MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Kyle Busch Motorsports announced Tuesday that Chandler Smith will return to the organization for an eight-race NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series schedule with primary sponsorship from JBL.

Smith will kickoff his schedule participating in the first two races of the Triple Truck Challenge, April 18 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and May 1 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

In 2019, Smith recorded an average finish of 4.2 across his four Truck Series starts, split between the No. 51 and No. 46 teams. Smith finished inside the top 10 in all four of his starts, led 56 laps and recorded three top-five finishes. His best result was a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. He also made five starts for KBM’s Super Late Model program last season, earning a runner-up finish in the All-American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville (Tenn.) and sixth-place finishes in the Winchester 400 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway.

In addition to his limited schedules at KBM in 2019, Smith was impressive in his second part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule. The Georgia native collected five victories, four poles, 666 laps led, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes while competing in just 11 of the 20 events. His five victories in 2019 were a series high and despite being a part timer, he led the series in laps led for the second consecutive year. Overall in 20 starts the last two seasons, Smith has compiled seven wins, eight poles, 1429 laps led, 14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.3.

The remainder of Smith’s Truck Series schedule will be: Michigan Int’l Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Aug. 8 and then five of the seven playoff races; World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill., Aug. 21, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Sept. 17, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Sept. 25, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Oct. 3 and Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway Nov. 6.

“I learned a lot about racing in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series last season in my four races and I’m thankful to everyone at KBM, JBL, Toyota and TRD for the opportunity to have an expanded schedule this year,” Smith said. “Danny Stockman (crew chief) and all the guys on the No. 51 team are already off to a great start getting a win with Kyle (Busch) at Las Vegas and having a strong run with Riley (Herbst) at Daytona. I know they are going to provide me with fast JBL Tundras every week. If I do my job and we execute as a team, I’m confident that we’ll be able to rack up a few wins and put ourselves in position to bring home another owner’s championship for KBM.”

“Chandler is one of those young drivers that come along and are able to produce speed and run up front at every level as they progress up the ladder and it was no different for him last year in the Truck Series,” owner Kyle Busch said. “He was fastest in practice for his first truck race and went out and led a bunch of laps. Although he had just four races on his schedule, he was in the mix for the win a couple of times and we feel that his first of many wins at KBM is just around the corner.

“Much like some of the younger guys before him, Erik Jones and most recently Christian Eckes, we feel that the schedule he is running for his second year in trucks is a mix of different types of tracks and with a good portion of his races coming during the playoffs it will help to prepare him for running for rookie of the year and competing for a championship next season.”

TOOELE VALLEY, Utah – Utah Motorsports Campus officials have confirmed that the ARCA Menards Seris West will return to the road course on May 23 to headline the inaugural UMC Rock N’ Race Fest.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for the series, formerly known as NASCAR Winston West and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West prior to NASCAR acquiring ARCA in 2018, which raced at the track annually from 2007-14 and in 2016.

The race will headline the inaugural UMC Rock N’ Race Fest, which is planned to be an annual Memorial Day Weekend celebration going forward. The one-day show will also include the Fourth Annual Cruzer Palooza Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, a drifting exhibition and a concert featuring Jagertown, with local phenom Carver Louis as the opening act.

Fans will be able to purchase rental karting sessions and ride-alongs in drift cars. In addition, the new UMC Family Fun Center will be open, offering family-fun games like Archery Tag, Nerf Wars and Dodgeball. Food options will be plentiful, with both the Fast Track and Throttle cafes open for business as well as a variety of food trucks.

Admission to the Rock N’ Race Fest will be free, however there will be a parking fee of $10 per vehicle. There will be camping options available for those who would like to make it a full-weekend getaway.

“We could not be more pleased to welcome NASCAR-style racing back to UMC,” said Dixon Hunt, UMC Senior Vice President. “It’s been way too long since we heard the sound of those big V8 engines reverberating off our mountains, and we can’t wait to see the ARCA Menards Series West haulers rolling through our gate again. We appreciate the support of the series officials, and particularly the teams who pushed to bring the series back to Utah, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic inaugural UMC Rock N’ Race Fest!”

“We are very happy to bring the ARCA Menards Series West back to Utah for the inaugural UMC Rock N’ Race Fest,” said Brandon Thompson, NASCAR Touring Series Managing Director. “UMC has always been a favorite venue for our teams and drivers that has consistently provided great, competitive racing, and we’re excited to see more of that this May.”

Utah native Michael Self, who grew up racing here and was a six-time winner in the ARCA Menards West Series as well as a two-time and defending winner of the ARCA Menards Series’ Daytona 200, was excited to hear that the series is returning to his home track.

“It’s great to see the ARCA Menards Series West and stock car racing return to Utah and UMC,” said Self. “The track does such a great job of hosting not only the race teams, but the fans and sponsors as well. It’s always been a world-class venue. The ARCA Menards West Series is the premier development series for the national levels of NASCAR, so hopefully a lot of Utah race fans will show up to support some future stars of racing!”

The UMC race will be the fourth of 11 for the ARCA Menards Series West, and one of two road courses on the schedule. It will be a one-day show, with practice, qualifying and a 70-lap race on the 3.05-mile Outer Course taking place on Saturday.

FONTANA, Calif. – Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron wrapped up the fourth test of NASCAR’s Next Gen race car on Tuesday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway.

Byron is the fourth different driver to test NASCAR’s Next Gen race car, which will debut next season. Austin Dillon, Joey Logano and Erik Jones have tested the car during previous on-track testing at Richmond Raceway (Dillon), Phoenix Raceway (Logano) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Jones).

“I was definitely excited about the opportunity to test this car and see how it drives,” Byron said. “Auto Club Speedway is a really great track to test, especially since we just raced here. I talked to Erik (Jones) beforehand and he mentioned a few things about how it drove – how the steering was different, things like that.”

According to a NASCAR.com story, the car Byron tested is the third prototype in the developmental process of the new car. This version of the Next Gen car is considered almost 100 percent compete ahead of its debut in the 2021 Daytona 500.

“This is a brand-new car. We didn’t take any parts off the car we had at Richmond, Phoenix and Homestead,” said John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation. “Our goal was to take all the feedback we received from the first three tests and implement that into what we consider our pre-production prototype. This is what we intend to race in 2021. What you see here today is a result of all the testing and input we’ve received.”

“I was really curious to see what would be different on this car,” Byron said. “Our current car has kind of been maxed out in terms of what we can do with it. It’s going to take some time to learn this car, so we have to be patient and see how things go. We’re just trying to learn as much as we can right now during this test.

“I’ve been happy with it, especially as we’ve been adjusting it more and tailoring it to this track – this is the biggest track it’s been on so far. As soon as it started to go for us, I thought the steering felt better and the car felt more stable. It’s been fun the more laps I’ve been able to run.”

Everything didn’t go perfectly during the test, as Byron’s Tuesday session was cut short following an incident during a 25-lap run.

“We were probably six or seven laps into a 25-lap tire run. I had been a little free for a couple of corners, but nothing major,” Byron said. “That time, I just got loose and figured I’d be able to save it but wasn’t able to. It just came all the way around. I had a number of similar moments in the race Sunday and was able to drive out of it. That’s what caught me off guard the most. It’s part of testing though, learning where the line is with what the car can do.”

The test also marked the debut of the 18-inch, single center-locking lug nut on the wheels of the Next Gen car.

Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop, nursing a lower-body injury, will not play Tuesday when the Stars host the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced.

Backup Anton Khudobin, who joined Bishop in Tuesday's morning skate, will start against the Oilers, and Dallas will protect Khudobin with AHL call-up Jake Oettinger.

Bishop is 21-14-4 with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage this season, and has been a key cog in the Stars' run to the postseason. As play begins Tuesday, Dallas is in third place in the Central Division with 81 points.

Khudobin is 16-7-3 with a 2.23 GAA and a .930 save percentage. He will face an Oilers team that has scored 11 goals in its last two games.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is open to a return to the Mexico national team and would like to see more Mexicans move to Europe over the coming years in order to strengthen El Tri.

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Hernandez left Sevilla to join the LA Galaxy in last month and big Mexican names like Guillermo Ochoa, Miguel Layun, Carlos Vela and Carlos Salcedo have all returned to North America over the last few years.

The plight of the Mexican players in Europe has also been stagnant of late, with Napoli's Hirving Lozano, Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera, Real Betis' Diego Lainez, PSV Eindhoven's Erick Gutierrez and Ajax's Edson Alvarez struggling for minutes.

"It would be awesome to not have to talk about who is the best Mexican abroad, I'd love for there to be 100 [Mexicans in Europe] and that there could be 20 that are difficult to compare, at least unless there is another Hugo Sanchez or Rafa Marquez," Hernandez said in an interview with TUDN on Monday. "Or that at some point in our history there is a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, Maradona or Pele. I don't know, but it would be awesome to have 100 Mexican players in all Europe."

Hernandez enjoyed a successful 10-year spell in Europe with notable stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, but hasn't been called up to the national team since September.

Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino has stated that he was giving younger players an opportunity during CONCACAF Nations League play, but there have been reports that the 31-year-old striker and others had broken El Tri's disciplinary codes, something Martino has been reluctant to talk about.

Hernandez, however, stated that he is open to be called into the squad for friendlies this month against the Czech Republic and Greece.

"I've always been very honest and when I don't think it is convenient to carry on representing the national team, I will retire from it happy, but right now I'm open [to a call up]," said Hernandez.

Chicharito has also been at the forefront of a push to improve conditions for players with the national team, including bonuses and percentage of image rights, and stressed it isn't so he can make more money, but to help improve conditions for future generations.

The Guadalajara native emphasized that El Tri is a top five national team in terms of income, but questioned where the money goes.

"[We want] bonuses that are fair because the player is the one who earns least [from national team duty]," Hernandez said. "People believe that [players] don't go because they don't feel proud, but what they don't know is that it's not the player making the most out of this, but those who run it, which is fine, it takes work."

He continued later in the same interview: "We want a national team that is a world power, that gets to the 'fifth game,' a semifinal. But to get there, I'm of the idea that you don't give excuses, because if you give me everything, I won't give you excuses."

Hernandez made his Galaxy debut in last Saturday's 1-1 tie with Houston Dynamo and will play his first home game for the club on Saturday when it faces the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to send midfielder Victor Wanyama to MLS side Montreal Impact, the clubs announced on Tuesday.

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Kenya international Wanyama made 97 appearances for Spurs in all competitions following his move from Southampton in June 2016, scoring seven times for the North London side. He was part of last year's UEFA Champions League runner-up side, plus won a pair of Scottish Premier League titles while at Celtic.

"Victor is an important player with a great career," said Montreal sporting director Olivier Renard in a team release. "His undeniable experience will also help support the young players and help them progress."

Wanyama will become a Designated Player and is the second Spurs player to arrive in Montreal this season, following 18-year-old center Luis Binks' transfer to the Canadian club.

"I'm really happy to join an exciting club like the Montreal Impact," Wanyama said. "MLS continues to grow every season and I'm looking forward to bringing further awareness to this team, city and league across Africa."

Montreal have undergone an offseason transition under new coach Thierry Henry, after longtime playmaker Ignacio Piatti and ex-Premier League defender Bacary Sagna left the club.

"When I spoke to Thierry and he told me he wanted me to join him in Montreal, I didn't have to think twice. He has always been a player that I've admired, and I am really happy to get the opportunity to work with him and to play a part that can ensure that the Montreal Impact have an improved season and hopefully reach the ultimate stages of the competitions in which we compete," Wanyama added.

Montreal beat the New England Revolution in their first regular season opener last week. Henry's side takes on FC Dallas on Saturday and then play the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals clash against Honduran side Olimpia next week.

The Coppa Italia semifinal second-leg match in Turin between Juventus and AC Milan scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, Serie A announced Tuesday.

The game had been scheduled to be played in a partially closed Allianz Stadium, with fans from the region of Lombardy banned from attending. However, Lega Serie A, who organises the Coppa, confirmed on Tuesday that the game will now be played at an undetermined date.

Juventus drew the opening leg 1-1.

Ten Serie A matches throughout northern Italy have also been postponed over the past two weekends.

Nearly 80 people have died and more than 2,000 have been infected in Italy by the COVID-19 virus in Italy.

The other Coppa semifinal between Napoli and Inter Milan in Naples on Thursday is still set to be played as scheduled. Napoli won the first leg 1-0.

The decision to postpone Juve-Milan comes hours after Spain's health minister announced on Tuesday that Valencia's home Champions League round-of-16 clash with Italian side Atalanta -- who are located in Lombardy -- would be played behind closed doors due to fears over the virus. And Inter Milan, who have seen each of their last two Serie A matches postponed due to the virus, will face Getafe in their Europa League round-of-32 second leg in Spain behind closed doors as well.

UEFA on Monday tried to dampen any panic about the impact, with president Aleksander Ceferin telling executive committee members there's been an overreaction regarding the virus.

"The UEFA president [Aleksander Ceferin] immediately set the tone that the panic around all this may be worse than the virus itself," Alexei Sorokin, a Russian member of the UEFA executive committee, said after a meeting in Amsterdam.

Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, is a new strain of coronavirus that has surged around the globe in recent months. The coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious respiratory diseases. Flu is caused by a different virus. There is no vaccine for coronavirus, though researchers are working on one and hope to begin testing soon.

Older people, especially those with chronic illnesses such as heart or lung disease, are most at risk. The coronavirus spreads mainly through coughs and sneezes, though it also can be transferred from surfaces. The best way to prevent infection is by frequent hand-washing, cleaning surfaces with regular household sprays and wipes, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Remember February? A month ago, it seemed as if we all knew what to expect in the coming weeks. The contenders have separated themselves, and finally, college basketball had started to make sense.

That's what we thought, at least.

The past month of college basketball has rearranged the hierarchy of the sport and offered a great setup for the NCAA tournament and the chaos that will unfold over the next month.

Think you know what to expect? Well, let's first take a good look at the things that have changed from a month ago.

Duke Blue Devils

What we thought a month ago: Duke's worst days are behind it.

What we think now: Duke has really struggled in recent weeks.

Our take: The best thing about analytics in college basketball is they allow us to examine how a team is playing in the moment, which is especially significant in a season that might reward the most momentous team in Atlanta next month. After a 1-3 slide, Duke entered Monday's win over NC State ranked sixth in the NET and fifth on KenPom.com. But the Blue Devils have been ranked 61st overall in efficiency since Feb. 19, when the slide began with a loss at NC State, and they connected on just 43% of their shots inside the arc and 30% of their 3-point attempts, according to barttorvik.com data. Yes, it's a snapshot that might not define the team's season. But it's also a funk Duke has to shake before the NCAA tournament.

Kansas

Then: Kansas is the best team in America, assuming the Jayhawks stay healthy.

Now: KU's win over K-State on Saturday gave us a glimpse of the Jayhawks' limited depth, even though they're still the best team in America.

Our take: Kansas fans around the world gasped when Udoka Azubuike left the first half of Saturday's 62-58 win at Kansas State with an ankle injury. He returned to play in the second half, but he clearly was limited. After the game, Bill Self said he expected Azubuike to avoid any long-term challenges. A day later, however, Self told reporters the Kansas star is "questionable" for this week's matchup against TCU. Kansas State entered Saturday's game ranked 101st on KenPom.com, but the Wildcats were down by just three points after DaJuan Gordon's 3-pointer with 27 seconds to play. Devon Dotson (25 points), who wrestled with a hip injury in January, saved his team. But the game also offered a glimpse of KU's reliance on Azubuike and Dotson, both of whom have dealt with injuries in recent months. Kansas should be the favorite to win the national title. If anything stops the Jayhawks in March/April, it might be the team's limited options behind Dotson and Azubuike. They're both Wooden Award candidates. A struggling Kansas State team kept pace with the Jayhawks when one of them struggled due to injury.

Kentucky

Then: Kentucky is a good team but might lack the star power to make a run.

Now: Immanuel Quickley is the SEC player of the year and the leader for a national title contender.

Our take: Kentucky continues to play some of the best -- and most consistent -- basketball in the country. A month ago, the Wildcats seemed to possess potential. It was clear then that if Nick Richards, Ashton Hagans and Tyrese Maxey could excel together, then Kentucky (12-1 in its past 13 games) would have a shot at making another run in the NCAA tournament. But the giant leap Immanuel Quickley has made over the past month has changed the fortunes of this Kentucky squad. He has kicked in the door to the SEC player of the year race and positioned himself to win the honor. He has made 47% of his 3-pointers and 92% of his free throw attempts in SEC play. The team has averaged 107 points per 100 possessions with Quickley on the floor and just 87 points per 100 possessions without him since Feb. 1, per hooplens.com data.

Wisconsin

Then: Wisconsin could miss the NCAA tournament.

Now: Wisconsin might be the NCAA tournament sleeper to watch.

Our take: Few teams have endured the challenges Greg Gard has encountered throughout the 2019-20 season. Last summer, assistant Howard Moore was injured in a tragic accident that took the lives of his wife and daughter. The team got off to a rocky, 5-5 start in its first 10 Big Ten games and had not put together the résumé of a surefire NCAA tournament team as it entered February. That messy stretch culminated with Kobe King's decision to transfer and the removal of the team's strength coach following his use of a racial slur. Things looked bad for Gard and Wisconsin. But Frank Sinatra once said, "The best is yet to come," and that's been the theme for the Badgers since early February. They've won six in a row and, at 12-6 in Big Ten play, entered the week with a chance to win a slice of the conference title.

Memphis

Then: There's still a chance for Memphis to improve.

Now: It has gone from bad to worse for head coach Penny Hardaway.

Our take: A month ago, Memphis was in the middle of a 5-2 stretch. And the Tigers, who have been a top-10 defensive team nationally, had finally enjoyed a slight surge that included a three-game winning streak. But the loss of D.J. Jeffries to a knee injury -- the team made announced on Feb. 1 -- for up to six weeks came at a bad time. The team is 3-4 since Feb. 8, and the Tigers entered the week among Joe Lunardi's "Next Four Out." Sure, the James Wiseman departure changed the course of the season. But this season features one of the softest bubbles in recent history, which makes Memphis' struggles to crack the field of 68 a bad look for Hardaway and his program, considering the young talent on the roster.

Rutgers

Then: Rutgers is ready to bust up brackets.

Now: The bandwagon, for the moment, is stuck in a ditch.

Our take: No matter what happens the rest of the way, Rutgers should be proud. A year after finishing 14-17 in the Big Ten, the Scarlet Knights started 7-3 in Big Ten play this year and looked like serious sleepers in the league. With wins over Seton Hall, Wisconsin, Stephen F. Austin and Penn State, they had also put together a résumé worthy of an at-large bid, which could lead to the program's first NCAA tournament invite since 1991. That mission has taken a hit, however, since early February. Steve Pikiell's squad is just 2-6 in its past eight games. That slide could make the team's Selection Sunday a bit more dramatic if it continues.

UCLA

Then: Maybe Year 2 will be better for coach Mick Cronin.

Now: UCLA is in first place in the Pac-12!

Our take: On Jan. 26, UCLA lost at Oregon by 21 points after committing 23 turnovers. At the time, UCLA was 10-10 overall and 3-4 in the Pac-12. "To go on the road against the 12th-ranked team in the country, [with the] best point guard in the country and turn it over 23 times, you've got no chance," Mick Cronin said after the loss. That squad didn't even look like an NIT team. But UCLA entered this week atop the Pac-12 standings. Cronin is certainly the Pac-12 coach of the year, and his Bruins are now chasing a spot in the NCAA tournament. What? They have been 24th in adjusted offensive efficiency since that loss with a nucleus anchored by Chris Smith (13.1 points per game) and Tyger Campbell (8.2 PPG, 5.0 APG). This is a team on the rise. And if the Bruins earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, they could ruin brackets.

The NCAA Evaluation Tool Ranking (NET)

Then: Don't worry, the NET will soon make sense.

Now: Some weird things are still happening with the NET.

Our take: Listen, the NET is a good thing. It's a more accurate barometer of the college basketball landscape than the RPI. It gives teams more credit for winning tough games outside their home floors. Overall, it has helped college basketball. With a large sample size at this point in the season, significant movement for any team is rare. But that doesn't mean everything that happens with the rankings is perfect. On Saturday, Arizona lost to UCLA 69-64 and still moved up a spot, from 11th to 10th, in the NET rankings. Arizona has lost three consecutive games, yet it's still ranked ahead of Seton Hall (12th) and Kentucky (14th). Wisconsin's two-point win over Minnesota on Sunday was the team's sixth consecutive win. The NET rankings rewarded the Badgers by dropping them three spots in their rankings (from 27th to 30th). We just think that's interesting.

Thirty-two NCAA Division I men's basketball conferences will crown champions over a nine-day stretch that begins with the Mountain West and Ohio Valley Conference tournaments on Saturday and comes to an end with the Big Ten final in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 15.

Who will earn the automatic bid in each conference? ESPN.com's team of college basketball experts issued their picks below, with leagues listed in the order that tickets will be punched.

(For information on how to watch every conference tournament game, click here.)

Consensus Picks:

American: Houston
ACC: Duke
America East: Vermont (unanimous)
Atlantic 10: Dayton (unanimous)
Atlantic Sun: Liberty (unanimous)
Big East: Creighton
Big Sky: Eastern Washington
Big South: No consensus (Winthrop, Radford)
Big 12: Baylor
Big Ten: No consensus (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa)
Big West: UC Irvine
Colonial: No consensus (Charleston, Delaware, Hofstra, William & Mary)
Conference USA: North Texas
Horizon League: Wright State (unanimous)
Ivy League: No consensus (Harvard, Yale)
MAAC: Siena
MAC: Akron (unanimous)
MEAC: North Carolina Central
Missouri Valley: Loyola Chicago
Mountain West: San Diego State (unanimous)
Northeast: Robert Morris
Ohio Valley: Belmont
Pac-12: Arizona
Patriot: Colgate
SEC: Kentucky
Southern: East Tennessee State (unanimous)
Southland: Stephen F. Austin (unanimous)
Summit: No consensus (North Dakota State, South Dakota State)
Sun Belt: No consensus (Little Rock, Texas State)
SWAC: Prairie View
WAC: New Mexico State (unanimous)
West Coast: Gonzaga (unanimous)