LEBANON, Ind. – TKS Motorsports owners Troy and Tammy Renfro have named Chad Boespflug as the driver of the team’s No. 2KS winged sprint car beginning next season.

The team will compete weekly at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway and at other big shows in the Midwest, including events at Jackson (Minn.) Motorplex.

“We sat down with our partners and decided that Chad was the best fit for our team and their needs,” said Troy Renfro. “We are looking forward to adding him to our team. We are extremely happy we took our time making our decision.”

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete full time in a wing sprint car schedule with TKS Motorsports in 2020,” said Boespflug, a winner of five USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series features during his career. “Troy Renfro’s extensive experience and knowledge is a huge benefit for me as a driver making the transition from non-wing sprint car racing. I look forward to representing TKS’ Marketing Partners in addition to those who continue to support my racing career.

“To be able to compete weekly at Knoxville Raceway is an honor in itself with the intense competition and history that surrounds one of the largest stages in wing sprint car racing.”

TKS Motorsports most recently fielded cars for Austin McCarl, which resulted in a 410 sprint car championship at Knoxville Raceway in 2018. The team parted ways with McCarl in late August.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera has indicated that he left Manchester United for the French champions this summer because of a lack of focus on football at Old Trafford.

The Spain international was picked up by PSG on a free transfer and has been featuring regularly for Thomas Tuchel's men at Parc des Princes after overcoming an early season injury.

Speaking with So Foot, Herrera refused to explicitly accuse United of focusing on business over football, and emphasised his happiness with the Premier League side, but expressed his feeling that football did not come first in Manchester.

"I was very happy at that incredible club," said the 30-year-old. "I am very grateful to the supporters. Frankly, I was immensely happy there. However, at the club, there were times when I felt that football was not considered the most important thing.

"I will not say it. That does not come out of my mouth. I do not know but football was not the most important thing in Manchester. I do not want to compare. All I know is that, here, I feel like I am breathing football on all sides -- I like it."

Asked about PSG's changes this season after the failure of last campaign, which included an embarrassing Champions League round-of-16 exit at the hands of Herrera's United side, the Basque welcomed the Ligue 1 giants' focus on football.

"I cannot talk about what was happening in previous seasons as I was not here," he said. "However, since I have been here, what I see is that I am in a club that thinks only and exclusively about football.

"I say it sincerely, as sometimes, seen from the outside, PSG can have a glamorous side that can irritate some. Here, though, we sweat, we train, and we work! When I arrive at the training centre, the physios, podiatrist and physical trainer are already at work -- football, football, football."

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Herrera then pointed out the presence of PSG sporting director Leonardo around the club every single day as a possible barb towards United's executive vice-president Ed Woodward.

"Leonardo is there every day!"

Herrera will miss Saturday's Ligue 1 clash away at Brest through injury but is expected to be fit for a return to action after the November international break.

A fortnight after Sourav Ganguly's new BCCI administration took charge, the board's chief financial officer has decided to quit. ESPNcricinfo understands Santosh Rangnekar, the second-most senior official on the BCCI's management team, communicated his decision to step down to the board CEO Rahul Johri on Thursday.

Ostensibly, Rangnekar is said to have wanted to move on professionally, but it is understood he was wary of working in the changed environment brought by the return of an elected administration. Rangnekar himself did not respond to ESPNcricinfo seeking comment on his decision.

The development is abrupt in that until a few days ago, Rangnekar had been working closely with the new office-bearers, including Arun Dhumal, the BCCI treasurer and brother of the former BCCI president Anurag Thakur. Not all the office-bearers are believed to have been aware of Rangnekar's decision to quit.

Only two weeks ago, on October 22, the Supreme Court of India had said that all the officials that had worked under the directives of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) were "immune" from any board action.

The court is likely to keep an eye on the development considering that a key reform of the RM Lodha Committee was that the BCCI have a corporate structure with an independent management wing. However, no sooner had the CoA disbanded that the BCCI's headquarters in Mumbai was serenaded by several former senior office-bearers, some of whom stood disqualified to contest for any position.

Rangnekar, it is believed, was already frustrated by the interference in the routine workings of the administration from subordinates, whom he suspected were being guided by people outside the BCCI.

Rangnekar was appointed as the BCCI's first CFO in June 2016 under Thakur's administration. Both his appointment, and that of Johri, were a result of the BCCI adopting the Lodha Committee's recommendation of separating the governance and management wings in the board.

The appointment of both, the BCCI said at the time, was part of an initiative called 'Project Transformation' aimed at improving governance, and operational and financial processes. That project was initiated by former BCCI president Shashank Manohar.

Both Johri and Rangnekar were given more powers in the daily running of the board by the CoA, which was appointed by the court in January 2017 as a supervisory authority.

In November 2017, the court heard that Rangnekar had filed a complaint against then board treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, accusing him of issuing "death" threats while interfering with daily board affairs. Chaudhry said he was "shocked" by the complaint and suspected it had arisen because he had been asking tough questions about some aspects of the CoA's decision-making.

Australia's world number one Ashleigh Barty will play France's Caroline Garcia on the opening day of the Fed Cup final in Perth on Saturday.

Barty, who won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, is on a 14-match unbeaten streak in the event.

Ajla Tomljanovic will make her debut for Australia in Saturday's first rubber against Kristina Mladenovic, before Garcia and Barty meet.

"Fed Cup is in my calendar before any other tournament," Barty said.

Australia are seeking their first Fed Cup since 1974, while France last won in 2003.

Barty comes into the event on the back of winning the WTA Finals - and claiming its record $4.42m (£3.42m) prize money - in China on Sunday.

The reverse singles will take place on Sunday followed, if necessary, by a deciding doubles rubber.

World number 51 Tomljanovic, who was cleared to play for Australia in October despite having previously represented Croatia, has been preferred for the singles rubbers over Sam Stosur.

Stosur is due to partner Barty in the doubles rubber.

"It is an amazing achievement to be involved in a Fed Cup final, but we don't just want to make the final," Barty said.

"For all of us to be able to say that we are Fed Cup champions would be special."

The format will change to a 12-team event from next year, with the finals taking place in April.

CONCORD, N.C. — What started as a joke between friends turned into a job offer that has Dominic Scelzi excited for the future.

It was recently revealed that longtime Tony Stewart Racing team manager Jimmy Carr would be departing the TSR operation in order to move to the West Coast. The former Canadian sprint car driver, who has worked at TSR since it was started, will serve as crew chief for Scelzi Motorsports.

“I’ve known Jimmy my entire life, my dad (Gary Scelzi) has known Jimmy since before I was even born,” Dominic Scelzi said. “We’ve been friends with Jimmy forever.”

Scelzi explained that Carr had already decided he wanted to depart Tony Stewart Racing and move to the West Coast when the two sides began joking about Carr working for Scelzi Motorsports.

Before long the joke became a serious conversation and suddenly Carr was the newest employee of Scelzi Motorsports.

“To be honest, I don’t know exactly how it went,” Scelzi said. “He has stuff out in California and he was wanting to move back west. I said, ‘Well, the good thing about California is I’m in California and you can come work for me whenever you want.’ Never in a million years did I think that would equate out to being able to work with him.

“He came out for Morrie Williams’ funeral,” Scelzi explained. “He came to the shop and we gave him a tour, still not with the intention of hiring him or even the talk of it. He sort of made the joke, ‘Do I start Monday? When do I get my keys?’ Then the next day that kind of popped into my dad and I talking and thinking maybe there was an opportunity there.”

A few weeks later the Scelzi clan touched base with Carr again.

“If he was going to leave (TSR), then we’d have him,” Scelzi said. “When he decided to leave, we figured hey, we better pursue this. In all honesty, a serious conversation went from a Monday to a Tuesday. It was a matter of two days that got everything done.”

While Scelzi admits he’s not 100 percent sure what Carr’s duties will be, he knows that whenever he’s driving the Scelzi Motorsports No. 41s, Carr will be his crew chief.

“It’s too early to tell. I know he’s going to solely be the crew chief for the No. 41s,” Scelzi said. “There is a possibility my brother (Gio Scelzi) may run a race or two depending on what his schedule looks like next year, so Jimmy would also crew chief that. I’m not really certain what our plan is or where he falls into it. He’s obviously going to be the crew chief.

“More or less I think he’s going to do it like he did at TSR. He was such a pivotal part of making TSR what it was with the organization, with the cleanliness, everything like that. He’s going to run the show.”

Scelzi said prior to hiring Carr, he was considering a 2020 schedule that included approximately 70 races. However, with Carr wanting to slow down, Scelzi doesn’t expect to run nearly that many races.

“Before we hired Jimmy there were talks about maybe running a 70-race schedule and running really hard. Obviously with hiring Jimmy that isn’t in the cards,” Scelzi said.

On top of that, Scelzi doesn’t yet know if he’ll return to driving for Roth Motorsports, for whom he ran the full King of the West by NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series schedule this year. He’d like to return to the team’s No. 83 on the NARC tour, but that deal isn’t done just yet.

“I’ve talked with Todd Ventura and I’ve talked with Dennis and Teresa (Roth). The door is open,” Scelzi said. “I would love nothing more to still be a part of the No. 83 team. Roth Motorsports has been great to me. We won a lot of races. We were really fast this year and I think we have unfinished business with the NARC series.”

Scelzi said the addition of Carr to the team isn’t a short-term hire. If he has his say, Scelzi will work with Carr for the remainder of his sprint car racing career, however long that turns out to be.

“I’m looking to end my career with Jimmy. In 15 or 20 years when I hang the helmet up, I want it to be with Jimmy Carr. It’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Scelzi said.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – ISM Raceway announced Friday that grandstand seats are sold out for the Bluegreen Vacations 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

This marks the second consecutive semi-final weekend sell-out at ISM Raceway since the conclusion of the modernization project.

“Sunday’s grandstand sellout is a perfect lead-in to the historic 2020 season at ISM Raceway, culminating with NASCAR’s Championship Weekend this time next year,” said ISM Raceway President Julie Giese. “The anticipation is palpable and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s in store for the city of Avondale, The Valley and the entire state of Arizona.”

Race fans who still want to attend the Bluegreen Vacations 500 can purchase an INfield Only package for the event, which include admission through the gates and access to the INfield Experience, allowing access to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garages, Gatorade Victory Lane, driver appearances, O’Reilly Auto Parts Pre-Race Party and exclusive food and beverage options.

INfield Only packages are $139 for adults and $65 for juniors 17 and under, and can be purchased online at ISMRaceway.com, by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or in person at the ISM Raceway ticket office.

LAKE CITY, Fla. – The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series fueled by Sunoco is set to break new ground in February.

For the first time in history, the Short Track Super Series-sanctioned Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will venture south to the state of Florida for the Sunshine Swing mini-series slated for All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Fla., Feb. 5-8.

An open practice on Wednesday (Feb. 5) leads into three consecutive nights of racing at the facility located roughly an hour west of Jacksonville. Thursday night (Feb. 6) features $5,000-to-win for the STSS Modifieds and $1,250-to-win for the Crate 602 Sportsman. On Thursday (Feb. 7) the stakes rise to $7,500-to-win for the STSS Modifieds with the Crate 602 Sportsman again competing for $1,250.

Saturday (Feb. 8) closes the book on the series with modifieds competing for $10,000 to win and Crate 602 Sportsman battling for a $1,500 top prize.

All posted payouts are minimums and are likely to increase with sponsorship and bonus cash.

Ederson has been ruled out of Manchester City's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool on Sunday, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was forced off with a thigh injury at half-time in the 1-1 draw with Atalanta and was replaced with Claudio Bravo, who was later sent off.

Defender Kyle Walker ended the night in goal.

"He's not able to play. I don't know when [he will be]," Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

"We have another top keeper. Claudio Bravo can do it too. We won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, thanks to Claudio. He is an exceptional keeper."

Bravo will be suspended for the next Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk and has not started a Premier League game since May 2018.

"Why shouldn't we be confident with my players? I wouldn't like to be a player when my manager has doubts over me," Guardiola added.

"I see him every day in training, I know how good he is. We are not going to lose because of Claudio. He has played many years at the top level. I respect the guy. It's easy to point at Claudio, but in his first season, the team was not at the top level. It was not good.

"All the players are in our squad because we have incredible confidence with them."

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Following Bravo's dismissal in midweek, Walker was nominated to take the gloves for the final nine minutes. He saved a late free kick from Ruslan Malinovskyi to earn praise from his manager.

Meanwhile, City have asked Liverpool for assurances there will no repeat of the attack on their bus when the teams meet, sources have told ESPN FC.

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The City team bus was attacked with cans, bottles and flares as it made its way to Anfield for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg in April 2018.

Asked whether he was concerned about the situation, Guardiola said: "No, but hopefully it won't happen again. The police knew it for the Champions League game and didn't do anything. Hopefully it will be an incredible game and the same that happened two seasons ago won't happen."

Guardiola's men travel to Anfield six points behind the leaders and without a win there since 2003 but the City boss said the race would not be over if his side lost.

"I don't know. In November, it [title race] never ends. We still have a lot of games to play, we have to fight until the end," he added.

"But if we lose, it will be more difficult, they lost just one game last season and none this season, so it would be difficult.

"Anfield speaks for itself, but it is more for the quality of the team and what they do. Right now it is the toughest stadium in Europe.

"I like it, I love it. This is why we are involved in this business, to play in these games and stadiums. Liverpool are a real complete team, as a club, organisation, players. We need a rival like this after winning back-to-back titles."

Barcelona are facing a Luis Suarez dilemma with sources telling ESPN FC they would be unsure what to do should the Uruguayan striker receive a concrete offer from Major League Soccer.

Suarez's international teammate Nicolas Lodeiro, who plays for Seattle Sounders, revealed this week that the Barca frontman is keen to move to MLS when his time in Spain is up.

"I think you need to convince Barcelona [because] he wants to come to MLS," Lodeiro said. "He is always asking me about the league. His dream was to play for Barcelona. He's playing at a great level and he feels comfortable there.

"Sooner or later he'll come to MLS, though. Well, hopefully. He likes the league. He's always asking me things about it. I think it's only a matter of time before he's out here."

There's acknowledgement at Camp Nou that Suarez, who will turn 33 in January, is no longer the player they signed from Liverpool for €75 million in 2014.

However, he remains one of the best No. 9s in the game and has scored eight goals in 12 appearances this season.

Barca have spent the best part of 18 months looking to sign a striker to provide competition for Suarez, with the aim of eventually replacing him in the side.

They have yet to be convinced by what they have seen, though, and pulled out of a move for Luka Jovic, who ended up at Real Madrid, last season.

They continue to scan the market for a new centre-forward but are struggling to find someone who fits the bill.

Sources said that Suarez's relationship with Lionel Messi is also something the club would have to consider if an offer came in.

The two are close friends off the pitch and Suarez is one of the players Messi trusts on it.

Barcelona do not want to let him leave for free, either, which could complicate things for MLS sides who don't have pedigree when it comes to paying transfer fees.

He has a contract until 2021 and they believe they could still command a decent price for him -- albeit nothing like the type of money they paid for him five years ago.

However, the sources add that, if Suarez were to push for a move, the club would be open to letting him go in the right circumstances.

It would massively help balance the club's ever-expanding wage bill if he were to leave, which is viewed as a big positive.

Inter Miami, the franchise owned by David Beckham which will join MLS next year, have been regularly linked with a move for Suarez, who recently became the fourth top scorer in Barca's history.

Only Messi, Cesar and Laszlo Kubala have scored more than his 185 goals.