I Dig Sports
BRADENTON, Fla. Hangsterfers Metalworking Lubricants has partnered with AB Motorsports Accelerate program athlete Angelle Sampey as she prepares to debut the first enclosed canopy cockpit on an A/Fuel dragster when the NHRA season opens with the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway next month.
As a former member of Don Schumacher Racing, AB Motorsports team owner and driver Antron Brown was the second NHRA driver to compete in the modern canopy Top Fuel dragster that first hit the track in 2012.
NHRA officials have since authorized the canopy-style dragster body to compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster category beginning this year.
Were excited to be the first to field a canopy car in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Brown said. I first started racing in a canopy car in 2013 and its something I feel strongly about. Safety is always first and foremost and Im glad we were able to implement this on Angelles car. A huge thank you to Hangsterfers for supporting this initiative. This is the next step in seeing the category continue to be a developmental platform for the future crop of Top Fuel drivers.
Our goal has always been to steadily prepare Angelle to move to Top Fuel and by converting our race-proven backup car into an A/Fuel car, were moving towards that objective.
Sampey began preparations for the upcoming race season on Feb. 10 at Bradenton Motorsports Park with her Michalek Brothers Racing (MBR) team, led by brothers Corey and Kyle. The team will continue to test at the Florida facility through Feb. 12, and the canopied Hangsterfers dragster will make its official on-track entry on March 6 to begin qualifying for the Gatornationals.
Ive never been more excited to start a race season, and I truly mean that, Sampey said. Hangsterfers has stepped up to support AB Motorsports and the Accelerate program to allow me to live my dreams and improve behind the wheel of this A/Fuel dragster with the goal of graduating up to Top Fuel in the near future.
Hangsterfers was named the primary sponsor of Sampeys A/Fuel dragster, which competes in NHRAs Top Alcohol Dragster category, the feeder class to Top Fuel, last May before the Cleetus & Cars event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Sampey raced the green and black rail to the final round of the prestigious U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend before capturing her first career win on four wheels at the Pep Boys Nationals in Reading, Pa. in September. It was her 47th NHRA triumph to go along with her three NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championships.
We had such a wonderful first full season in A/Fuel last year with Hangsterfers and my MBR team and that was capped off by winning at Reading last fall and doubling up with Antrons team, added Sampey. That really was one of my greatest days in racing.
I got to attend the IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) in Chicago, spend much of the PRI Show in Indy, and the Blackhawk Industrial Tradeshow in Oklahoma City this January with my Hangsterfers family, and they sincerely have become family in a very short time. I cant wait for the great things in store in 2025.
Hangsterfers, which joined Browns Matco Tools Top Fuel team while at Don Schumacher Racing, enters a second decade in support of the four-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and 80-time race winner.
Hangsterfers branding will again adorn the sides of the Matco Tools car, along with primary branding on Sampeys A/Fuel dragster, which will compete in up to 15 NHRA Mission Foods and Lucas Oil Series races throughout the 2025 season.
Hangsterfers, with Mike Ditzel and the Jones family, continues to be such an amazing partner and avid supporter of our team and the sport of NHRA Drag Racing, Brown added.
They continue to help our organization grow for the future while working very closely with our partners to cultivate B2B relationships, which helps us with a better product on the track, while the support and technology from Hangsterfers help our vendor partners produce a better-quality product.
Hangsterfers has been a sponsor of Antron Brown for more than a decade now and we are proud to be a part of his success in becoming a champion team owner and driver, Mike Ditzel, Hangsterfers Director of Motorsports Performance Products, said. My personal relationship with Antron has grown beyond the drag strip. To call Antron a friend is an understatement.
With ABMS Accelerate Program, we are proud to have supported Angelle Sampey as she turned the page from Pro Stock Motorcycle to driving the Hangsterfers A/Fuel Dragster. Were excited to see her turn on more win lights in 2025 and compete for an NHRA championship.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. Bubba Pollard has had good days and bad days at New Smyrna Speedway.
The defending winner of the Clyde Hart Memorial hopes to have another good day tonight as he defends last years victory in the 26th running of the super late model race that will be the first race of the season for the ASA STARS National Tour.
Weve been good here at times and we have struggled here. Its a tough place, Pollard said of the half-mile asphalt track. It can be tricky, but we unloaded pretty good with pretty much the same stuff we had last year and it was good right off the trailer.
We have a good baseline and we feel comfortable about it.
Pollard ran down Ty Majeski late in the race to win last years Hart Memorial.
I feel better about it compared to where we are at with the race cars, Pollard said. Last year, we struggled when we got here and I feel like the car has speed this year right off the trailer, which is good. I feel like we can keep it together and make all the right decisions and do what we need to do tomorrow night we are going to be OK. But you never know. Its racing. One minute you are a hero and the next minute you are a zero. Thats why we do it.
The series initiated the ASA STARS National Tour Platinum Program Presented by Rackley Roofing and Track Enterprises during the offseason, and Pollard plans to race for the championship in the third year of the rejuvenated national tour.
There are a lot of different things that go into it, Pollard explained. We have made some changes in order to do the things that we need to do to be able to run for the series championship. We are focused on it this year. We started on it the last two years and kind of fell off. I feel like we have put things in position this year to do it, especially at some of those race tracks that we dont run good at.
I am excited about it. They are doing a great job, Pollard continued. You have growing pains, you know, and theyve got that behind them. They are putting people in position to make the right calls and everyone is getting comfortable with what is going on. The communication level of things has been way better this year than it has been the last few years. They are doing a good job.
Watch the Clyde Hart Memorial on SPEED SPORT affiliate www.tracktv.com.
Seventeen-year-old Hudson Bulger will be running a limited schedule in the zMAX Cars Tour Late Model Stock division and various Late Model races around the Southeast, Kevin Powell Speed Motorsports revealed Tuesday.
With only five years behind the wheel, the youngster has amassed multiple wins in Legends Cars and Late Models and earned Rookie of the Year honors at two race tracks.
Were very excited to have Hudson as part of the team, Kevin Powell, owner of KPSM, said. When Candice Hornaday and Joey Coulter approached us about Hudson, we felt that, with his talent and work ethic, he would be a great fit here at KPSM.
Bulger heads to the team with a strong résumé in Legends, Pro and Super Late Model competitions. He won Rookie of the Year honors in Pro Late Models at Montgomery Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series at New Smyrna Speedway.
He is the only driver other than Bubba Pollard to win the pole for both the Pro and Super Late Model portions of Speedfest in Cordele, Ga.
Marketing partners on the car will include longtime supporter Byron Outdoor Superstore, CB Free Realty and Antler X-treme, with additional support from Simpson Race Products.
Former NASCAR star Joey Coulter believes Bulger has the potential to be racing in the upper tiers of NASCAR.
Were really looking forward to this season and seeing where things go from here Hudsons got a ton of potential; hes accomplished a lot in the Late Model world in a short amount of time, Coulter said. His parents and Brett Ragan have picked a great direction theyre going in, like when and where he races and putting him in front of the right people like Candice Hornaday.
When I talked to Kevin, I immediately thought of a driver like Hudson and thought they would be a real strong combination against the competition.
I love this kid! Hornaday Developments Candice Hornaday said with excitement. Hes just a good kid, he works hard and has a great personality and attitude towards racing.
Kevin Powell Speed Motorsports will run a limited zMAX Cars Tour schedule and other various races around the Southeast in Pro and Super Late Model competition, including prestigious events like the Snowball Derby in December.
Longtime racer and crew chief Jason Sarvis will serve as the crew chief on the Late Model Stock portion for KPSM, while Brett Ragan will serve as Bulgers crew chief on his home team.
Both Sarvis and Ragan have worked in the top levels of NASCAR. Bulgers driver coach, Chris Dilbeck, will continue in the Pro and Super Late Model programs.
All Star Circuit of Champions Secure Title Sponsor
FREMONT, Ohio The All Star Circuit of Champions Americas oldest winged sprint car series has secured a title sponsor for the upcoming season as well as a presenting sponsor.
NAPA Auto Parts will partner with Americas Series as the title sponsor while Valvoline has signed on as the presenting sponsor.
The NAPA Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions Presented by Valvoline will return to its roots this year, giving regional race teams a chance to compete for increased purses. The All Stars will visit tracks in five states for 26 events in five states.
Having NAPA Auto Parts step up to be our title sponsor along with Valvoline coming on board gives us tremendous support as we work to grow the All Star brand, said Rich Farmer, All Star President.
Farmer, who also own several NAPA Auto Parts stores, said the added resources NAPA and Valvoline bring to the All Stars will benefit the race teams and tracks greatly.
It helps the many teams who have said they will follow the All Stars with name recognition and brings that same advantage to our partner tracks, Farmer said.
The All Star Circuit of Champions will kick off the 2025 season with the traditional Sprint Nationals at Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, April 11-12 and wrap up with another tradition The Jim Ford Classic at Fremont Speedway Sept. 12-13.
Gaudreau's father joins U.S. practice at 4 Nations
MONTREAL -- Team USA welcomed the father of late hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau to its 4 Nations Face-Off practice on Tuesday, hosting Guy Gaudreau as a guest coach the morning after he joined the team for a pre-tournament dinner.
USA's players also insisted Guy be in Tuesday's team photo, according to general manager Bill Guerin. Having the Gaudreau's patriarch with them at the event is one more way the USA is honoring the Gaudreau family. Johnny's jersey and nameplate are in the USA dressing room too, as they were when the USA participated in the World Junior Championship late this past year.
Johnny and Matthew were killed in August while riding bikes near their hometown of Carneys Point, New Jersey, the night before their sister Katie was set to be married.
That tragedy still lingers with USA players who knew the family best, and it's why bringing Guy to Montreal for the 4 Nations tournament was important.
"It's incredible having him around," Chris Kreider, who won a national championship as Johnny's teammate at Boston College, said. "Johnny was such a big part of USA Hockey and meant so much to every single team he played for and obviously represented his country at multiple different stages and played so well. [He] had such an impact on pretty much everyone here. There's a ton of gratitude and appreciation for what he meant to the sport of hockey."
Guerin said it was the players who initiated the invitation to have Guy at their team dinner on Monday night, which also included USA hockey alumni Mike Modano, Mike Eruzione and Rob McClanahan. The former players made memorable speeches to the group about embracing their opportunity to play in a best-on-best hockey tournament and the Gaudreau presence was felt by all.
"Johnny and Matthew are looking down on us and cheering us on," Brady Tkachuk said. "To have Johnny's jersey and nameplate [in the room]; he's part of this team. And then it was a great moment to get [Guy] on the ice. I don't think he [expected it], I don't think he brought skates or gear, but it was really special to have him out there."
"It's still so incredibly sad," Matthew Tkachuk added. "But it was great that Guy was able to come out, and it was really nice that they brought him in here for this."
However long Guy remains with the team only serves to keep Johnny and Matthew's memories at the forefront. And the USA will be leaning on that inspiration from puck drop of its first game on Thursday against Finland.
"[Johnny's] here in spirit," Kreider said. "The biggest thing I took away from playing with Johnny and getting to know Johnny is just how much fun he had in the game of hockey and how humble he was. He was a superstar, but he thought less of himself but so highly of everyone else. He just loved playing hockey."
MONTREAL -- Jordan Binnington will be Canada's starting goaltender at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Canada's coach Jon Cooper officially declared Binnington his No. 1 netminder following Tuesday's practice. The Canadians will face Sweden in the tournament's opening game Wednesday night.
"Jordan's been our guy," said Cooper.
Binnington, who backstopped his St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019, beat out fellow Canadian goaltenders Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault for the starting job. Hill also has Cup-winning pedigree after claiming a championship with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.
This will be Binnington's second time in recent years representing Canada on the international stage -- he was the country's top goaltender at the 2024 World Championship as well, producing a 6-2-0 record and .885 save percentage.
It hasn't been an easy NHL season for Binnington and the Blues, though. Binnington is 15-19-4 with an .897 SV% and 2.89 GAA while St. Louis sits eight points out of a wild-card playoff spot.
Hill has gone 20-10-4 with a .900 SV% and a 2.64 goals-against average for the Golden Knights, who hold second place in the Pacific Division.
Sources: Havertz suffers injury scare in training
Arsenal are assessing Kai Havertz after the forward suffered an injury scare during their winter training break in Dubai, sources have told ESPN.
The exact nature of the problem is unclear but he is thought to have suffered a muscular injury and will now undergo further tests.
Arsenal returned from their break on Tuesday having flown out last Thursday to utilise a rare weekend without a game after they were knocked out of rhe FA Cup third round on penalties by Manchester United.
Any injury to Havertz would be a major blow to Arsenal, who would be left without a recognised striker with Gabriel Jesus joining Bukayo Saka on the sidelines through injury.
After trying and failing to add a striker in the January transfer window, Arteta labelled Havertz as a genetic "powerhouse" who could lead the line instead.
"I don't know ... it it is a possibility [he could start every game]," Arteta said earlier this month. "Maybe we go through that scenario and he scores another 15 or 18 goals? Can you imagine? That's a good scenario.
"Genetically, he is a powerhouse. He is so well-built. He is a player that anything you ask him, he is happy to do: to run in zone six, to be very robust, to make long distances. His body absorbs everything. And then he really looks after himself.
"When you see the professional, how he lives his life, it is immaculate. He does more than any other player there. That is not a coincidence. And then I think he is so intelligent.
"He knows what is good for him and what is not. We know how to manage him and we believe that when he says something it is for the right reason, not because he wants to avoid something. When something works, don't touch him."
Havertz has 15 goals in 34 games in all competitions this season but has been inconsistent in front of goal in recent weeks.
It will come as a relief that Saka has returned to light training at the Dubai camp following his hamstring injury.
'Lucky' McKennie shrugs off spectacular UCL goal
Juventus were frustrated by PSV Eindhoven's gritty defending until Weston McKennie broke the deadlock with a stylish goal in their Champions League playoff on Tuesday.
The United States midfielder struck a blistering shot into the top right corner from just inside the penalty area in the 34th minute, following a scramble.
"It was a good goal, though I think I scored a better one against Barcelona in 2020. I was really lucky!" McKennie told Sky Sport Italia.
"I was calm because last week in training I scored a lot of goals, so I felt pretty confident. The important thing isn't scoring a goal or providing an assist, but helping the team win."
McKennie's goal sent Juventus on the way to a hard-fought 2-1 win over the resilient Dutch side, with substitute Samuel Mbangula grabbing the winner in the 82nd for his first Champions League goal.
The 26-year-old McKennie has a decent return of 11 goals in 58 games for the U.S. team and this was his third in the Champions League this season - all with his trusted right foot and all in victories. In the league phase, he scored against Manchester City and in the opener also against PSV.
His 7th UCL goal puts McKennie in elite Concacaf company. He joins a select group of players of the region, trailing only Javier Hernández (14 goals), Christian Pulisic (12), Dwight Yorke (11), and Jonathan David (9) in goals scored in the competition.
"My role is not important, I work for the team," the USMNT star said.
"We all work just for the squad, whether it's as a full-back or a midfielder. I played in a more central position tonight. But the team always wants to press forward, and that's a team effort."
The goal came after PSV neutralized in-form striker Randal Kolo Muani - who had netted five goals in his three games since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
McKennie was not the only U.S. international on form.
Timothy Weah threatened with a couple of good runs down the right; almost setting up Kolo Muani early in the first half and Mbangula early into the second period.
The home crowd was silenced in the 56th when veteran midfielder Ivan Perisic scored in the 56th. The technically gifted Perisic was roundly jeered by Juve's fans because he played seven years for Italian rival Inter Milan from 2015-22, scoring 55 goals and winning the Serie A in 2021 and the Italian Cup a year later.
Draws have been an ongoing curse this season for Juve, which drew three of eight games in the Champions League group stage and 13 in 24 matches in Serie A.
So there was widespread relief, from the fans to coach Thiago Motta, when Mbangula swept the ball in after goalkeeper Walter Benitez spilled Francisco Conceição's right-wing cross.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Stones: Latest City loss brings anger, frustration
John Stones admitted he was left feeling "anger and frustration" after Manchester City conceded two late goals to lose 3-2 to Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The result leaves City with a mountain to climb to progress from their Champions League play-off ahead of the second leg in Madrid next week.
Pep Guardiola's team were leading 2-1 four minutes from time before goals from ex-City youngster Brahim Díaz and England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
"We were in the game until so late and then it's two situations that happen and we concede," Stones told Amazon Prime.
"It's frustrating as a defender to come away with that result. It's a feeling of anger and frustration.
"We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen."
It is not the first time this season City have paid the price for a late collapse. In the Champions League alone, they've thrown away leads against Sporting CP, Feyenoord, Paris Saint-Germain and now against Madrid.
"After 2-1, it happened what has happened many times this season," Guardiola told a news conference.
"Against Feyenoord, Sporting, Brentford, [Manchester] United. At the end we give away. At that level it is so difficult. It is not the first time, it has happened many times, and that is why it is difficult.
"We talk about that but that is hard. It has happened many times."
City will need to win in the Bernabeu next week to stand any chance of reaching the round of 16.
Madrid only need a home draw to progress and Stones admitted it was "difficult" to "stay positive" after coming so close to heading to Madrid ahead in the tie.
"We had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead," Stones said. "It's not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now. "
As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability. "It is avoidable from us as the eleven on the pitch. We have to do better, it's as simple as that. We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right."
Vinícius Júnior said a banner from Manchester City fans -- backing Rodri in their Ballon d'Or dispute -- helped inspire him to put in a man-of-the-match performance in Real Madrid's 3-2 comeback win in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Fans at the Etihad unfurled a banner ahead of the knockout phase playoff first leg showing City midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d'Or trophy he won ahead of Vinícius last year, along with the Oasis song title "Stop Crying Your Heart Out."
Vinícius was named Player of the Match by UEFA after starring for Madrid on the night, including creating Jude Bellingham's 92nd-minute winner by lobbing a pass over City's stranded goalkeeper Ederson.
"I saw [the banner]," Vinícius told Movistar. "But when opposition fans do things, it always gives me more strength to play a great game, and here I did that. ... [City] know our history, and everything we've done in this competition."
Madrid boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony in October last year, in protest of Vinícius missing out on the trophy.
"I don't know if Vini saw it," coach Carlo Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. "But having seen the game, if he saw it, it was a big motivation for him."
City coach Pep Guardiola said he hadn't seen the banner, while acknowledging that Vinícius is "an extraordinary player."
Ancelotti said his side had a "slight advantage" in the tie after the 3-2 win, with the second leg to come next week at the Bernabéu.
"This is the way," Ancelotti said. "We've been talking about it for a long time. The season really starts now, and despite all our difficulties, we've got a very good result.
"The four at the back [Raúl Asencio, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and Ferland Mendy] had never played together or even trained together, and they had a spectacular game. ... From this emergency, we got something good."
Ancelotti said he expected two more senior defenders -- Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba -- to be available for the second leg.
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