BARBERVILLE, Fla. — A quick glance at the week ahead for Volusia Speedway Park is showing beautiful low-80 temperatures, perfect for the inaugural DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals Jan. 16-18.

The event featuring three divisions of dirt late models is drawing competitors from across the country to take on the Southeast’s best.

Among those is Sam Halstead, a DIRTcar Pro Late Model racer who hails from New London, Iowa, and regularly competes in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri. He’ll add Florida to the list next week.

“I’ve always been wanting to race in Florida for the last five, six years,” said Halstead, a winner on the opening night of last October’s DIRTcar Fall Nationals at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. “I just decided I better do it now, or I’ll never do it.”

He worked on the crew for a friend’s DIRTcar UMP Modified in 2018 at Volusia, but Magnolia Motor Speedway in Mississippi is the farthest south he’s ever raced.

He’s headed to Volusia looking to make it worth his while, too.

“Winning it!” Halstead said of his main goal. “I’m also looking forward to the warm weather. … I’m getting older, and decided if I’m ever going to do it, I better do it now. If I don’t do it this year, I won’t ever do it.”

Halstead will be competing in the Pro Late Model class, which is one of three along with Florida Late Models and 602 Late Models that will have Feature events each night of competition for nine total chances to win over the three days.

There will be an open practice night on Wednesday, Jan. 15. On Thursday, Jan. 16, and Friday, Jan. 17, grandstands open at 5 p.m., Hot Laps are at 5:15, Opening Ceremonies slated for 6:50 p.m. followed by Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and Features. On Saturday, Jan. 18, grandstands open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps at 5:30, Opening Ceremonies at 6:50 followed by Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and Features. The final race of the event will be the $10,000-to-win Pro Late Model Feature.

Bradley Wright-Phillips is set to train with LAFC in hopes of joining the Supporters' Shield winners for the 2020 season, sources have told ESPN.

According to sources, Wright-Phillips, who has twice won MLS' Golden Boot award, will not be returning to the New York Red Bulls in 2020 and has already flown out to Los Angeles to join LAFC for a week of training.

LAFC is eyeing the forward to supplement its core group of attackers ahead of a busy campaign that will include participation in the CONCACAF Champions League as well as the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS regular season.

Wright-Phillips has scored 108 goals since joining MLS in 2013. He tied what was then the league's single season scoring mark with 27 goals in his first full season with the Red Bulls in 2014.

Wright-Phillips, who will turn 35 this season, saw his production slip in 2019 with just two goals and four assists as injuries limited his availability to just 24 appearances and nine starts. That came a year after he topped 20 goals for the third time in his MLS career.

However, due to his dip in form last campaign, the Red Bulls declined to offer Wright-Phillips a new contract at the end of the season.

Ten-man Real Madrid claimed their 11th Spanish Supercopa crown with a 4-1 shootout victory over Atletico Madrid after the match ended goalless in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

Federico Valverde was shown a straight red card in the second half of extra time when he cynically brought down Alvaro Morata after the Atletico man had raced in behind the Real back line.

Atleti did nothing with the free kick from just outside the box and ultimately couldn't make their advantage count before the match headed to penalties.

In the shootout, Saul and Thomas each failed to convert their chances and Real went perfect from the spot to secure the victory.

It was the first year that the competition was expanded to include four teams and was moved to a neutral site.

Real Madrid had most recently won the title in 2017, when they beat Barcelona 5-1 over two legs.

The intrigue surrounding Hardik Pandya's return following back surgery had a new twist as the allrounder did not feature in the 16-member Indian squad for the T20 series in New Zealand. Although the squad was picked mid-afternoon on Sunday by the five-member selection panel lead by MSK Prasad, the BCCI released the squad closer to midnight.

The development comes a day after Hardik failed to board the flight with the India A squad that left for New Zealand from New Delhi on Saturday. On December 23, Hardik was included by the selectors as part of the India A one-day squad for the two warm-up matches to played later this week. However, on Saturday, Vijay Shankar was named his replacement.

Commenting on Hardik's fitness and inclusion in the India A squad in December, Prasad had said: "Hardik would be looked at in the third week of January."

However, today, the BCCI said Hardik would more need time to come back to full fitness. "Vijay Shankar has been included in the India A squad for New Zealand since Hardik Pandya's rehabilitation process is taking longer than expected," the BCCI said in a media release.

The news will come as a setback for Hardik, who had been optimistic about making his international return during the New Zealand tour. However, he first needed to get a clearance on his fitness.

On Saturday, media reports emerged about Hardik having failed a fitness test. However, Hardik's personal trainer S Rajnikanth, who has also worked with various Indian age-group teams and is part of the Delhi Capitals set-up, told Times of India that Hardik did not fail any test, but the issue was the workload playing would put him under.

"He is 100% fit," Rajnikanth said. "There is no doubt about that. But I don't want him to take the workload of back-to-back international matches. No fitness test has been conducted for Pandya yet, so there's no question of him failing any test."

Generally, Indian players need to get a clearance from the medical staff at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. However after Hardik opted to work with Rajnikanth, the NCA, which is headed by former India captain Rahul Dravid, informed the BCCI that the player needed to get the fitness clearance from his personal medical staff.

ESPNcricinfo understands Rajnikanth had been updating Hardik's fitness schedule and relating recovery information to the BCCI, which was what the selectors had relied upon when they picked him for the India A squad. It is understood Rajnikanth was clear that although fitness-wise Hardik was in the clear, he was yet to attain complete bowling fitness, which is reliant on workload management, which was what he had relayed in his latest update to the BCCI.

'From lifting 100 kgs I was not able to lift my legs'

Speaking recently about the back surgery, Hardik admitted he was worried about it turning out to be career-threatening and hence he deliberated for long before going under the knife. He had begun to realise that although he had been "managing" the back for the last five years, it was beginning to affect his fitness and performance.

"Hundred per cent," Hardik told India Today in an interview about how he was scared about going for the surgery. "This was my first thought when in Bangalore after the South Africa series. I stopped feeling my left leg, stopped as in almost 40% I was not feeling it properly. That was the symptom when we decided to go under the knife."

The injury itself, Hardik said, was five-years-old. "Injury happened five years back. No one knew. I have managed the injury for five years. This was the time when I started feeling I am not feeling myself, the way I was. The pain was taking over my efforts and all; instead of putting 100% effort I was only able to put only 50-60%. And then I just felt it was not right for myself and for the team."

It was India's physiotherapist Nitin Patel who had eventually convinced Hardik. "And first thought when Nitin Patel, the Indian team physio, came and said 'you know we might have to go under the knife', my first reaction - 'no chance'. I said no chance, I am going to manage it. Then he explained for five years we have been managing... he was the first person who saw me five years back. It took me one night to digest the fact that I might have to go for surgery. I didn't completely tell myself that we are going for surgery.

"People have scared me and how, saying that back surgery is this serious, back surgery will finish this, it is very difficult and all. Then I now (felt) this is a little scary. But then I was like I can't go because someone else had a problem after surgery. I am a different individual, I have a different body type, I have a different work ethic. I know I am going to make a strong comeback and I am going to do the exact right thing which I am supposed to do to make sure my back does not get more hampered."

The recovery was equally difficult as Hardik exchanged messages with his captain Virat Kohli, saying how no one should undergo a similar experience. "I was emotionally challenging. From lifting 100 kgs I was not able to lift my legs," Hardik said.

"First 15 days were the most difficult part as I said no walking, I was not able to move. Nothing. I had two people to just look after me just to make sure even I move from the bed. Slowly, slowly I started training, started training with a pillow, just lying on the bed straight, which was my first exercise. From there slowly, slowly moving exactly one part, one part, bowling slowly once I started picking up the strength, started gaining weight.

"After surgery I went to 69 (kilograms), which I have never been in my life! So the amount of muscle I lost was, it was just scary. I thought I would lose my power and all, but touch wood I am back to 74 (kgs) right now."

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Trevion Williams scored 16 points and Purdue relied on a staunch defense Sunday to upset No. 8 Michigan State 71-42 -- handing the Spartans a historic loss.

Michigan State suffered its worst loss ever as a top-10 team. The Spartans, who entered Sunday as the Big Ten's only undefeated team, had never lost as a top-10 team by more than 22 points, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

The last time Michigan State was ranked in the top 10 and held under 50 points was in the 2012 Sweet 16 against Louisville, according to ESPN Stats & Info data.

"Probably the worst beating I've taken as a coach," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I think that was great pressure by Purdue. I thought (Purdue coach) Matt (Painter) did one hell of a job."

The Boilermakers (10-7, 4-3 Big Ten) snapped a two-game skid by picking up their second win this season over a top-10 foe. They also beat defending national champion Virginia on Dec. 4.

Cassius Winston finished with 10 points to lead the Spartans (13-4, 5-1) but also had nine turnovers. The Spartans, who were 4½-point road favorites, hadn't lost since Dec. 3. They produced their lowest point total of the season and were held almost 40 points below their season scoring average of 81.3.

The game was never really close.

The Boilermakers scored the first five points, then seized control with a 12-0 run that gave them a 19-4 lead.

They were just warming up.

Williams and Sasha Stefanovic jump-started another big spurt, 13-2, which gave the Boilermakers a 34-14 lead with 3:23 left in the first half.

And even though the Spartans scored eight of the final 11 points in the half to cut the deficit to 37-20, they couldn't build on that momentum then.

After giving up the first basket of the second half, Michigan State scored seven straight to close to 39-27.

Purdue answered with two 3-pointers to make it 45-29 with 14:11 to go, and the Spartans couldn't get closer than 11 the rest of the game.

"I just thought they never really quite got into a rhythm," Painter said. "I don't want to put that on them or give us the credit. A lot of times it's something in between."

Stat pack

Michigan State: Committed seven turnovers before forcing one by the Boilermakers. ... The Spartans missed their first 10 3-point attempts and were just 2-of-16 in the game. ... Michigan State shot 35.1% from the field and was outrebounded 34-32, and the 20-point first half was its lowest total in any half this season. ... The Spartans have lost four straight in West Lafayette. ... Rocket Watts had 10 points. Xavier Tillman finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

Purdue: Williams also had seven rebounds and four assists. ... Evan Boudreaux had 11 points and five rebounds, and Stefanovic and Eric Hunter Jr. each finished with 10 points. ... Purdue had a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers. ... The Boilermakers broke a tie for the second-longest home winning streak against conference opponents in Mackey Arena history. They won 19 straight between January 1968 and February 1970. ... The Boilermakers have won five of their past six home games against top-10 foes.

Up next

The Spartans will try to rebound at home Friday against Wisconsin.

Purdue faces another daunting challenge Saturday, at No. 12 Maryland.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With a chance to host the AFC Championship Game by beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Houston Texans got off to a quick start.

That's the way to start!@deshaunwatson to @KSTiLLS for the 54-yard TD!#HOUvsKC pic.twitter.com/980QafHf9p

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 12, 2020

On the sixth play of the game, quarterback Deshaun Watson found a wide-open Kenny Stills on third down for a 54-yard touchdown pass to give the Texans a 7-0 lead after the extra point.

It was the Texans' first opening-drive touchdown all season with Watson on the field. According to ESPN Stats & Information, powered by NFL Next Gen Stats, Stills had 8.3 yards of separation on the play, the most separation on a receiving touchdown over the past three postseasons.

The pass tied Watson's longest completion of the season, and it was only the third time all year that Watson saw seven or more pass-rushers on a dropback. It was also the longest play from scrimmage in Texans postseason history.

.@keke_mingo blocked it!@Lonnie30johnson returns it for SIX!#HOUvsKC pic.twitter.com/OQjS4pHgxL

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 12, 2020

On the next possession, linebacker Barkevious Mingo blocked a Chiefs punt that was recovered by rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson, who ran it in for a touchdown. Houston led 14-0 with 10:06 left in the first quarter.

It's the first blocked punt return TD by the Texans since Week 1 of 2014 against the Redskins.

Turning the turnover into a touchdown!@DarrenFells | #HOUvsKC pic.twitter.com/VRfBP7nCOU

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 12, 2020

With 2 minutes and 20 seconds left in the first quarter, the Texans' special teams came up with another big play. Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill muffed a punt that Houston recovered at the Kansas City 6-yard line.

Two plays later, Watson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Fells to put the Texans up 21-0. The Chiefs had the second-best special-teams unit in the regular season, per FPI.

Before Sunday, only one team all season had fallen behind by 21 points in the first quarter: the Dolphins in Week 1 against the Ravens.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal and center Thomas Bryant returned to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz.

Beal started Sunday's game, while Bryant was slated to come off the bench. Both players will be on a minutes restriction, according to coach Scott Brooks.

The Wizards' leader in scoring (27.8 PPG) and assists (6.6 APG), Beal has not played since Jan. 1 while dealing with a lower right leg injury.

Bryant had been out since early December after suffering a stress reaction in his right foot. He was averaging 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1 block per game prior to the injury.

The Wizards also announced a number of moves Sunday, including waiving forward C.J. Miles, who has not played since suffering ligament damage to his left wrist Nov. 26 and undergoing surgery.

"We appreciate CJ's contributions to our team this season and wish him and his family the best as he continues his career," Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. "He is a consummate professional who provided a great example for our younger players despite having his season cut short by an unfortunate injury."

There had been no timeline for Miles' return to play.

Washington also signed center Anzejs Pasecniks to a multiyear contract and forward Johnathan Williams to a two-way contract.

Pasecniks is averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 13 games for the Wizards in 2019-20. Williams has played in six games for Washington, averaging 5.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.

The Texas Rangers and third baseman Todd Frazier have reached an agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, sources told ESPN.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a team option for the 2021 season, sources said. If the option gets exercised, Frazier would make $9.25 million over two years.

The right-handed-hitting Frazier, a two-time All-Star in eight major league seasons, hit .251 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs in 133 games last season for the New York Mets.

He is a career .243 hitter with 214 home runs and 624 RBIs.

Frazier was an All-Star in 2014 and 2015. He hit 35 homers for the Cincinnati Reds in 2015 and won the Home Run Derby, then set career highs with 40 homers and 98 RBIs for the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

A steady defender his whole career, Frazier turns 34 next month. The veteran slugger also has some valuable experience at first base, which could come in handy if the Rangers need options in the infield.

Frazier, who is from New Jersey, was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in Toms River and later starred at Rutgers.