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Surprise names secure first positions, main draw places at stake

Published in Table Tennis

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 19:11

Notably, in an event where the top 16 names advanced directly to the main draw and were not required to compete in the group qualification stage, all accounted for adversaries listed amongst the top eight names in the initial phase of proceedings.

Impressively, Matei Dumitrescu overcame El Salvador’s Diego Orantes (11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 14-12), Jakub Kaucky beat Porapat Thanmathikom (7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7), Djordje Pavlovic succeeded against Lode Hulshof of the Netherlands (11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4). Similarly, Paul Szilagyi and Evgeny Tikhonov prevailed when facing adversaries from the Czech Republic; Paul Szilagyi was in form against Matyas Lebeda (11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10), Evgeny Tikhonov defeated Dan Janovsky (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9).

Unexpected outcomes but not for the remaining principal names on opening day junior boys’ singles duty; Thailand’s Napat Thanmathikon, Brazil’s Kenzo Carmo and Spain’s Juan Perez all emerged undefeatrd to secure first places

Conversely, for the leading names in the junior girls’ singles event, there were no such problems. In a competition where the top eight names advanced directly to the main draw, Ukraine’s Anastasya Dymytrenko and Serbia’s Radmila Tominjak reserved first places in their respective groups, as did the Brazilian duo of Laura Watanabe and Giulia Takahashi. In a similar vein for the next in the order of merit it was success. Russia’s Vlada Voronina, Serbia’s Reka Bezeg and Croatia’s Hana Arapovic all secured top spots in their respective groups, as did Russia’s Libov Tentser.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ doubles event, as play advanced to the semi-final round there were surprises. Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro and Eduardo Tomoike, the top seeds, duly advanced to the last four as did the no.2 seeds, the partnership formed by the Czech Republic’s Tomas Martinko and Jan Mokreys.

Alas for India’s Raegan Albuquerque and Yashansh Malik, the no.3 seeds, it was a second round defeat. They were beaten by Russia’s Ilia Koniukhov and Miron Vasilev (11-8, 11-7, 11-9) who in their very next round experienced defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic’s Filip Cernota and Matej Stach (11-5, 11-8, 11-6). Filip Cernota and Matej Stach now meet Guilherme Teodoro and Eduardo Tomoike in the penultimate round.

Surprise semi-finalists in the top half of the draw; it was the same in the lower half; the pair to exceed expectations being the Russian combination of Damir Akhmetsatin and Rusian Cherkes; at the quarter-final stage they ousted Slovakia’s Filip Delincak and Kamil Pach, the no.4 seeds (8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6). At the semi-final stage they oppose Tomas Martinko and Jan Mokreys.

Two surprise pairs through to the semi-final round of the junior boys’ team event, in the junior girls’ doubles it is just one; Giula Takahashi and Laura Watanabe upset the order of merit. In the quarter-final round they beat Russia’s Olga Vishiakova and Vlada Voronina, the no.3 seeds, by the very narrowest of margins in a tension packed full distance contest (11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3, 15-13).

In the penultimate round at semi-final stage the Brazilians meet the top seeded combination of Croatia’s Ana Arapovic and Amy Wang of the United States; Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian and Liubov Tentser, the no.2 seeds, face Chloe Chomis and Isa Cok of France, the no.4 seeds.

The individual events in the junior age group conclude on Wednesday 25th September.

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Nour El Sherbini aims to peak at the Pyramids after sitting out San Francisco

Published in Squash

Thursday, 19 September 2019 09:47

Nour El Sherbini wins the world title in Chicago

Egyptian aces battle for Women’s World title on home soil
By ELLIE MAWSON – Squash Mad Correspondent

THE draws for the 2019-20 CIB PSA Women’s World Championship and the CIB Egyptian Squash Open PSA Platinum tournament have been announced, with some blockbuster fixtures in store at the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.

The PSA Women’s World Championship, organised by Egyptian event company I-Events, is the most prestigious women’s squash tournament and will take place between October 24 and November 1, while the men’s Egyptian Squash Open will be held alongside it between October 25 and November 1.

Sixty four of the world’s leading female players will compete in Cairo for the coveted trophy, with the likes of Egyptian World No.1 Raneem El Welily, reigning World Champion Nour El Sherbini, French World No.3 Camille Serme and British Open champion Nouran Gohar all set to feature at the iconic Pyramids, which will host a World Championship for the first time since 2006.

World No.1 El Welily has been drawn against wildcard and compatriot Sana Ibrahim in round one and is featured on the same side of the draw as World No.4 Gohar and could potentially meet in the semi-finals.

The 2018 World Champion is also seeded on the same side of the draw as England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and 2018-19 World Championship runner-up Nour El Tayeb with the two set to meet in the quarter finals should the draw go to seeding. The two Egyptians have already met once this season at the China Squash Open, where El Tayeb got the better of the World No.1 in a thrilling final.

Reigning World Champion and World No.2 El Sherbini is seeded on the opposite side of the draw to El Welily and Gohar and will take on England’s Rachael Chadwick in round one. El Sherbini has withdrawn from this week’s Oracle NetSuite Open in San Francisco because of a knee injury.

El Sherbini claimed her third World Championship title at the 2018/19 PSA World Championships held inside Chicago’s Union Station when she defeated compatriot El Tayeb in the final.

The World No.2 has the likes of New Zealand’s World No.6 Joelle King and United States’ World No.8 Amanda Sobhy on her side of the draw as she looks to claim her fourth World Championship title, while she is predicted to meet World No.3 Serme in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, at the Egyptian Squash Open PSA Platinum event, World No.1 Ali Farag receives a bye into the second round where he will face compatriot and former World No.3 Omar Mosaad for a place in the last 16.

The reigning World Champion is seeded on the same side of the draw as World No.7 Mohamed Abouelghar, Germany’s World No.5 Simon Rosner and New Zealand’s World No.6 Paul Coll.

Situated at the opposite end of the draw is World No.3 Tarek Momen, who receives a bye into the second round where he will face Wales’ World No.12 Joel Makin.

On Momen’s side of the draw is former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad, who he could face in the semi-finals, along with Peru’s Diego Elias and Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez.

Squash at the Pyramids, one of the most spectacular sights in sport

CIB PSA Women’s World Championship (October 24-November 1).

First Round Draw:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [WC] Sana Ibrahim (EGY)
[19] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) v Menna Hamed (EGY)
[30] Julianne Courtice (ENG) v Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)
[Qualifier] v [11] Alison Waters (ENG)
[14] Salma Hany (EGY) v Rachel Arnold (MAS)
[21] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v Alexandra Fuller (RSA)
[26] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Lucy Turmel (ENG)
Melissa Alves (FRA) v [5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Jemyca Aribado (PHI)
[25] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
[32] Coline Aumard (FRA) v Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
Nada Abbas (EGY) [9] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[12] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Aifa Azman (MAS)
[27] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Enora Villard (FRA)
[18] Nele Gilis (BEL) v Sunayna Kuruvilla (IND)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [4] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) v Salma Youssef (EGY)
[22] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v Lee Ka Yi (HKG)17] Joey Chan (HKG) v Milnay Louw (RSA)
Lisa Aitken (SCO) v [16] Yathreb Adel (EGY)
[15] Hania El Hammamy (GY) v Jasmine Hutton (ENG)
[28] Donna Lobban (AUS) v Ineta Mackevica (LAT)
[31] Milou van der Heijden (NED) v Menna Nasser (EGY)
Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) v [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[6] Joelle King (NZL) v Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
[20] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Emilia Soini (FIN)
[23] Nadine Shahin (EGY) v Cindy Merlo (SUI)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) v [10] Annie Au (HKG)
[13] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Haley Mendez (USA)
[24] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Ho Tze-Lok (HKG)
[29] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Farida Mohamed (EGY)
Rachael Chadwick (ENG) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

CIB Egyptian Squash Open (October 25-November 1) Draw:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) [Bye]
[9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY) [Bye]
[17/32] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Vikram Malhotra (IND)
[17/32] Mazen Hesham (EGY) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[17/32] Max Lee (HKG) v Ivan Yuen (MAS)
[9/16] Daryl Selby (ENG) [Bye]
[17/32] Chris Simpson (ENG) v Edmon Lopez (ESP)
[6] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) [Bye]
[5] Paul Coll (NZL) [Bye]
[17/32] Lucas Serme (FRA) v Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) [Bye]
[17/32] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY)
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) [Bye]
[17/32] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v Mazen Gamal (EGY)
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) [Bye]
[4] Simon Rosner (GER) [Bye]
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) [Bye]
[17/32] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[17/32] Leo Au (HKG) v Ramit Tandon (IND)
[17/32] Adrian Waller (ENG) v Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
[17/32] George Parker (ENG) v Nathan Lake (ENG)
[9/16] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) [Bye]
[17/32] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
[7] Diego Elias (PER) [Bye]
[8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) [Bye]
[17/32] Borja Golan (ESP) v Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
[17/32] Raphael Kandra (GER) v [WC] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY)
[17/32] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [WC] Yehia Elnawsany (EGY)
[17/32] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Todd Harrity (USA)
[9/16] Zahed Salem (EGY) [Bye]
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) [Bye]
[2] Tarek Momen (EGY) [Bye]

Report by ELLIE MAWSON (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA

Posted on September 19, 2019

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Uruguay's stunning win leaves Fiji facing World Cup exit

Published in Rugby

Wednesday, 25 September 2019 00:22

Uruguay left Fiji on the brink of exiting the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage as they pulled off a memorable win in Kamaishi.

In a frantic first half, Fiji were left stunned as Uruguay came from behind to lead through tries from Santiago Arata, Manuel Diana and Juan Manuel Cat.

Api Ratuniyarawa reduced the deficit for Fiji while Nikola Matawalu touched down to give them a losing bonus point.

Fiji remain fourth in Pool D but languish behind Wales and Australia.

Fiji came into the game off the back of a defeat by Australia in their first match of the tournament, but they started comfortably in Kamaishi as Mesulame Dolokoto crossed at the corner early on.

A win would have got their tournament back on track and they led again through Eroni Mawi after Arata quickly responded for Uruguay, but the Fijians were stunned by a resilient Los Teros side.

Uruguay, who were playing their first match of this year's tournament, seemed unfazed by Fiji and kept them frustrated as they comfortably led most of the match.

Felipe Berchesi's penalty just before the break put Uruguay 12 points ahead and left Fiji with a mountain to climb to avoid a second successive defeat.

Fiji could have clawed down the gap had Josh Matavesi's kicking been on target, however the Newcastle Falcons fly-half missed two conversions and a second-half penalty before Ben Volavola missed the extras from Matawalu's score.

A crucial tie against Georgia on Thursday, 3 October (06:15 BST) now awaits Fiji, whereas Uruguay face Australia in Oita on Saturday, 5 October (06:15 BST).

Uruguay captain Juan Manuel Gaminara:

"I'm really proud of my country. We're not the biggest, we're not the tallest, but we came here to win.

"We've been preparing for this for four years so I'm really proud.

"We've been working since we qualified on this and we never take anything for granted and you saw the passion. It's inside all of us and we had to go there and fetch it today and bring it through."

Fiji coach John McKee:

"You have to pay tribute to Uruguay for the way they played with the attitude and approach to the game.

"They got a great result. For us, we were off the pace and critical errors gifted them tries and we didn't have the mental toughness to get back into the game.

"They scored three tries off our errors and we were focusing too much on keeping the ball and not turning it over.

"We have to recoup now as we've got Georgia in eight days time and it's a massive game for us."

Fiji: Veitokani; Nakosi, Radrada, Vatubua, Goneva; J Matavesi, Seniloli; Mawi, Dolokoto; Saulo, Ratuva, Ratuniyarawa, Waqaniburotu (capt), Voka, Nakarawa.

Replacements: Vugakoto, Ma'afu, Atalifo, Cavubati, S Matavesi Matawalu, Volavola, Botia.

Uruguay: Mieres; Freitas, Cat, Vilaseca, Silva; Berchesi, Arata; Sanguinetti, Kessler, Arbelo, Dotti, Leindeker, Gaminara (capt), Civetta, Diana.

Replacements: Pujadas, Gattas, Rombys, Lamanna, J Ormaechea, A Ormaechea, Etcheverry, Inciarte.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (Fra).

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England can cope with short turnaround - Jones

Published in Rugby

Wednesday, 25 September 2019 01:15

Head coach Eddie Jones is confident his reshuffled England team will cope with their short turnaround as they prepare for Thursday's game against the USA, four days after battling past Tonga.

Only five of the team from Sunday's 35-3 win in their opening World Cup game are keeping their starting places.

"We've done a fair bit of homework for this turnaround," Jones told BBC Sport.

"We trialled a four-day turnaround against Japan last autumn, to make sure the players have experience of it."

George Ford captains the side at 10, with Billy Vunipola selected again at eight and there are World Cup debuts for wingers Ruaridh McConnochie and Joe Cokanasiga plus centre Piers Francis.

Speaking to the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Jones added: "We've looked at selection pretty closely, looked at the players who could back up and who couldn't back up.

"We've tried to work out which players need a rest. Each player is different - some players need a longer time to recover, and some are much better off when they're in form to keep playing."

England secured a four-try bonus-point win over Tonga in the Sapporo Dome, however, they laboured at times, solid in defence but making 14 handing errors across the 80 minutes.

Conditions in the Kobe Misaki stadium are likely to be similar to last weekend, the roof closed specifically for the match here rather than a permanent structure but the humidity inside still noticeable to those used to English autumns.

The home of Top League rugby team Kobelco Steelers as well as football team Vissel Kobe, the current club of former Barcelona and Spain great Andres Iniesta, has a capacity of just over 30,000, with England supporters increasingly visible on the streets of the city over the last few days.

Jones had described facing the USA starting XV as "like facing 15 Donald Trumps" in that he expects them to come out "all guns blazing" but South African coach Gary Gold, who has also coached London Irish, Newcastle and Bath as well as the Steelers, has opted for the more familiar skills of eight England based players.

Harlequins' Paul Lasike starts at inside-centre, Saracens' Titi Lamositele at tight-head prop and Sale's AJ MacGinty at fly-half.

The 29-year-old MacGinty had an excellent record off the tee for Sale last season, landing 83% of his shots at goal, while full-back Will Hooley is another familiar name to fans of the Premiership, the former England under-20s man having had spells at Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs before dropping down to Bedford Blues in the Championship.

England's defence coach John Mitchell coached the Eagles from early 2016 to July 2017, helping them qualify for this World Cup before heading to South Africa to coach the Blue Bulls.

And Jones has been picking his assistant's brains as England look to find a fluency that evaded them in their tournament opener.

Jones said: "We've spoke to Mitch about the psychology of the team, how they approach their games, the psychology of some of their players.

"They're definitely playing a different sort of game to the one they used to play.

"I coached against the USA a fair bit with Japan and they were a much freer, athletic team.

"They're now a much more pragmatic team, a team that kicks the ball a lot, with a sharp operator in MacGinty at 10, who our boys know pretty well."

Veteran prop Dan Cole will win his 91st cap at tight-head to go joint-third with Jonny Wilkinson on England men's all-time list, scrum-half Ben Youngs joining him if he comes off the bench as expected.

Cole was left out of Jones' squad earlier this year but is back in his third World Cup, along with Youngs and Courtney Lawes.

Jones said: "We had a number of conversations, and I'm really proud of how Dan has fought his way back.

"At one stage it was going to be difficult for him to go to the World Cup.

"We gave him a number of things he needed to work on, he went away and worked on them tremendously hard, so it's a great achievement for him and his family.

"To get 91 caps at tight-head for your country - particularly England, which is such a scrummaging powerhouse - gives an indication of his influence in the game."

Ford is enjoying a run of starts at fly-half, having sat on the bench during the Six Nations as Jones preferred Owen Farrell at 10 with a Manu Tuilagi/Henry Slade combination at centre.

But his two starts in this tournament do not mean he will get the same opportunity when the sterner tests of Argentina and France come in the next two games, according to his coach.

"You should read a lot into it - George is the best 10 for the USA game," he said.

"He just keeps evolving as a player, as do a number of our players.

"That's what I'm most impressed about with our team - there's a real thirst within the team to improve, and George is at the head of the queue pushing that forward."

England have won all five of their previous meetings with the USA, beating them in the World Cups of 1987, 1991 and 2007.

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DuBeau Files Entry For Vermont Milk Bowl

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 13:30

BARRE, Vt. – The biggest late model event of the year in the Northeast has added another big name to the entry list.

Rich Dubeau, the current American-Canadian Tour point leader and winner of the Coca-Cola Labor Day Classic, has officially committed to the 57th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank on Sept. 28-29.

Dubeau had not originally planned to enter the Milk Bowl, in part due to work commitments on Saturday’s Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day.

However, his recent Thunder Road win and a now-comfortable lead in the ACT Late Model Tour point standings helped persuade him to take on the challenge of “The Toughest Short Track Stock Car Race in North America.”

“We’re going to find a way to make it work,” Dubeau said. “We’ve found ourselves in a position we didn’t think we’d be in – leading the points by a big margin. Having one car, we were a little bit nervous to go to a non-point race and wreck the car and not have it right for the last race of the year. But based on the way things went at Thunder Road last time out, which we didn’t expect at all, the points are looking really good for us. So even if something were to happen, then it probably wouldn’t change anything on the ACT side.

“The Milk Bowl has always been a race I’ve wanted to run – it just kind of comes at a difficult time of the year for me,” Dubeau added with a laugh. “But we decided that, because we had some much success at Thunder Road last time out, we’d go have some fun.”

Dubeau is actually making his second trip to the Vermont Milk Bowl. He attempted to qualify for the 2015 edition during his first year racing with ACT in a separate car from his normal Tour effort. Dubeau failed to make the show that year, but the situation entering this year’s event is leaps and bounds away from what it was four years ago.

Now, he has finished no worse than seventh in his nine ACT-sanctioned starts in 2019, with two wins and five podium finishes.

“This year has just been a whole new thing,” Dubeau said. “I didn’t expect to run this well, to be perfectly honest. To some degree, all our finishes this year have been a little bit of a surprise. We thought it’d be cool to run in the top-five here and there, but if you had told me at the beginning of the season we were only going to finish outside the top-five once to this point and have two wins, I’d have said you were crazy.”

The former ACT Rookie of the Year now has “Thunder Road winner” on his résumé to boot. He led 148 of the 200 laps at the Labor Day Classic on his way to becoming the 100th different late model winner in Thunder Road history.

Furthermore, his closest challengers in the ACT point standings, Jimmy Hebert and Scott Payea, were caught up in an early wreck. As a result, Dubeau only needs to start the ACT season finale at Thompson to be crowned the 2019 champion.

However, Dubeau will start Milk Bowl Weekend behind the 8-ball. He expects to arrive late on Saturday due to his work commitments and will have little-to-no practice before time trials. As such, he is counting on his team to help his No. 30NH Toyota Camry hit the ground running.

Despite this, Dubeau is optimistic heading into the event thanks to his Labor Day victory.

“I’m feeling way more confident now than I was even two weeks ago,” Dubeau remarked. “We didn’t expect to have the speed we did (at Labor Day). The competition is going to be great. I’m trying to go in with the mentality of hopefully just having some fun. Points racing can be a little stressful at times, and without having to worry about points, I’m hoping to keep it fun.

“I am an extremely competitive guy though, and so is the rest of the team, so we’ll be giving it our best shot.”

Dubeau joins a stacked Milk Bowl field that includes some of the most accomplished racers in the country. Former Milk Bowl winners Jason Corliss, Joey Polewarczyk, Patrick Laperle, John Donahue, and Brent Dragon have all entered.

Several ACT stars are joining Dubeau at Thunder Road, including two-time defending champion Scott Payea, Jimmy Hebert, and Christopher Pelkey.

In addition, super late model legend Bubba Pollard of Senoia, Ga., is coming to take on local standouts such as Scott Dragon, Trampas Demers, Kyle Pembroke, and Brooks Clark.

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SPEED SPORT Twitter Me This

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 14:00

Each month in SPEED SPORT Magazine we highlight some of our favorite Twitter posts from racing personalities from various disciplines. Here is the SPEED SPORT Twitter Me This from September 2019.

Dominic Scelzi (DominicScelzi41): At dinner tonight all I kept doing was checking out this guy with perfect hair at the table next to me. Turns out it’s @BrianBrown21. Who woulda guessed?

Tyler Courtney (TyCourtney23): Wing cars are fun, there I said it.

Thomas Meseraull (@TMezdriftz): Someone put glitter in one of Carley’s gift bags, now I look like I just got out of the strip club.

Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer): Woke up with this on my mind. Why the hell do we run these road courses backwards?

Hailie Deegan (@HailieDeegan): I was at @Target and after being in North Carolina for a month then coming back home to Cali I’m realizing how rude people are here. Like fine next time I’ll hit you with my cart

Mat Williamson (@Williamson6): Currently sitting at the infield care center waiting on a drug test. Is this a sign that we’ve made it?

Austin Theriault (@AustinTheriault): How do I know I just arrived in Northern Maine? People are speaking French and English at the airport in Presque-Isle.

James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown): So watching the big screens at @Mid_Ohio, apparently @TonyKanaan thinks I’m the most likely to cheat at a board game!! What gives, TK?!

Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones): Craziest thing happened driving to the track tonight. Had a big ol black bear run out in front of me. He waved and went on with his day.

Molly Helmuth (@Molly_Helmuth): Ever since I hooked up my Alexa, I literally try to use her all the time for things she cannot do, and then I realize how lazy I can truly be.

John Andretti (@John_Andretti): At a restaurant where the shirts say, “Spooning leads to forking so use condiments.” I thought it was funny!

Ryan Vargas (@The_Rhino23): Had to pack wheel bearings for the first time in over a year and I can assure everyone that it still completely sucks.

Jordan Taylor (@jordan10taylor): Hate when this happens. Me: Hey how are you? Other person: Good, thanks. You? Me: Good, and you? Other person: …good?

Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip): I came home from a race years ago and my mother asked how it went. I told her “we ran out of fuel.” She replied “I thought the fuel was free.”

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Five Former Winners Among Entries For NSTC

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 15:00

LOVE PARK, Ill. — Rockford Speedway will host its 54th annual National Short Track Championships this weekend, Sept. 27-29.

Highlighting the three days of racing will be Sunday afternoon’s National Short Track Championship 250 presented by Crazy Times Pub & Grub.

Five former winners of the event at the banked, quarter-mile oval are among the entries for the late model stock car special which has been extended to 250 laps this year – the first time the race has been more than 200 laps since 2005.

Defending race winner Alex Prunty, of Lomira, Wis., has won back-to-back NSTC 200 lappers and heads the list of former winners ready for action. Last year, Prunty was a regular competitor at Wisconsin’s Slinger Super Speedway and won the track title.

In the 2018 NSTC finale, Prunty wheeled his Chevrolet late model to his second consecutive victory ahead of Casey Johnson, Brian Johnson Jr., Grant Griesbach and Carson Kvapil.

Casey Johnson, of Edgerton, Wis., won the NSTC 200 in 2016. He is currently second in the ARCA Midwest Tour late model standings with two tour wins so far in 2019.

Johnson won his second straight late model track championship this year at Wisconsin Int’l Raceway in Kaukauna, Wis.

Jon Reynolds Jr. grabbed the victory in 2015 in the historic race, dating back to 1966, when the legendary Dick Trickle won the inaugural event. Hailing from Loves Park, Reynolds is a two-time Rockford late model champion, winning those titles in 2014 and again last year.

Second-generation speedster Rick Bickle Jr., of Edgerton, Wis., is a two-time winner of Rockford’s NSTC. Bickle won the NSTC for the first-time in 1990 when the race was co-sanctioned by NASCAR and the ARTGO Racing Series.

Bickle returned to Rockford’s victory podium in 2012.

Josh Nelms, of Lockport, Ill., claimed top honors in the 200 in 2009. Recent years have seen Nelms run a spotty schedule of late model events, but he won a late model feature race this season at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill.

Other notable late model entries for Sunday’s $10,000-to-win race include Austin Nason, who currently leads the ARCA Midwest Tour series standings, and Slinger late model standout Brad Mueller.

Wisconsin late model superstar Ty Majeski is also scheduled to compete.

Looking through the records, the late Joe Shear and Steve Carlson are the all-time NSTC winners, each with eight victories. Eddie Hoffman has four wins and Trickle won three times.

The NSTC weekend gets underway Friday with more racing on Saturday, including the Big 8 Series 108-lap special. Sunday’s racing also includes the Mid American Stock Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

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VIDEO: The Ralph Sheheen Show – Brian Redman

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 16:00

Sports car racing legend Brian Redman took some time to hang out with The Ralph Sheheen Show presented by Lucas Oil this week.

As a former factory driver for Porsche and Ferrari, as well as a driver for Ford, McLaren, Cooper, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, and more over the years, Redman has visited victory lane in some of sports car racing’s most prestigious events.

The three-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner, two-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner and Targa Florio winner also ran a handful of races in Formula 1, earning a podium finish in the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix. Redman chats about his glorious career with Sheheen and shares his harrowing story about surviving Hurricane Dorian while recently visiting friends in the Bahamas.

Catch this week’s full episode on SPEEDSPORT.com or download the podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, or Spotify.

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PHOTOS: NASCAR Modified Musket 250

Published in Racing

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 17:00

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Blues get Faulk from Canes, extend his deal

Published in Hockey

Tuesday, 24 September 2019 12:27

The defending Stanley Cup champions made a big move ahead of the 2019-20 season, trading for Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, and subsequently signing him to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension.

The Blues sent prospect Dominik Bokk, defenseman Joel Edmundson and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Hurricanes. Along with Faulk, the Canes sent the Blues a 2020 fifth-round pick.

There had been months-long speculation that the Hurricanes were working a deal for Faulk, a 27-year-old three-time All Star. The Canes have a surplus of capable defensemen, Faulk was in the final year of his deal and it didn't appear Carolina would sign him to an extension.

Last season, Faulk served as an alternate captain for the Hurricanes, who became a postseason darling after snapping a nine-year playoff drought and making it to the Eastern Conference finals.

Earlier this month, the Canes had talked to the Anaheim Ducks about a Faulk trade, but the deal fell apart. It was unclear if Faulk was willing to sign a contract extension with the Ducks.

"We are excited to add Justin to our core group for the next eight years," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement. "He is a top-four defenseman who averages over 23 minutes a game and we are confident he will be a strong addition to our club."

Faulk will earn $4.83 million this season on the final year of his deal; his next contract carries a $6.5 million average annual value. He is signed through 2026-27 -- four more years than any other player on the Blues roster.

Over the past five seasons, Faulk ranks seventh among NHL defensemen in goals and fourth in power play goals.

Edmundson, 26, appeared in 64 games with the Blues last season. He had two goals and 11 points. Edmundson appeared in 22 playoff games for the Blues as the franchise won its first Stanley Cup. Edmundson has a $3.1 million cap hit and will become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Bokk, 19, was the Blues' first-round pick -- 25th overall -- in the 2018 NHL draft. The Germany native had eight goals and 23 points with Vaxjo of the Swedish Hockey League last year. Bok is playing with Rogle BK Angelholm this season. Bokk was considered one of St. Louis' top prospects.

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