BIXBY, Okla. — Ace McCarthy will contest the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League schedule this season, pursuing the series championship with Dave Mac Motorsports.

McCarthy, from Tahlequah, Okla., joins forces with team owner Dave McIntosh for an all-Oklahoma assault on the POWRi trail, fresh off a year where the “Oklahoma Cowboy” finished eighth in points.

The only driver to make all 31 completed POWRi national midget features in 2019, McCarthy earned one win, which came at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., on July 13.

McCarthy is hoping to improve considerably on that mark this year, leaning on the skills and resources of perhaps the fastest-rising team in the pit area for support in his pursuit of a maiden championship.

“Believe it or not, we actually started talking about this almost a year ago,” McCarthy said. “I ended up going and driving for the Neumans for a year, which was a really good deal for me. They gave me great equipment all year, but Cody (Cordell) just kind of kept prying at me and Dave (McIntosh) kept prying … really just every chance they got. They just kept throwing it out there. So probably around October or November of last year, we got everything done and worked out and made it happen.

“I couldn’t be more excited to make this jump with Dave and Cody, Cannon (McIntosh) and all the supporters that help make Dave Mac Motorsports run,” added McCarthy, whose cars will carry his familiar No. 28. “It takes a lot of great folks to make a touring deal like this go and I’m looking forward to being part of it and, hopefully, doing my part to deliver them a championship this season.”

Crew chief Cody Cordell will call the shots for the 29-year-old McCarthy, and is excited for the breath of fresh air he feels the fellow Sooner State native will bring to the organization.

“Man, you’re talking about two different ends of the spectrum, for sure,” Cordell noted. “Where Cannon (McIntosh) is quiet and doesn’t talk about very much, but he’s still very emotional … talking with Ace, he’s very emotional, but in a different way. He’s older and has that maturity that just comes with age and life experience, but he also understands and has more experience with what it’s going to take to be racing for championships and competing at the national level like we want to as a team.

“As a crew chief, I think that anytime you can bring in different vibes, that opens up the data and information you can receive as a team and makes the whole unit stronger,” Cordell added. “Ace is trying to fine tune his skills at this level, and I think that’s something that we’ll be able to help him do. It’ll be fun for me to get somebody new and try more things because every driver is different. I’m excited for that challenge this season.”

McCarthy was quick to note that one of the things that drew him to the McIntosh team was the squad’s proximity to his home, making it easier for him to help work on the cars on a more regular basis.

“That (the location) was a big part of it. With both of us being from Oklahoma, their shop is only an hour from my house, so I can go work on the cars or go help if I want to,” McCarthy noted. “Hanging out in the shop will be fun, I think, and if Cannon ends up staying with Dave Mac Motorsports for next year, I think we’re going to be a team to beat. Either way, though, I’m confident we’ll be really strong.”

After a breakout year with 17-year-old Cannon McIntosh at the controls last season, McCarthy believe the timing is right for him to make the move and that Dave Mac Motorsports is poised to take the next step and contend for a national championship for the first time.

“Just after watching Cannon all of last year and seeing the cars that they’ve already put together, I think everyone knows that they have good equipment and can run right at the front pretty much every night,” McCarthy said. “Dave’s a great guy and Cody’s a good guy too. We’re going to have some fun this year.

“A championship is definitely the goal. That’s what we’re going to be going for next year, is a POWRi national championship,” he continued. “That’s what we’ve got our eyes set on and I think we’d be selling ourselves short if we didn’t aim for it because this team is capable and we’re ready to go out and prove what we can do.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Natalie Decker has teamed with Ken Schrader Racing and FURY Race Cars to compete in the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 8.

In her two starts at Daytona in the ARCA Menards Series series, she scored finishes in the top six. Additionally, in 2018, Decker won the pole for the race, becoming the third female to do so at Daytona in ARCA competition.

“We are obviously very excited to have Natalie in the seat for the Daytona race! With her previous ARCA experience, we are pulling in with one of the more experienced drivers in the field,” said Ken Schrader Racing owner Ken Schrader.

Decker is also set to compete part-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with Niece Motorsports. She’ll make her Niece Motorsports debut one week later on Feb. 14 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Tony Eury Jr. will serve as Decker’s crew chief for the race. He was also the crew chief for the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, Brad Keselowski, and Michael Waltrip, just to name a few.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Daytona with Natalie and working with Ken Schrader Racing. I’ve always liked Daytona, and I’ve had a lot of success there in the past,” said Eur. “I’ve built my career on mentoring young and up-and-coming drivers, trying to teach them the X’s and O’s of different levels of this sport, and that’s what we do as a company at FURY. Natalie has a lot of passion for racing, and our goal is to help her improve so that she can meet the goals she has set for her career.”

RICHBORO, Pa. – Kyle Koretsky, the son of veteran drag racer Kenny Koretsky, is preparing to make his debut in the NHRA Pro Stock class.

Kyle Koretsky, 30, will be racing a Chevy Camaro prepared by the Mooresville, N.C.-based Ken Black Racing team. He plans to debut at the 51st annual NHRA Gatornationals, March 12-15 in Gainesville, Fla.

“I grew up watching my dad race and from the time I was a little kid, all I wanted to do was follow his lead and race in Pro Stock. I can’t believe it’s finally going to happen,” the young Koretsky said. “I definitely have a little bit of nerves, but I’ve been around these cars my whole life, so I have a good idea what to expect. Pro Stock cars are not easy to drive, but I’m determined to learn. I’m going to be surrounded by a team that is full of champions like Greg Anderson, Jason Line and Bo Butner, so that’s a big plus. I can’t think of a better group to be a part of.”

Koretsky is already an accomplished driver who has enjoyed success as a sportsman racer. In 2009, he drove to a runner-up finish in the Comp Eliminator class at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. Koretsky plans to upgrade his license in the next few weeks and is also aiming to compete in the World Doorslammer Nationals in Orlando the week before the Gatornationals. All of this will take place under the watchful eye of his new KB Racing teammates, including world champion drivers Anderson and Line, and their highly regarded crew chiefs, Rob Downing, Tim Freeman and Dave Connolly.

His father, Kenny Koretsky, remains the only driver in NHRA history to qualify in the Top Fuel and Pro Stock categories at the same event, a feat he accomplished in Phoenix in 1990. He was very competitive with a pair of runner-up finishes in Pro Stock, including the 2004 U.S. Nationals, where he lost to KB Racing’s Anderson in the final round. The Pennsylvania native has also enjoyed success as a team owner and sponsor who has been associated with well-known NHRA pros including Clay Millican, Tony Pedregon, Bob Tasca III, LE Tonglet, Matt Hartford, Frank Iaconio, Rickie Smith, and the late Scott Geoffrion.

“Kyle has wanted to try racing in Pro Stock for as long as I can remember and I think he’s finally earned this opportunity,” said Kenny Koretsky. “During the week, he’s the Vice President of Maintenance and Field Operations for our company, KPK Development. He works hard, but I also know how much he loves racing. In our family, we like to work hard and play hard, and Kyle understands that. For a long time, NHRA fans embraced ‘Captain Chaos’ and now they’re going to have a chance to meet ‘Kid Chaos.’ Seriously, I think he’s going to do very well. Given the program that Ken Black has put together, and the success that team has had, he’s going to have opportunities to win races that I never had.”

In addition to KPK Development, Koretsky’s Pro Stock Camaro will be backed by Nitro Fish apparel, another business owned by the Koretsky family. He plans to compete in 10 to 12 events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.

“My biggest goal is to get the first Pro Stock win for our family,” Kyle said. “My dad has won a lot of races and championships as a sponsor and a team owner, but not as a driver. He was always a good driver, but never seemed to have the power to run with the guys at the front of the pack. With the KB team, that’s not going to be an issue. We’re going to have plenty of power. It’s up to me to do the rest. I can’t imagine how excited my dad would be if I can bring home our first NHRA Wally (trophy).”

TULSA, Okla. – Ready to embark on its fifth season of competition, the San Tan Ford ASCS Desert Non-Wing Series will see a lineup of 15 races across Arizona this year.

Going between a trio of Arizona ovals, the series will see action at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek; Central Arizona Speedway in Casa Grande; and USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz.

The first event of the season for any of the American Sprint Car Series-sanctioned divisions, the tour kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Central Arizona Speedway.

In all, the series will see action at the Casa Grande oval five times this season.

USA Raceway follows on Saturday, Feb. 29 for the first of four dates, with Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek taking the remaining six dates, including the season-ending Copper Classic on Nov. 27-28.

Just like the 2019 season, operating under ASCS sanction provides drivers with access to ASCS Membership and the insurance provided with that, as well as added exposure and a share of a $7,500 point fund.

The point fund provided by the American Sprint Car Series is in addition to efforts already in place with the series.

2020 San Tan Ford ASCS Desert Non-Wing Series Schedule

Feb. 1 – Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, Ariz.
Feb. 29 – USA Raceway – Tucson, Ariz.
March 7 – Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, Ariz.
March 21 – USA Raceway – Tucson, Ariz.
March 28 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.
April 25 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.
May 16 – Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, Ariz.
June 6 – USA Raceway – Tucson, Ariz.
June 20 – Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, Ariz.
Aug. 22 – USA Raceway – Tucson, Ariz.
Sept. 12 – Central Arizona Speedway – Casa Grande, Ariz.
Oct. 3 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.
Oct. 24 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.
Nov. 27 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.
Nov. 28 – Arizona Speedway – Queen Creek, Ariz.

Tiger Woods is back on familiar and successful stoping grounds to begin his season at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, where he's won eight times including the 2008 U.S. Open. Here's a look at some highlights around the North Course where Woods begins his chase for win No. 83.

Paired with Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm, the trio went off on No. 10 Thursday morning. Woods had a look for birdie at the opener, but settled for a par before dropping a shot at the par-4 11th. He bounced back two holes later on the par-4 13th with his first birdie of the day.

Woods followed that up with three straight pars before getting back to red numbers with a birdie on the par-5 17th thanks to a delicate pitch from just off the green that released to knock-in range.

A misplaced pitch on No. 18 rolled back down a mound on the green which led to another bogey to close out an opening-nine, even-par 36. But as Woods does so often, he rebounded quickly with his third birdie of the day at the first to get back to 1 under on the day. 

Stuart Broad insists he is "perfectly fine" with missing out on selection for the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka but "is still living" for the chance to play one more Ashes series.

While England's spinners claimed 49 wickets in the three-match series that took place in Sri Lanka at the end of 2018, England's seamers claimed just seven wickets between them.

So Broad is realistic about the anticipated role for seamers in the two-Test series which begins in mid-March and says he would be "very happy" not to be involved if that gave England "the best chance of winning".

"The pitches last time made it a waste of time bowling seam," Broad said. "I think 85 percent of wickets fell to spin. You're definitely going to take three or four spinners in that tour party, so I don't know if I'm going to be in it.

"I do understand that varying the selection will help us in the long term. Winning in Sri Lanka last time we changed the mindset and it worked beautifully. The tough thing going this time is it could be different: you could pick four spinners, turn up and it nips all over the place.

"If my next Test match is in June I'm perfectly fine with that because we're about getting to the Test Championship final and you play your teams to suit the conditions. If the conditions in Sri Lanka don't suit seam bowling I'm very happy not to be in the squad because you want to give England the best chance of winning the game. Not happy. But I'd accept it.

"Jack Leach missed out in Hamilton because spin's record there is appalling. Seam's record can't be that pretty in Colombo, so if I miss out I miss out."

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But after an excellent year which has seen Broad claim 50 wickets at an average of 23.98 since the start of 2019, he is adamant there is a lot of international cricket left in him. And that, he hopes, includes the Ashes series that starts in November 2021.

"Would I like to be part of another Ashes series in Australia? Absolutely," he says. "I'm not someone who looks that far ahead. But I feel confident at the minute. I feel great. I feel physically good. All my fitness tests have gone in the right way which at 33 can be something that can fall away. I feel in a really good place.

"I know I can still deliver when the heat is on and the pressure is burning. That excitement of bowling the first ball in Ashes series, I'm still living for that. I've still got a lot of fire in the belly and as soon as that fire goes I know my bowling boots will go. It's still there."

Broad's confidence can only have been boosted by a return to Johannesburg. He claimed 6-17 the last time England played here, four years ago, which included a spell of 5-1 in 36 balls. It was a spell which sealed the series for England and took Broad to the No. 1 spot in the Test bowling rankings.

"It's a brilliant place to play and a brilliant place to bowl as a tall bowler," Broad says. "You get natural bounce. So I'm looking forward to this week.

"I've just watched the 2016 spell back on social media this morning. It was probably less impressive than it felt. It wasn't as if I was swinging it round corners and bowling jaffas. I suppose I made the batsmen play, but looking back this morning it wasn't a particularly impressive spell of bowling.

"It was the bounce that made it effective. In the bowlers' meeting today I'm going to talk about width being your enemy here. It's about making the batsmen play with a straight bat. You don't want to be getting cut too often because it means you're bowling too short.

"It's a bit like Perth: bowlers can bowl back of a length, the keeper takes it head height and it looks great but it's actually not very effective. You want to bring batsmen forward here. Not necessarily bring the stumps into play, because of the bounce, but bring batsmen forward and get them edging off the front foot and not getting cut. It's a good place to bowl but if you get it wrong you can disappear."

All of the top 10 prospects in the ESPN 100 and 18 of the top 20 have been named to the 43rd annual McDonald's All American Game, led by Cade Cunningham, the early projected No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

The rosters were unveiled Thursday on ESPN's The Jump.

North Carolina leads the way with four signees, while Duke has three and Kentucky has two. The Wildcats have the nation's top-ranked recruiting class, with Duke and North Carolina rounding out the top three.

The nation's top two committed players -- Evan Mobley (No. 2) and Cunningham (No. 3) -- have signed with USC and Oklahoma State, respectively.

This year's McDonald's All American Game will be played April 1 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The game took place in Atlanta the previous two years after spending seven years in Chicago.

The rosters represent 14 college programs, and four players who have yet to commit to a college also have been selected to play. Those four will suit up for the West team. Jalen Green, the nation's top-ranked senior, is also the top unsigned player, and he will be joined in the game by Ziaire Williams (No. 7), Greg Brown (No. 9) and Josh Christopher (No. 10).

The highest-ranked players not selected to this year's game were Makur Maker (No. 12) and Jalen Johnson (No. 15). Both players recently enrolled at new high schools, with Maker heading to Hillcrest Prep (Arizona) and Johnson leaving IMG Academy (Florida) for Nicolet High School (Wisconsin). Maker is uncommitted; Johnson is signed with Duke.

Five-stars Cam Thomas (No. 22, LSU), Jaemyn Brakefield (No. 24, Duke), Devin Askew (No. 25, Kentucky) and Keon Johnson (No. 26, Tennessee) were also left out.

Overall, 19 of ESPN's top 21 players in the 2020 class were selected.

ROSTER

Jalen Green (No. 1, uncommitted)

Evan Mobley (No. 2, USC)

Cade Cunningham (No. 3, Oklahoma State)

Scottie Barnes (No. 4, Florida State)

Jalen Suggs (No. 5, Gonzaga)

B.J. Boston (No. 6, Kentucky)

Ziaire Williams (No. 7, uncommitted)

Terrence Clarke (No. 8, Kentucky)

Greg Brown (No. 9, uncommitted)

Josh Christopher (No. 10, uncommitted)

Day'Ron Sharpe (No. 11, North Carolina)

Isaiah Todd (No. 13, Michigan)

Walker Kessler (No. 14, North Carolina)

Jaden Springer (No. 16, Tennessee)

Caleb Love (No. 17, North Carolina)

Sharife Cooper (No. 19, Auburn)

Daishen Nix (No. 20, UCLA)

Nimari Burnett (No. 21, Texas Tech)

D.J. Steward (No. 23, Duke)

Bryce Thompson (No. 27, Kansas)

Mark Williams (No. 28, Duke)

R.J. Davis (No. 39, North Carolina)

Dawson Garcia (No. 43, Marquette)

Jeremy Roach (No. 18, Duke)