MARIETTA, Ga. – He’s only two races into his ARCA Menards Series tenure with Chad Bryant Racing, but 16-year-old Corey Heim has already discovered that it’s a big step up from the late models he’s used to.

However, he’s taken the adjustment in stride and has several strong finishes to show for his efforts already, with back to back top-five finishes in the first two short-track races of the season.

Heim came home fifth at both Florida’s Five Flags Speedway in March and Salem (Ind.) Speedway in April, one of three ARCA drivers to earn top-five finishes in each of those two events.

Even though he isn’t old enough to run a full season on tour, Heim sits 11th in points on the strength of those two results, just 10 points behind Brad Smith for a position inside the top 10 in the standings.

That’s good news for the Georgia teenager, because he freely admits that he wasn’t fully prepared for everything that a move to ARCA competition entailed when he signed with team owner Chad Bryant back in October.

“I think my move to the ARCA Series was honestly kind of a wake-up call for me, that I need to take things a little bit more seriously now, because I need sponsors and success to be able to continue with my career beyond this point,” Heim told SPEED SPORT. “The (Chad Bryant Racing) crew and I already work really well together, though, even though I’m still learning and developing into these heavier cars.

“It’s been a great and challenging learning experience for me, but I definitely think we’re getting better with each test session and race weekend we go through together.”

Heim raced his way to second in the CARS Super Late Model Tour standings last season, earning one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in nine races and coming up just eight points shy of eventual champion Jared Fryar in the final points tally.

However, Heim peaked at the right time, winning the last race of the year at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in November to give himself some much-needed momentum going into his new opportunity.

“The way we ended last year was pretty important,” Heim noted. “I think that win at South Boston was huge for me in terms of confidence, just reminding myself that I can do this on a bigger stage and against some of the competition that we were racing against.”

It doesn’t mean that Heim hasn’t noticed plenty of differences between racing his super late model and racing a 3,400-pound ARCA car, however.

“I think the biggest thing is that it’s for sure a different feel,” Heim said of the heavier ARCA machines. “The weight factor is definitely the biggest thing that I’m getting used to. Other things like aero and steering box feeling are big factors for my learning curve as well. The good thing is that I have great people like Chad and Paul (Andrews, crew chief) helping me develop into who I want to be.

“I have to admit, having only five cars on the lead lap at some points during these races is a little bit odd compared to what I’m used to, as well,” he added with a laugh. “Our hope is obviously to keep building this program, so that hopefully soon I’m the one lapping the top guys instead of fighting to stay on the lead lap.”

Heim has a set goal ahead of him, as he’s contending for this year’s Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge title, a championship within the ARCA national points race meant to allow the younger drivers who can’t race on the bigger speedways an opportunity to still contend against the veterans of the series.

Currently sitting fourth in the Short Track Challenge standings, Heim is confident in his chances going forward and excited to already be in the mix this early in his journey.

“Winning the Short Track Challenge is definitely our goal; taking home that title would definitely look good on my resume if we can pull it off,” Heim noted. “I really want to win a race – or a couple of races – along the way, though. I believe we have the team to do it and I’m excited about some of the tracks that are coming up on the schedule.”

With 10 more races on tap this year, including both dirt miles at Springfield and DuQuoin and the second race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway once he turns 17, Heim is focused on enjoying what’s ahead of him.

“This has been a really exciting start to my time in ARCA and I can’t thank Chad enough for believing in me and giving me a chance,” Heim smiled. “I hope I can continue beyond this year, but I want to enjoy every moment I can while it’s here in front of me.”

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Last year, Joe Graf, Jr. came to Talladega Superspeedway as a raw, untested rookie.

His experience had been gained on the short tracks of the Midwest and the Northeast, and two ARCA Menards Series starts at Nashville and Salem. He had no experience in the draft at Talladega, or any experience on a track longer than a mile for that matter.

“When I arrived at Talladega and got on the track for the first time, it wasn’t anything like I had ever experienced in my life,” Graf said. “It was amazing. I was gleaming ear to ear even after getting out of the car. You have to remember – before that point I had been on mainly short tracks with very big track experience.

“Then I go to Talladega and I was like a kid on Christmas day. Definitely something that will stick with me for a long, long time.”

Graf left Talladega that day the runner-up finisher, but that notation in the record book belies the significance of his efforts.

Graf qualified seventeenth and worked his way towards the front through the 76-lap duel on Talladega’s famous 33-degree banking. By the time the field was in line for a one-lap overtime dash to the checkered, Graf was lined up alongside race leader Zane Smith. Graf received drafting help from Michael Self down the backstretch, but by the time they hit the tri-oval Graf and Smith and broken away and were engaged in a fender-banging duel for the win. When they flashed across the stripe, it was a photo finish, with the computer scoring monitors registering a margin of 0.000, a statistical dead heat.

A review of the video camera at the line showed Smith ahead by just a matter of inches, almost imperceptible to the naked eye at full speed. Graf would be forced to settle for second.

“It still hurts,” Graf said with a chuckle. “It was amazing for our Chad Bryant Racing team to be in that position and avoid all the late race carnage. On that last start, I had a good restart and my spotter (Brian Crammer) was keeping me well aware of what I needed to do. It was five minutes full of exhilaration, excitement and disappointment.

“I hate that we ended up second, but at the end of the day – it’s still cool to be a part of ARCA history.”

Graf returns to Talladega with a full season of ARCA Menards Series experience under his belt. He even evened the score with Smith, winning his own fender-banging duel to the finish at Berlin Raceway in August. After a frustrating run at Daytona, a sister track to Talladega, Graf is ready to return and pick up the final piece of the puzzle from last season.

“We feel very confident that we can come back to Talladega and contend for the win,” he said. “We have the same car we had at Daytona. Chad (Bryant, crew chief and team owner) have been working hard to get our Ford Fusion ready for the race.

“You’d like to think we can come back and duplicate or better our finish from last year – but let’s get real. It’s Talladega. You have to be prepared for anything. For us, we’d love to win. It would be a huge boost for us and help in our hunt to get back in this championship fight.”

Graf’s day at Daytona was ruined by overheating issues, a problem caused when a plastic bag from the grandstands landed on his grille. To raise awareness about the problem’s plastic pollution is causing, Graf and his sponsors will award one lucky fan with a reusable shopping bag filled with $1,000 in cash after Talladega.

“We’re proud of the sweepstakes,” Graf noted. “It’s taken a lot of work by my team and my marketing partner EAT SLEEP RACE. But when you think about it, they are giving away cash money to someone for a good cause. It’s humbling for me to be able to announce the winner and look forward to doing stuff like this in the future.”

SEATTLE — The NHRA’s unsinkable Pro Stock class has weathered all kinds of “fixing.”

And this month marks the first time it will be absent from an NHRA national event since it burst on the scene in 1970.

The NHRA cut the Pro Stock schedule from 24 races to 18 in another attempt to reduce costs and increase fan interest. The teams were just starting to adapt to the 2016 rule changes that ushered in the electronic-fuel-injection era. At steep costs, teams were forced to toss out their carburetors and distinguishing hood scoops. In an effort to achieve transparency with the fans, the sanctioning body ordered teams to back their cars into the pits and leave engines uncovered. Cars were equipped with shorter wheelie bars and an NHRA-controlled 10,500-rpm rev limiter.

Then in 2017, the NHRA ponied up $5,000 and several sets of Goodyear tires to entice the drivers at the U.S. Nationals to perform smoky burnouts to excite the crowds. Never mind that the NHRA leaned on no other class to emphasize the sport’s entertainment value.

And never mind that this wasn’t a stand-alone contest. This Battle of the Burnouts took place during qualifying for the race with the year’s biggest payout and the one that set the field for the Countdown to the Championship. So a lot was at stake for these racers, and doing long, smoky burnouts — something that was the traditional hallmark of the Funny Cars, not the Pro Stock cars — had the potential to ruin a run.

INDIANAPOLIS – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has confirmed J.R. Hildebrand will return to the team to drive the No. 48 Chevrolet-powered Dallara in an attempt to qualify for the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

Hildebrand, an eight-time Indy 500 starter, was the 2011 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year and has recorded four top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500. Last year, Hildebrand drove the DRR Chevrolet from the 27th starting position to 11th.

The 31-year-old driver joins Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for a second consecutive year at the world’s biggest auto racing event and will drive the No. 48 car, a longtime racing number campaigned by legendary racer/car builder/team owner Dan Gurney. DRR will also field Sage Karam in the No. 24 WIX Filters Chevy the month of Many at IMS.

Hildebrand, a California native now residing in Boulder, Colo., was the 2009 Indy Lights champion and also captured racing titles in the USF2000 (2006) and SCCA Formula Russell (2004) series. He made his IndyCar Series debut with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2010 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He also drove the DRR IndyCar at Sonoma Raceway that year.

“Last year, we had a great relationship with Dennis Reinbold’s DRR team in our initial Indy 500 effort,” said Hildebrand. “I started my IndyCar career with Dennis back in 2010 when he brought me up to the big leagues in IndyCar Racing. We have always had a great rapport over the years. I have always been impressed with the speed in the race of the DRR team.

“I’m thrilled to have Salesforce back on our race car, and also honoring the great Dan Gurney with the No. 48 this year. Dan was one of my racing heroes, by saluting him in this year’s Indy 500 and campaigning his famed No. 48. Dan’s No. 48 won the 1975 Indy 500 with Bobby Unser driving. Now, we’ll celebrate Dan’s great racing achievements with the No. 48 car.”

Another longtime Indy 500 legacy comes with the Dreyer & Reinbold families at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, dating back to 1927 with DRR team owner Dennis Reinbold’s grandfather, Floyd Dreyer, serving as a mechanic in the 1927 Indy 500. Dreyer, a famed motorcycle racer before building and owning racing cars, built a variety of Indy 500 entries, sprint cars and midgets from the 1930s to 1950s.

“I’m very pleased to bring back J.R. to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again this year,” said Reinbold. “Last year, we expanded to two cars with J.R. and Sage and the combination worked very well. J.R.’s experience at Indy brings our team a lot of background to develop the cars quickly in practice and prepare for qualifying. With J.R. and Sage, we have two very talented young drivers who can compete for the win on May 26. Plus, running the No. 48 in honor of Dan Gurney is exciting for me and our team. Dan was one of my heroes as a kid and it will be great to have the No. 48 back at IMS.”

The Gurney legacy, with many Eagle cars competing at the Indy 500, is well-known at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with race wins and record qualifying performances.

“We are very much looking forward to another exciting Indy 500 in 2019,” said Alex Gurney, Dan Gurney’s son.  “The number 48 is special to our family as my dad took that number to second place in both ’68 and ’69 as well as a win for AAR as a team and manufacturer in 1975. This is a great tribute to my dad. JR Hildebrand is a special person as well as a fantastic driver and he seems always to be in contention for the win at Indy. I hope he can put the 48 up front in the big race.”

Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie broke his collarbone when Carolina Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele pushed him into the boards on Thursday, and has undergone surgery for the injury, the team announced Sunday.

The Caps said Oshie is out indefinitely, but The Washington Post reported on Saturday that he is "almost certain" to be out for the playoffs.

Oshie was injured in the third period of Game 4 of the team's first-round playoff series and lay on the ice for several minutes following the hit. He went directly to the locker room, clutching his right arm.

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin called the incident a "dirty play" on the part of Foegele, who received a minor penalty, but the rookie will not face supplemental discipline from the league.

"I was trying to lift his stick, trying to give him a little nudge," Foegele said Thursday. "It was a little unfortunate play there. I wasn't trying to hurt him or anything. I hope he's OK."

Oshie missed Game 5 on Saturday, which Washington won 6-0 to take a 3-2 series lead.

The Philadelphia Flyers have officially removed the statue of Kate Smith from its location outside their arena and will no longer play Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" at games, the team announced in a statement on Sunday.

This follows the New York Yankees' decision to suspend the use of Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch while they investigate an allegation of racism against the late singer.

The New York Daily News reported Thursday there are conflicting claims about Smith's 1939 song "That's Why Darkies Were Born." The song originated in the 1931 Broadway revue "George White's Scandals" and was considered satire, but it includes racist language. It was recorded by Smith and also by Paul Robeson, who was black.

The Flyers released the following statement on Sunday:

"The Flyers have enjoyed a long and popular relationship with 'God Bless America,' as performed by the late Kate Smith, a woman who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for her patriotic contributions to our nation.

"But in recent days, we learned that several of the songs Kate Smith performed in the 1930s include lyrics and sentiments that are incompatible with the values of our organization, and evoke painful and unacceptable themes."

The Flyers quoted team president Paul Holmgren as saying: "The NHL principle 'Hockey is for Everyone' is at the heart of everything the Flyers stand for. As a result, we cannot stand idle while material from another era gets in the way of who we are today."

The Flyers considered Smith's live performance of "God Bless America" before Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final to be good luck. Philadelphia beat Boston in that game to win its first of back-to-back Cups.

Hockey players are conditioned to think that winning the Stanley Cup means going through the best teams to be the best team.

That doesn't mean they are blind to some of the inequalities of the NHL's current divisional playoff format. An Associated Press/Canadian Press survey of NHLPA representatives from all 31 teams shows that almost half favor changing the format -- and most support going back to seeding the Eastern and Western Conferences 1 through 8, the structure that was used from 1994-2013.

This is the sixth playoffs where each division's top three teams and a wild card are bracketed together with no reseeding by round. A year ago, Nashville and Winnipeg finished first and second in the league in points and had to meet in the second round. The same thing happened with Washington and Pittsburgh in 2017.

"It's kind of tough the fact that a lot of good teams are going out first or second rounds," Columbus defenseman David Savard said. "I think maybe we need to look back at maybe 1 against 8 and play that format."

Savard was among 15 players (48.4%) who said the divisional format should be changed. Seven (22.6%) said it should stay the same and the other nine (29%) were noncommittal. The players were surveyed March 7-April 4, before the playoff matchups for this year were fully set.

The NHL went to back to a divisional structure similar to what it used from 1982-93 in large part to create or revive rivalries. Toronto and Boston are meeting in the first round for the second consecutive year, while the Capitals and Penguins met in the playoffs three times in a row.

There is little doubt those teams dislike each other a lot more now than they did before this playoff format.

"I think it's good for the rivalries," said New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider, who supports the current format. "I think it's good for the teams seeing each other year after year. You can cry what's fair or not fair, the two best teams meeting in the second round, but it's going to be great hockey one way or another. I think that's the best part about the playoffs is that it's a two-month gladiator event where everyone just beats the crap out of each other."

Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay losing in the first round to eighth-seeded Columbus is more of a Lightning problem than a format problem. If the Lightning had gotten past the Blue Jackets, a potential second-round series against the Bruins would have guaranteed to knock out one of the top three teams in the league before the conference finals.

Travel is the biggest concern among players when it comes to a playoff format, and it's much more of an issue in the spread-out West. Grouping by divisions is designed to limit those issues, but the wild-card system means a team like Nashville could have to face a team from California, Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary in the first round if it lines up that way.

"The biggest issue is probably the travel for the Western Conference," said Predators defenseman Yannick Weber, who did not indicate a preference either way for changing the format. "If we have to go to California for each round and Eastern teams have a little bit of an easier schedule, I think that's the only downside from it."

The most equitable format is seeding playoff teams 1 through 16, which the NHL tried in 1981 and 1982. The potential for cross-continent travel in each round is the biggest impediment to making that leap.

The Southern Professional Hockey League has tested a "challenge round" format where the top three seeds in each conference get to pick their first-round opponent from seeds 5-8. Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle suggested that for the NHL in a recent interview with Sportsnet in Canada.

A pick-your-opponent format would create plenty of bulletin-board material for lower-seeded teams. But in a sport where matchup advantages, injuries and momentum matter more than the results of an 82-game regular season, it could silence complaints that the current format devalues everything from October through March.

"It almost gets to a point that the regular season doesn't really mean anything because you see those divisions, there's such a big difference between them," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "If you have to cross over and now you're facing an easier division because you're a wild card, doesn't seem to be fair for me. The whole regular season needs to have a bigger effect on the playoffs."

That's where the argument comes in that the NHL should move to a play-in system like baseball, perhaps where the Nos. 7 and 10 seeds and Nos. 8 and 9 seeds in each conference play once to see who gets in. That would theoretically give more of a boost to the top two teams in the East and West.

Colorado's Ian Cole, who played twice in the recent Penguins-Capitals playoff trilogy, supports the division rivalry format because it's doing what it intended: generate interest.

"We were actually talking about it the other day in the locker room: As much as you'd like to see one through eight or one through 16, then you're having Calgary playing Florida, for instance, in the first round," Cole said. "Does that move the needle, as opposed to Boston versus Montreal, which certainly does move the needle?"

This format is locked in through at least next season.

"I think there was some good thought behind it and yeah, sure, there are going to be some divisions stronger than others," he said. "Some teams are going to get left out because of that or get in because of that," Cole said. "It's one of those things that this is the current format and we work with it the best we can."

The first round is shaping up to be a beauty; besides the early upsets of the No. 1-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames, we're already locked in for at least two Game 7s after the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks staved off elimination Sunday.

Here's a recap of Sunday night's action (check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+) and what to watch for on Monday night in today's edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily:

Jump ahead: Last night's games | Three Stars
Play of the night | Today's games | Social post of the day

About last night ...

Game 6: Boston Bruins 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (series tied 3-3) Boston versus Toronto in a Game 7? Yeah, this one felt inevitable. The Maple Leafs haven't made it past the first round in 15 years, and it would have been sweet to get over the hump in front of a jacked-up home crowd on Sunday afternoon. But after scoring the opening goal, the Leafs were outworked by Boston, especially in a 16-shot second period. The Bruins' power play (two more goals on Sunday) looks especially dangerous lately. Though the Bruins ousted the Maple Leafs last year in Game 7 on home ice, the players insist they have no mental advantage. And perhaps no home-ice advantage, either: After all, Toronto has played well in Boston, taking two games in this series.

Game 6: San Jose Sharks 2, Vegas Golden Knights 1 (2OT) (series tied 3-3). Tomas Hertl guaranteed a Game 7 back at the Shark Tank, and his goal in double overtime ended what so far has been the longest game of the playoffs. Just call him Tomas Messier. How on Earth did the Sharks win this game? They were outshot 59-29. Vegas had home ice and momentum. And yet Martin Jones showed up when it mattered, setting a franchise record for saves with 58. A bright spot for Vegas? Jonathan Marchessault's goal, his line's first even-strength tally of the series. The Golden Knights dominated for a lot of the night and should have been able to score more.

Three Stars

1. Martin Jones, G, San Jose Sharks: It was starting to look like the Sharks wouldn't be able to go far in these playoffs because they had a huge weakness in net. On Sunday, Jones proved he still has the capacity to steal a game, and he definitely stole this one.

2. Tomas Hertl, C, San Jose Sharks: Not only did he make good on his word, but Hertl became the first player in NHL history to score a short-handed winner in a game that required multiple overtimes.

3. Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins: His power-play goal was an important pivot point for the Bruins in this game. His empty-netter was a distillation of pure will and sealed it. The top-line winger had three points total in a do-or-die game.

Play of the night

The goal that kept the Sharks alive.

Dud of the night

Canadian teams. Toronto is Canada's last hope, and it blew a chance to clinch a series at home, with a passionate fan base swarming the streets to cheer it on. If the Maple Leafs don't win Game 7, Canada will officially extend its Stanley Cup drought to 26 years.

On the schedule

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 6, 7 p.m. ET (Capitals lead series 3-2)

The Capitals won one for T.J. Oshie (who is likely out for the rest of the playoffs after undergoing surgery on his collarbone) and, more importantly, reverted back to their old selves after a brief identity crisis in Raleigh. Nicklas Backstrom has been a goal-scoring machine; can he keep it up as the series moves back to Raleigh? For the Canes, Andrei Svechnikov (concussion protocol after his fight with Alex Ovechkin in Game 3) says he's aiming to be back for Game 6. We'll see. The Canes looked frazzled in Game 5 and could use some home cooking.

Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, Game 6, 8:30 p.m. ET (Stars lead series 3-2)

Maybe all you need to win in the playoffs is a strong goalie, one red-hot line and some confidence. That's the recipe the Stars used in Game 5 to put the Predators on the brink of elimination. Dallas' D has been solid, limiting Nashville to 11 goals in five games. And though Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov and Jamie Benn were stars in Game 5, there's plenty of offense to go around for Dallas, which is something we didn't see in the regular season. Nashville feels stale. Their special teams need to improve (especially the power play, which has been dreadful all season), but the Preds need help getting the puck out of their own zone, and just scoring goals, plain and simple.

Social post of the day

Vegas playoff games are still very much a scene.

Is...is that @LilJon watching the game with @GordonRamsay??

��YYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHH!!! pic.twitter.com/A9vuZXuhAS

- x-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 21, 2019

Quotable

"The ice has been terrible there, so we might as well play with a tennis ball, skate around and see who can bounce one in the net." -- Brad Marchand has not been shy about his displeasure of the ice conditions this spring at Boston's TD Garden. Maybe home-ice advantage isn't an advantage at all.