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Cyborg signs deal to move from UFC to Bellator

Published in Breaking News
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 14:21

Cris Cyborg has signed with Bellator MMA after a messy three-year run with the UFC.

One of the best women's fighters in the history of the sport is now under a multi-year, multi-bout contract with Bellator, promotion president Scott Coker announced Tuesday on Twitter. Coker wrote that it was the biggest contract ever given to a women's MMA fighter.

Cyborg, whose real name is Cris Justino, accompanied Bellator's announcement with a video message to her fans on Facebook.

"My goal is to become the only female fighter to hold four different major titles in the same division," said Cyborg, who has already held the women's featherweight title in the UFC, Strikeforce and Invicta FC.

The final fight on Cyborg's UFC contract came against Felicia Spencer at UFC 240 in July, a bout Cyborg won via unanimous decision. The fighter and UFC president Dana White have had a long history of butting heads and White said in the aftermath of that bout the UFC was out of the Cyborg business. The UFC waived its 90-day exclusive negotiating window with the Brazilian knockout artist, making her a free agent.

Cyborg, who is No. 3 pound-for-pound among women in ESPN's MMA rankings, won the UFC women's featherweight title by beating Tonya Evinger by third-round TKO at UFC 214 in July 2017. She dropped the belt to Amanda Nunes, also the UFC's women's bantamweight champ, at UFC 232 last December via first-round knockout. That defeat was Cyborg's first in 13 years, since her pro MMA debut in 2005.

From 2005 up until 2018, Cyborg was the most dominating and fearsome force in the history of women's mixed martial arts. Justino, now 34 years old, went undefeated and won 17 of 20 victories by finish. Cyborg has beaten the likes of Holly Holm, Marloes Coenen and Gina Carano. Historically, she has also been one of the best-known women's MMA fighters in the world, drawing solid numbers on television and pay-per-view.

"I have worked with countless athletes over my 30-plus years of promoting combat sports, but there is no one quite like Cyborg," said Coker, who promoted Justino with Strikeforce. "Her ability to excite the crowd from the moment she makes her walk to the cage is special, and having had the pleasure of promoting several of her fights in the past, I am looking forward to the opportunity of promoting her once again. Cyborg is the most dominant female fighter in the history of the sport and she will be a perfect fit here at Bellator, where champion Julia Budd and the other women that make up best female featherweight division in the world have eagerly awaited her arrival."

Cyborg was brought into the UFC in 2016 at a catchweight of 140 pounds. She had competed previously at 145 pounds, a more natural weight. The idea at the time was to set up a fight between Cyborg and Ronda Rousey, but it never materialized. Cyborg was too big to get down to Rousey's 135-pound weight class and Rousey departed the UFC later in 2016.

Cyborg and the UFC had an embattled relationship even before Cyborg was under contract. In 2014, White infamously made fun of Cyborg for her appearance at an MMA awards show, saying she looked like male fighter Wanderlei Silva in a dress. Cyborg took it like White was saying she looked like a man; White has said that he was making a comment on Cyborg's past history with performance-enhancing drugs. Cyborg tested positive for a steroid and was stripped of her Strikeforce title in 2011.

After Nunes beat Cyborg last December, White repeatedly said Cyborg did not want a rematch, which Cyborg vehemently denied. Meanwhile, Cyborg felt like the UFC never truly built out a women's featherweight division in which she could compete, which was a valid criticism.

On Ariel Helwani's MMA Show in July, Cyborg said she wanted a public apology from White as a condition of her re-signing with the UFC.

"Of course, he has to apologize," Justino said. "I think he has family, he has kids. ... I don't know if he has a heart, but I think one thing he's doing is not just touching me, because he doesn't like me. He's touching the people around me, he's touching my family. It's not right."

The rocky relationship came to an end in earnest after UFC 240 when Cyborg's team posted a doctored video online that inaccurately quoted him in subtitles while talking to Cyborg backstage in Edmonton, Alberta. Cyborg apologized on social media, but White said in an interview on the UFC's YouTube channel that the promotion was done with Cyborg.

"I'm going to release her from her contract and I will not match any offers [she receives]," White said. "She is free and clear to go to Bellator or any of these other promotions and fight these easy fights she wants. Done. Done deal. I will literally, today, have my lawyer draft a letter to [Justino's team saying] that she is free and clear."

In the Bellator release announcing her signing, it makes note of the promotion's healthy women's featherweight division, including Budd, who has won 11 straight.

British number one Johanna Konta missed out on the US Open semi-finals after she was worn down by Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina.

Konta, 28, was unable to impose herself in a 6-4 6-4 defeat on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 16th seed, aiming to complete the set of major semi-final appearances, was forced into errors by 24-year-old Svitolina's impressive retrieving.

She saved two match points before rock-solid Svitolina served out the win.

Svitolina, the highest seed left in the draw, will play American 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams or China's Wang Qiang in the last four.

Konta was the first British woman to reach the US Open quarter-finals since Jo Durie in 1983, but could not match her feat by going one step further as Svitolina maintained her record of not dropping a set during the tournament.

Svitolina, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals and also won the WTA Tour Finals last year, is one of the most consistent ball-strikers in the women's game and her ability to keep putting the ball back into play proved Konta's downfall.

It led to Konta trying to force the points with her aggressive returns, leading to 35 unforced errors - and 20 more forced by her opponent - outweighing 24 winners.

Konta falls short against familiar rival

Konta had come into this meeting having lost all four of her previous meetings with Svitolina.

The Ukrainian, coached by Englishman Andy Bettles and formerly based in London, broke first for a 3-2 lead before allowing Konta to instantly level, leaving the world number five hammering a ball into the court in anger at letting the advantage disappear.

That soon subsided, however, as three backhand winners snatched the momentum straight back, to the frustration of Konta's box, which again included by British actor Tom Hiddleston.

Konta, playing in her third successive Grand Slam quarter-final, saved a set point with a stunning volley but a long return gave Svitolina another chance which was taken when the Briton pushed a backhand past the baseline.

Konta's service game has been the bedrock of her success in New York, yet she was let down by a second serve which yielded just 48% of winning points.

Remarkably, the second set followed exactly the same pattern as the opener as the pair again traded three breaks of serve in Svitolina's favour for a 4-3 lead.

Konta's first double fault of the match indicated her growing anxiety as Svitolina threatened to end the match on the Briton's serve, a mis-hit forehand bringing up a match point which the Ukrainian hit long.

Another overcooked backhand from Konta brought up a second opportunity, but the Briton dug deep to prolong the match with three accurate serves which Svitolina had no answer to.

Konta, who valiantly played with variation to try and unsettle her opponent, had already proved she could damage Svitolina's serve.

However, she could not break again when it mattered most.

A superb cross-court winner from Svitolina, greeted with a massive roar and a raise of both arms to urge more noise from the crowd, brought up a third match point and she sealed victory when Konta went long.

That brought another wild celebration from Svitolina towards her team and boyfriend Gael Monfils, who will aim to reach the last four of the men's singles on Wednesday.

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Johanna Konta had the chance to complete a full set of Grand Slam semi-final appearances, but this was not the crushing disappointment of her Wimbledon quarter-final defeat by Barbora Strycova.

Konta was beaten by a world number five who is yet to drop a set in the championships. Svitolina was just a little sharper, and a little more consistent throughout the match.

She made only 13 unforced errors, and is gradually putting the pieces in place to make her a Grand Slam champion. Svitolina's serve is much improved, and her confidence buoyed by winning last year's WTA Championships.

That season-ending event is now Konta's target. She is likely to rise to 11 in the world rankings and will probably also be in 11th place in the annual race to qualify for the eight-woman field in Shenzhen.

So, she is within striking distance, but will need to play exceptionally well in Wuhan and Beijing - the two big-money WTA events coming up in China over the next month.

Tennis coach Judy Murray on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentary

That was a masterclass in consistency, court coverage, resilience.

Svitolina served well, she fought quietly. I don't think Jo played badly, she just didn't have the consistency to break Svitolina down.

Svitolina was just that bit better overall.

The one remaining berth stands in abeyance. Notably, at the moment there is no reservation for Japan.

Asia is eligible for three places in each of the boys’ team and girls’ team events at the 2019 World Junior Championships. The one further place will be decided following the conclusion of the individual events.

In each of the boys’ singles and girls’ singles events, third place will be awarded to the losing semi-final team whose highest listed player, according to the August under 18 world rankings, progresses the furthest in the respective boys’ singles and girls’ singles events. Should the outcome be equal, the leading players departing at the same stage, the finish of the second ranked player from each team and so on is the criteria.

China dominant

Selecting Xiang Peng, Xu Yingbin and Liu Yebo, following a 3-0 quarter-final win opposition to Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen, Dominic Koh Song Jun and Josh Chua Shao Han; China secured their place in the boys’ team final courtesy of success by the same margin in opposition to the Chinese Taipei outfit formed by Feng Yi-Hsin, Tai Ming-Wei and Li Hsin.

Convincing by China, it was rather different for India. Selecting Raegan Alburquerque, Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Anukram Jain, a 3-1 quarter-final win was claimed against Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitgun, Wattanachai Samranvong and Thyme Sanglertsilpachai, before with no changes to the line-up, a full distance success being the outcome in opposition to Korea Republic’s Park Gyuhyeon, Kim Woojin, and Lee Gihun.

Hero of the hour for India was Raegan Alburquerque; in the vital fifth match of the engagement, he accounted for Park Gyuhyeon (11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6); the win coming after Kim Woojin had beaten both Raegan Alburquerque (11-6, 11-5, 12-10) and Manush Utpalbhai Shah (11-9, 11-8, 13-11).

A most worthy success, the Korea Republic outfit was in form; at the quarter-final stage they had ousted the Japanese combination of Yukiya Uda, Hiroto Shinozuka and Kakeru Sone. A 3-2 victory margin was the order of the day.

China, an imposing force, it was the same in the junior girls’ team event. Selecting Shi Xunyao, Wu Yangchen and Kuai Man, a 3-0 win quarter-final round win was recorded against Iran’s Shima Safaei, Melika Karami and Kimia Rostami, prior to a 3-1 success being the outcome when, at the semi-final stage, opposing the Korea Republic selection of Choi Haeeun, Shin Yubin and Lee Daeun.

Japan and DPR Korea

Impressive, at the quarter-final stage it was the same in the opposite half of the draw. DPR Korea represented by Kim Kum Yong, Pyon Song Gyong and Kim Un Song recorded a 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei’s Yu Hsiu-Ting, Tsai Yu-Chin and Chien Tung-Chuan. Likewise, Japan with Kyoka Idesawa, Miyu Nagasaki and Haruna Ojio in action, they secured the same margin of success in opposition to the Indian formation of Prapti Sen, Anusha Kutumbale and Swastika Ghosh.

However, with Haruna Ojio replacing Kyoka Idesawa, when the two outfits met in the penultimate round it was a gruelling affair; in a contest lasting four hours and 10 minutes, DRK Korea eventually succeeded in a full distance five match duel.

Star of the show was Kim Kum Yong. In the opening match of the engagement she beat Miyuu Kihara in five games (9-11, 11-2, 12-10, 9-11, 14-12), before in the concluding engagement, overcoming Miyu Nagasaki in four games (11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10). Notably in the second match of the fixture Miyu Nagasaki had beaten Pyon Song Gyong in a titanic contest that had seemingly turned the tide in favour of Japan (12-14, 16-14, 11-7, 8-11, 17-15).

Cadet events

Similarly, in both the cadet boys’ team and cadet girls’ team events, China remained very much on course for gold at the close of play.

Represented by Chen Yuanyu, Xu Hongrui and Huang Yuzheng, a place in the boys’ team final was secured in style. A 3-0 success was posted in opposition to Iran’s Navid Shams and Mohammad Amin Samadi, followed by the same margin of victory when facing Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan Ho Wah and Yui Kwan To.

In the final, Chinese Taipei awaits; the duo comprising Chang Yu-An and Kao Cheng-Jui recorded a 3-1 win against Singapore’s Daniel Ng and Izaac Quek Yong, before emerging successful in a hard fought full distance semi-final contest against the Korean Republic trio formed by Jang Seongil, Lim Yunoh and Gil Minseok.

Similarly, in the cadet girls’ team event there was no stopping China. A direct entry to the semi-final round, Chen Yi and Xu Yi secured a 3-1 against Japanese contingent of Kaho Akae, Miwa Harimoto and Sakura Yokoi to reserve their place in the final. In the final, they meet Korea Republic’s Kim Nayeong, Kim Seongjin and Lee Yeonhui; in the penultimate round, the trio clinched a 3-1 win against Singapore’s Ser Lin Qian and Zhou Jingyi.

The finals of all team events will be held on Wednesday 4th September.

England v Italy: Henry Slade may miss Rugby World Cup warm-up

Published in Rugby
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 08:56

England centre Henry Slade may go to the Rugby World Cup without playing in any of the team's warm-up matches after he trained separately from the squad before Friday's game against Italy.

The 26-year-old picked up a knee injury in August and has not played international rugby since the draw with Scotland in March.

But assistant coach Neal Hatley insists England are happy with his recovery.

"He has trained exceptionally well. We are really pleased," he said.

"Sladey trained individually, ran well and got up to full tap."

While Slade and Manu Tuilagi were England's first-choice midfield combination in the Six Nations, head coach Eddie Jones has experimented with moving Owen Farrell into the centres in his absence, as well as giving Piers Francis and Jonathan Joseph game time.

England beat Ireland 57-15 in their most recent outing after winning at home and losing away to Wales.

Slade is not the only England back enduring a difficult run-up to the tournament with wing Jack Nowell still recovering from a knee injury and appendicitis.

The squad are due to fly out to Japan for the tournament on 8 September.

Third time lucky for McConnochie?

Ruaridh McConnochie should make his much delayed debut against the Azzurri on Friday night after twice being named in starting XVs and then pulling out with an injury before kick-off.

The 27-year-old former sevens player was due to play in the meetings with Wales but had to pull out of both matches with a hip injury and muscle strain respectively.

Fellow wing Jonny May believes McConnochie will take his chance when it finally arrives.

"I don't want to jinx him or anything, but I am really excited for him to get out there. Once he is out there he is going to do what he does," said May.

"All he has to do is do what he does in training, just go out there and be yourself."

Venturini Reveals Salem Throwback Colors

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 09:06

CONCORD, N.C. – Venturini Motorsports has revealed the throwback schemes the team will utilize at Salem Speedway when the ARCA Menards Series returns to action Sept. 14.

Celebrating the team’s patriarch and two-time ARCA champion (1987 & ’91), the team unveiled a pair of Bill Venturini retro paint schemes for the upcoming race at Salem Speedway.

Honoring Venturini’s first of two ARCA Series championship, Christian Eckes’ No.15 JBL Audio Toyota will carry the iconic 1987 white with blue striped paint scheme.

“It’s a great honor to run Bill’s championship colors – especially at Salem,” says current championship contender Christian Eckes. “I’ve known Bill and his family since I broke into the series back in 2016. He’s done so much for me personally and so many others over the years. It’s just a really cool deal. Hopefully we’re able to put this JBL Audio Camry in victory lane for him!”

Going further back in time, six time ARCA series winner Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 20 Craftsman Toyota, will pay homage by featuring Venturini’s 1978 United States Auto Club colors and wheel a black car featuring eye popping orange and blue stripes with gold numbers.

“It was a so cool to see all the old school paint schemes at Darlington,” said Smith. “But nothing will compare to driving this throwback car under the lights at Salem. Salem has a rich history. The ARCA Series has been racing there almost forever and Bill and the Venturini family has been running there since the 80’s. I can’t think of another track or paint scheme I’d rather run.”

Both Eckes and Smith have each won at Salem. Eckes, won his first of six current ARCA victories in 2018 at Salem and Smith duplicated his winning effort the same year during Salem’s fall race.

The longtime ARCA team has recorded nine wins at Salem Speedway of its 64 all-time series wins and team co-owner, Billy Venturini, scored his only ARCA win at the southern Indiana track in 2006.

BOURCIER: What Made Marv Treichler Marvelous

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 10:00
Bones Bourcier.

INDIANAPOLIS — He had been everywhere and won everything, so upon hanging up his helmet he had a right to stop and smell the flowers. Or, in his case, to grow them.

But what none of us ever expected was that Merv Treichler, after 20 years in the spotlight, would vanish upon retirement.

But here’s the thing about heroes: You can search out the reluctant ones. Which is what sent me up U.S. 62 out of Buffalo, N.Y., toward rural Sanborn and one of the finest racers I’ve ever known.

He led me toward a small office in a huge greenhouse, one of many at H.A. Treichler & Sons. The family business has been around since 1854, first as a major supplier of potatoes and later as, well, a flower power. Merv and his brother, Gary, ran it for decades; now Gary’s son, Terry, is in charge.

“But I’m here 350 days a year,” said Merv.

We sat down, each of us older — he is 75 — and probably grayer than we’d guessed. For a moment, Treichler just grinned.

“What’s it been, 30 years?” he asked.

That was in the ballpark. We hadn’t spent time together since 1987, when he called time on one incredible career.

In 1970, at Pennsylvania’s Langhorne Speedway, Treichler won the Race of Champions, the premier event on the asphalt modified calendar. In 1981 and ’82, at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, he topped the Schaefer 200, America’s marquee race for big-block dirt modifieds.

That versatility was his hallmark. It went back to the two local half-miles where he’d honed his craft: Ransomville Speedway, dirt, and Lancaster Speedway, paved. Well into the ’70s, long after technology confined most modified teams to one surface or the other, Treichler had a dirt car and a blacktop car, and won track championships with both.

And anytime he hit the road — north to Canada, east to New England, south to wherever — a track’s composition never factored into his travel plans.

“Wherever they paid the most,” he said, “that’s where we went.”

On dirt, he squared off weekly against Will Cagle, Davey Moore and Alan Johnson; when he roamed, he’d tussle with Jack Johnson, Dick Tobias and Kenny Brightbill. His regular asphalt foes included Richie Evans, Maynard Troyer and his own fast cousin, Roger Treichler; at distant NASCAR gatherings, he faced Ray Hendrick, Bugs Stevens and Fred DeSarro. He beat them all.

Someone nicknamed him “Marvelous Merv,” and it fit.

In February 1975, he entered a road-course modified race at Daytona Int’l Speedway with a homebuilt Monza. He outran Bobby Allison and 38 others to grab the pole, then dominated the Permatex 200. That September, he and the Monza led every lap of Watkins Glen’s first modified race. Add road racing to the list of things that didn’t trouble Merv Treichler.

By the end of the ’70s, his focus shifted almost entirely to dirt. Actually, to DIRT, which sanctioned several tracks and, importantly, Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds. Treichler loved the spooky mile, but its autumn classic eluded him until trucking executive John Jackson furnished a Troyer Mud Buss in 1981. For two straight Octobers, Treichler ruled the Schaefer 200.

He loved the big spring and fall specials, the revelry common to places like Syracuse and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. “We partied quite a bit,” he chuckled. But once the checkers fell, he’d be out the gate, bound for Sanborn.

“We were expanding. We went away from farming potatoes and got more into the greenhouses and we were just so busy,” Treichler explained

He and Jackson hit upon an idea: What about a limited schedule with the NASCAR Busch Series? It was a new challenge and with a set number of dates, this faraway fling might paradoxically allow Treichler more work time. Today, you get the sense that nine Busch Series races in 1985 and 11 in ’86 reminded Treichler that he’d won too much to be happy flirting with a top-10 finish.

Three races into 1987, on a flight home after breaking a crankshaft at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he had a clear thought: “I said, ‘That’s enough.’ The next day, I told John I was done.”

Any second thoughts? “No. None.”

He disappeared into his work and H.A. Treichler & Sons rolled on. The old potato fields, 227 acres, are rented to farmers who grow wheat, corn and soybeans. Meanwhile, the greenhouses annually yield 250,000 potted plants — a quarter of a million — in addition to 30,000 trays of flowers and 55,000 mums.

Most of that goes to wholesalers, but there’s a retail store on the property.

I asked if the return shoppers know about his racing life.

“Some do,” said Treichler, “and some don’t.”

And the employees?

“A lot of them know, but I don’t talk about it and they know not to bring it up.”

He paused. “Honestly, I don’t look back and I don’t have anything from those days.”

I said, “Not even the trophies?”

“I’ve only got a few,” Treichler said. “I kept the Langhorne trophy; it’s one of those nice silver cups. I’ve got the Daytona trophy and the one from Watkins Glen.”

Imagine that? If those three pieces are all that’s left, his trophy collection would still be the envy of just about anyone he ever raced against. Marvelous, right?

Outside the customers came and went and the greenhouse workers loaded flower trays. Merv Treichler sat there, smiling. Life goes on. His sure did.

SPEED SPORT Airing WISSOTA 100 On Thanksgiving

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 10:30

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — SPEED SPORT and WISSOTA Auto Racing have announced the 34th running of the Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 will air to a national television audience on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 28) in a two-hour special of SPEED SPORT Presented by Hendrick Automotive Group on MAVTV.

The long-running dirt-track event will be run Sept. 10-14 at I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. This is the second consecutive year the three-eighths-mile track has hosted the premier five-day event, which typically rotates among various WISSOTA-sanctioned venues. It is also the second consecutive year SPEED SPORT will broadcast the event to a national television audience.

Eight WISSOTA classes will be showcased during the five days of racing — Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mod Fours, Pure Stocks, and Hornets.

“We are very excited to showcase the 34th annual Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 on SPEED SPORT,” said WISSOTA Auto Racing Executive Director Carson Gramm. “This partnership with SPEED SPORT has given us the opportunity to grow as an organization and we expect to continue this great working relationship for years to come. Our drivers display great professionalism, both on and off the track, and we want the entire world to see these great competitors. The staff at I-94 Speedway has created a great facility and while we work closely with our local and corporate sponsors, we will bring fans an experience they won’t want to miss.”

“After introducing our SPEED SPORT television audience to WISSOTA’s extremely competitive and entertaining form of short-track racing last season, we couldn’t wait to come back and do again this year as part of our 85th anniversary celebration,” said SPEED SPORT President Ralph Sheheen. “Showcasing the famed WISSOTA 100 in a two-hour special format on Thanksgiving night is a great way for us shine an even brighter light on the event, as well introduce our new partner, WorkAtHendrick.com, to the series.”

The broadcast will be anchored by Sheheen and veteran short-track racer and commentator, Derek Pernesiglio.

For fans wanting to attend this year’s Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100, please visit WISSOTA.org for additional information. Racing begins at 5 p.m. local time each night. LIVE streaming will be available at RacinDirt.com.

Kalitta Finally Takes Home A U.S. Nationals Wally

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 11:16

CLERMONT, Ind. — Doug Kalitta had tried 22 times to take home a Wally from the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, but every year luck didn’t go his way.

Finally, on Monday at Lucas Oil Raceway, luck was on the 55-year-old veteran’s side.

Despite it being a relatively mediocre run, Kalitta’s 4.144-second pass at 212.43 mph was enough for him to defeat Billy Torrence in the final round of Monday’s Top Fuel eliminations to take home his first U.S. Nationals trophy.

“I’m a real persistent guy, so I never give up,” Kalitta said after the 46th NHRA national event victory.

Kalitta’s run to the final was no cakewalk. First, he had to get past the always-fast Clay Millican, which he did via holeshot. He then had to dispatch No. 1 qualifier and track record holder Brittany Force in round two before facing off with Force’s rookie teammate, Austin Prock, in the semifinals.

“When we got by Clay, I was thinking this is going to be a good opportunity,” Kalitta said. “We try not to worry about who’s in the other lane, but Brittany’s car has been on a rail. She qualified first, so we knew we had a tough run there and it was a close race.

“We raced another JFR car in the semifinals. They’ve got quite an arsenal over there. Austin’s doing an awesome job and I think all of us are trying to keep up with how hard he’s hitting that tree. He left on me by a little bit, fortunately we were able to get by him.”

Force and Prock both fell to Kalitta’s Mac Tools dragster, leaving just Torrence to face him in the final round.

Doug Kalitta performs a burnout Monday during the U.S. Nationals. (NHRA Photo)

“We came out of the semifinals and had to stop to do a quick interview with FOX and I got back just in time to warm up my car,” Kalitta recalled. “I was glad I was able to be the one to warm up my car because I didn’t want to change up anything the way our day was going.”

The final against Torrence was, in Kalitta’s own words, “kind of ugly.” Both cars had issues on the run to the finish line, with Kalitta getting their first to collect his first U.S. Nationals Wally.

“At 800 feet, it seemed like my car was just coasting with no power,” Kalitta said. “It just started spinning the tires and I’m not sure if it threw the belt off or what happened. It pretty much died out there.

“I thought it was over, but the win light came on.”

The victory lined up perfectly with the 25th anniversary of his team owner and uncle Connie Kalitta’s U.S. Nationals triumph in 1994. A U.S. Nationals victory is special, but for the Kalitta family, that made this U.S. Nationals mean just a little bit more.

“I just can’t say enough about everyone that’s been working on my Mac Tools Toyota,” the U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner said. “They were busting their butts — and Connie (Kalitta) was right there with them. Having him in our corner is awesome. What a day. It feels great to win a big race that Connie won.”

PHOTOS: ARCA Midwest Escape To Wisconsin 100

Published in Racing
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 12:00

Red Wings D Kronwall retires after 15 seasons

Published in Hockey
Tuesday, 03 September 2019 12:56

DETROIT -- Niklas Kronwall is retiring after 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

The hard-hitting defenseman announced his retirement in a video Tuesday on the team's Twitter account, saying he would be taking a new role within the organization. Kronwall played 953 games in his NHL career and was part of the Detroit team that won the Stanley Cup in 2008.

Kronwall had three goals and 24 assists in 79 games last season.

The rebuilding Red Wings are in their first offseason since the return of Steve Yzerman as general manager. They've missed the postseason three straight years.

Kronwall's future was uncertain when 2018-19 ended, but he'd shown over the past couple seasons that he could stay healthy. The Swede said in his retirement video that it was an honor to wear the Red Wings' jersey, and that Detroit has become home for him and his family.

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Are torpedo bats legal? Here's how they work and facts to know

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EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe opening weekend of the 2025 MLB season was taken over by a surp...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

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