MANSFIELD, Ohio – Afternoon showers along with an unfavorable evening forecast have forced Mansfield Motor Speedway and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series officials to cancel Saturday’s Freedom 50.

The event will not be made up. All tickets and camping that were purchased online in advance will be automatically refunded to the original payment method.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returns to action with a doubleheader on July 11-12 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. Both events will be complete programs, highlighted by $12,000-to-win main events.

It is the Gold Cup final that most hoped for: On Sunday, the United States meet Mexico with CONCACAF glory on the line. Ahead of the big game, we asked Jeff Carlisle (U.S.) and Tom Marshall (Mexico) to evaluate the form of the team they cover.

United States

Just prior to the Gold Cup, the U.S. men's national team looked to be a shambles, having been thrashed 3-0 by Venezuela in a friendly that followed a 1-0 reverse to Jamaica four days earlier.

While there were some extenuating circumstances -- fitness and the absence of key players being two -- the results and performances did nothing to hint that better days were ahead.

Everything was being questioned, from the ability of those on the roster to the methods of manager Gregg Berhalter, who had been on the job for all of six months. It seemed like little progress had been made since the World Cup qualifying failure 20 months ago.

It has been some turnaround since then. From having to appeal for calm ahead of the tournament opener, Berhalter is preparing to lead his side into Sunday's final, having won five straight games while conceding just one goal.

The Gold Cup might be maligned and the U.S. has the advantage of playing on home soil, but its competitive nature nonetheless poses a different test. Opponents Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Curacao and Jamaica do not constitute the big hitters of the international game, but Berhalter's men were in no position to take anything for granted.

The path to a Chicago showdown with Mexico has at least seen the Americans beat the teams that it is supposed to beat. Moreover, there have been moments of aggressive pressing and dynamic play on the ball.

So what has changed since those deflating friendly defeats? Some of it is a function of time: Berhalter has had four more weeks to impart his system and philosophy, while players have bonded on and off the field, be it over crosswords, video games or cooking contests.

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Fitness has also been a factor: Aaron Long has shaken off injury woes and been a consistently strong presence in the back, offsetting the loss of usual starter John Brooks. The same is true of midfielder Michael Bradley. Jozy Altidore has taken longer, but started the semifinal against Jamaica and is primed to make a major contribution.

But the biggest difference is that Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are playing close to their peak level. Both arrived in camp following short rest at the end of their club seasons and, after taking a while to get going, Pulisic has been a menace running at defenses and with his finishing, while McKennie tore Jamaica apart with his passing and late runs into the box.

Berhalter deserves credit for his tactical flexibility. Heading into the tournament, all eyes were on a system that included a hybrid right-back/center midfield role. The idea, was to get "stability and activity" in the center of the park, which is Berhalter-speak for safety with the ball and defensive tenacity.

However, the withdrawal through injury of Tyler Adams -- the player for whom the system was implemented -- saw Berhalter move to a more conventional back four, with McKennie dropping deeper to help Bradley on the defensive side of the ball. There have been hiccups, most notably against Curacao when the two were often not on the same page, but in other games the U.S. looked more stable.

There has been much talk about what would constitute success for the U.S. at the Gold Cup -- Berhalter has talked of little else than winning the tournament -- but the last month has seen progress and a sense that order is being restored as young talent begins to prove itself on the international stage.

A win on Sunday would only accelerate the process. -- Jeff Carlisle

Mexico

As boring as it may sound, there has not actually been one attention-grabbing reason why El Tri has swept away pre-tournament concerns to reach the final.

The elephant in the room had been players not involved, who include Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, Hector Herrera and Miguel Layun, but the page has long been turned by coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who has insisted those who are here can challenge absent names for places ahead of the next World Cup.

Perhaps helped by the fact that only five of the squad has won the Gold Cup before, there has been a hunger and seriousness about Mexico, even when coming up against lesser opponents like Cuba, ranked 175th in the world, and Haiti, who are 101st.

In this regard, Martino has set the tone. In March, he was blunt with Corona for not showing sufficient dedication to report for camp when injured and has not been much less intense since, firing off criticisms about the lack of VAR and officiating. Indeed, Martino is not known known as a coach who likes press attention, but he has had plenty to say!

Behind the scenes, Martino has worked constantly with his players to ingrain 4-3-3 as the Plan A formation, stressing that Plans B and C simply do not exist. The priority has been to firmly establish the playing "idea," as he says in Spanish.

And things have gone relatively smoothly for a Mexico side that has been backed by huge crowds wherever it has gone, although needing 120 minutes and penalties to get past Costa Rica in the quarterfinal and then extra time to put away Haiti in the semis is cause for some concern.

The biggest single issue has been chance conversion, which has at times undermined Mexico's dominance of possession and territory. Elsewhere, Martino accepts that his team leaves itself vulnerable at the back when he talks of pushing players forward, playing the game in the opposition's half and leaving gaps on the transition, unless the ball can be regained quickly.

In terms of key figures, Edson Alvarez has been handed the crucial holding midfield role. Martino spoke at length to the 21-year-old ahead of training on Friday and maintaining defensive balance will be vital with Christian Pulisic in form and likely to be drifting between the lines.

Team leaders, Andres Guardado, Guillermo Ochoa and Raul Jimenez have guided the younger players around them and the veterans will be important on Sunday, with Martino set to field a starting XI that should not contain too many surprises.

Ochoa is the undisputed No. 1, with full-backs Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez and Jesus Gallardo set to start alongside Hector Moreno and Carlos Salcedo in defense. Alvarez anchors the midfield, with Jonathan dos Santos and Guardado ahead of him. Up forn, Jimenez will be supported by Rodolfo Pizarro and either Uriel Antuna or Roberto Alvarado.

One accusation against El Tri is that performances have deteriorated as the summer has gone on, but the truth is that the last few weeks have led to this defining moment. If Mexico wins, the Gold Cup will be deemed a success, but a loss would be slated as failure and bring about the first real pressure upon Martino. -- Tom Marshall

Hampshire 450 for 6 (Donald 173, Holland 143, Northeast 59) v Warwickshire

Ian Holland scored his maiden first-class century and Aneurin Donald reached three figures for the first time since joining Hampshire during the first day of their Specsavers County Championship fixture with Warwickshire.

Holland provided the glue to the Hampshire innings having been promoted to open, while housemate Donald added the flair and fireworks. The pair smashed an 82-year record for the fifth wicket for Hampshire, as they clubbed 262 together, beating the 235-stand between Gerry Hill and Donald Walker at Portsmouth in 1937.

Hampshire were also boosted by Sam Northeast's half-century; on the day he was called up for the England Lions squad to face Australia A at Canterbury next weekend.

Warwickshire had elected to field without a toss on a green-tinged wicket, under glorious blue skies. They were able to call on Olly Stone for the first time this season. Fast bowler Stone has been sidelined since January after picking up a bone stress injury in his lower back while on England duty in the West Indies.

After almost seven months out it only took 19 balls before he found himself back in the wicket-taking fold as he located Felix Organ's outside edge, the ball flying to the second slip. Stone didn't take long to grab a second scalp as India Test star Ajinkya Rahane caressed a boundary first ball before nicking to Will Rhodes as first slip next ball.

With the ball nipping around, and Hampshire 31 for 2, Northeast and Holland needed to rebuild. And they did with a 98-run stand, which negated the new ball and built a strong foundation for the rest of the day's play.

Northeast fell for 59, after a 54-ball fifty, soon after lunch when Oliver Hannon-Dalby produced a near-unplayable delivery to find an edge behind. Rilee Rossouw provided a precursor to what was to come with a typically entertaining 34 before he was bowled off his pads by a spearing delivery from spinner Jeetan Patel.

From then on in it was Holland and Donald dominating the Warwickshire bowling. Holland was boosted up the batting order to replace the out-of-form Oli Soames and Joe Weatherley, who has broken his ankle, as he returned to the side.

He was watchful to reach a 103-ball fifty and continued to climb to three figures while allowing the attacking to be done from the other end. Holland, who rose to fame in Australia for winning reality cricket TV show Cricket Superstar, eased past his previous best of 58 before reaching a ton in 201 deliveries - bringing up the milestone with a deft sweep.

While Holland grafted for his runs, Donald looked at ease from ball one as he scored at a comfortable run-a-ball, picking up a half-century in 48-balls. The 22-year-old Welshman, who joined from Glamorgan at the end of last year, went on to his first century since July 2016, his breakthrough double ton, in 103-balls.

But it was his next 20 balls which left the Ageas Bowl with a collective jaw-drop as he moved from 100 to 150 with sixes and fours galore.

Holland reached 143, as he showed some attacking intent before he edged Stone behind to end the mammoth partnership. Donald also failed to see out the day when he top edged the final ball to deep square leg - he ended on 173 with five sixes and 21 fours from 143 balls. Hampshire closing on 450 for six.

England have handed Lions call-ups to Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley, two young openers who could come into Ashes contention, for next week's four-day match against Australia A at Canterbury.

Sibley, of Warwickshire, is currently the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship, with 922 at 70.92, while Kent's Crawley is fourth with 639 at 42.60. Both are set to make debuts for the Lions, alongside Gloucestershire batsman James Bracey and Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, who are included in a provisional XI.

There has been much uncertainty around England's Test top three, following the retirement of Alastair Cook and the absence of a regular No. 3. Andy Flower, the Lions head coach, suggested that the players selected would be "looking to stake a claim" for the Ashes, with Sibley perhaps the leading candidate after a stellar run of form.

Sibley helped Warwickshire win promotion last season and started 2019 by extending a sequence of hundreds to six in successive first-class matches. This week he compiled a career-best 244 against Kent at Canterbury, overhauling the 242 not out he made as a teenager at Surrey in 2013 (making him the youngest double-centurion in Championship history).

"We're really looking forward to a great challenge against a very experienced Australia A side, some of whom will be looking to stake a claim for Ashes selection," Flower said. "We've got a very good squad of players travelling with us to Canterbury; one that's more than capable of delivering a positive result.

"Lions selection is always tricky. We've got an eye on the England team's short-term needs ahead of a busy winter schedule, but we're looking at some medium- and long-term prospects as well. We also need to respect the counties' needs during this busy time in the domestic season.

"While some players will be playing at this level for the first time, there is plenty of experience in our squad too. This will be a great learning opportunity for all these players and a chance to test themselves against a strong opposition."

There is England experience in the side, with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who played five of six Tests over the winter, batsman Ben Duckett and spinner Jack Leach among those previously capped. Somerset's Lewis Gregory, who is the leading pace bowler in the Championship with 44 wickets at 12.93, won an England call-up in 2015 but has yet to feature at international level.

Also included are Essex seamer Jamie Porter, who was close to a Test cap last summer; Lancashire's rapid young faster bowler Saqib Mahmood; and Hampshire batsman Sam Northeast, who will be a contender to captain the side.

England Lions squad: James Bracey, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Sam Northeast, Jamie Porter, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley

Oklahoma City All-Star guard Russell Westbrook and his agent, Thad Foucher, are engaged with Thunder general manager Sam Presti about the next steps of Westbrook's career, including the possibility of a trade before the start of next season, league sources told ESPN.

The two sides have 11 years of history together, and both understand that the time has likely come to explore trade possibilities for Westbrook, league sources said.

In the aftermath of All-Star Paul George pushing the Thunder to trade him to the LA Clippers to partner with free agent Kawhi Leonard, Oklahoma City's window to advance in the playoffs has seemingly closed. The Clippers' return to Oklahoma City of five future first-round picks, two pick swaps and All-Rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander marks the beginning of the reshaping of the Thunder roster.

The remaining four years and $170 million on Westbrook's contract is no longer sensible for a noncontender.

For the Thunder, this marks the first look at a possible franchise reset since the team moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle, with Westbrook, 30, the final player remaining from the original team that relocated.

Westbrook was faced with a similar situation in 2016 in the wake of Kevin Durant's departure to the Golden State Warriors but, after weighing options, elected to renegotiate his contract and sign an extension with the Thunder. Oklahoma City used that agreement as a springboard to extending its window, trading for George the following summer as Westbrook signed a five-year supermax extension to become the highest-paid player in NBA history at the time.

Circumstances are different in a few significant ways now, though, with Westbrook's age, current contract and position of the Thunder.

The Thunder could rework the roster to try to remain competitive around Westbrook and Steven Adams, although that scenario is unlikely. Operating well over the salary cap with a projected salary tax payment of $43 million with the existing roster, the Thunder were in cost-cutting mode before George's trade and will only accelerate on that front now.

Westbrook has had three consecutive seasons of averaging triple-doubles and was voted the NBA's MVP in the 2016-17 season.

ESPN's Royce Young contributed to this report.

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent center DeMarcus Cousins, and have brought back point guard Rajon Rondo on a two-year deal, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

Agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports told ESPN that Cousins' deal is worth $2.3 million. Cousins and Rondo ($2.6M) are returning on minimum deals, with Rondo holding a player option for the second year.

The Miami Heat had interest in Cousins, but several Lakers players -- including Anthony Davis -- helped convince him to join the Lakers, league sources told ESPN.

Cousins surprised many by signing a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Golden State Warriors last July amid his recovery from a torn left Achilles. He made his season debut for Golden State in January -- close to a year after having surgery on the Achilles -- and ended up playing 30 regular-season games, averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds.

He was at his best in April, averaging 20-11 and offering the Warriors a glimpse of what could be come playoff time. But in Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the LA Clippers, Cousins suffered a torn left quadriceps while chasing down a loose ball.

The injury initially was expected to keep Cousins out for the remainder of the playoffs, but he returned for the NBA Finals and, despite a limited role, was a factor in several games. He had an 11-point, 10-rebound, six-assist gem in Golden State's Game 2 win in Toronto.

Cousins said the significant injuries he has suffered recently had him contemplating whether he wanted to continue playing.

"I was just ready to quit," he told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "Like, throw the towel in. ... Human nature is the first thing. It's like, 'Why? Why me? Why now? What did I do wrong? Why do I deserve this?' And that's not always the case. It's usually [that] it's repaying you for the next moment.

"This is you putting your armor on. Slowly but surely. Because your next moment's gonna be even tougher."

Cousins, who turns 29 in August, was an All-Star for four consecutive seasons prior to signing with the Warriors. The fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft, he spent his first six seasons with the Kings, then was shipped to the Pelicans in February 2017, and spent the remainder of that season and all of the next with New Orleans.

Among active players, he ranks 11th in points per game (21.25) and fifth in rebounds (10.9) for his career.

Rondo was one of several veteran free agents who signed a one-year deal with the Lakers after LeBron James landed in Los Angeles last summer. 

The veteran point guard's season got off to a rocky start when he was suspended three games for his role in a multiplayer fight with the Rockets during the Lakers' home opener in October. That suspension, coupled with a pair of hand injuries, kept Rondo out of 36 games during the season. 

When he did play, Rondo remained effective. His 8.0 assists per game would have ranked fifth in the league among point guards if he had qualified. And his 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds represented his highest averages in each of those categories since the 2015-16 season. 

Rondo also drew rave reviews for his leadership during a trying Lakers season. 

Rondo, 33, is entering his 14th NBA season. The four-time All-Star holds career averages of 10.4 points, 8.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He's 18th on the NBA's career assists list and needs 62 to pass Tony Parker.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka said he was caught off guard when manager Aaron Boone delivered the news that he would be replacing Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman on the American League's All-Star roster.

"It was similar to how everybody else, including you guys reacted: pretty surprised," Tanaka told reporters Sunday.

For much of the season, Tanaka has had a tough time finding consistency with his bread-and-butter pitch: his splitter. Those troubles have resulted in part to him allowing 16 home runs -- nine shy of the 25 he had all of last season -- and put him on pace to give up the most hits in a single season of his career.

"I was just surprised because I never thought I would be selected," Tanaka said. "When you kind of look at your stats and things like that, and because I was already making plans of what to do for the All-Star break, that's why I was surprised."

Stroman, the Blue Jays lone All-Star, backed out of next week's game due to a nagging pectoral injury.

This is Tanaka's second All-Star Game selection, but will mark the first time he's appeared in the Midsummer Classic. Picked for the 2014 game in Minneapolis, Tanaka went on the Yankees' disabled list a week before the game due to right elbow inflammation. He wouldn't return until that following September.

"This time around, I get to go there and be part of the celebration," Tanaka said through an interpreter before Saturday's Yankees-Rays game at Tropicana Field. "Overall, I'm very happy about it."

Tanaka -- who earned a no-decision in Friday's extra-innings Yankees win over the Rays, and who has also allowed three or fewer hits in three starts so far this year - goes into this year's All-Star break with a 5-5 record and a 3.86 ERA.

Before his mid-July elbow injury that year, Tanaka went into the 2014 All-Star break with a 12-4 record and 2.51 ERA.

"Always good to know one of your guys that has played such a big role in us being in this position in the first half gets to represent us and the American League in the All-Star Game," Boone said, referring to his team's first-place lead in the AL East.

Tanaka joins infielders DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres, catcher Gary Sanchez and closer Aroldis Chapman in Cleveland. Fellow Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia was not voted into the game, but the commissioner's office has invited him and his family to be part of the game's festivities as the former Indians first-round draft pick ends his 19-year career this season.