ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols is back in St. Louis, nearly eight years after celebrating a World Series crown in the city that made him famous.

The Hall of Fame-bound slugger has accomplished a lot during his time with the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he signed after 11 stellar seasons with the Cardinals. He has had three 30-homer seasons. He has driven in 100 or more runs four times. He has reached historic career milestones -- 3,000 hits, 500 and 600 homers, 2,000 RBIs. But he had never been back to Busch Stadium.

That is, until Friday, when Pujols' Angels were slated to begin their first interleague series in St. Louis since he left. Pujols said that not only had he never returned to the scene of his old glories as a player -- he hadn't been back to the park at all since he and the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 to clinch the 2011 World Series title.

"I drove by it once," Pujols said. "Because I had an event [nearby].

Players change teams and revisit old stomping grounds every season, but this one is special, both because of Pujols' status as one of the greatest Cardinals ever and because of the special connection to the city he has maintained to this day. Pujols' foundation still operates in St. Louis and he still owns a house in the city's suburbs.

"It hasn't hit me yet," Pujols said. "I'm pretty sure when I take the field, if we get a chance to play tonight, it will be [special]. I'm not really an emotional guy. But it's probably going to get to me. It's getting to me now."

Thunderstorms passed through St. Louis on Friday, canceling batting practice before the scheduled 8:15 p.m. ET start. Yet, as the Busch Stadium grounds crew rolled up the tarp and began preparing the rain-soaked field, early-arriving fans crowded along the rail next to the Angels' side of the field, hoping to catch a glimpse of Pujols.

Meanwhile, inside the ballpark, Pujols exchanged hugs and handshakes with numerous familiar faces from the old days. If anyone was still raw about the fact that Pujols left the club for a 10-year, $240 million contract, you'd never guess it by the scene inside the ballpark. In fact, Pujols said that in all of the years since he changed teams, he has never encountered anyone who has expressed resentment over his decision.

"The reality is here," Pujols said of the long-awaiting return. "It's just amazing. Started my career here, 11 years, the success that I had here, nine playoffs, two World Series, the best fans in baseball. I use the [saying] that I came here as little boy and I left as a really strong and grown man."

It's no wonder Pujols is expected to receive a thunderingly positive response when he steps to the plate for the first time. He's the all-time leader in batting average, homers and extra-base hits at the current Busch Stadium, the third venue in St. Louis to bear that name. Though it has been eight years since he toiled for the Redbirds, Pujols ranks second all time in the franchise's history in homers (445), RBIs (1,329) and extra-base hits (915).

Yet despite the Cooperstown-worthy numbers, the nine trips to the postseason and the two World Series crowns, Pujols says it still comes back to the friendships he has built over the years. That's especially true of the two remaining Cardinals players from his St. Louis days, pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina, whom Pujols has many times referred to as his little brother.

"I think the best things you build in this game is the relationships," Pujols said. "Nobody can take that away from you. And you play this game for 20 years or whatever -- hopefully you live longer than what you play.

"That's why you build these great relationships. That is why it's more important to me than what I have accomplished."

Andy Murray spoke about searching for a Wimbledon mixed doubles partner in his BBC Sport column and tennis stars from around the globe have answered his call.

Like everyone's favourite part of Love Island, the former world number one now seemingly has no shortage of players to couple up with.

Murray, who made a winning return from surgery with Feliciano Lopez in the men's doubles at Queen's, said his offer to team up with French Open champion Ashleigh Barty was turned down.

Barty said no because she was already playing singles and women's doubles at Wimbledon but when asked whether she would play with Murray in the future, she said "we'll wait and see".

"It was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make to say no," Barty explained. "When a champion like Andy asks you to play... I tried to justify it in my mind in so many ways but it just couldn't happen this time.

"I'm sure he's got a million girls lined up and he can take his pick."

Barty is not wrong - plenty of players have offered to step in. The question is, who will he choose? Here are the contenders so far...

The fellow Brit

In a move resembling Wes' shocking switch from Laura to Meg in last season's Love Island, Britain's Naomi Broady has offered to abandon her own brother Liam to team up with Murray.

Cold Naomi, cold.

The former champion

None other than five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova also offered her services to Murray.

She retweeted a video of her in mixed doubles action posted by the US Open, saying: "I heard Andy Murray was looking for a mixed dubs partner. Thanks US Open for sending in my resume today."

The old flame

Murray played doubles with Belgian Kirsten Flipkens at the All England Club in 2006 and now she is offering her racquet to the two-time Wimbledon champion again.

The 33-year-old tweeted: "Wimbledon 2006, Wimbledon 2019, Andy Murray?"

The legend

Tennis legend Billie-Jean King may be 75 years old, but why let that stop you when the chance to play with Andy Murray is up for grabs?

King has 39 Grand Slam singles titles - including 27 in doubles - to her name, with the last of these coming in 1980, and told Murray on Twitter she was "available and lacing up".

The all-rounder

Australian Barty said she could not play with Murray because she was already competing in the singles and women's doubles at SW19, but one of her old doubles partners has stepped up.

American Coco Vandeweghe, who has enjoyed success in both singles and doubles and won the US Open with Barty last year, has been struggling with a foot injury but said: "I'll come out of injury reserve for this. Sorry Ashleigh Barty."

Decisions, decisions. Of course, he might go with someone else altogether.

Roger Federer survived a mid-match scare to beat Roberto Bautista Agut in the Halle Open quarter-finals but world number five Alexander Zverev was knocked out by Belgium's David Goffin.

Federer, chasing a 10th Halle title, beat the Spaniard 6-3 4-6 6-4 to reach the semi-finals for a 15th time.

He faces Pierre-Hugues Herbert next after 2018 champion Borna Coric had to retire because of a back injury.

German Zverev served nine double faults as he lost 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) to Goffin.

Eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer also dropped a set against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.

"My body is reacting well to the grass, so I would prefer the matches to be shorter," he said. "But if not, it's no problem. I have enough time to recover before Wimbledon."

Home favourite Zverev, 22, has struggled with a swollen knee after slipping and hurting himself in the first round and will hope to rediscover his form and fitness in time for the beginning of Wimbledon on 1 July.

Goffin will face Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals after the Italian overcame Russian third seed Karen Khachanov 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

Andy Murray will return on Saturday to complete his doubles quarter-final at Queen's Club after his second comeback match was halted because of bad light.

Murray and Spanish partner Feliciano Lopez led British duo Dan Evans and Ken Skupski 6-4 4-5 when they were called off at 20:50 BST.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, 32, is making his return in London five months after career-threatening hip surgery.

The match will resume after the singles semi-finals, which start at 13:00 BST.

Should Murray go on to win, the semi-final will be played straight after but he will not face his elder brother after Jamie Murray and fellow Briton Neal Skupski lost their last-eight match 7-5 7-6 (8-6) to Henri Kontinen and John Peers.

Lopez, 37, faces the possibility of playing three matches in a row - he takes on Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second singles semi-final at the Fever-Tree Championships.

But there is only a maximum of three games and a potential champions tie-break still to play in the doubles quarter-final.

Murray continues to impress

Murray and his playing partner Lopez had to wait until 19:40 BST to get on to a still-packed centre court on the longest day of the year.

They were quickly into their stride, with the Scot showing no ill-effects from his first comeback match on Thursday.

The three-time Grand Slam winner, who is due to play in the doubles at Eastbourne next week and then Wimbledon the following week, moved well throughout as he looks to build his match fitness before a possible return to singles later in the year.

The duo secured the first break of serve in the seventh game and former world number one Murray followed it up with a straightforward service hold.

With Lopez's swinging left-handed serve causing problems to their opponents, the Spaniard quickly wrapped up the first set after 29 minutes.

Evans and Skupski - who like Murray and Lopez are another fledging partnership - warmed to the challenge in the second set.

After Murray was warned for a time violation, Evans broke his fellow Briton's serve with a superb forehand pass down the line to open a 3-1 lead.

But with Murray producing some brilliant returns and one outstanding lob, the British-Spanish team took their chance to break Evans' serve.

However, after a discussion between the players there was to be no more play and they left the court.

PONTOON BEACH, Ill. — Saturated grounds at Tri-City Speedway — and more rain coming down — has forced DIRTcar officials to postpone Friday’s Summer Nationals event to June 25.

More information will be announced soon regarding the reschedule date.

The Hell Tour will get back in action on Saturday, June 22 at Fairbury Speedway for another $10,000-to-win show before leaving the Prairie State for Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., on Sunday, June 23 and Clarksville Speedway on Monday, June 24.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series’ inaugural Triple Truck Challenge concludes its three-race run Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

If the final event holds true to its two-race lead-in, there will be no shortage of drama and big news.

Brett Moffitt and GMS Racing stand to pick up a $150,000 bonus if the defending series champion wins for the second consecutive week.

The runner-up at Iowa, Moffitt was awarded the victory after apparent winner Ross Chastain’s truck was deemed illegal in post-race inspection. That verdict was upheld again on appeal this week.

Moffitt acknowledged he didn’t lead a lap in his win – the first by a disqualification in the history of the series – but welcomed the victory nonetheless, posting photos on social media of his team celebrating.

“This is a big change of emotions,” Moffitt said after being called to speak to the press following Chastain’s disqualification. “As a race car driver, I got beat on track and that’s not how you want to do it. … but I’ll take a win any way I can get it.

“It is what it is,” he continued. “We finally got a win that we needed and we’ll take it.”

And, he reminded, the big money from the Triple Truck Challenge was a nice companion to his first trophy of the season.

Saturday night’s CarShield 200 presented by CK Power is a sort of reset for everyone, with another huge paycheck on the line. If someone other than Moffitt wins, that driver still earns a $50,000 bonus as part of the Triple Truck Challenge incentive.

With the playoffs looming, it’s go-time for multiple reasons. The big incentive from series sponsor Gander Outdoors is icing on the cake.

Chastain, for example, now needs to win again and break into the top-20 in the standings to make the playoffs. He only declared himself Gander Trucks championship-eligible two races ago (before Texas) and sits 69 points behind the 20th place cutoff.

A victory this week would be a strong statement from his Niece Motorsports team.

Looking especially strong in recent weeks is Matt Crafton, a two-time Gander Trucks champion, who moved into second in the series driver standings last week at Iowa.

Crafton trails championship leader Grant Enfinger by 47 points and holds a slim two-point edge over third place Stewart Friesen.

Crafton drove the No. 88 ThorSport Ford to back-to-back pole positions at Kansas and Charlotte earlier this season. He has nine top-10 finishes in the season’s opening 10 races, including the last seven consecutively.

He was a season best runner-up in Texas in the Triple Truck Challenge opener two weeks ago, but he’s had only one top five in the last five races at Gateway – including three DNFs.

In two previous starts at Gateway, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series point leader Grant Enfinger won the pole position last year and scored a best showing of fifth place in 2017. He’s finished top-10 in nine of 10 races this year – his worst finish is 11th at Vegas.

Enfinger was runner-up at the Daytona season-opener and has finished fourth in the opening two races of the Triple Truck Challenge.

There is plenty of motivation across the Gander Trucks field. Moffitt is the only driver ranked among the top-six in the championship standings with a victory.

There are no former Gateway race winners entered this week, but Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland finished second last year and is still looking for his first series victory.

As far as Moffitt’s concerned, being awarded the victory last week following a competitor’s disqualification is not the same thing as taking the checkered flag after beating the field.

With that said, he remains as driven as ever, if not even more so.

“It’s a place I like and GMS Racing has proven its strong there,” Moffitt said of Gateway. “We’re looking forward to it and winning that 150 grand.”

PITTSBORO, Ind. – Brian VanMeveren’s quest for the USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Award is off to a good start.

To this point, the St. Paul, Minn. racer leads the rookie-of-the-year standings by 18 markers roughly one-third through the season.

While earning rookie-of-the-year honors is a goal of VanMeveren’s this year, he is more worried about getting more seat time and improving each and every night.

Last weekend, VanMeveren made the trek out east for the Eastern Storm swing with the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars. The five-race swing was trimmed to three due to a pair of rainouts.

VanMeveren was in action Tuesday, June 11 at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Penn., Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, N.J. on Wednesday, June 12, followed by a visit to Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Penn. on Saturday, June 15.

The highlight of the weekend was VanMeveren’s charge from 22nd to 15th in the main event on Saturday.

“The last two were our strongest races. We changed up our setup after the first night and that really helped,” said VanMeveren. “I got some good seat time and I think that was the biggest take away from the weekend.

“It was a good learning experience and a lot of fun,” VanMeveren continued. “The biggest thing we are struggling with right now is finding a consistent crew who are able to come to the races week in and week out. I just need to find that guy I can mesh with and work well with.”