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Alex Blackwell, Rachael Haynes extend stints with Sydney Thunder

Published in Cricket

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 23:47

Sydney Thunder have re-signed Alex Blackwell and Rachael Haynes for the upcoming season of the Women's Big Bash League, with the latter named captain after Blackwell opted out. While Blackwell has signed a year's contract with the franchise, Haynes' deal extends to two years.

The extension means that 35-year-old Blackwell, who is also Thunder's all-time leading run-getter, will be playing a record-equalling 19th season of domestic cricket. She will join West Australian Lauren Ebsary as the longest-serving Australian domestic female player, since women's players went to a full season with the creation of the Women's National Cricket League in 1996-97.

"Continual improvement as a batter and team member is what I always look to achieve," Blackwell told cricket.com.au. "This season I will be juggling more responsibilities away from the playing field and I'm confident this will enhance my enjoyment of playing the game."

The other responsibilities Blackwell mentioned are to do with her position as director on the Cricket New South Wales board and her job as an associate genetics counsellor at Sydney Children's Hospital.

"It's a great foundation Alex and Jo [Broadbent, NSW Breakers mentor] created and I am looking forward to continuing that on," Haynes told AAP. "It's something I've done throughout my career and I'm comfortable in my ability to lead the team.

"Alex was really supportive about me taking over. We're really happy she has decided to go another year, her presence will be really good to have around the group."

Sydney Thunder will begin their campaign in the first-ever standalone WBBL with a derby clash against Sydney Sixers on October 18.

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Javier Baez chose the right time to start raking again for the Cubs

Published in Breaking News

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 22:45

NEW YORK -- The quiet was deafening. Flashy Chicago Cubs star Javier Baez had been flying under the radar for most of August as his team had begun a second consecutive late-season fade. With All-Star catcher Willson Contreras on the shelf with a hamstring injury and slugging first baseman Anthony Rizzo out with a back ailment, the Cubs needed someone -- besides newcomer Nicholas Castellanos -- to take over.

At least for one night, Baez awoke from his slumber to lead his desperate team to victory, beating the New York Mets 5-2 on Tuesday to break a three-game losing streak. The win allowed the Cubs to keep pace with the St. Louis Cardinals, who remain three games ahead of them in the National League Central. Baez's three extra-base hits -- including his 29th home run -- fueled the Cubs' win.

"When he's under control in the box, and he gets a good pitch to hit, he's dangerous," Castellanos said after the win.

Different versions of the same thing were repeated in the winning locker room after the Cubs' third consecutive road victory: When Baez is chasing pitches out of the zone, little good is going to come of it. But a walk here or there -- he also took one on Sunday -- and the benefits will be reaped.

"If he's able to do that a little more often he'll barrel the ball more consistently," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "When you have an organized strike zone, you will hit better. You're going to get better pitches to drive."

Baez hit a second-inning double to the wall in center off Mets starter Marcus Stroman, then hit a two-run blast to right field in the sixth, before doubling home a run in the eighth. In between was that second walk in as many games. Baez wasn't available after the game for comment but his teammates were more than happy to discuss his night.

"He's been working counts," Kris Bryant stated. "When he's not going good in the past, [he'll] want to go up there and hit the first pitch you see. I've been impressed, he's been taking a ton of pitches and more walks."

Asked if Baez simply said "enough is enough" considering his .772 OPS in August, Bryant wouldn't bite -- at least not all the way.

"This game will humble you real quick when you take that attitude," he said. "I don't think he takes that attitude. He just gets more determined and let's his natural ability take over. We all feel it when he gets going."

As much as Castellanos has been a breath of fresh air for the Cubs' offense, and as steady as Bryant has been most of the year, it's still Baez who is the straw that stirs the Cubs' offensive drink. Before the game, both Maddon and team president Theo Epstein sang a similar song of frustration over the Cubs' work at the plate. Issues have been percolating for years but most of the time the Cubs have been good enough to produce what's needed to win.

And Baez is usually in the middle of it all. The Cubs shouldn't need one player to carry them into and through September, but if anyone has that makeup it's the man known as "El Mago." He was feeling it so much on Tuesday, things backfired on him on the basepaths where he was thrown out twice, once trying to stretch one of his doubles into a triple and then after taking off early on a steal attempt. Neither play affected the outcome of the game because his bat took care of that for the Cubs.

"That was spry Javy out there today," Maddon said. "When Javy has it going on, we are [going]."

It was only a year ago that Baez finished second in MVP voting in the National League. He won't repeat that vote total this year, but that doesn't mean a big finish isn't in him. Cubs fans have been waiting for the next explosion. They may have gotten a glimpse of what's to come on Tuesday. His teammates feel they did.

"We have so many guys that can do that," Castellanos said. "Javy was our guy tonight. Hopefully he can carry it tomorrow and we can follow him."

It all comes down to that strike zone. The back-to-back games with walks won't make any highlight reels, but when Baez forces a pitcher into the zone, he can be unstoppable.

"Organized strike zone is what we're chasing right now," Maddon said with a smirk. "Pun intended."

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'I don't feel inspired' - Tsitsipas after first-round loss

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 17:51

Eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas said after his shock first-round defeat at the US Open that he sometimes does not "feel inspired" on court.

The Greek 21-year-old, tipped as a future Grand Slam champion, lost 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 to Andrey Rublev.

"I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over again, and my brain can't really take it any more," he said.

His surprise defeat came on a day where fourth seed Dominic Thiem and ninth seed Karen Khachanov also lost.

Austrian 25-year-old Thiem, twice a French Open runner-up, lost 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2 to unseeded Italian Thomas Fabbiano, with 48 unforced errors his undoing.

Russian Khachanov, a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in June, failed to convert nine break points and was beaten 4-6 7-5 7-5 4-6 6-3 by Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

'My brain can't really take it any more' - Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas, who could barely move between some points in the fourth set because of cramping, also became increasingly irritated with umpire Damian Dumusois, who docked the Greek a point for a time violation before the player was heard saying "you're all weirdos".

The Greek reached a career-high world number five last month, but may drop further down the rankings after his fourth straight defeat.

He said: "I feel like I'm doing the same routines on the court, the same execution, the same strategies."

On his argument with Dumusois, who also ruled he had been getting coaching from his father Apostolos, Tsitsipas added: "The umpire was very incorrect in what he was telling me during the match. He has something against me. I don't know why."

Russian Rublev, who stunned Roger Federer in Cincinnati in 62 minutes this month, said: "We played an amazing match. It was tough conditions for both of us. He started to cramp. I know what it's like; I was cramping too and tried not to show it. But this is amazing, winning matches like this gives you confidence."

The 21-year-old Russian, who sealed victory in three hours and 56 minutes, will face Gilles Simon in the second round.

Zverev comes through five-setter

Alexander Zverev, another of the younger generation hoping to challenge the dominance of the 'big three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, made it into the second round but not without difficulty.

The 22-year-old German had seemed in control against Moldova's Radu Albot, taking the first two sets, before finding himself taken to a fifth. The world number six took charge in the decider, winning 6-1 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-2.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon semi-finalist and 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut was knocked out with a 3-6 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-3 defeat by Mikhail Kukushkin.

Elsewhere, Croatian 2014 champion Marin Cilic, seeded 23rd, beat Slovak Martin Klizan 6-3 6-2 7-6 (8-6) and Italian 24th seed Matteo Berrettini defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3 2-6 6-2.

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Andy Murray beats Norbert Gombos in Mallorca

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:04

Britain's Andy Murray continued his recovery from hip surgery with a 6-3 6-4 win over Slovakian Norbert Gombos at the Rafa Nadal Open in Mallorca.

The second-round Challenger Tour match did not begin under the lights until shortly after 10pm local time.

Wildcard Murray lost his serve once in each set but covered the court well against the world number 115, seeded three.

He won in one hour, 43 minutes and will play Matteo Viola in the third round.

In his third tournament since returning to singles following his surgery in January, Murray began his first Challenger Tour event for 14 years with a routine 6-0 6-1 win over 17-year-old Imran Sibille on Monday.

He was given more of a test by the unusual short, flat groundstrokes of 29-year-old Gombos, who reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final at the recent Citi Open, losing to eventual winner Nick Kyrgios.

Murray saved a break point in a high-calibre rally at 0-1 in the second set and another at 2-1, with Gombos unable to consistently match the precision of his illustrious three-time Grand Slam-winning opponent.

But after two fine winners in the seventh game, Gombos then broke Murray to level at 4-4, only to hand the break back immediately when he netted a forehand.

A cross-court forehand gave Murray three match points and he needed only one as he moved through to a meeting with Italian Viola, the world number 240, on Thursday.

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US Open 2019: Kyle Edmund loses in five sets to Pablo Andujar in first round

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 14:30

British number one Kyle Edmund made a first-round exit from the US Open for a second successive year after losing a five-set marathon to Pablo Andujar.

Edmund fought back from behind to take a fluctuating match into a decider.

But his game deserted him in the final set as Spaniard Andujar won 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 7-5 5-7 6-2 in four hours 21 minutes - the longest match at this year's tournament so far.

Johanna Konta and Dan Evans are now the only Britons left in the singles.

Edmund has not progressed past the third round at a Grand Slam since reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in 2017, losing in the first round in three of the past five majors.

"I'm still enjoying my tennis, absolutely," he said.

"It's a great sport - you work on your physical condition, mental, tactical, so many avenues to get better at. It is exciting.

"I've been training very well and putting in the effort, of course you love to see results from that but tennis doesn't work like that."

Edmund, the 30th seed, led by a set and a break against 33-year-old Andujar before his grip on the match was loosened by an increasing number of unforced errors.

The 24-year-old Yorkshireman steadied his game - built around that explosive forehand - to take a fourth set, where 25 winners outnumbered 11 mistakes off his racquet.

Edmund had only taken four of 12 break points in the match before finally finding a ruthless edge when he needed to most.

On Andujar's serve at 6-5 in the fourth, Edmund walloped three winners to tee up three break points and forced a decider at the first opportunity with another precise backhand which left his opponent wafting.

But all that hard work was undone by a poor final set where fatigue in warm New York conditions, albeit nowhere near as hot and humid as last year, may have contributed.

Initially it looked as though Edmund would go on to win after he broke in the second game, only for the Briton's game to quickly unravel.

After Andujar immediately broke back, Edmund missed three more break points in the fourth and was eventually outfought in a fifth game where he had saved four break points.

Andujar, never ranked inside the world's top 30, powered an ace down the middle to set up two match points, needing just the first when Edmund's frustrations were summed up by a framed backhand which flew off court.

"Obviously I feel disappointment losing like that, you want to be rewarded for your efforts," said Edmund, who has suffered endurance problems and struggled with a knee injury in the past two years.

"I think I'm in a better place than I was a few months ago, I'm playing better and competing better throughout the match.

"But being a break up in the fifth, getting broke back and then 0-40 - it is small margins and I'd love to take advantage of those opportunities."

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Kyle Edmund's thoroughly dispiriting Grand Slam year came to an end after four hours and 21 minutes of hard toil on court 13.

He has failed to advance beyond the second round of a major in 2019. Knee problems held him back in both Melbourne and Paris; physical issues at Wimbledon; and here in New York he was not quite able to put all the pieces of the jigsaw back together.

It was alarming to see him lose the last six games of the match, but it was only Edmund's 29th tour-level appearance of the year.

He needs matches, and will play five tournaments in six weeks when the tour resumes after the US Open. That should in turn boost his fitness, form and decision-making.

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Konta and Evans to lead British fight on day three

Published in Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 22:55

Johanna Konta and Dan Evans - Britain's remaining players in the US Open singles - face first-time opponents in the second round on Wednesday.

British number one Konta, who opened with a win over Daria Kasatkina, faces Margarita Gasparyan (16:00 BST).

British number two Evans has a tough test against world number 27 Lucas Pouille in the men's draw.

Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic is up against Juan Ignacio Londero.

Before that five-time champion Roger Federer, who last won the title in 2008, plays Bosnia-Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur in one of the two early matches inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The other match sees women's third seed and 2016 finalist Karolina Pliskova take on Georgia's Mariam Bolkvadze.

Serena Williams, a six-time champion and last year's runner-up, is last up on the main court where she faces fellow American Catherine McNally.

After her first-round win over Maria Sharapova, Williams, 37, revealed she had been tweaking her game in the build-up to this tournament.

"I've been working on a lot of new things," she said. "I don't really talk about what I've been working on so much. I definitely have been working on a lot of new stuff to incorporate in my game."

Other highlights on day three include two Louis Armstrong Stadium matches - fifth seed Elina Svitolina against two-time champion Venus Williams, and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty facing world number 73 Lauren Davis.

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Opening rounds completed; top names progress in style

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 16:26

In the men’s singles competition, the most celebrated names receiving a direct entry to the second round, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Ahmed Ali Saleh, the respective top two seeds, set the standard. Quadri Aruna beat Senegal’s Mohamed Gueye (11-2, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4); Ahmed Ali Saleh accounted for Congo Brazzaville’s Michel Lignandzi (11-4, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5).

Wins as anticipated but if there is one intriguing fact, it is that Omar Assar, like Ahmed Ali Saleh from Egypt, is in the same half of the draw as Quadri Aruna; likewise, in the opposite half, an Egypt versus Nigeria semi-final clash is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Should matters advance according to status, Segun Toriola is due to face Ahmed Ali Saleh. In their opening contests both halted Tunisian progress; Segun Toriola accounted for Kerem Ben Yahia (11-1, 11-8, 11-5, 11-1), Omar Assar ended the hopes of Omar Amous (11-5, 11-5, 11-8, 13-11).

Similar scenario

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles event, the same scenario prevails. Egypt’s Dina Meshref appears in the same half of the draw as Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike; cousin, Yousra Helmy, in the same section as Offiong Edem.

Two matches were the order of the day as opposed to one for the leading men. Dina Meshref beat South Africa’s Thabisile Mtshoelibe (11-2, 11-3, 11-6, 11-2) and Oumchani Hosenally of Mauritius (11-3, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6); Yousra Helmy overcame Angola’s Ruth Tavares (11-4, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4) and Algeria’s Hiba Feredj (12-10, 11-9, 12-10, 11-2).

Likewise, the Nigerian duo was in commanding form; Offiong Edem accounted for Kenya’s Nasimuyu Lisa (11-2, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5) and Ethiopia’s Marta Gulti (11-8, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5); in a similar vein, Olufunke Oshonaike halted the aspirations of Togo’s Akouto Amegee (11-6, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6) and Meron Mekuria (11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4), like Marta Gulti from Ethiopia.

Success for those with international experience; for the player at the opposite end of the scale, Kenya’s Jenny Compell, it was defeat. The 11 year old from Moi Air Base Primary School was beaten by Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci in the opening round (11-7, 11-4, 11-5, 11-1).

“I love table tennis and my parents have been supporting me since I started. My passion for table tennis is borne out of the way the ball bounces as well as the touch of the bat. Before the match I was a bit nervous but after we started I adjusted and it was fun playing in front of such a big crowd and making my debut at the Games. I am very happy to have been selected by the Kenya Table Tennis Association to be part of the team. It is a big honour to represent your country and I cherish every moment I am spending in Morocco; when I started four years ago, my target is to be the best in the sport and I am sure I can achieve it. I will have to redouble my efforts in training and hope that I can exceed the records set by Dina Meshref in Africa.” Jenny Compell

Play in Rabat concludes on Thursday 29th August.

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T2 announces postponement of T2 Diamond 2019 China due to permit issues

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 19:43

T2 has announced the postponement of T2 Diamond 2019 China after its discussions with the local organising committee came to a halt. With little over four weeks remaining to the event, T2 has decided to reduce 2019’s three-event series to two events, and will announce details for the rescheduling of T2 Diamond 2019 China.

“Over the past few months, T2 and our partners have been hard at work to put up a fantastic tournament experience in Haikou, China for both players and audience. Having opened the series with an impressive and exciting tournament at Seamaster T2 Diamond 2019 Malaysia in July 2019, we had looked forward to showcasing our dynamic and innovative format at T2 Diamond 2019 China. However, holding an event in China requires numerous permits from various authorities, and we have sadly not been able to reach the final agreement on the terms and conditions of hosting the event.” – Mr Jeff Chue, CEO & Commissioner of T2

T2 Diamond Table Tennis League is organised in collaboration with the ITTF. As a core tenet of ITTF innovation lab, T2 Diamond functions as a testing bed for new rules and formats of table tennis, assess their impact on the game and to prime them for wider usage within the ITTF circuit.

The opening event of the T2 Diamond 2019 season at Seamaster T2 Diamond 2019 Malaysia saw four days of scintillating play in Johor Bahru, where Chinese Taipei teenager Lin Yun-Ju and China’s Zhu Yuling were crowned as champions. Audiences, officials and players alike have shared positive feedback for the fast-paced and exciting gameplay. Collectively, the 32 participating players were awarded 16,600 bonus ITTF World Ranking points – a significant boost as they battle their way to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualification – and USD 500,000 in prize money.

The next leg and finale of this year’s T2 Diamond 2019 season will be taking place in Singapore at Our Tampines Hub between 21st – 24th November 2019. Tickets will go on sale in September 2019.

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Yeley Brings BC39 Entry List To 87

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 12:54

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – USAC Triple Crown champion, Indianapolis 500 starter and NASCAR veteran J.J. Yeley has filed his entry to compete in the Sept. 4-5 Driven2SaveLives BC39 powered by NOS Energy Drink at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Yeley and car owner Jeff Taylor become the 87th team entered for the $15,000-to-win event.

Yeley is one of USAC’s most prolific drivers, earning 60 National series wins in his career (28 Sprint, 17 Midget and 15 Silver Crown). He became the second driver in USAC history to earn all three National titles within the same season in 2003, matching the feat accomplished by Tony Stewart in 1995. Along the way, Yeley collected five USAC National titles (2001 & ’03 Sprint, 2002-03 Silver Crown and 2003 Midget).

Yeley finished a best of ninth at IMS in the 1998 Indianapolis 500 and is, thus far, the only driver to have competed in the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, the Xfinity race at IMS and the BC39 in his career.

Yeley joins John Heydenreich on the latest update of the entry list. The Bloomsburg, Pa., native won the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in 1990 and the Hut 100 in 1987. He’s also one of 19 drivers to have accumulated more than 100 starts in his USAC Silver Crown career.

The full BC39 entry list can be found below.

BC39 ENTRY LIST (87 cars as of 8/27/2019)
0 LUKE HOWARD/Overland Park, KS (Jay Mounce)
08 CANNON McINTOSH/Bixby, OK (Dave Mac Motorsports)
1 KARSYN ELLEDGE/Mooresville, NC (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
1BR CHASE JONES/Greenwood, IN (SFH Racing Development)
1NZ MICHAEL PICKENS/Auckland, NZ (RMS LLC)
1ST TBA (Daryl Saucier)
2 RYAN HALL/Midlothian, TX (Mark Bush)
2J J.J. YELEY/Phoenix, AZ (Jeff Taylor)
2x MATT LINDER/Hoschton, GA (Mark Bush)
3 RICH DRANGMEISTER/Hobart, IN (Rich Drangmeister)
3N JAKE NEUMAN/New Berlin, IL (Jim Neuman)
4A JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA (RAMS Racing)
4D ROBERT DALBY/Anaheim, CA (Ken Dalby)
5 KEVIN THOMAS, JR./Cullman, AL (Petry Motorsports)
5B CHASE BRISCOE/Mitchell, IN (Chase Briscoe Racing)
5D ZACH DAUM/Pocahontas, IL (Daum Motorsports)
7 CRITTER MALONE/Pittsboro, IN (Seven LLC)
7BC TYLER COURTNEY/Indianapolis, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
7s JON STEED/Rushville, IN (Steed Motorsports)
7u KYLE JONES/Kennedale, TX (Trifecta Motorsports)
7x THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA (RMS LLC)
8 RANDI PANKRATZ/Atascadero, CA (Wally Pankratz)
9 CHRIS BAUE/Indianapolis, IN (Chris Baue)
9H EMILIO HOOVER/Broken Arrow, OK (James Hoover)
9x TBA (Jay Mounce)
10 LANCE BENNETT/Aurora, CO (Olivia Bennett)
10A MICHAEL KLEIN/Elsmere, KY (Mike Wallace)
11L AARON LEFFEL/Springfield, OH (Chuck Taylor)
11m KENDALL RUBLE/Vincennes, IN (Martin Motorsports)
11T TOMMY KOUNS/Lebanon, IN (Chuck Taylor)
12 BILLY WEASE/Noblesville, IN (Amanda Wease)
14H TBA (Mike Dickerson)
15 DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN (Petry Motorsports)
15DJ DAVID PRICKETT/Fresno, CA (Neverlift Motorsports)
15J JEFF WIMMENAUER/Indianapolis, IN (Jeff Wimmenauer)
15s SHANNON McQUEEN/Bakersfield, CA (Broc Garrett)
15x CARSON GARRETT/Littleton, CO (Broc Garrett)
17 RICKY STENHOUSE, JR./Olive Branch, MS (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
17BC CHRIS WINDOM/Canton, IL (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
19 SPENCER BAYSTON/Lebanon, IN (Brodie Hayward)
19m ETHAN MITCHELL/Mooresville, NC (Bundy Built Motorsports)
20 CODY WEISENSEL/Sun Prairie, WI (Kevin Weisensel)
21 CHRISTOPHER BELL/Norman, OK (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
21D JUSTIN DICKERSON/Pittsboro, IN (Mike Dickerson)
21F JONATHAN BEASON/Broken Arrow, OK (Team Ripper)
21K C.J. LEARY/Greenfield, IN (Team Ripper)
21m MARIA COFER/Macdoel, CA (Team Ripper)
22 JOHN HEYDENREICH/Bloomsburg, PA (John Givens)
23m DAVID BUDRES/Beloit, WI (Manic Racing)
25 JERRY COONS, JR./Tucson, AZ (Petry Motorsports)
25B STEVE BUCKWALTER/Royersford, PA (Steve Buckwalter)
27 TUCKER KLAASMEYER/Paola, KS (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
28 ACE McCARTHY/Tahlequah, OK (Jim Neuman)
31 TRAVIS BERRYHILL/American Canyon, CA (Manic Racing)
35 TBA (Petry Motorsports)
39BC ZEB WISE/Angola, IN (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
41 OLIVER AKARD/Ft. Myers, FL (Dan Akard)
43 BRENT BEAUCHAMP/Avon, IN (Kevin Arnold)
46 RUSS GAMESTER/Peru, IN (Gamester Racing)
47BC ANDREW LAYSER/Collegeville, PA (Clauson/Marshall Racing)
50 TONY DiMATTIA/Malvern, PA (Tony DiMattia Motorsports)
54 MATT WESTFALL/Pleasant Hill, OH (Steve Bordner)
54m RAY SEACH/Beloit, WI (Manic Racing)
56A COLTEN COTTLE/Kansas, IL (Travis Young)
56x MARK CHISHOLM/Cheyenne, WY (Mark Chisholm)
57D DANIEL ROBINSON/Ewing, IL (McCreery Motorsports)
57K KEVIN STUDLEY/Plainfield, IN (Kevin Studley)
61 TREY OSBORNE/Columbus, OH (Mel Kenyon)
67 LOGAN SEAVEY/Sutter, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
67F KYLE O’GARA/Beech Grove, IN (SFH Racing Development)
67K HOLLEY HOLLAN/Broken Arrow, OK (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71 JESSE COLWELL/Red Bluff, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71K TANNER CARRICK/Lincoln, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71s CODY SWANSON/Norco, CA (Marcie Campbell)
76 KEN DRANGMEISTER/Hobart, IN (Ken Drangmeister)
76E BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK (FMR Racing)
76m JASON McDOUGAL/Broken Arrow, OK (FMR Racing)
77B BLAZE BENNETT/Parker, CO (Olivia Bennett)
81 DILLON WELCH/Carmel, IN (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
84 CHAD BOAT/Phoenix, AZ (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
85 GIO SCELZI/Fresno, CA (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
88 TYLER NELSON/Olathe, KS (Tyler Nelson)
91T TYLER THOMAS/Collinsville, OK (Brian Thomas)
97 KYLE LARSON/Elk Grove, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
97A AUSTIN O’DELL/Rochester, IL (Patrick O’Dell)
98 TANNER THORSON/Minden, NV (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
TBA (Clauson/Marshall Racing)

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DiBenedetto & LFR Honoring Toyota’s IMSA Legacy

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 13:30

CONCORD, N.C. – Matt DiBenedetto and Leavine Family Racing will honor Toyota’s IMSA racing legacy during Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Toyota’s racing heritage began with Ivan Stewart in off-road racing, but it didn’t stop there. In 1983 Toyota joined forces with Dan Gurney and All-American Racers to field Celicas in the IMSA GTU (under three-liter) category, winning 10 races in three years (1983-85).

In 1986, Toyota and AAR moved to the over three-liter category with turbo-charged GTO Celicas and would capture 15 race wins (1986-88), as well as the 1987 driver’s championship with Chris Cord and the manufacturer’s championship the same year.

This championship-winning IMSA GTO program carried the classic red, orange and yellow striped color scheme which is synonymous with Toyota performance reputation in American motorsports.

The design pre-dates the infamous AAR Toyota Mark Eagle III, as well as all of Toyota’s other racing endeavors, which have combined for more than 1,500 Toyota wins.

The No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota driven by DiBenedetto will pay tribute to Toyota’s days in IMSA’s GTO division with the red, orange and yellow striped color scheme.

Here it is…our No.95 IMSA GTO Throwback Toyota Camry for this weekend @TooToughToTame!

The championship-winning IMSA GTO Toyota carried the classic red, orange & yellow striped scheme which is synonymous with Toyota performance in American motorsports.#NASCARthrowback #team95 pic.twitter.com/QEM7Qg0ZvM

— LeavineFamilyRacing (@LFR95) August 27, 2019