Former Spain and Barcelona coach Luis Enrique shared the news of his nine-year-old daughter Xana's death in a statement on Thursday after her five month battle with bone cancer.

The statement read: "Our daughter Xana has passed away this afternoon at the age of 9, after fighting for five months against osteosarcoma. We give thanks for all the caring gestures we have received during these months and we appreciate the privacy and understanding.

"We also thank the staff, doctors, nurses, and the volunteers at the Sant Joan de Deu and Sant Pau hospitals for their dedication and care. And a special mention to the palliative care team at Sant Joan de Deu.

"We will miss you a lot but we will remember you every day of our lives with the hope that we will see each other soon in the future. You will be the star that guides our family."

Luis Enrique stepped down as Spain manager on June 19, 2019, and had been on a leave of absence from the national team since March 26 with his assistant Roberto Moreno overseeing first-team duties. He took over the position following Spain's round-of-16 exit from the 2018 World Cup.

Before taking the Spain job, Luis Enrique had a successful spell at the helm of Barcelona, winning the Treble in his first season as coach in 2014-15. He left the role at the end of his contract in the summer of 2017 after compiling a record of 138 wins, 21 losses and 22 draws in all competitions.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu wrote on Twitter: "All of our support and compassion goes to @luisenrique21, his wife and all of his family at this particularly painful time. All the Barça family are touched by the loss of Xana. Our condolences and all our sympathy for the Martínez Cullell family."

The Spanish Football Federation paid tribute to Xana and tweeted: "One day we achieved our star (World Cup), and from today, we have another one that enlightens us from heaven with its light. Rest in peace, little Xana. The Spanish FA joins in the grief of the Martinez Cullell family and we share the gratitude for its admirable example of love and strength."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter: "There are no words that that can go along with this pain.

"My heartfelt wishes to Luis Enrique and all his family, after the loss of his little Xana."

Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer and is most prevalent in teenagers and young adults

ESPN FC writer Adrianna Garcia contributed to this story.

MIAMI -- The Cincinnati Reds' Aristides Aquino has broken the National League rookie record for homers in a month with his 14th in August.

Aquino hit a two-run homer in the first inning Thursday night against the Miami Marlins' Robert Dugger. Aquino broke the rookie mark of 13 in a month set by the Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger in June 2017.

The major league rookie record is 18 by the Detroit Tigers' Rudy York in August 1937.

Sammy Sosa holds the record for homers in a month by any major leaguer with 20 in June 1998.

Aquino tied the Reds' record for homers in a month held by Frank Robinson (1962) and Greg Vaughn (1999).

Promoted from the minors on Aug. 1, Aquino already was the first major leaguer in the modern era to reach 13 homers in his first 100 career plate appearances.

Andy Murray lost to world number 240 Matteo Viola in the third round of the Rafa Nadal Open in Majorca.

The Briton was beaten 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the Challenger Tour event after hitting a double fault on match point in the final-set tie-break.

The second set saw Murray, 32, lose his serve three times.

He struggled physically during the third set, receiving treatment on his left thigh during two medical time-outs which he said was for "cramping".

Murray added afterwards that he was "very tired" and said "physically, I need to get better".

Asked about his time at the event, he said: "Yeah, it was good, I enjoyed it. I would have liked to have played more matches but it was good, I played two competitive matches."

Wildcard Murray went 2-0 down at the start of the third set, and although he got straight back on serve, the 32-year-old Italian sealed victory in the deciding tie-break.

It was Murray's third tournament since returning to singles action following hip surgery in January.

PARIS – Formula One officials have released the provisional calendar for the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, which features a record 22 Grands Prix.

Highlighting the 22-race calendar is Formula One’s debut in Vietnam, with the capital city of Hanoi hosting the series for the first time on April 5.

Also confirmed for the 2020 calendar is the return of the Dutch Grand Prix, with Circuit Zandvoort hosting Formula One for the first time since 1985 on May 3.

Noticeably absent from the calendar is the German Grand Prix, which was held at the Hockenheimring this season and was won by Max Verstappen.

The season will again open in Australia on March 15, with the season coming to a close on Nov. 29 in Abu Dhabi.

2020 Formula One Schedule

March 15 – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit – Melbourne, Australia

March 22 – Bahrain Int’l Circuit – Sakhir, Bahrain

April 5 – Hanoi Street Circuit – Hanoi, Vietnam

April 19 – Shanghai Int’l Circuit – Shanghai, China

May 3 – Circuit Zandvoort – Zandvoort, Netherlands

May 10 – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – Montmeló, Spain

May 24 – Circuit de Monaco – Monte Carlo, Monaco

June 7 – Baku City Circuit – Baku, Azerbaijan

June 14 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Montreal, Quebec

June 28 – Circuit Paul Ricard – Le Castellet, France

July 5 – Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, Austria

July 19 – Silverstone Circuit – Silverstone, England

Aug. 2 – Hungaroring – Mogyoród, Hungary

Aug. 30 – Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – Stavelot, Belgium

Sept. 6 – Autodromo Nazionale Monza – Monza, Italy

Sept. 20 – Marina Bay Street Circuit – Marina Bay, Singapore

Sept. 27 – Sochi Autodrom – Sochi, Russia

Oct. 11 – Suzuka Int’l Racing Course – Suzuka, Japan

Oct. 25 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas

Nov. 1 – Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez – Mexico City, Mexico

Nov. 15 – Autódromo José Carlos Pace – São Paulo, Brazil

Nov. 29 – Yas Marina Circuit – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

YORK HAVEN, Pa. – All Star Circuit of Champions owner Tony Stewart spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday after nearly a week of social media conversation stemming from the series’ most-recent event at BAPS Motor Speedway.

The Sunday night affair, won by Gerard McIntyre Jr., was remembered most for the five teams who were disqualified as a result of work-area violations under red-flag conditions on the opening lap of the event.

After a fuel leak from polesitter Justin Peck caused the stoppage, the teams of Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Lance Dewease, Ryan Smith and Skylar Gee were all tossed due to their crew members being outside of the coned-in work area in the infield.

The DQs elevated McIntyre to the outside pole for the restart, a position that ultimately sent him on to victory lane, while fans and drivers in attendance and watching from afar were left frustrated about the turn of events which parked several top contenders.

Stewart finally spoke out about the BAPS event and its surrounding circumstances on Thursday afternoon, releasing a lengthy statement detailing his thoughts on the matter.

“On Sunday night at BAPS Motor Speedway, the All Star Circuit of Champions disqualified five teams and drivers from the feature event due to their crews leaving the designated work area in the infield of the track. This is stated in our rule book and the designated work area was communicated to the drivers at the driver’s meeting,” explained Stewart. “Our officials called the rules violations accurately.

“With that said, I acknowledge that the punishment of disqualification does not fit the wrongdoing by the teams. The intent of the rule is not only for the safety of the crew members, but also to provide a level playing field for all teams in the infield,” he continued. “On Sunday night, track and series officials both determined that a designated area was required for crew members to keep them safe and away from certain areas of the infield.

“I assure each and every track owner, promoter, team owner, driver, crew member and most importantly the loyal fans that support their drivers and tracks, that this will never happen again,” Stewart noted. “We will not put ourselves in a position to have to monitor the designated work area. In the instances that our teams are parked outside the track, the work area will remain outside the track unless the track designates it elsewhere. Any disqualification will be reserved for only those violations that warrant such a response.”

Stewart was also quick to point out that, from the competitors’ side, he was equally disappointed about not being able to challenge himself against those drivers who were parked so early in the 30-lap feature.

“I was a participant in this race for the third straight year and, as a driver, I was upset that I didn’t get to race against the cars that were disqualified,” he said. “I won the All Star race at BAPS Speedway last year and it (was) one of the biggest races that I have ever won for one reason: I came to Pennsylvania and beat the best in the sport.

“Coming to Pennsylvania is important for me and for my series; it’s the toughest racing in the country. When you win in Pennsylvania, you know you beat the best.”

Stewart noted that he has spoken with all of the disqualified teams and “had meaningful discussions with each of them,” and that all of the teams and their drivers have committed to supporting the All Stars next weekend at Port Royal for the Night Before the 50 and the 52nd Annual Tuscarora 50, as well as at Williams Grove on Sept. 20 and at the Dirt Classic at Lincoln Speedway on Sept. 21.

In addition, Stewart stood behind ASCoC series director Eric Walls, who took backlash in his own right on social media following the BAPS event Sunday night.

“I would like to publicly support my series director, Eric Walls,” Stewart affirmed. “Eric is fair and consistent to each and every team that races with us regardless of their tenure, number of wins or resume. Eric did his job Sunday night and he will do so again, beginning this weekend in Ohio. I have the utmost respect and confidence in Eric. If anyone is to take the blame for the rule as it was written, that falls on me as the series owner.

“Finally, it is important to note that my officials made the call Sunday night. BAPS Motor Speedway was not involved in the decision to disqualify the teams,” he added. “Scott (Gobrecht) and Kolten (Gouse) do a great job at their facility and have invested their money and time to make their track a top facility in central Pennsylvania. I ask that you do not hold them accountable on any level and support them just as you have in the past. I extend this ask of support to all tracks in central Pennsylvania. There are a number of high-paying shows left in Pennsylvania over the next two months, and these tracks cannot pay out purses of this magnitude without fan support.

“I am truly sorry for the impact this has caused on the fans, teams, drivers, BAPS Motor Speedway and their partners – including the Snyder family and BAPS Paints – and our series partners, including Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Mobil 1.”

NAPLES, Maine – Pro All Stars Series officials have revealed the format for the upcoming PASS National Super Late Model event scheduled for Nov. 15-16 at the Lanier Raceplex.

The Lanier National 200 will be 200 laps and pay $6,000 to the winner and $1,000 to start. The starting grid will be set by heat races in which their lineups will be determined by using practice speeds from the last practice.

For the first time, pre-race tech will be set by the order that entries are received, giving teams longer to prepare for practice and the race. The first entrants for the Lanier National 200 are Tate Fogleman, Bryan Kruczek, Gabe Brown and J.P. Josiasse.

In addition, home state favorite Bubba Pollard has confirmed that he has had several drivers inquire with him about racing at Lanier in November.

PASS previously raced at Lanier in 2006 and 2007.  Home town favorite Jason Hogan scored his only win in the series at the inaugural event at Lanier, while Maine’s Corey Williams took the win the following year.

Hogan says there is a need for asphalt racing in Georgia and he is glad to see racing return to Lanier in the Atlanta-metro area.

“I do think it is a great deal and should have a really good turnout,” said Hogan, who currently owns and operates a successful printing business in the area.  “Not sure how the fan base will be since racing has been gone from here for so long, but these folks really do miss that track.  I think the car count will be awesome.”

Hogan said he is considering returning to the driver’s seat to compete at Lanier, but the decision hasn’t been made yet.

“Well, me and Richie Wauters have talked about running at Lanier,” says Hogan.  “But, I also have a new baby on the way and the wife is not a 100 percent sold on it as of yet.”

ANDERSON, Ind. — More than 71 years ago when the organizers of the Pay Less Super Markets Little 500 dreamed up the idea of a 500-lap asphalt sprint car race at Anderson Speedway on the night before the Indianapolis 500, they concentrated on the similarities they could replicate with the Indianapolis 500.

Multi-day qualifying, a field of 33 starting three abreast, pit stops, a festival, and the many pre-race festivities preceding both races are a few of them. Both winners even drink milk in victory lane.

Something happened at this May’s Little 500, however, that never happened before at that event, hasn’t happened in the 103 runnings of the Indianapolis 500 to date, and very well may never happen again.

It’s so unusual, it even took a while for it to sink in to many of the people involved.

What was it?

One team, Nolen Racing, led 499 laps of the 500-lap race. The only lap the Whiteland, Ind.-based team didn’t lead on May 25 was lap 354, when both of its cars were in the pits simultaneously.

Even team owner Gene Nolen didn’t realize it at first. He’d gotten close to winning the Little 500 many times without achieving that goal until Kody Swanson gave him his first Little 500 victory in 2018. But this May 25 Swanson repeated as the winner in a Nolen Racing car; teammate Shane Hollingsworth finished fourth in another Nolen car, and together they led all but one lap.

Swanson led 344 laps in the Nolen Racing No. 4 and Hollingsworth led 155 laps in the Nolen Racing No. 14. DJ Racing’s Bobby Santos III was the only other leader, heading the field for one lap while the Nolen cars made pit stops.

The lap chart shows Swanson led laps 1-186; Hollingsworth led laps 187-325; Swanson led laps 326-353; Santos led lap 354; Hollingsworth was in front again from laps 355-370, and Swanson led again from laps 371-500.

It was Swanson’s third victory in the most prestigious asphalt sprint car race in the world in only five attempts.

Swanson, a native of Kingsburg, Calif. who now lives in Zionsville, Ind., beat runner-up Santos of Franklin, Mass. by an entire lap. Jacob Wilson of Crawfordsville, Ind., finished third, two laps down. Hollingsworth, of Lafayette, Ind., finished fourth, three laps down. Chris Windom of St. Louis rounded out the top five, four laps down.

The two Nolen Racing cars didn’t have the biggest engines. They are powered by Tranter-prepared Chevrolet V6s. The team is sponsored in part by KECO Coatings, K&N Filters, Wilwood Brakes and Goodridge.

“I dearly love V6s, and it’s always our goal to field cars capable of winning,” said team owner Gene Nolen. “The Little 500 is a very hard race to win; we tried to do it for many years and got close, but never did it until last year. Shane’s lap times were comparable with Kody’s this year. Kody looked like the sure winner all night, but something can always happen. Luckily he was able to win again, but I didn’t realize we led that many laps until a reporter told me after the race.”

“The dominance shown by Gene Nolen Racing in the 71st Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW is something that might not ever be duplicated,” said Jared Owen, vice president of operations for Anderson Speedway. “We have had multiple one-two finishes with one team in the 71-year history of the event, but no team dominated the laps led like Nolen Racing. The accomplishment is a testament to the team’s preparation and race strategy.”

At least two multi-car team owners in the NTT IndyCar Series appreciate the accomplishment.

“It is amazing to see Nolen Racing still competing at such a high level and dominating the Little 500,” said Ed Carpenter of Ed Carpenter Racing. “Although that is a race I never competed in, I understand how difficult it would be to lead that many laps in a sprint car at Anderson Speedway.  I remember watching Tony Stewart win a lot of races in the Nolen Racing No. 20.”

“The Little 500 is almost as epic and storied as the Indy 500,” said Sam Schmidt of Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. “In fact, many successful Little 500 drivers and car owners have gone on to compete at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The domination this year by Gene Nolen’s team is simply unheard of in the world of open-wheel racing.  Kudos to him and both of his drivers who combined to lead 499 out of 500 laps. I think he is ready for the IndyCar sandbox.”

According to Donald Davidson, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian, Penske Racing holds the record for the team that has led the most laps of any Indy 500 to date. This occurred in 1994 when winner Al Unser Jr. led 48 laps and Emerson Fittipaldi led 145 for a total of 193 of the 200 laps in a three-car effort that also included Paul Tracy.

Davidson added Penske Racing also holds the record as the team that has led the most laps in total in the history of the Indy 500 with 2,376.

Swanson is also the winningest driver in USAC Silver Crown history, and is leading the current USAC Silver Crown point standings for Nolen Racing as he goes for his fifth championship in USAC’s top series.

He has a happy home at Nolen Racing, but if ever there was a grass-roots driver who has earned his way to the big leagues by talent and hard work, it is Swanson. With his help, Nolen Racing has also set an unprecedented mark at the Little 500 that will be extremely hard to beat.