NEW YORK -- The Pittsburgh Pirates' Pablo Reyes was suspended 80 games on Wednesday under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone.

He became the second player in three days suspended for Boldenone, which is sold under the brand name Equipose and is used commonly on horses. Houston pitcher Francis Martes was suspended for the 2020 season on Monday following a positive test for Boldenone, his second violation of the major league drug program.

Reyes, a 26-year-old outfielder and infielder, made his major league debut in September 2018 and hit .293 with three homers and seven RBI in 63 plate appearances.

He hit .203 with two homers and 19 RBI in 157 plate appearances for the Pirates last year and batted .286 with 10 homers and 30 RBI in 191 plate appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis. He was on the Pirates' 40-man roster before he was designated for assignment on Jan. 9 to clear a roster spot when outfielder Guillermo Heredia was signed. Reyes was sent outright to Indianapolis on Jan. 16.

Reyes did not have a statement, the players' association said.

Three players have been suspended this year under the big league program. Colorado pitcher Justin Lawrence was suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT). Lawrence has yet to make his big league debut.

NEW YORK -- The Pittsburgh Pirates' Pablo Reyes was suspended 80 games on Wednesday under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone.

He became the second player in three days suspended for Boldenone, which is sold under the brand name Equipose and is used commonly on horses. Houston pitcher Francis Martes was suspended for the 2020 season on Monday following a positive test for Boldenone, his second violation of the major league drug program.

Reyes, a 26-year-old outfielder and infielder, made his major league debut in September 2018 and hit .293 with three homers and seven RBI in 63 plate appearances.

He hit .203 with two homers and 19 RBI in 157 plate appearances for the Pirates last year and batted .286 with 10 homers and 30 RBI in 191 plate appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis. He was on the Pirates' 40-man roster before he was designated for assignment on Jan. 9 to clear a roster spot when outfielder Guillermo Heredia was signed. Reyes was sent outright to Indianapolis on Jan. 16.

Reyes did not have a statement, the players' association said.

Three players have been suspended this year under the big league program. Colorado pitcher Justin Lawrence was suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT). Lawrence has yet to make his big league debut.

Spotlight is on the pole vault once more as the World Indoor Tour moves on to France, while Jemma Reekie ends her season on a high

The lively Liévin crowd may have been expecting a world pole vault record attempt with Mondo Duplantis in attendance but fans were treated to double the excitement as Sandi Morris also tried to make history on Wednesday evening.

After improving the world record twice in seven days – first to 6.17m in Toruń on February 8 and then to 6.18m in Glasgow a week later – this time, with the competition won thanks to his huge clearance of 6.07m, Duplantis had the bar moved to 6.19m

Ultimately it wasn’t to be as he knocked and then brushed the bar on his first two attempts before a third and final go saw him fall away before he could pass over the top.

But it was another night in which his sport was well in the spotlight, with Morris also attempting to equal the women’s world indoor record of 5.03m at the same time.

Having cleared 4.83m for victory, she had three tries at matching Jenn Suhr’s global indoor mark which had been set in 2016 but she too was unsuccessful on this occasion.

It was still an important moment for them both.

“It was special, it was a really special place to jump tonight,” said Duplantis, who won the men’s competition ahead of two-time world champion Sam Kendricks (5.90m).

“I think it was really cool that us pole vaulters got to show why our event is so special.

“I’ve never got to watch somebody attempt a world record, I only got to live it, I guess. It was really cool to watch her (Morris) attempt that world record, it really got me fired up.

“I know the feeling of it a little bit now and I could see her on the runway and she loves that energy, I love the crowd’s energy. Me and her, I feel like we’re the perfect two people to be jumping side by side together. I hope we can do it more, because that was really fun.”

Morris, who won ahead of Robeilys Peinado’s Venezuelan record of 4.78m, added: “It’s probably something I’ll never get to experience again. I don’t know that it has ever been done before where a man and a woman were making attempts on the world record at the same time. I wish both of us had made it but I guess we’ll save that for another day!”

Another athlete to impress once again as the World Athletics Indoor Tour moved on to France was Britain’s Jemma Reekie as she ended her season on a high with another win.

Following her 1500m victory on home soil in Glasgow and after national indoor 800m, 1500m and mile records in recent weeks, the 21-year-old clocked 2:00.34 for 800m in Liévin to finish clear ahead of world champion Halimah Nakaayi, who ran 2:01.96.

“It was a tough field out there and I was going for the win,” said Reekie, who now closes her indoor season. “I would have liked to have run a bit faster knowing what shape I’m in but I’ll take the win.”

Her coach Andy Young admitted he was impressed. “She looked way too in control, almost too comfortable,” he said. “That’s how to do it, if you can do it that way.”

Having just watched his athlete @JemmaReekie beat world champion Halimah Nakaayi in the Liévin 800m, coach Andy Young talks to @stuartweir about her run this evening, her record-breaking indoor season, championship doubles and more #WorldIndoorTour @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/WAjFHjrGkg

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) February 19, 2020

Another athlete who looked well in control was the USA’s world indoor bronze medallist Ronnie Baker as he first cruised to a 60m heat win in 6.49 despite easing down and then improved to 6.44 to win the final ahead of Demek Kemp with 6.50.

“Yeah, it’s a good time, but it’s not the world lead!” said Baker. “I’m always trying to be the best and when I’m second, it hurts me. That’s just the fight in me.”

The women’s 60m final was won by Gina Bass as she ran a Gambian record of 7.11 to beat world indoor champion Murielle Ahouré by 0.01. Britain’s Asha Philip was fourth in 7.27 after a 7.25 heat.

The men’s 1500m was won by world indoor champion Samuel Tefera as he clocked a world-leading 3:35.54, while Britain’s Charlie Da’Vall Grice returned to the track for fifth place in 3:38.95 after rolling his ankle in Glasgow and being unable to finish there.

In the men’s 800m, Collins Kipruto claimed victory in 1:46.34 from Cornelius Tuwei’s 1:46.74 following some mid-race drama which saw Adam Kszczot and Marc Reuther involved in a heavy fall, with Eliott Crestan also taking a tumble.

World 3000m steeplechase fourth-placer Getnet Wale held off world 5000m silver medallist Selemon Barega to win the 3000m – a world-leading 7:32.80 to 7:33.19, while world bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay won the women’s 1500m in 4:00.60 and in the rarely-run indoor 2000m steeplechase Slovenia’s Marusa Mismas achieved a world best of 5:47.79 for victory.

There were big cheers as France’s 2017 world 800m champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse held on for 1000m victory in 2:19.26 as GB’s fast-finishing Andrew Osagie opened his season by coming through for a close second in 2:19.31 ahead of Evans Kipchumba’s 2:19.42.

Another home win was claimed by Pascal Martinot-Lagarde as he stormed to take the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.47. USA’s Nia Ali narrowly won the women’s race ahead of Christina Clemons as both athletes clocked 7.92.

World triple jump bronze medallist Hugues Fabrice Zango studies in France and he too secured success, leaping 17.51m, while Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk claimed the overall women’s long jump Tour title as she jumped 6.90m.

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STATESVILLE, N.C. – Ty Majeski’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry familiar colors for several races during the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season, as iRacing joins Majeski and Niece Motorsports as a primary partner.

“I can’t thank iRacing enough for their support as we move into the Truck Series this year,” said Majeski. “They’ve been a long-time partner of mine, and I’m thrilled to continue that this season. The entire organization has been working incredibly hard this offseason to make sure that we have trucks capable of taking our partners to victory lane.”

iRacing will make its debut with Majeski at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We couldn’t help but notice Ty years ago, piling up wins and climbing to the highest oval skill rating on iRacing,” said iRacing President Tony Gardner. “Not long after that, we got involved supporting his late model program and watched him stack up big wins in the real world as well. It has been exciting for iRacing to be involved in his career progression, and we’re proud to be part of this next big step with Niece Motorsports.”

Majeski’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will also carry the iRacing colors at Richmond Raceway, Martinsville Speedway and in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“I know for all of the men and women that build our race trucks, the offseason flew by,” said team owner Al Niece. “But it’s seemed like forever to me. We had a great season last year, and I know how hard everyone has been working to prepare for this year. We’ve been fortunate enough to add several great driving talents to our team, in addition to great partners like iRacing.

“I’m honored that iRacing has decided to come on board and support Ty and Niece Motorsports.”

With over 110,000 active users, iRacing is the world’s premier motorsport racing simulation. Since it was established in 2004, iRacing has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world.

iRacing promotes eSport world championships with eNASCAR, Porsche and the World of Outlaws, allowing users to race nearly any discipline imaginable on more than 80 tracks.

Majeski is one of the world’s premier oval iRacers. In 2,535 starts, Majeski has earned 1,892 wins, 2,225 top-five finishes and 1,717 poles on iRacing.

As part of the partnership, iRacers will have the opportunity to race alongside Majeski throughout the season in a series of special events on the simulator that will be announced at a later date.

iRacing will also adorn Ross Chastain’s truck at Pocono Raceway, as Chastain looks to defend last year’s dominating performance, an event where he led 54 of 60 laps on the way to the victory.

“I’m excited to have iRacing on board at Pocono,” said Chastain. “Last year’s race was about as perfect as it gets, and I’m confident we’ll contend to take iRacing to victory lane when we head back to Pocono this summer.”

On Sunday afternoon, 25-year-old Christopher Bell climbed into the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota Camry to compete in NASCAR’s biggest race, the Daytona 500.

It marked the start of what is expected to be a long and successful career for Bell in this country’s most popular form of auto racing.

It is also the latest step in a journey that has already exceeded Bell’s wildest dreams, as the Norman, Okla., racer has progressed from micro sprint star to rising NASCAR sensation.

“Honestly, for me, my goal as a kid was to be able to make a living driving race cars. And growing up in Oklahoma, I never really thought NASCAR was a possibility,” Bell told SPEED SPORT. “I didn’t ever think going to NASCAR was an option. The World of Outlaws was the pinnacle, yeah, that’s what my dream was. I was under the impression that getting to the World of Outlaws would be difficult. I figured USAC or ASCS was more of a realistic option and the World of Outlaws was the ultimate goal. Then once I got hired to compete in USAC, I obviously learned that NASCAR was a possibility and here we are today.”

Bell’s passion for racing was ignited when a family friend took him to a local dirt track.

“They took me to the races, actually the micro sprint races there in Oklahoma, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” Bell explained. “I raced micro sprints from the age of 6 until I was 16. When I was 15 and 16, we started traveling quite a bit. We ran a lot of the POWRi races in Illinois and we went to Pennsylvania a couple years. I was driving for Darren Ruston at the time.”

Bell was racing a micro sprint and a midget for Ruston when he got his big break. His on-track performance caught the attention of car owners Keith Kunz and Pete Willoughby, and they hired the youngster to drive one of their potent USAC midgets.

“I got hired by a USAC team, Keith Kunz Motorsports, and they are sponsored by Toyota,” Bell said about the beginning of his NASCAR journey. “I actually raced against Kyle Larson, who was KKM’s driver at the time, and we were parked beside them a couple of nights. I caught their attention and once Larson moved on; I was the guy. It was a lot of pressure that’s for sure. I don’t think anyone expected me to be able to live up to Larson’s accomplishments, not saying that I did, but I don’t think anybody expected me to and I’m just fortunate to have had the success I’ve had.”

Bell captured the 2013 USAC National Midget Series championship with KKM and soon began to broaden his horizons, also racing sprint cars and, eventually, asphalt late models.

With guidance and support from Toyota, Bell made his NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series debut in 2015. He won seven races during two full seasons and claimed the 2017 championship with Kyle Busch Motorsports before advancing to the next step on Toyota’s developmental ladder.

Bell became a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018, and he won 16 times in 74 series starts.

“If it wasn’t for Toyota I wouldn’t be here today. Toyota has given me this opportunity and they are the reason I’m where I’m at,” Bell said. “I remember back whenever we first got together and I actually met with Jack Irving (senior manager, commercial director for TRD) and Tyler Gibbs (vice president and general manager for TRD) and we talked about the plan.

“I remember they sent me a bubble chart and that was back at the very beginning of best-case scenario, after this we go late model racing, best-case scenario we go Truck (Series) racing, worst-case scenario, we stay truck racing,” Bell continued. “It would be really cool to see that bubble chart, I’m sure it’s floating around in an email somewhere, to see how true it all came six years later. I thought it was realistic that I could get to Cup whenever I started in the USAC ranks with them, as long as I performed, but then as you make every step, it gets harder and harder and harder.”

To continue reading, advance to the next page.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Roush Fenway Racing provided the most encouraging update possible on the health of NASCAR Cup Series star Ryan Newman Wednesday afternoon.

The team revealed that Newman has been officially released from Halifax Medical Center just before 2 p.m. ET Wednesday afternoon, roughly 36 hours after he was involved in a vicious crash at the end of Monday night’s 62nd annual Daytona 500.

A Twitter video from Newman’s wife Krissie captured the moment that the South Bend, Ind., native walked out of the hospital, hand in hand with daughters Brooklyn and Ashlyn.

Best sight ever!!! https://t.co/g1G3VDwpi1 pic.twitter.com/kMs4u8LjOL

— Krissie Newman (@NewmanKrissie) February 19, 2020

News of Newman’s release from the hospital came less than two hours after he was confirmed to be “fully alert and walking around Halifax Medical Center” in a noon-time update from RFR officials.

A bump from behind by Ryan Blaney turned Newman’s No. 6 Ford Mustang into the outside wall in the tri-oval at Daytona Int’l Speedway Monday night, causing his car to fly through the air.

Upon returning to the ground, his car was struck in the driver’s side window by the oncoming car of Corey LaJoie.

The impact by LaJoie’s car again sent Newman’s car into the air, with the destroyed race car eventually coming to rest at the end of pit road, where he was quickly attended to by safety officials.

Newman was carefully extricated from the car and taken to Halifax Medical Center, where team officials later revealed he was in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.

A Tuesday update from RFR confirmed that Newman was awake and speaking with family and doctors before Wednesday’s latest news was revealed by the organization.

RFR officials also noted in the first Wednesday update that Newman “has also been joking around with staff, friends and family while playing with his two daughters, and continues to express his appreciation for the outpouring of support from across the country.”

An update on who will drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be provided as information become available.

CONCORD, N.C. – Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Ross Chastain will fill in for Ryan Newman in the No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, starting this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Newman was injured in a last-lap accident while leading Monday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona Int’l Speedway. He has since been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center.

“First and foremost, our focus remains with Ryan and his family as he continues to recover,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “We also want to express our sincere gratitude to all of those who have offered support and taken the time to send their thoughts and prayers to Ryan, his family and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing.

“The NASCAR community has long prided itself on being a close-knit family,” added Newmark. “That is never more evident than during these types of moments, and we want to express our appreciation to everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing, as well as Kaulig Racing, for allowing Ross to fill in for Ryan in the No. 6 on such short notice.”

Chastain has won three times in the NASCAR Truck Series and twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including a dominating performance at Las Vegas in 2018.

The Alva, Fla., native has made 72 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and finished inside the top 10 in the 2019 Daytona 500.

Chastain was poised for another strong finish in Monday’s Daytona 500 before being involved in a late-race accident.

There is no current timetable for Newman’s return. Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

SEBRING, Fla. – IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams testing at Sebring Int’l Raceway got a small taste of wet conditions early Wednesday before the skies cleared and the track dried out by late morning.

Six teams – JDC-Miller MotorSports, Whelen Engineering Racing, Porsche GT Team, GEAR Racing, Wright Motorsports and Meyer Shank Racing – were on hand turning laps, with plans to continue into darkness.

It’s all in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts on March 21.

– The last time Sebastien Bourdais and Joao Barbosa raced together in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts back in 2015, they teamed with Christian Fittipaldi to dominate the race in the No. 5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP.

They’ve been reunited – now as full-time co-drivers – for the 2020 WeatherTech Championship as co-drivers of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi with the Minnesota-based JDC-Miller MotorSports team.

They were busy putting the car through testing paces Wednesday at Sebring, but allowed themselves a few moments to reminisce about their big win five years ago.

“It’s great memories here at Sebring,” said Barbosa, a two-time WeatherTech Championship Prototype champion. It’s an awesome place, a great racetrack, very challenging. It’s great to be here with JDC-Miller MotorSports and Mustang Sampling, and definitely really good to be with Sebastien Bourdais as well. We had great history together here, we won a race here in a big way, so we’re really looking forward to come back for the Sebring 12-hour race.”

“We’ve had a great relationship with Joao,” Bourdais said. “Obviously, 2015 was a bit of a highlight. It was really a pretty amazing race when we managed to lap the field and come out on top. I’ve got a bunch of really, really good memories with a bunch of the guys that are revolving around that program.”

– Ryan Hardwick made his Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring debut in 2019, co-driving the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 with Bryan Sellers and Corey Lewis.

That was a mid-engined race car, which Hardwick admits is quite a bit different than his 2020 steed, the rear-engined No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R that he is co-driving for the full WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) season with American Porsche factory driver Patrick Long.

But Hardwick believes his previous experience racing motocross has helped him adapt to the Porsche 911.

“Actually, I’m getting my mind wrapped around this Porsche,” Hardwick. “The style in which you have to drive it through the corner and on the brakes suits my personal style from motocross. I’m kind of driving really hard into corners and using the power to rotate it and traction out. I enjoy it.”

– Returning to the legendary Sebring International Raceway in his effort to defend his Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring title is Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr.

He piloted the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi all by himself in the Wednesday test session and will be looking to continue the Whelen Engineering Racing team’s success, as the team has finished on the overall podium in each Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring since 2016.

“Sebring’s a pretty special one for us. It produces good racing,” said the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion. “We’re trying different things here. We want to come back here come race weekend with a good package on our hands.

“We didn’t have the best race weekend at Daytona, so I think it’s redemption time here at Sebring.”

– The Porsche GT Team will be looking to continue carrying its momentum from a double podium at the Rolex 24 At Daytona into the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Frederic Makowiecki is looking for his third consecutive GT Le Mans (GTLM) victory in the Twelve Hours, sharing the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR-19 with season-long co-driver Nick Tandy – with whom he won Sebring the last two years – and new-for-2020 endurance co-driver Matt Campbell.

While all the tracks on the WeatherTech Championship calendar are special, Makowiecki considers Sebring among his favorites.

“For me, Sebring is still my favorite race in the USA because it’s like a temple,” said the French driver. “Nothing’s really changed in over 50 years.

“I enjoy every lap. It’s so difficult to get the perfect lap. It’s so difficult to be over the limit. You need to be so connected to the track.”

– Wednesday’s Sebring test session saw some first-time drivers on the historic, 3.74-mile racing surface. One was the newest member of the GEAR Racing team, Rahel Frey.

She got her first taste of the Sebring Int’l Raceway in wet conditions while sharing the No. 19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 with her more experienced teammates, Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen.

“It’s an amazing track,” said the Swiss rookie, who turned her first laps at Sebring a few minutes before lunch. “It’s so much fun and crazy bumpy. Christina and Katherine warned me, ‘Please be a little bit patient. Take your time with the track.’ Everybody speaks about Turn 17 and there’s so much room. You don’t really know where to place your car.

“We had some rain earlier on today and it was brilliant. We never know what could happen in the race. I started on rain tires and built some confidence, so ‘check’ on that.”