble most opponents.
Draper was broken in his first service game of the match, with Brooksby targeting his backhand, but he adapted well to the American's tempo.
After missing a break-back point at 4-2 on Brooksby's serve, Draper tossed his racquet away in frustration - but that seemed to refocus him and he took his next break opportunity to force the set back on serve.
A smash at the net allowed Draper to break and serve for the first set, which he wrapped up with an ace.
He kept the pressure on in the second, breaking early before serving out victory in one hour and 42 minutes.
"It wasn't my most clinical or cleanest performance, but it is part and parcel of being a tennis player and playing these kind of matches," added Draper.
"I feel I'm hitting the ball and feeling confident, but it is nice knowing you can win against a tough opponent despite not playing your best."
Draper has also decided to play doubles in Indian Wells alongside Czech player Tomas Machac, explaining he believes it will enhance his singles game.
"I want to keep on being aggressive and keep improving my net game - playing doubles here and there at the right time of the year will only help," he said.
Prop Tadhg Furlong is set to play his first Test since July when Ireland take on Italy in Rome in their last game of the 2025 Six Nations.
Simon Easterby's side still have an outside chance of securing the title despite their defeat against France but must win at the Stadio Olimpico and hope results later in the day go their way.
The tight-head prop has been recovering from hamstring and calf injuries that caused him to miss the first four games of the championship as well as Ireland's four Tests in the autumn.
He has not played any rugby since Leinster's Champions Cup win over La Rochelle on 12 January.
Interim head coach Easterby also expects to have Mack Hansen back after the Connacht wing missed the loss to France with a quad injury.
Centre Garry Ringrose is available for Rome after suspension while decisions on wing James Lowe and hooker Ronan Kelleher will be made later in the week.
Lowe was a late change from the line-up to face France as a result of a back injury in the warm-up while Kelleher has had a neck issue.
The game will be the final Ireland Tests for retiring trio Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy.
England vice-captain Jamie George says the Six Nations finale in Cardiff will be like a "World Cup final" for Wales as they seek to end a 16-match losing streak.
The two sides meet on Saturday with England in contention to win their first title since 2020.
But Wales will be desperate to stop their record losing run against their biggest rivals, according to George.
"Wales are going to be so motivated - England against Wales in Cardiff is huge," the hooker told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"It will be their World Cup final. It doesn't get much bigger than Wales against England in Cardiff."
After losing in Dublin on the opening weekend, England have recovered to win three on the bounce - and a fourth victory would leave them well placed if favourites France were to slip up against Scotland on the final day.
Bielle-Biarrey now has 17 tries from his first 18 caps but has some way to go to catch his Bordeaux-Begles team-mate Damian Penaud.
Penaud crossed for his 38th try for France in the win over Ireland, equalling the record held by the legendary Serge Blanco.
The 28-year-old has reached his tally in significantly fewer games, having won 55 caps to Blanco's 93.
Thomas Ramos is another French player with an eye on a landmark. The 29-year-old will surpass former fly-half Frederic Michalak as France's all-time record points scorer if he can score seven points to reach a total of 437.
Barring a wasteful defeat by England in round two, France have been ruthless.
They have scored 26 tries in four matches, 11 of them in the 74-23 thrashing of Italy, which is France's biggest ever win in the championship.
If they keep up that rate of scoring, they will comfortably break the record for tries scored in a single campaign, which was set by England when they crossed 29 times en route to the title in 2001.
And if the title race comes down to points difference, France have accumulated the incredible tally of +106 compared to England +20, Ireland's +13 and Scotland's +3.
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Euan Ferrie, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Ewan Johnson, Jack Mann, Alexander Masibaka, Nathan McBeth, Ben Muncaster, D'Arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Sam Skinner, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes.
Backs: Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Adam Hastings, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell, Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.
'England had Italy on the ropes but didn't recreate French demolition job'
England are certainly building momentum at Allianz Stadium and have not lost at home in the Six Nations since their record defeat by France in 2023.
But those England players who have played in Cardiff will know there is an enormous home factor there as well, and particularly when England are in town.
It is notoriously a tricky place for England to play rugby.
It was probably my favourite venue to play at outside of Twickenham because you are challenged to the max and it is incredibly intimidating, but also rewarding when you play well.
Wales have proven they can score tries and cause problems. In a neutral venue I'm saying England are winning by 10-15 points, but at the Principality, it makes it a one score game either way.
The players who have played there before will be advising those that haven't as to what to expect but you can times that by 10 because next Saturday is going to be ferocious.
It is fantastic for the Six Nations that three teams are still be in the title race, but realistically, for France to lose at home to Scotland after that performance against Ireland, seems like such an impossibility.
This tournament is so unique and France showed up to Twickenham and coughed up a few opportunities, so you never know.
But I've not seen them play like that for a couple of years.
They all tapped into their inner super human powers and it all came together, even with the loss of Antoine Dupont.
They have got their mojo back and are set to get themselves back on track towards the World Cup.
CONCORD, N.C. If youre going through Hell, keep going. That quote from Winston Churchill rings true for the top stars of dirt late model racing who built their names and reputations on the Summer Nationals Hell Tour.
The grueling journey, which packs 30 or more races into a stretch between June and July has become a proving ground for drivers of all levels that compete with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models and Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.
Whether youre looking at the past or current day, many of dirt racings top late model and modified drivers cut their teeth on the tour before being promoted to the national level. Among the current group include Summer Nationals champions like Ashton Winger (2023), Bobby Pierce (2015-2017, 2021-2022), Brandon Sheppard (2013), Brian Shirley (2012, 2018-2020), Dennis Erb Jr (2007-2009), Tyler Erb (2024) and Nick Hoffman, who won five Modified Nationals titles (2016, 2019-2022).
Each have a rich history with the Summer Nationals, and each have a unique path to getting there. In Part one of this three-part series, well explore how and why each of these national stars found their way to the Hell Tour.
Paths To A Midwestern Summer
Champions of the Hell Tour come from different backgrounds of familiarity. Some drivers grew up in the American Heartland roots of the Series, while others dreamed of racing the tour despite living outside the area.
Brian Shirley who now competes full-time with the World of Outlaws grew up attending Summer Nationals events around his hometown of Chatham, Ill. Then, he became one of the top drivers of the tour with four titles and 42 wins since joining the tour in 2002.
I think the biggest thing is you get a months worth of racing to help you understand where you want to be with your race car, Shirley said. You race night in and night out at different racetracks and it gives you an opportunity to keep your brain fresh on what youre feeling and the things you need to do to be better after the night. Normally, you go home, and you sit on it for a weeks worth of time.
I feel like theres guys that are considered to be some of the greatest to do it, World of Outlaws champions, and multi-time champions on national tours. So, for me to be able to say Ive competed with them and have been able to beat them guys on a one-to-one level is an accomplishment for me to realize at some point in time.
Dennis Erb Jr. ended the 2000s with three-straight championships from 2007 to 2009. The Dynamic Duo of the Carpentersville, Ill., native and crew chief Heather Lyne picked up 25 Hell Tour wins and have participated in at least three or more Summer Nationals races since 2002.
Growing up in Illinois, I was growing up and going off and hitting them races, Erb Jr said. Just being able to get out on the road and race with the group of guys that I grew up watching racing and learn from them, getting familiar with different race tracks. It was a lot of fun, but we had a good time back then.
Nick Hoffman, who grew up in the heartland of the Summer Nationals, became one of its biggest stars before he turned 30 with five Summit Modified Nationals titles and 69 Feature wins.
Before packing his bags for Mooresville, N.C., and becoming a World of Outlaws star, he visited the local tracks around his hometown of St. Louis, MO to see his dad and uncle race dirt Modifieds and witness his heroes compete in the Hell Tour.
I grew up as a fan of the Summer Nationals, Hoffman said. Living in the St. Louis area and being able to watch guys like Shannon Babb, Scott (Bloomquist), and obviously Billy Moyer. A lot of big names that paved their way through the Summer Nationals, and I dont think a guy like (Brandon) Sheppard or (Bobby) Pierce wouldnt be as good as they are today without the Summer Nationals.
Its just a really cool series. Its super grueling and tough, but its been special to me. Ive been able to win it five times, and three times where I did it from start to finish. I was hoping to get my first (Late Model win) at Wayne County Speedway last year, so Ill have to go back for more.
Oakwood, Ill., native Bobby Pierce was also raised in the soul of the Summer Nationals by his father, Bob Pierce, who won two titles (1992, 1995) and 14 Feature wins between 1990 and 2002.
The younger Pierce took his first crack at the Hell Tour at 12-years-old in 2009. Eight years later he eclipsed his dads win record and then his title record the following year. By 2022, The Smooth Operator amassed five championships and 49 feature wins.
(Summer Nationals) means a lot to me, Pierce said. I grew up watching that stuff. Obviously, being in the prime area for it in Illinois, I feel like the Summer Nationals was always a way to gather around it in Illinois and the other states around. I feel a lot of times that its more exciting than the big tours because its grassroots racers, mixed in with some good regional guys, and then you get some national guys turn in the mix every now and then and it becomes this grueling series.
No matter how prepared you can be, youre probably never prepared enough. Theres always going to be something. If you think its rolling good, good luck, cause its bound to turn around and vice versa. Its fun when its going your way and it can be hell if its not. I love all the racetracks, so I miss it a little bit, though, I dont miss when it was like 100 degrees and going from track to track with everything torn up.
Before becoming the winningest champion in World of Outlaws history, a teenaged Brandon Sheppard, from New Berlin, Ill., burst onto the Midwest racing scene in the early 2010s as his dad, Steve Sheppard Jr., entered the twilight stages of his full-time racing career.
After a successful debut for Rocket1 Racing in 2012, Sheppard returned to his family team and took it to new heights with his first Summer Nationals title in 2013.
It means a lot to me because thats where I got to build up the majority of my experience and the first traveling away from home to race was on Summer Nationals, Sheppard explained. Even before I started racing, I went with my dad and got to meet all these guys, travel up and down the road and see how it was done and what it took.
Its always gonna have a special place in me. Its definitely changed a lot over the years, but overall, its always going to be The Hell Tour and its always gonna be close to me. I hope we can get to pop in and do a few of those races this year. (Its) something I look forward to over the summer months is seeing which one of those races Im able to swing in and make.
Not all Summer Nationals stars were born from its heartland or even started their career there. Some, like Hampton, Georgias Ashton Winger, found their way there after already being on a national tour.
Winger made the jump from regional racing in the south to the national ranks in 2020. However, when he couldnt continue at that level, he found a new home on the Summer Nationals tour. Using the step to rebuild, he finished second in Summer Nationals points in 2021 and then won the title in 2023. Now, hes back on the World of Outlaws tour full-time in 2025.
Its cool to call myself a champion of it, Winger said. Anytime your names next to guys to Scott (Bloomquist) and Billy (Moyer), Terbo, Bobby (Pierce), (Shannon) Babb, (Brian) Shirley, everybody. Its just really cool because were not really from that area, so we always made it a point to go out in that part of the country and race.
New Waverly, Texas, gasser Tyler Erb followed a similar path last year. After racing full-time on the national tour with the World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Series from 2017 to 2023, he changed course and competed full-time on the Summer Nationals tour last year aboard his Best Performance Motorsports No. 1 Rocket Chassis.
Terbo grabbed 11 Feature wins and his first career Late Model championship in what he dubbed The Fun Tour.
Its cool, I never won a championship of any sort, Erb said. Ive never been that good of a points racer, Im kind of like a win-or-lose type of guy. That was my mindset the whole time. If you win the most races, you should be in a good position with points, and thats how it played out.
I feel proud to be a part of what we did last year, and it gives everybody some hope to keep going because its possible. I ran Lucas and Outlaws, and then did [the Hell Tour]. I think it helped me prepare to run it. I never raced at home much. I started in Texas, but its not a super late model area, so I dont have a home-turf advantage. I like to just show up, race, and make it my home track that day.
No matter where a driver is from or what stage of their career theyre in, there is also a welcoming path to the Hell Tour. In Part II of this series out on Monday, March 17 well dive into how each of these drivers dealt with the grueling pace of the tour.
West Coast Induction Ceremony Is Thursday In Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame will celebrate its 22nd round of inductions presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, on Thursday at the South Point Resort and Casino.
The event the first held outside the state of California will host luminaries from throughout the motorsports universe and draw an audience of nearly 500.
The program also will reveal the 2025 Knockin Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presented by 51FIFTY.
Members of the class of 2025 are A.J. Allmendinger, Los Gatos, Calif.; NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series veteran; Chuck Gurney, Oakland, Calif.; United States Auto Club Silver Crown and supermodified champion; Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho; Canadian-American Modified Association champion; Indianapolis 500 veteran and race promoter; Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash., three-time NASCAR Northwest Series driver champion and former NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West owner; Justin Marks, Menlo Park, Calif., founder and team owner of Trackhouse Entertainment Group and Trackhouse Racing; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am and GRAND-AM GT champion; Rick Ware, Los Angeles, Calif., owner of teams competing in NASCAR Cup Series, the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the NTT INDYCAR Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, and FIM World Supercross and AMA American Flat Track motorcycles.
The 2025 Heritage Class is comprised of the racing Unser family, nine-time Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser; three generations of the Hunt family Joe, Tommy and Tony; California supermodified champion Mike Sargent; and two-time United States Auto Club national midget champion Sleepy Tripp.
The organizations second Pioneers of Speed will be enshrined. They are Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Fresno, Calif., race and auto show promoter; Ted Halibrand, Southern California pioneer of wheels and brakes; Ed Iskenderian, Los Angeles, known as The Camfather; Jack London, Oakland, Calif., midget competitor and longtime Bay Cities Racing Assn president; and Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Assn.
Dover Set For 61-Race Slate With Estenson Motorsports
SPRINGFIELD, Neb. Jack Dover has landed a new opportunity that leads to one of his most ambitious racing schedules in the last decade.
Dover, who served as the crew chief for Tim Estenson Motorsports the last two seasons, has been tabbed as the full-time team driver. A preliminary schedule has 61 races on the slate tied for his second-most scheduled races since 2016 in the 410ci winged sprint car division.
Tim isnt done racing, Dover said. Weve all agreed to do this as a team for a stepping-stone hopefully. Some of the great drivers out there have taken a year off and spent time with other drivers to learn. This is the next step. Tim is a full-time crew member and will be on the road with us. Hopefully I can go out there and produce results and get some wins.
Im very excited. This wasnt me stealing a ride; it was a group decision. I havent done a lot of 410 racing in my career so this is probably the biggest season of my career and Im looking forward to it.
Dover aims to be a regular at Husets Speedway in Brandon, S.D., as well as with the Midwest Sprint Touring Series 410 Sprint Cars. Otherwise, the team will focus on the best races each weekend versus competing for points.
Dover plans on tackling approximately a dozen World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races and a half dozen with Kubota High Limit Racing. He will also compete semi-regularly with the POWRi 410 Outlaw Sprint Series and the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series.
Our first focus is racing at Husets and with MSTS, he said. Then when the Outlaws or High Limit is in the area well run with them. The next focus when were available is if there are IRA or POWRi races, well run with them.
Dovers season opener is currently slated for April 26 at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis., with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series.
The team will switch to No. 53 this season and Dovers sponsors are supporting him in this opportunity.
Ive had a lot of great partners who have backed me for many years, he said. Im grateful for their continued support as well as the team letting them be a part of our program this year. Im excited to bring my sponsors on board for what is shaping up to be the biggest season of my career. Its a big group effort. I dont feel a lot of pressure and I have a lot of confidence. Ill try my hardest and I think well have some really good results.
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