WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —  The International Hot Rod Ass’n has released the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering schedule, which will feature 18 races over nine double-race weekends.

Top (Box), Mod (No Box/Footbrake) and Junior Dragsters will have the opportunity to compete for the IHRA Ironman at each event, as well as the coveted oversized championship checks.  Class runners-up will receive the limited-edition Sportsman Spectacular silver medals in addition to their winnings.

The weekend program includes a test and tune and golf cart race. First, second and third-round prizes will also be featured during the weekend.

IHRA members can also maximize their weekend winnings from several IHRA contingency program partners.

The IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering will kick off the season Feb. 22 at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge, La.

2020 IHRA Sportsman Spectacular Schedule

Feb. 22 – State Capitol Raceway – Baton Rouge, La.

March 22 – Holly Springs Motorsports – Holly Springs, Miss.

May 2 – Amarillo Dragway – Amarillo, Texas

May 15-17 – Dragway 42 – West Salem, Ohio

June 6 – Mo-Kan Dragway – Asbury, Mo.

July 10-12 – Darlington Dragway – Hartsville, S.C.

June 26-28 – US 131 Motorsports Park – Martin, Mich.

Aug. 21-23 – Maryland Int’l Raceway – Mechanicsville, Md.

TBD – Farmington Dragway – Mocksville, N.C.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR has announced several leadership promotions across the breadth of its business.

Ben Kennedy has been promoted Vice President, Racing Development; John Martin has been promoted to Vice President, Media and Event Technology; Patrick Rogers has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing Services; and Chris Schwartz has been promoted to Vice President, Media Properties.

Kennedy oversees strategic racing development initiatives for each of NASCAR’s series, including development of future national series’ schedules and international expansion. Having competed in both the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as previously serving as General Manager of the Truck Series, Kennedy plays a key role in working with NASCAR senior leadership to develop long term racing development strategies.  Kennedy will remain based in Concord and will continue to report into Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer.

“Ben is a true racer at heart and has a tremendous understanding of what contributes to a strong race from a driver and a fan’s perspective,” said O’Donnell. “His love of motorsports and his commitment to delivering great racing for our fans comes through in everything he does. The sport is fortunate to have a rising leader like Ben and I look forward to his future leadership in this important area.”

Martin will oversee all technology related to the fan and industry at-track experience and across NASCAR’s media platforms and products.  Martin has previously served in a variety of leadership roles across NASCAR Productions and NASCAR Digital and he was instrumental in the initial roll-out of NASCAR.com.  Martin will remain based in Charlotte and will report into Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.

“John brings extensive experience and passion to this position,” said Neeb. “His spirit of innovation, coupled with his success working across the industry and driving collaboration and partnership, makes him an ideal fit to lead this group into the future.”

Rogers will oversee all marketing services across Teams, Drivers and Tracks, serving as the main point of leadership with industry stakeholders in implementing NASCAR’s integrated marketing strategy and maximizing the potential impact of all industry assets. Rogers has led the sanctioning body’s collaborative marketing work with race teams and drivers and will take that work to another level with his new, broader duties. Rogers will remain based in Charlotte and will continue to report into Pete Jung, Senior Vice President, Marketing.

“Patrick has developed strong relationships throughout the garage and has a track record of success in developing marketing opportunities for our drivers, teams and tracks that deliver for our fans,” said Jung. “His leadership in bringing the industry together cannot be overstated and I am excited about the impact he and his team will have as we seek new and innovative ways in bringing our fans closer to our drivers, teams and racetracks.”

In his elevated role, Schwartz will continue to lead MRN and Racing Electronics and work closely with NASCAR’s media functions to integrate that technology across NASCAR media platforms. His focus will be working with NASCAR’s media partners and senior leadership to build upon strategies to distribute live audio content and dynamic in-venue technology to race fans both at-home and at the track. Schwartz will be based in Charlotte and will report into Brian Herbst, Senior Vice President, Media and Productions.

“Chris is a seasoned industry executive that understands the opportunities that exist for our sport and our fans as we develop engaging media platforms and content across our industry,” said Herbst.  “He has a proven track record in developing strong, innovative media partnerships with multiple stakeholders that will position our sport well as the media landscape evolves.”

IRWINDALE, Calif. – The inaugural Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame took place at Irwindale Speedway on Feb. 1.

It was a rousing success for co-promoters Tim Huddleston and Bob Bruncati. The ambitious event attracted almost 6,000 spectators and competitors from 11 states, plus a driver from Japan. Sunrise Ford owner Bruncati and Ken Clapp of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame provided sponsorship funds.

The regional SPEARS Southwest Tour divisions (super late models and modifieds) sanctioned two of the three series involved. The super late model and modifieds raced on the progressively-banked half-mile. A new class – pro late models – raced on the four-degree banked third-mile inner oval. The inaugural event attracted many entrants from shorter tracks in the region who raced at Irwindale for the first time.

The ambitious All-Star Showdown was a rebirth of the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale, originally run from 2003-11. That series featured top drivers from two NASCAR regional touring series – the ARCA Menards Series East and West – the NASCAR Elite Division’s four regions. Those $500,000 events attracted national television coverage and provided competitive short-track racing on the Irwindale half-mile. Later super late model and late model events replaced the Elite Division.

The winner of the 200-lap super late model feature received $25,000 from a $77,225 purse. Second paid $10,000 and third awarded $6,500. Tenth place received $1,150. The race paid $800 each to drivers finishing in positions 16-30. There were 38 cars entered and 32 practiced. Two cars did not race after crashes in time trials and Thursday practice. The 100-lap pro late model winner received $10,000. The event had 22 entrants and all raced. The 75-lap modified winner collected $5,000. All 13 qualifiers raced from a pre-entry field of 16.

First place money was distributed to the three winners in an innovative way. New $20 bills were stacked in neat piles inside the plexiglass bases of all three large first place trophies and secured by gold locks. Feature winners received keys to open the locks and count the money after their cars passed post-race technical inspections of the first five finishing cars. All three winners passed inspections.

Derek Thorn, a four-time Spears Southwest Tour champion, drove his usual No. 43 Five Star Bodies Toyota Camry owned by Campbell Motorsports to the 200-lap triumph. The 33-year old from Bakersfield is the 2013 and 2018 ARCA Menards Series West champion and a past Southwest Tour feature winner at Irwindale.

He praised crew chief Mike Keen for mid-race adjustments and said he planned to go to Disneyland to celebrate.

Cole Williams, from Borden, Ind., raced a California-based car owned by Gary Collins to the $10,000 victory in the Pro Late Model 100. It was his first race in Irwindale. The 23-year old two-year veteran of the CARS Super Late Model Tour is a two-time Nashville (Tenn.) Fairgrounds Speedway track champion. He also is a 2019 graduate of the Alan Kulwicki Driver Development Program. He said the deal to race in Irwindale came together only days before the event.

Travis Thirkettle, a past Irwindale multi-series winner from Canyon Country, drove his own locally-built Racecar Factory modified to a convincing victory in the 75-lap event. The 41-year old son of multi-time NASCAR regional stock car champion Jim Thirkettle, won his 36th main event at Irwindale. He is tied for ninth place all-time in feature victories (including late models) at the track, which opened in March of 1999.

The first feature started 13 modifieds, with fastest qualifier Thirkettle’s No. 5 outside row two. He took the lead on lap 12 by passing second starter Eddie Secord. Jeremy Doss, the 2018 SPEARS Southwest Tour champion and Las Vegas Bullring modified winner last November, qualified fifth quickest. He took second on lap 19 and gradually reduced Thirkettle’s 30-yard lead until they were nose-to-tail. Doss battled Thirkettle side-by-side from lap 55 to lap 63 when their cars made contact exiting turn four. Doss’ Eddie Wilcox No. 75 bounced off the crashwall, slowed briefly and dropped to third.

Past modified series champion Dylan Cappello drove the No. 36c to second. He received the $1,000 hard charger bonus. Doss was a half-straight (4.315 seconds) behind Thirkettle at the finish.

Race two was the first pro late model race on the third-mile. The race was a surprise hit with spectators and drivers. It started 22 cars straight-up based upon qualifying times. Williams started fourth and led laps 34-88, 90-92 and 99-101 (one extra lap). The battle for the lead between Williams and Jeremy Doss was intense and entertaining. Doss started sixth and used the outside groove to lead laps 89 and 93-98 by less than a car length.

Doss appeared on his way to his first Irwindale victory as the leading duo raced side-by-side lap after lap. A lapped car in the low groove caused inside runner Williams to veer up the track to avoid contact. Williams hit Doss’ car, which spun in turn two. Williams slowed briefly and continued. Doss resumed racing so the caution flag did not appear, but the white flag waved a lap late.

Williams recaptured the lead when Doss spun and led laps 99-101. The stunning victory gave the Gary Collins No. 21 team from Bakersfield $10,000 cash. Williams said over the infield mic his dad and family in Indiana were watching the race on the internet.

The late model race had six yellow flags for spins and one red flag on lap 20 for a spectacular crash. Tegan Harlen, 14, started 22nd and experienced a stuck throttle on the backstretch. His car climbed and rode the third turn wall 15 yards with the front of his car. The impact broke the fuel pump and spilled fuel, causing flames to erupt in the engine and extended into the car. Harlen rapidly hopped from the car, which had the rear end atop the wall and the left front on the track. Track firemen quickly extinguished the blaze. Harlen escaped injury.

The final race featured SPEARS Southwest Tour super late models. The 200-lapper had a 10-minute break after 100-laps. Crewmen from the hot pits in the infield came to the cars stopped on the third-mile front straight and worked on cars. Changing tires was not permitted. Fastest qualifier and pole starter Thorn was the first of three race leaders and there were five lead changes.

Thorn paced the first 37 laps, laps 96-149 and laps 151-200. Coloradan Preston Peltier led laps 38-78 and lap 150 after dueling Thorn closely for the lead from lap 102 to lap 160. Then Thorn gradually extended his lead. Linny White led laps 79-95. He brushed the backstretch wall hard after contact on lap 150 as racing resumed following a caution flag. White’s No. 99 dropped from third to seventh.

Following Thorn across the finish line were Peltier, Tayler Riddle, Jack Wood and Dylan Lupton.

Post-race tech inspection of the top five cars resulted in Riddle’s third-place Van Doorn chassis Ford being disqualified for a left side weight distribution violation. He was listed as not classified. Only 29 cars were classified as finishers. The team, which towed 19 hours from Naches, Wash., lost $6,500 for the rules violation. The official third through 10th-place finishers were: Wood, Lupton, White, Logan Bearden, Eric Schmidt, Carlos Vieira, Austin Reed and Bobby Hodges.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Rette Jones Racing announced Thursday that siblings Dominique and Tristan Van Wieringen will both compete in ARCA Menards Series competition beginning with Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire.

Dominique Van Wieringen will drive the team’s No. 30 DuroByte Ford Fusion in this weekend’s ARCA Menards Series season-opener, while brother Tristan will take the wheel two days later on Monday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series East season-opener.

Overall, Dominique Van Wieringen is planning to compete in a number of ARCA Menards Series races, while Tristan is set to return to the East Series and run for the series’ championship.

Other races slated for Dominique Van Wieringen include Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Kansas Speedway.

As for Daytona, Dominique Van Wieringen returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway after setting the fastest time in preseason testing last month. Saturday’s 80-lap race will mark her ARCA Menards Series debut.

“I’m really excited about getting this opportunity to compete at Daytona for Rette Jones Racing,” said Dominique Van Wieringen, a veteran of ARCA East competition. “As we proved last month, we have a really fast race car and I can’t wait to get on the track and showcase that speed once again and have the opportunity to race for a win in my ARCA debut.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

For Tristan Van Wieringen, he’s excited to return to the ARCA East Series after a brief sabbatical and is eager to chase a championship for Rette Jones Racing on the heels of the Mooresville, N.C.’s career-best year in the regional development series.

“2020 is going to be a lot of fun and obviously a big year for the Van Wieringen family,” offered Tristan Van Wieringen. “I’m very happy for my sister on elevating her racing career in ARCA while I get a chase to run for wins and chase a championship in the East Series with Mark.

“I think Rette Jones Racing proved a lot during the last half of the season last year and I’m eager to pick up where they left off. New Smyrna should be a lot of fun on Monday night.”

DuroByte, a leading provider of innovative electronic design, build and manufacturing, will support both Van Wieringen siblings.

“2020 is going to be busy for Rette Jones Racing, but I’m ready,” said team co-owner Mark Rette. “This is a unique situation having both Dominique and Tristan race for Rette Jones Racing.

“Both are extremely talented and are keen on delivering results. I think we’re going to win some races, but also have a lot of fun too.”

It’s been a great 40-plus year run for East Bay Raceway Park, but unfortunately the days are numbered for the historic Florida track.

After years of negotiations, a neighboring industrial complex has acquired the rights to purchase the track in May 2024. The track will operate with business as usual until Mosaic Co. exercises its option to purchase.

East Bay is one of the most beloved and iconic tracks in the nation. Fans from across the country flock to the “Clay by the Bay” each February for the Winternationals, a multi-week stand of various racing classes that has served as a winter escape for three generations of race fans.

Nestled in the sandy Florida soil just off Highway 41 southwest of Tampa, the track is in close proximity to the waters of Tampa Bay. In fact, competitors long ago discovered that the tides of the nearby bay have a dramatic impact on track conditions. East Bay might be the only track in the nation where a tidal chart is consulted as you unload your race car.

East Bay is filled with character and atmosphere, from the palm trees dotting the landscape to the strawberry shortcake served at the concession stand. The pit area has become a familiar winter home to racers, and the seating area feels as comfortable as your favorite shoes.

The track was the brainchild of Jimmy Mingo, who operated a fish farm on the property in the early 1970s. Mingo envisioned a race track, but he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted. He and his partner, brother-in-law Lonnie Prevatt, set about to find the ideal track size.

“Jimmy got the idea back in 1976,” says Al Varnadore, who currently promotes the track with partners Dean Varnadore and Mike Dezarn. “I’ve seen pictures of the property from prior to the race track and I’m amazed how much they had to fill in.

“This whole 28 acres was covered with ponds. They needed to fill in the whole property to build the track and they did.”

Just south of the track along U.S. 41 lies Gibsonton, a sleepy down-home town. In an earlier era, when dozens of organized circus acts toured the nation, Gibsonton was famous as their winter home.

Among racers, one of Gibsonton’s favorite sons was the late Robert Smith, a popular driver who each winter hosted dozens of racers and friends. The Smith family, along with the nearby Bullfrog Lounge, will be forever associated with the town.

Longtime sprint car owner Jack Nowling has also hosted hundreds of racers through the years during the winter months at his property, just around the corner from the track.

As Mingo’s original idea percolated in 1976, he confided in Smith his plans to build a new race track. It wasn’t long before Smith and his brother David brought their sprint cars to the site and unloaded.

“Robert and David started making circles with their cars and they played around to find the size they felt was good,” Al Varnadore explained. “They finally found what was comfortable and that was the foundation through all of these years since.”

The track opened on Saturday night, Feb. 5, 1977, with Paul Pitzer wheeling the Weikert’s Livestock sprinter to victory, trailed by Doug Wolfgang and Kramer Williamson. The event was part of the multi-site Florida Sprint Nationals promoted by Rocky Fisher.

East Bay quickly established itself as a track boasting a diverse schedule. In the early years the track annually hosted the season opener for the World of Outlaws sprint cars on the first weekend of February, with late models as the main attraction the following weekend.

The Montreal Canadiens' playoff hopes took another hit Thursday with word that captain Shea Weber will go on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

Coach Claude Julien said that the defenseman was injured in Tuesday's game against the Devils. Weber will miss at least a week.

Weber, 34, had represented the team at the All-Star Game and had won the hardest shot competition for the third time. He has 13 goals and 21 assists this season.

The Canadiens have battled injuries all season, but they had gone 7-3 in their past 10 games to climb within eight points of the second wild card in the East.

Peter Tripi is a passionate Buffalo Sabres fan, something increasingly rare for the moribund franchise.

The kind of fan who shouts "Buffalo's on the rise!" because it fires up other people, and because it's what he inherently believed about his team. His family used to have season tickets before the resale market dried up like the Sahara; he said "tickets were selling for half the price of a slice of pizza in the arena" for Buffalo's 6-1 embarrassment at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche this week. No doubt the pizza was more satisfying, even at double the price.

The kind of fan who isn't as long-suffering as some but has suffered enough, having fallen in love with the Sabres right before the humbling exodus of stars Daniel Briere and Chris Drury in free agency in 2007. "I thought that was the worst thing to happen in the city," Tripi said. "But now, after nearly nine years with zero important games here, I realize we are living in the worst period of the Buffalo Sabres."

As Lizzo sang, truth hurts: With a 1.1% chance of qualifying for the playoffs (per Money Puck), this will be the ninth consecutive season without the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference playoffs, despite the third-largest current salary-cap hit in the NHL. They've had six coaches and three general managers in those nine years. They've had one generational talent, Jack Eichel, who has yet to appear in a playoff game. They've had only two primary owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, who took over the Sabres in February 2011 to much fanfare and optimism.

"Starting today," Terry Pegula said at his introductory news conference, "the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."

Talk about your existential crisis ...

There might not be a bigger disaster as an organization in the NHL right now than the Sabres, when you combine a lack of postseason appearances, organizational turmoil, wasted assets and opportunity, and a growing revolution among the fans. Consider that the Ottawa Senators have had roster sell-offs and sexual harassment scandals and cyberbullying scandals and players caught on a hidden camera badmouthing coaches and an owner with an outright adversarial relationship with his own fans ... and they still have a clearer path back to contention than do the Sabres.

That's really saying something.

The toxicity of the Sabres' lack of success is beginning to seep into the marketplace. Buffalo's average tickets distributed per game is 17,146 (90.8% capacity), down from 17,908 (93.9%) last season. In the Pegulas' first full season as owner, it was 18,550 (99.9%).

Some of the passionate supporters are becoming dispassionate, while others like Peter Tripi are just downright angry. And he believes it's time to show ownership and management how angry they are.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. ET, Tripi is organizing a Sabres fan protest called Pack The Plaza. It's a protest with a scattershot of gripes, but one in particular the Buffalo fans appear to share: the public absenteeism of owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

"There has been zero acknowledgment from the Pegulas in response to the state of play, over what is almost a nine-year drought. From this protest, we want an acknowledgement from the management that they know what's happening and that they are trying to fix it," said Tripi, whose Sabres haven't made the playoffs since a first-round exit in 2011.

"And we want the players to know we support them. We love Jack Eichel and this roster, no matter the record. But the inaction of this management [group] and the disinterest of ownership has wasted every single season with him on the roster."

Duane Steinel is also a passionate Sabres fan. You might not have heard of him, but you might have heard him. He's the "Duane" who called in to WGR-AM 550 in Buffalo on Jan. 29 and unleashed a rant that made news around the NHL, lamenting the lack of public participation from the Pegulas.

"I don't need a Jerry Jones type of owner. I need [an] owner who's going to answer the fans when they misspell names on jerseys and have ... knockoffs on alumni! What is going on? What are we doing? ... Have they ever sucked the passion out of you like they have me?" he asked as his voice hit a crescendo.

(The "knockoffs" is in reference to the jersey the team gave the venerable Danny Gare for an alumni event. The misspellings were a reference to the goofs made on 50th-anniversary jerseys for Mike Robitaille and Dave Andreychuk. While the optics are bad, Gare's jersey was one he purchased on his own, Robitaille's was also his own and the team caught its misspelling of "Andreychuk" and replaced the jersey at that event.)

"I don't need a damn camera in front of Terry Pegula every single day, but address our concerns! Be there when you screw up! Answer for the mistakes! Be accountable!" Steinel bellowed.

Where are the owners on all of this? Sabres general manager Jason Botterill told WGR this week that the Pegulas are "frustrated" with the path of the team: "To put it bluntly, my conversations with Terry and Kim, they're frustrated with the results. They want better results, and the dialogue goes to, 'What are the solutions? What are we doing to get better?'"

Great question.

Botterill was hired in May 2017 after helping to build three Stanley Cup champions as part of Pittsburgh Penguins management. He inherited a rebuild from Tim Murray, the first general manager the Pegulas hired, and essentially the Sabres entered this bizarre, "Inception"-like rebuild inside a rebuild. Botterill hired head coach Phil Housley, a well-respected assistant from the Nashville Predators who didn't have the stuff to handle the bigger gig. Botterill then hired Ralph Krueger as head coach, and he's the best thing about the 2019-20 Sabres not named "Jack Eichel," but even he can't spin gold out of raw sewage.

Botterill's transaction history has not helped the Sabres get better:

• His first lottery pick was Casey Mittelstadt, No. 8 in 2017, currently in the AHL.

• He acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Minnesota Wild for two players and a third-round pick, and got no players and a fourth-round pick in trading him to Montreal two years later.

• He got virtually nothing for trading Evander Kane.

• He traded Ryan O'Reilly for Patrik Berglund, who quit the team; Tage Thompson, who has 12 points in 66 games with the Sabres; veteran depth center Vladimir Sobotka; and draft pick Ryan Johnson ... who was 31st overall because O'Reilly won the Selke, the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe in his first season with the St. Louis Blues.

• He lucked out because Jeff Skinner made a geographically influenced choice to accept a trade to Buffalo, and then Botterill inexplicably handed Skinner $9 million annually over eight seasons, with a full no-movement clause, despite having the reputation as a salary-cap savant. Skinner has 11 goals in 42 games this season, after scoring 40 goals in 82 games in a contract year.

I like Botterill. I've always felt he'd make a good general manager and still do, whether that's in Buffalo or somewhere else. But outside of having the lottery balls bounce to getting No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin in 2018, there hasn't been much dramatic improvement to the Sabres' roster on his watch -- and on some of the biggest swings he has taken, some haven't even left the infield. Some want to blame the players. I don't know how the general manager doesn't get a considerable amount of it as well.

But while some fans are wondering if his tenure should end, we have to ask: "To what end?" Another GM? Another, different rebuild, inside a rebuild that was already inside of another rebuild? There's an argument to be made that the best thing for the Sabres right now is some semblance of consistency -- although that could end up being the dictionary definition of insanity, too.

Here's what I know, according to sources: The Sabres were looking for a president of hockey operations-type last season. They never hired one, and seemingly cooled to the idea. If Botterill comes back, I can't see a scenario in which he doesn't have someone above him to help facilitate this turnaround, or at least sign off on his plans. Perhaps even someone to be the public face and voice of ownership/management, like Ted Black was back in the day.

(Botterill, however, didn't exactly seem down with the idea of having a new boss between himself and the Pegulas, saying to WGR: "I feel comfortable with the management group we have, and we understand that we have to continue to be better.")

If they don't retain Botterill, there are two other directions in which I'd support the Sabres going.

• Scenario No. 1: If the New York Rangers ever allowed Chris Drury to take another job, I think Buffalo hires him in a millisecond as its Joe Sakic/Steve Yzerman conquering hero.

• Scenario No. 2: Krueger becomes coach/general manager, which we haven't had since Darryl Sutter in Calgary. Look, if anyone could do it, it's that guy.

Whatever the next remedy is for their decade of ills, the Sabres being this bad absolutely sucks for the NHL -- and not just because we're seriously considering sending SEAL Team 6 in to rescue Eichel from this disaster zone. We're always talking about this or that franchise "needing" to be good for the betterment of the league. Well, look at the local ratings from Buffalo for, like, the past two decades. The moment the Sabres become a relevant, championship-contending team is the moment every Western New York expat who ever wore a buffalo head on their bodies comes out of the shadows to support the team. It would be like that energy we felt in Washington and St. Louis, only with 10 times the catharsis and fans jumping through burning tables.

But that possibility seems delusional at this point, not just when glancing at the standings, but in the hearts and minds of Sabres fans. Not unless things change.

I asked Tripi what he would say if his protest ended with him having earned an audience with Terry and Kim Pegula.

"The message would be this: Kim, Terry, I want to thank you for all you have done for this town, this city and this community. Keeping the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo and being a part of the rebirth of our great city is something that we will always be thankful for. But whether it's you or the management under you, what is happening in this organization is not right by any means and you need to pay attention. The way the fans, the alumni and this franchise have been disrespected and neglected over the span of nine years is sickening," he said.

"We are a passionate fan base in a hardworking, blue-collar city and we don't deserve a billionaire owner if he refuses to listen or act. We are not content with the situation that you have created with this organization. And if you're upset about the reaction that the fans are giving, you shouldn't be. You should be happy that fans still care about this team. Please, for the sake of the franchise and the people of Buffalo, be better."

Jersey Fouls

From the great state of New Jersey:

@wyshynski dude what kind of #JerseyFoul is this???? cc @MalharNaik pic.twitter.com/ZWJhbVGyR9

— b roe (@brian_roe) February 2, 2020

Jersey Foul spelling errors can go one of two ways. Sometimes it's the pro or printing shop that made the error. Sometimes it's user error when they're filling out the form. In any case, please remember this useful rhyme: "I before E especially when it's 'Nieds.'"

Three things about Alex Ovechkin (and the fantabulous emancipation of The Great One's record)

1. Thanks to this ridiculous run of 14 goals in seven games, Ovechkin is on pace for 61 goals. Sixty-one! No one in the history of the National Hockey League has scored 60 goals past 32 years old, which is how old Phil Esposito was in 1974-75 when he hit the milestone for the last time. Wayne Gretzky's last season of 60 or more goals season was at 26. Brett Hull's was at 27. Mike Bossy's was at 29. Mario Lemieux's was at 30. Ovechkin, 34, is already the greatest goal scorer of his generation, and now he's poised to become the best goal scorer among those of an advanced hockey age.

2. All eyes are on Ovechkin breaking Gretzky's career mark of 894 goals. (As Gordie Howe, who also scored 174 goals in the WHA, was keen of saying when Gretzky was chasing his career total: "Don't confuse people. Eight hundred one is an NHL record. The career [record], he has a little way to go.") But there are other records Ovechkin might topple along the way. His hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings was his 143^rd multigoal game, tying him for fifth most. Gretzky leads with 189 of them. Ovechkin's 40^th goal marked the 11^th season he hit that mark, one behind Gretzky's NHL record. The chase for the side records is going to be fun.

3. Since we're talking stats here, I love this quote from Capitals teammate John Carlson at the NHL All-Star Game: "We're used to hearing the crazy stats about him all the time. And it becomes normal, even though it's far from it. I think you take it for granted a little bit, what kind of career he's had." I think many of us have. But in less than 200 goals from now, no one will ever again.

Listen to ESPN On Ice

If you wanted to know why Sean Couturier didn't like Gritty but is now happy the mascot was acquitted, then this is the podcast for you. Plus more Ovechkin talk and a little trade deadline primer from Emily Kaplan and me. Listen here, and make sure to rate and review so others can find the podcast!

Winners and losers of the week

Winner: Jack Campbell

What a roller-coaster NHL career for this guy. Drafted 11^th overall by Dallas, where he played one game and was considered a bust. Resurrected as a backup goalie in Los Angeles, where he posted a .928 save percentage and earned a two-year contract extension he signed last September. Now he goes from a straight-up rebuild to a potential Stanley Cup contender with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Oh, and a chance to make good by general manager Kyle Dubas after flopping in that trade when the two were in the OHL.

Loser: Kyle Dubas

Well, loser for now. Frederik Andersen's neck injury pulled the scab off the biggest vulnerability the Leafs have, which was the lack of any viable backup goaltender who can successfully paper over their defensive deficiencies. Michael Hutchinson was the backup not because he's any good -- he was 64^th in goals saved above average entering a loss to the Rangers where he gave up four goals -- but because he was cheap at $700,000 and the Leafs have been managed within a hair of the salary-cap ceiling. Again, the Campbell deal could be an example of "desperate times call for desperate measures," and work out rather well. But for all the criticisms sprayed at Dubas from his Toronto-based critics, this one stuck. They lost four points due to poor goaltending in the past two games.

Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning have two regulation losses since Dec. 23, going 16-2-1. They've outscored their opponents 73-37 during that stretch. They're now have the fourth-best points percentage in the NHL (.670) and are within striking distance of the top seed in the Eastern Conference. So no, Jon Cooper does not appear to be on the "hot seat."

Loser: Calgary Flames

The Flames are clinging to a wild-card spot after going 2-4-1 in their past seven games, including consecutive home losses to Edmonton -- an 8-3 embarrassment -- and the San Jose Sharks. Mark Giordano is injured. It was a bad, bad week.

Winner: Winnipeg Jets

The resolution of the Dustin Byfuglien ordeal means the bubble team is going to have $7.6 million to play with at the trade deadline, and that means help will be on the way for the blue-line problems that his absence helped create.

Loser: Everyone who slept on Ilya Kovalchuk

He has 10 points in 13 games for Montreal, plus a shootout winner against the Devils. He has been so good, there's speculation that the Canadiens will hang on to him. Your team couldn't have used that?

Winner: Eric Schwab

Here's a story that happened two days after Christmas, but was brought to light this week. An athletic trainer at Henry Ford Health System, Schwab saved the life of Conor Place, a 15-year-old sophomore at University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Place went into cardiac arrest during a hockey practice at Hazel Park Ice Arena. Schwab performed two rounds of CPR before someone was able to bring a defibrillator that he used to revive Place. "Those things don't happen as a coincidence," Conor said of Schwab being at practice that day. "It was a test of faith, really."

Loser: Emerson Clark

Wowsa. Patrick Munson and Kyle Haas going into @FWKomets lore and Emerson Clark going to be suspended (I think ?‍♂️). @spittinchiclets @KevinWeekes pic.twitter.com/E7HUKykQ97

— Justin A. Cohn (@SportsiCohn) February 1, 2020

Clark, the Jacksonville Icemen captain (!), was suspended 16 games by the ECHL for his actions in a brawl on Jan. 31. He was banned for physical abuse of an official and being a repeat offender, at one point pulling an on-ice official's jersey over his head in an attempt to break free to fight. Fort Wayne's Chase Stewart and Kyle Haas were both suspended six games for "fighting off the playing surface," aka throwing punches from the bench. Old-time hockey!

Puck Headlines

Can Great Britain's men's national team make the 2022 Olympic cut?

Willie O'Ree on Akim Aliu's brave callout of ex-Flames coach Bill Peters: "He felt within his heart, within his mind this is what he should have done and he went out and did it. I speak of racism, prejudice and bigotry and ignorance. It happens all the time. Not only in sports, but general life. I've had racial remarks and racial slurs directed at me in the gas station or in a drugstore or in a mall. It's just because the color of your skin."

Seattle GM Ron Francis visits the home of their AHL team, Palm Springs. Tough gig.

It was only a matter of time: a San Jose Sharks rookie is also a YouTube influencer.

Deep dive into the friendship of Keith Jones and Craig Berube.

The U.S. and Canada met in Vancouver, and players couldn't help but think back to the 2010 Olympics. Team USA's Monique Lamoureux-Morando, on losing the gold medal game: "Not the best of memories. It was our first Olympic experience and Vancouver holds a special place in our hearts, especially for my sister and I in accomplishing our dream of becoming Olympians. It's always special to be back here. We always know that Canada puts on a good crowd, and a good game. We're excited for the game, and the atmosphere it'll bring."

Hockey tl;dr (too long; didn't read)

"Rod Brind'Amour is the NHL coach of tomorrow, and I hope the Hurricanes prove him right today."

In case you missed this from your friends at ESPN

Dimitri Filipovic dives into the Hart Trophy race, with detailed cases for and against nine (!) top candidates.

One of the time-tested clichés about hockey is the manner by which its pedestrian and lazy nicknames are doled out. Shortening and adding a "-y" or pluralizing a last name. "Sutter" becomes "Sutts" or "Suttsy." Yawn.

But it's not always like this. The NHL boasts plenty of nicknames that are memorable, interesting or inventive. And we shall chronicle some of them here in this week's Power Rankings.

How we rank: The ESPN hockey editorial staff submits selections ranking teams 1-31, and those results are tabulated to the list featured here. Teams are rated through Tuesday night's games, taking into account overall record, recent success and other factors such as injuries. The previous ranking for each team is its spot in last week's edition.

Note: Standings point pace is as of the games on Feb. 5.

1. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 1
Standings point pace: 117

Lars "Tiger" Eller. The Capitals' forward revealed in 2018 that his nickname stems from the "spiritual animal" he had to choose while on stage with motivational speaker Tony Robbins. He blurted out, "tiger."

2. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 3
Standings point pace: 116

David "Pasta" Pastrnak. One of those nicknames that has supplanted the players' given name in most interactions. (See also: "Flower," aka Marc-Andre Fleury.)

3. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 2
Standings point pace: 109

David "French Toast" Perron. Whether this is an official nickname is immaterial. Ryan O'Reilly dressed up like Perron for Halloween, and Perron dressed up like french toast. So it was, and so it shall be: David Perron is French Toast. O'Reilly, it should be said, has a terrific nickname, too: "Factor." You're now entering the no-spin (o-rama) zone.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 4
Standings point pace: 112

Evgeni "Geno" Malkin. There may be other, better nicknames on the Penguins, but we've always liked the fact that one of the best Russian hockey players of all time has a nickname that makes him sound like he runs a pizza joint in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 6
Standings point pace: 110

Pat "Big Rig" Maroon. There are times when you watch him skate, and you can faintly hear that "BWAM, BWAM!" of a truck horn.

6. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 5
Standings point pace: 103

Erik "The Condor" Johnson. As the story goes, Avalanche color commentator Peter McNab said Johnson was "flying around like a condor" some years ago, and the name just stuck. Although "EJ" just seems so much more efficient.

7. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 7
Standings point pace: 106

Johnny "Johnny Rocket" Boychuk. The Islanders' defenseman earned this nickname for his blazing fast skating, just as Pavel Bure did during his playing days. Just kidding! It's for his big, heavy slap shot.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 9
Standings point pace: 102

Oliver "The Maestro" Bjorkstrand. Given to him in a scouting report at world juniors, it certainly applies to what has been his best offensive season.

9. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 14
Standings point pace: 101

Shayne "Ghost Bear" Gostisbehere. An instant classic nickname that stuck, the emoji-friendly moniker is also the name of the defenseman's charitable foundation.

10. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 11
Standings point pace: 101

Jamie "Chubbs" Benn. As Benn once noted, he arrived in Dallas as a rookie carrying enough weight that former teammate James Neal bestowed "Chubbs" upon him. It stuck, to the point where Benn has had it written on his gloves.

11. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 12
Standings point pace: 99

Quinn "Huggy Bear" Hughes. A nickname born from both the rookie defenseman's last name and the fact that, according to goalie Thatcher Demko, "he's cute and you just want to cuddle him."

12. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 10
Standings point pace: 97

Teuvo "Turbo" Teravainen. A nickname for the scoring forward established well before the Netflix comedy series "I Think You Should Leave" gave the world the "The Turbo Team."

13. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 8
Standings point pace: 101

Noel "Cookie" Acciari. When Acciari was playing in his first preseason game with Florida, he blew a gasket when he realized there were no cookies available for the players before the game. Keith Yandle, one of the NHL's preeminent jokesters, stuck the moniker on him like cinnamon sugar on a snickerdoodle.

14. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 13
Standings point pace: 96

William "Bill Nye" Nylander. The Leafs' Justin Holl confirmed to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke that the "Science Guy" nickname is one of Nylander's many monikers, which is perfect.

15. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 15
Standings point pace: 96

Connor "McJesus" McDavid. A blasphemous, yet accurate nickname that has stirred calls for its revocation but remains in heavy circulation.

16. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 18
Standings point pace: 91

William "Wild Bill" Karlsson. One of the best goofy nicknames in the NHL, as it was given to Karlsson during his time in Anaheim because he was ... so quiet.

17. Arizona Coyotes

Previous ranking: 16
Standings point pace: 91

Christian "Stinky" Fischer. The fourth-best nickname in the NHL, according to last year's NHLPA player poll, and an inside joke in the Coyotes' locker room that seeped into public knowledge.

18. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 17
Standings point pace: 91

Milan "Looch" Lucic. One of the most perfect pairings of style of play and instantly identifiable nickname. Watch Milan play hockey. Tell us that's not a "Looch."

19. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 21
Standings point pace: 90

Nick "Bones" Bonino. A nickname that has traveled with him from Pittsburgh, we always liked this moniker for a player who provides the backbone for his team.

20. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 20
Standings point pace: 88

Robin "Panda" Lehner. The goalie has fueled this nickname by tweeting out "Kung Fu Panda" GIFs from his account.

21. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 19
Standings point pace: 87

Jack "Rosie" Roslovic. On the one hand, a typical last name re-appropriation for a nickname. On the other, a delightfully optimistic one, too.

22. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 23
Standings point pace: 88

Artemi "Bread Man" Panarin. This memorable nickname was baked up by coach Joel Quenneville when Panarin was in Chicago, in reference to Panera Bread and, one assumes, the way Panarin slices through a loafing defense.

23. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 22
Standings point pace: 85

Matt "Dumbs" Dumba. The Wild defenseman admitted to NHLPA.com that his nickname is "Dumbs," which might be the best application of hockey's "add an 'S' to their name" convention.

24. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 24
Standings point pace: 82

Marcus "JoJo" Johansson. We wanted to spotlight this nickname because Johansson was known as "MoJo" for the majority of his career in Washington and New Jersey before somehow inexplicably becoming "JoJo" while with Boston. Put them together and you get an evil anthropomorphic ape.

25. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 25
Standings point pace: 85

Tomas "Tuna" Tatar. Not the only player nicknamed "Tuna" in the NHL, but this is perhaps the most perfect application. It was once named best nickname in the NHLPA poll.

26. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 26
Standings point pace: 76

"Jumbo" Joe Thornton. The classics are classic for a reason. And that reason is accuracy.

27. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 27
Standings point pace: 76

Derek "Elite 1C" Grant. One of our favorite fan-generated nicknames, it was coined this season for the veteran center on account of his 11-goal outburst in 40 games.

28. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 28
Standings point pace: 73

Mark "Borocop" Borowiecki. Like "Jovocop" before him, it's a great nickname for an NHL defenseman. But after Borowiecki stopped a robbery while the Senators were visiting Vancouver, it's practically his superhero alter ego.

29. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 29
Standings point pace: 73

Blake "Pickles" Coleman. From slamming pickle juice in the penalty box to starting his own "P20" line of the briny stuff, he's kind of a big ... dill.

30. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 30
Standings point pace: 65

Kyle "The Colonel" Clifford. Kyle Frank Clifford? KFC? Get it? Not to be confused with Kyle Connor of the Jets, who is also known as "KFC," but the middle name the fans have given him can't be printed here ...

Note: Clifford was traded along with Jack Campbell to the Maple Leafs during the evening of Feb. 5.

31. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 31
Standings point pace: 43

Dylan "D-Boss" Larkin. The moniker the Red Wings forward bestowed upon himself in a viral video he filmed as a teen in his basement. It's D-best.

BARWON HEADS, Australia – English veteran Laura Davies played her first competitive round in six months, because of her mother's illness, and shot a 6-under 67 to be two shots off the lead at the LPGA-sanctioned Vic Open.

The tournament features male and female pros teeing off in alternate groups on two courses.

The 56-year-old Davies played the Creek course at the 13th Beach Golf Links. She birdied five of seven holes on her final nine – the front nine – but bogeyed her second-last to fall behind the leaders.

Davies has 87 worldwide victories.

''It was a bit weird, but a good result,'' Davies said. ''That's the best I've putted in 20 years.''

Madelene Sagstrom shares the lead after shooting a 65 in the same group as Davies and Karrie Webb, who shot 75. South Korean Haeji Kang also shot 65.

Kang is familiar with Australian conditions after spending a large part of her teenage years on Queensland state's Gold Coast.

Americans Haley Moore (66) and Dana Finkelstein (67) also made strong starts, taking advantage of the slight breezes that favored the morning groups on the Beach and Creek courses. Moore was tied for third place with Linnea Strom and Chien Peiyun. Finkelstein was among those tied with Davies for sixth with Christina Kim and Lin Xiyu.

Two-time major winner Stacy Lewis, making her first appearance in Australia in nearly six years, shot 74.

The fields for the men's and women's events are 144 players each. They'll play one round on each of the first two days across the Beach and Creek courses, with the Creek course considered to be the easier of the two.

Spain's Alejandro Canizares shot a 9-under 63 on the Creek course to take a two-stroke lead in the men's tournament.

Davies, a 12-time Solheim Cup player, said she is always surprised by the reaction of the male players.

''I laugh when I'm introduced on the first tee,'' she says. ''I can tell that they think they are better than me. But most good male golfers are really surprised when they play with us.''

The tournament is also sanctioned by the Australasian PGA men's tour and European Tour and the European and Australian women's tours.

After the second round, the field will be cut to the leading 60 players plus ties for both men and women. A second cut will be made after the third round to the leading 35 players plus ties for both men and women.

The third and fourth rounds will be played on the Beach course.