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England return alongside club-mates 'special' - Dingwall
Fraser Dingwall says playing in a familiar backline surrounded by four Northampton Saints team-mates will make his England return "more special".
Dingwall is set to make his first Test appearance in more than a year after being selected at inside centre for Sunday's Six Nations match against Italy at Allianz Stadium.
The 25-year-old won his first two caps in England's opening wins over Italy and Wales in last year's tournament, but Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence had started together in the centres for the past 13 games.
Dingwall will replace Slade to partner Lawrence in midfield and says he is excited to join a backline which includes Northampton half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith and wingers Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme.
"It's really cool for two reasons," Dingwall, who won the Premiership with Northampton last season, told BBC Sport.
"From the rugby side, we have great connections and I hope I can add to the good stuff they have all been doing.
"But also because those guys are my mates, so to be able to do it with them just makes the whole occasion more special.
"It's a nice reflection for the club as well in what they have been doing and how there are a lot of people developing because the club has had success in recent times."
Marcus Smith drops to bench with Daly at 15 against Italy
Marcus Smith's shift to the bench represents a dramatic downsizing of his role in just a few months.
Initially afforded an opportunity by injury to George Ford, he started all three matches in England's summer tour of Japan and New Zealand at fly-half and continued in the role throughout the autumn.
However, he was shifted to a full-back role after England's opening Six Nations defeat, with the hope he could combine his dangerous broken-field running from back field with the ability to step in as an additional playmaker alongside novice fly-half Fin Smith.
Daly scored the decisive late try with a well-timed run in England's win over France and appeared off the bench again in the victory over Scotland, but has not started a match at full-back for his country in four years.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Marcus enter the field when there are potentially some tiring defenders and maybe a bit of space," said Borthwick.
"We had a conversation about the role I was asking him to play this week and he has trained wonderfully well.
"It's a sign of the calibre of person and the character Marcus is. He is a brilliant rugby player and I've talked about him being a game-changer.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him come on and break open some part of Italy's defence.
"Elliot Daly has done well and had a real positive impact off the bench in the last couple of games and he has been terrific in training.
"Now it's Elliot's time with Marcus coming from the bench and it's a really good position to be in."
Lawrence and Slade have been England's 12-13 combination for the past 13 games - a run that stretches back to Dingwall's last start against Wales in February 2024 - however both play the majority of their club rugby at outside centre.
Dingwall has been deployed in both roles but was Northampton's first-choice inside centre in their run to the Premiership title last season.
STATESVILLE, N.C. Bill McAnally Racing announced the team will contest the remaining 11 races on the ARCA Menards Series West calendar with the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet SS.
Beginning this Friday at Phoenix Raceway, California native Jake Bollman, will drive the teams flagship entry for all nine of the remaining ovals on the AMSW slate.
Nine-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner, and the 2024 regular season titlist, Christian Eckes, will return to the organization to drive the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet SS on the road courses at Sonoma Raceway on July 11 and Portland Intl Raceway on Aug. 29.
Bollman, 17, is a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., currently residing in North Carolina and has four prior AMSW starts to his credit with two top-10 results. He will work alongside with crew chief Cayden Lapcevich over the next four AMSW events before handing the controls to Eckes for the first road course event of the season at Sonoma Raceway.
Eckes captured eight NCTS victories from 2023-2024 with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet and is currently competing in his first full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign.
Were looking forward to giving Jake (Bollman) an opportunity to drive the NAPA Auto Care Chevy this year, said team owner Bill McAnally. Weve prided ourselves on elevating young talented drivers and I think Jake can take full advantage of this. Its great to be able to continue working with Christian (Eckes) for a couple races, also. He was a monumental part of our truck program, so its a great chance for us to help his Xfinity Series effort this year and continue having him as part of our program. Wed love to get the NAPA Auto Care Chevy back in victory lane with both Jake and Christian and make more memories during NAPAs 100th anniversary.
NASCAR officials handed Austin Cindric a steep penalty following an on-track altercation with Ty Dillon during Sundays Cup Series event at Texas Circuit of The Americas.
While battling for position, Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, made contact with the right rear of Dillons No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. That send Dillon spinning on the fronstretch.
The result of Cindrics actions is a loss of 50 driver points and fine of $50,000. That drops Cindric from 11th to 34th in the standings.
According to NASCAR, Cindrics move was an act of intentionally wrecking Dillon, which is a violation under Sections 4.4 B&D: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines.
Other Penalties
Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team will be without their jackman (Brandon Johnson) and front tire changer (Brandon Johnson) due to both being suspended for two races.
NASCAR penalized both members for a safety violation. During Stage Two, Larsons No. 5 Chevrolet lost a right-front wheel following a pit stop.
He served a two-lap penalty during the race and finished 32nd.
Jafar Hall (tire changer) and Eric Ludwig (jackman) were called to the No. 5 team by HMS.
Schumacher Joins RWR For Partial Top Fuel Campaign
MOORESVILLE, N.C. Tony Schumacher will be back competing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in 2025, and he will do it with Rick Ware Racing as a teammate to full-time Top Fuel driver Clay Millican.
Schumacher, the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, will run a limited Top Fuel campaign in 2025 in preparation for a full season in 2026. His schedule will be announced at a later date.
This opportunity with Rick Ware Racing gets me back in a Top Fuel car where I can compete at a high level immediately, Schumacher said. The passion and commitment Rick and his group have for racing is incredible, and I cant wait to get behind the wheel. A limited schedule this year allows us to prepare for 2026 and show people what were capable of.
Im really looking forward to teaming up with Clay. Hes an incredibly talented racer with a ton of experience, and having both of us under one roof is only going to make us stronger. Well be able to push each other, share data, and work together to make RWR better.
Schumacher is an eight-time Top Fuel champion and has won 88 Top Fuel events, with the two most recent coming last year in the Thunder Valley Nationals June 9 at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway and the Midwest Nationals Sept. 29 at Worldwide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. The Chicago native and resident of Austin, Texas, made it to last years Countdown to the Championship for the 15th time since its inception in 2007 and finished eighth in the championship standings.
Tony is a huge addition to RWR. Bringing a driver of his caliber into our race team strengthens our overall program, said team owner Rick Ware. We now have two of the best NHRA drivers and sponsor ambassadors in the sport. With Clay and Tony working together, they can feed off each others strengths, provide detailed feedback and collaborate on what theyre experiencing in the car, and that just elevates our entire operation.
RWR joined the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in late 2022 and made its debut at that years U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Millican, the winningest driver in IHRA history and a six-time IHRA champion, has been with RWR throughout its entire NHRA tenure. Millican is a seven-time NHRA Top Fuel event winner and has delivered all four of RWRs NHRA Top Fuel victories.
Clay is the cornerstone of our NHRA program, Ware said. His talent, dedication and passion for this sport helped put us on the map, and he deserves a ton of credit for the success weve had. Every NHRA win in our teams history has come with Clay, and that speaks volumes about his ability and commitment. Were not in a position to grow our race team without his presence and contributions. Now, the two hardest-working Top Fuel drivers are right here at RWR.
The annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway kicks off the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season this weekend.
Coming off his fourth Top Fuel championship, Antron Brown leads the dragster field aboard his AB Motorsports Toyota. Drivers such as Justin Ashley, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon and more are also primed to contend.
Heres a look at each team in Top Fuel and whos driving for them full time this season:
AB Motorsports
- Antron Brown (Matco Tools/Lucas Oil Toyota)
Brown came alive during the Countdown to the Championship as he notched three victories in the six-race playoff format, including the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, Calif., where he edged Doug Kalitta in the final round to solidify a stout season.
While Brown should be the favorite to repeat, he and his team will be dealing with turnover as legendary crew chief Mark Oswald retired following last season. The team will still be led by co-crew chief Brian Corradi, along with the promotion of former car chief Brad Mason.
Kalitta Motorsports
- Doug Kalitta (Mac Tools Toyota)
Coming off his first Top Fuel title in 2023, Doug Kalitta showed little signs of a hangover as he notched three victories and reset his best ET (3.640) at the World Finals, where he became only the second driver to reach the eighth-mile at over 300 mph (300.80 mph).
Despite finishing second in the Countdown, Kalittas season was mired with a large dark cloud after the team failed to qualify for the 70th U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Nonetheless, Kalitta will be in the hunt for a championship trophy by seasons end.
- Shawn Langdon (Kalitta Air Toyota)
The defending Gatornationals winner in the Top Fuel category, Shawn Langdon enjoyed a stellar season.
While his last win on the season came early at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Langdon entered the World Finals with a legitimate shot at a second title. Brown, however, was Langdons demise during eliminations.
He finished fourth in the standings.
SCAG Racing
- Justin Ashley (SCAG Power Equipment Toyota)
If anyone on the full-time entry list is due for a title, its Justin Ashley. Top Fuels most lethal driver, especially at the tree, enjoyed a four-victory season last year.
While he and his SCAG Racing team struggled during the summer months with a big-picture approach to their setups, Ashley entered the World Finals with the points lead.
However, a rare first-round matchup with Brown derailed Ashleys title hopes and his early exit dropped him to third in the final standings.
John Force Racing
- Brittany Force (Monster Energy Chevrolet)
It was a challenging season for Brittany Force and her John Force Racing team. Aside from her father, John Force, sustaining significant injuries in June during a crash, the team struggled to find consistent results.
However, Force and her team rallied late in the season as they scored a win in Las Vegas, snapping a two-year winless streak. She also notched her 50th career No. 1 qualifier at the Texas Fall Nationals.
With a full offseason to continue making positive gains on her car, Force may be back in title contention this year.
Torrence Racing
- Steve Torrence (Capco Contractors Inc. Toyota)
Despite the teams 2025 plans being murky throughout the offseason, four-time Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence is slated on the entry list for the Gatornationals.
Its unknown what racing plans may be in store for Torrences father, Billy Torrence, this season.
For Steve, 2024 saw him score his 55th career win at Pacific Raceways in Seattle. He also notched a Mission #2Fast2Tasty win at the New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
Torrence finished seventh in the standings. Depending on how his schedule shakes out, hes one to never count out as hes won four of the last seven Top Fuel titles.
Shawn Reed Racing
- Shawn Reed (Reed Trucking)
Last season was a struggle for Shawn Reed in his first action back in a Top Fuel car in four years. However, the latter part of the season saw uptick in performance as he reset his career-best speed three times in the Countdown, including a No. 6 qualifying effort at the World Finals (331.69 mph).
Reed may be a surprise performer this season as he won the Top Fuel portion of the PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park in February.
Tony Stewart Racing
- Tony Stewart (Direct Connection Dodge)
In what was one of the most talked about rookie seasons in recent memory, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart embarked on his first season in NHRA Top Fuel racing.
In place of wife Leah Pruett, Stewart won rookie of the year following a season that saw him reach the finals twice and the semifinals four times. He finished ninth in the standings.
With a full year under his belt, Stewart may be in line to notch his first career Top Fuel victory.
JCM Racing
- Ida Zetterström (JCM Racing Dodge)
2023 European Top Fuel champion Ida Zetterström made the leap to NHRA action last year on a limited basis with JCM Racing.
She stunned the field in her first time out at Brainerd (Minn.) Intl Raceway as she reached the semifinals. Zetterström also reset her top ET (3.738) and speed (334.32 mph) at the World Finals.
As the team continues to look for sponsor backing, Zetterström is slated to compete in 10 events this season.
Rick Ware Racing
- Clay Millican (Parts Plus Ford)
Last season was one of Clay Millicans strongest at the helm of a Top Fuel dragster.
The many-time IHRA champion finished sixth in the standings after a monumental victory came at the U.S. Nationals.
Millican also reset his career-best speed at the Sonoma Nationals in California (338.26 mph). Partnered with Rick Ware Racing for the fourth straight season, Millican may be in for even more success as the team showed plenty of speed throughout 2024.
- Tony Schumacher
Eight-time champion Tony Schumacher is not on the entry list for the Gatornationals. He was previously with JCM Racing, where he won two races last season.
On March 5, Rick Ware Racing announced its signing of the legendary driver on a part-time basis with an intent for full-time racing in 2026.
Josh Hart Racing
- Josh Hart (R+L Carriers/TechNet Dodge)
Josh Hart endured a down year after winning the Pep Boys All-Star Callout event in 2023 at Gainesville Raceway.
Hart managed to reach the semifinals once in 2024 (Brainerd) and finished 12th in the standings.
This season may be a different story, however, as he fell to Reed in the PRO Superstar Shootout finals.
Scrappers Racing
- Jasmine Salinas (Scrappers Racing)
Jasmine Salinas was thrust into Top Fuel action this year after her father, Mike Salinas, exited the seat due to medical reasons.
Despite the last-second jump, Jasmine Salinas proved to adapt quickly. She boasted a career-best speed in Brainerd at 334.90 mph. Salinas finished 13th in points.
Returning to the cockpit again this year, Salinas may surprise as she grows more comfortable with a race car thats capable of winning.
Other Notables
- Tripp Tatum III (Tripp Tatum Racing)
Tatum competed three times last year, including the season-opening Gatornationals. He again will contest the season opener, where he scored his first career victory in 2022.
- Dan Mercier (Mercier Racing)
In eight races last year, Canadian Dan Mercier shook up the field on multiple occasions.
He reached the semifinals twice and also ran a career-best speed during the New England Nationals (328.38 mph).
- Krista Baldwin (McLeod Racing)
Krista Baldwin competed in five races in 2024, which included career-best ET (3.755) and speed (325.37) marks.
- Doug Foley (Foley & Lewis Racing)
Doug Foley stunned the Top Fuel field at the Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., as he reached the finals and gave eventual winner Brown a run for his money in the head-to-head battle.
- Scott Farley (ScottRod Racing)
Scott Farley made one appearance last season at the New England Nationals. His slate will expand as hell compete in five races this year, including the opener in Gainesville.
Chase Briscoe and the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team have won their appeal following stiff penalties that were initially handed down by NASCAR after the Daytona 500.
The National Motorsports Appeals Panel overturned the teams L2-level penalty, which was in relation to the sanctioning body discovering modifications to the spoiler of the No. 19 Toyota after further inspection at the NASCAR Research & Development Center.
However, the Appeals Panel overturned the ruling.
The panel believes that the elongation of some of the holes on the No. 19 Cup car spoiler base is caused by the process of attaching that specific spoiler base to the rear deck and not modification of the single source part, the three-member panel stated.
Briscoe, who finished fourth at Daytona (Fla.) Intl Speedway for the NASCAR Cup Series opener, was initially docked 100 driver points and 10 playoff points.
Along with the driver, JGR was slapped with a $100,000 fine and 100-point and 10 playoff-point deduction in the owner standings. Crew chief James Small was initially suspended for four races as well.
The ruling rescinds all the penalties.
With that, Briscoe has now jumped to 14th in the driver standings.
Police look into '14 OHL sexual assault allegation
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario -- Peel Regional Police confirmed they are investigating a 2014 sexual assault allegation involving eight former Ontario Hockey League players.
TSN/CTV first reported the allegations in October. Peel police said Wednesday their special victims unit is conducting an ongoing investigation into the matter.
In 2014, according to the original report, the then-22-year-old complainant was in a relationship with a 19-year-old Mississauga Steelheads player. The report said that in November of that year, she went over to watch television, and when she got there, eight team members were present.
According to the TSN/CTV report, after she and the player she was dating started getting intimate in a basement bathroom, the other players entered the small room and took turns assaulting her for 90 minutes.
None of the players have been named, and none of the allegations have been tested in court.
The Ontario Hockey League said in October it was taking the allegations "very seriously" and would cooperate with any police investigation.
The Steelheads moved from Mississauga to Brampton in June.
Jordan Greenway is staying in Buffalo after the team re-signed the 28-year-old winger to a two-year contract extension worth $8 million.
Greenway is now under contract with the Sabres through the 2026-27 season. He was previously set to be an unrestricted free agent in July.
A rough-and-tumble veteran who can play the tough minutes in the corners for a playoff contender, Greenway drew interest on the trade market. He was in the final weeks of a three-year deal that carried a salary cap hit of $3 million.
He won't light up the score sheet on any team -- he had only three goals and seven points for the Sabres at the 4 Nations Face-Off break -- but he can be counted on for about 16 minutes per game and is unafraid to drop the gloves and fight an opponent.
How the Blackhawks jump-started their rebuild -- and why they can contend soon
The Chicago Blackhawks are a lot closer to being a problem than many would like to believe. With Seth Jones' contract cleared from the books and two premium assets acquired in return after his trade to Florida, Chicago has many key components of a Stanley Cup contender.
The reason they seem far from that description? Many of those components are not of legal drinking age in the United States. Much has been made of Connor Bedard's frustration this season, but he's a 19-year-old phenom who is used to dominating and having team success. This type of losing is new for someone as ultracompetitive as Bedard. Patience is a virtue.
But the potential for Chicago's results to improve quickly is high, especially with the rising NHL salary cap giving the team the ability to sign high-impact free agents to complement Bedard and the rest of the young group.
"You need a lot to win a Cup. To have a puncher's chance, you need an elite center [or two], an elite defenseman, a reliable second pair and good goaltender," an Eastern Conference executive said. "That's a good formula to go on. You can have a lot of good pieces, but if you don't have the key pieces, you're in trouble. The prevailing belief in hockey is that elite talent is hard to come by, unless you draft it."
Based on drafting early in the first round for the past few seasons, the Blackhawks appear to have found what could be a championship core. A former team executive noted that while it's good to be aggressive in free agency, nailing draft picks is the most critical part of team-building.
"It is rare that a Jack Eichel or a Sam Reinhart become available. Look at Tampa. They've made changes, but they don't win a single Cup without the guys they drafted. Stamkos, Hedman, Vasilevskiy, Point, Kucherov and Cirelli. Not just first-round guys, you have to find guys outside the first round, too," the executive said. "[Chicago] have had plenty of top picks and I expect many of those players to be impact players in this league. If they can bring along some of their midround picks, they'll be in business."
BEDARD CHECKS ALL the boxes as an elite center. He's still developing and there's a long way to go until he reaches his potential, but no one should be doubting the centerpiece of Chicago's organization.
Bedard's development this season has been fun to watch. His defensive game will need to improve, but he's starting to put the offensive side of his game together with very little help. Nathan MacKinnon wasn't a point-per-game player until his fifth season. He scored 38 in 64 games during his second season, and Bedard has 49 through 61 through his. Not everyone is going to be Connor McDavid the moment they step into the league, and the Avalanche will be the first to tell you that patience is worth it for players such as MacKinnon and Bedard.
The second piece for a Cup contender is an elite defenseman. With Jones gone, there will be plenty of opportunity for Chicago's young defensemen to get important minutes.
Artyom Levshunov -- the No. 2 pick in 2024 -- has really come along in the AHL this season, and his production is starting to reflect it. The 6-foot-2, right-handed defenseman has recorded 21 points through 48 games, and makes quality defensive plays on a nightly basis. His skating is a tremendous asset, enabling him to track down some of the league's quickest skaters. He's playing major minutes at even strength and on both special teams, and is learning to impose his will on opponents. There is no need to rush him to the NHL because if he continues on this path, there is a real chance he's a staple on Chicago's top pair for a long time.
Looking ahead to the 2025 draft, if Chicago wins the lottery and gets to select No. 1, there's an impact defenseman available. By adding Erie Otters blueliner Matthew Schaefer, my No. 1 prospect, they will be set for more than a decade on the back end. Schaefer is expected to be an elite, all-situations defenseman in the NHL, meaning that Chicago might be looking at the next Cale Makar/Nathan MacKinnon type of dynamic duo.
Pairing Schaefer with Levshunov has the potential to be one of the best tandems in the NHL if both players reach 85% of their projected ceiling. Even without Schaefer, Levshunov is capable of being the elite defenseman that a Cup contender needs.
The third part of the equation is a reliable second pair. Alex Vlasic has shown he's more than capable of playing big minutes and is exactly the type of player you want anchoring the second pair. He's playing admirably on the top pair, and could be a long-term solution with Levshunov. He's signed through 2029-30 with a $4.6 million average annual value -- a great deal for the Blackhawks, given the rising salary cap.
Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro are also contenders to be part of a quality second pair. Del Mastro is holding his own in that spot as a 22-year-old, and could be a shutdown type with his size and skating ability. Korchinski is an excellent skater who can produce points. The 20-year-old is an effective defender in transition and makes quality plays under pressure. His puck-moving abilities should see him become an effective second-pair defender who can score 40-plus points per season, if his defensive zone play continues to improve.
A GOOD GOALTENDER is important, especially in the playoffs. Sergei Bobrovsky, Adin Hill and Andrei Vasilevskiy were standouts for their respective teams in their recent Stanley Cup wins.
Chicago has a few goaltenders in the system who have potential, but the acquisition of Spencer Knight is a major step forward for the organization. He was fantastic in his first start, making 41 saves in a 5-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
In his 23-year-old season, Knight has a .912 save percentage in 24 games, good for ninth in the NHL. He's most certainly going to face more difficult shots and scoring chances in Chicago than he did in Florida, but Knight has developed into a solid goaltender. He's capable of being a platoon starter and there is potential for him to become a quality No. 1 in the next two seasons.
Arvid Soderblom has a respectable .906 this season and could be a capable 1B to Knight. Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan are in the system but might be a few years away. Goaltending development is difficult to project, but the more cracks you have at it, the better off the organization will be.
SERIOUS CONTENDERS NEED good players beyond that core group. Chicago has a few young players who are already playing in the NHL, and an extensive group of prospects on the cusp.
Frank Nazar has potential to be an impactful offensive player. He was over a point-per-game pace in the AHL, and has scored 14 points in 32 NHL games.
Colton Dach and Lukas Reichel are finding their way as complementary players in the bottom six.
Oliver Moore, Sacha Boisvert and Nick Lardis could become middle-six forwards for Chicago, with well-rounded offensive toolboxes and in Moore's case, breakneck speed.
Sam Rinzel is a big defenseman with a solid transition game who could fit nicely on Chicago's bottom pair in the next couple of seasons.
Chicago has the key pieces that many contenders want to have -- and none of them are older than 23. The team is incredibly young, with stocked prospect cupboards that can be used to acquire proven NHL talent via trade.
Not only that, but with the amount of cap space at their disposal, the Blackhawks will be able to go after big-name free agents should the likes of Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen be available July 1. There is a real possibility that Chicago is much better next season, especially if it makes a splash in free agency.
If the Blackhawks don't, they still will take a step forward, with eyes on contending for a playoff spot in 2026-27. At that point, Bedard and Levshunov will be 21, Knight will be 25 and whomever they draft in 2025 will be 19 or 20. The window for the Blackhawks hasn't opened yet, but it's coming soon. And when it does, it might be open for a very long time.
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