I Dig Sports
YPSILANTI, Mich. Longtime NHRA Funny Car Crew chief Dickie Venables is the new crew chief for J.R. Todds DHL GR Supra Funny Car.
The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 7-9 at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Venables, 60, is a four-time NHRA Funny Car championship crew chief having won the title in 2007 with then driver Tony Pedregon at Tony Pedregon Racing; he was the assistant crew chief for Pedregons 2003 title at John Force Racing.
After working with Del Worsham at Alan Johnson Racing, Venables joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2011 and led driver Matt Hagan to the NHRA Funny Car championship in 2014, 20 and 23.
Venables comes to Kalitta Motorsports from Tony Stewart Racing where he teamed with Hagan since the teams inception. Longtime Kalitta Motorsports team member Jon Oberhofer will serve as Venables Assistant Crew Chief. Venables replaced Todd Smith who joined Kalitta Motorsports in 2016.
Im super excited about this next phase of my career Im really happy to be in Michigan getting comfortable with everybody and meeting people I didnt know before, Venables said. Kalitta Motorsports obviously has a lot of resources and great teams so Im really happy to be part of it.
There is no magic wand you can wave over one of these cars. Its something we have to take one step at a time as long we make progress with the changes were thinking about making, I think well eventually get to our goal. The biggest thing about that is you have to have good people, and the whole Kalitta organization is well represented out there.
Ive seen what they were able to accomplish with some of the mishaps and unfortunate things that happened to the race cars in both Funny Car and Top Fuel. Those guys never gave up. They got the chassis fixed and got the cars back on the race track thats the definition of team work. Im excited and looking forward to getting the season started.
Dickie Venables is real pro, and hes a major addition to a talented DHL GR Supra team, Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. Dickies talents and experience will put the DHL team in a position to challenge for the 2025 Funny Car championship.
The Team Kalitta Top Fuel teams finished second and fourth in 2024, and each team will have the same leadership in the new season. Doug Kalitta followed his 2023 NHRA Top Fuel championship with a second-place finish in 2024. Crew Chief Alan Johnson and Assistant Crew Chief Mac Savage return to the Mac Tools team for the 2025 season. Shawn Langdon finished fourth in the final season standings last year in Crew Chief Brian Husens first season at the helm of the Kalitta Air Careers Top Fuel team, and the talented duo both return for the new season.
Alan Reinhart Joins IHRA As VP Of Racing Operations
HAMILTON, Ohio Alan Reinhart, one of the most familiar names in drag racing, has joined the International Hot Rod Assn as the Vice President of Racing Operations.
Reinhart is the longtime voice of the sport with decades of experience, announcing at the largest national events, including the NHRA.
Reinhart will have an expanded role with IHRA. One of his initial priorities is to work with new IHRA President Rich Schaefer on establishing schedules.
Besides providing commentary at the IHRA Nitro Jam events, Reinhart will be a liaison for the professional teams and work with track operators and other stakeholders. He will also serve in a leadership role where hes involved with management in setting policies and procedures.
Im looking forward to a new challenge, Reinhart said. I was with NHRA a long time, and it was an adventure for 30-plus years going to all the races. The opportunity to take on this new venture at a management level, it was time for a change.
His experience gained over decades of attending everything from national events to weekend bracket races are going to be drawn upon in this new role. The years on the road taught him what works and doesnt work, what makes racers happy and how to make an event run smoothly.
The IHRA, which was purchased by Cuttell Motorsports in December and named Alex Roach as CEO and Schaefer as President last week. Reinharts hiring was announced via a press release on its website and a post on social media.
Were talking about harnessing the full spectrum of Alans capabilities, from his strategic acumen to his visionary approach, to redefine whats possible on the dragstrip, the IHRA posted on X. This monumental merger of man, machine, and mission marks the dawn of a new era in drag racing. Expect unparalleled competition, a surge in opportunities, and a unified vision that will propel drag racing into the digital age like never before!
LAS VEGAS -- The slumping Vegas Golden Knights suffered another loss Thursday when they announced center William Karlsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
The club recalled Tanner Laczynski and Brendan Brisson from its American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson, Nevada.
Karlsson, 32, has seven goals and 11 assists in 38 games this season, well off the pace of the 30-30 mark he posted last year. He doesn't have a point in his past seven games.
The Golden Knights entered Thursday's game at St. Louis first in the Pacific Division with 62 points. But they were 1-5-1 in their previous seven games, allowing the Edmonton Oilers to creep to within a point.
Karlsson has dealt with injuries in recent years, appearing in 70 or fewer games in four of the past five seasons. He played in all 82 games two years ago.
Karlsson missed the first eight games this season because of a hamstring injury he sustained in last season's playoffs.
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-Min scored in each half to earn his side a crucial 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday.
Spurs were quickly into their stride with James Maddison opening the scoring in the third minute with a deft finish from a long pass, and Son doubled the lead after 22 minutes.
Hoffenheim dominated the second half and their efforts paid off in the 68th minute when Anton Stach connected with a cross from a counter-attack and slid the ball home.
Yet the hosts' momentum was halted when Son scored with a low shot from an acute angle inside the box in the 77th minute.
Hoffenheim's David Mokwa headed in a cross from Andrej Kramaric in the 88th minute, but the hosts could not find an equaliser. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk Editing by Toby Davis)
Ronald Araújo has signed a new contract with Barcelona, committing to the Catalan club until 2031 and ending any lingering doubt over his future.
The 25-year-old's previous contract was due to expire in 2026 and he had drawn interest from Juventus, among other sides, this month.
However, ESPN revealed recently that a meeting with sporting director Deco had convinced him to stay.
Araújo put pen to paper on his new terms at the club's offices on Thursday alongside Deco, president Joan Laporta and vice president Rafa Yuste.
The defender has recently returned from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the first half of the season.
During that time, Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez struck up a partnership in the middle of Barça's back four.
An untimely injury to Martínez opened the door for Araujo to return to the side, though, and the Uruguay international has started four of Barça's last six games.
Araújo joined Barça from modest Uruguayan side Boston River in 2018 and, after a spell in the club's reserve team, has gone on to make over 150 appearances for the club, playing a key role as they won the LaLiga title in 2022-23.
Manchester United said on Thursday that they are "in danger" of breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The club made the admission in a letter sent to fans groups in response to concerns over rising ticket prices. United have reported losses before tax of 312.9 million over the last three years with the precarious financial position so far, preventing head coach Ruben Amorim from making any signings in the January transfer window.
"We are currently making a significant loss each year totalling over 300 million in the past three years," the letter issued by the club said. "This is not sustainable and if we do not act now we are in danger of failing to comply with PSR/FFP (Financial Fair Play) requirements in future years and significantly impacting our ability to compete on the pitch.
"We will get back to a cash positive position as soon as possible and we will have to make some difficult choices to get there."
Premier League clubs in breach of PSR rules can be hit with fines and points deductions. New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented wide-ranging cost-cutting measures since taking over in February including making 250 club staff redundant in the summer.
Sources have told ESPN that United's tight finances mean they are open to offers for any senior player in January. That includes academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho.
Although the club does not want the youngster to depart, they may be forced into negotiations with either Chelsea or Napoli before the deadline.
Lord's reshapes global role as Jay Shah joins new MCC advisory board
Jay Shah, the ICC chair and ex-secretary of the BCCI, has joined a new Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) advisory board, which will replace the club's world cricket committee.
"An important step has been made in the forming of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board," Nicholas said. "We have assembled an impressive group of the best minds in cricket across several different areas relevant to our sport. I am delighted to be working with this experienced group and excited about what we can collectively achieve for the benefit of the global game."
The world cricket committee was an independent body which did not hold any formal power, but its recommendations have often been adopted by the ICC. These have included calls for a Decision Review System, the formation of a World Test Championship, the introduction of day-night Test cricket, and the use of a shot clock to improve slow over-rates,
The new advisory board will meet virtually throughout the year, and in person after the symposium at Lord's. MCC said: "This independent group will shape the annual World Cricket Connects agenda, help facilitate the event's discussions and in turn maximise the opportunity for genuine impact on the health of the game."
World Cricket Connects advisory board members: Kumar Sangakkara (chair), Anurag Dahiya (ICC chief commercial officer), Chris Dehring (CWI CEO), Sourav Ganguly, Sanjog Gupta (JioStar CEO - Sports), Mel Jones, Heather Knight, Trudy Lindblade (Cricket Scotland CEO), Heath Mills (World Cricketers' Association chair), Imtiaz Patel (Former SuperSport chair), Jay Shah, Graeme Smith, Andrew Strauss.
Irish CB, first-round hopeful Morrison enters draft
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, a freshman All-America selection in 2022 who became a team captain before an October hip injury ended his 2024 season, is headed to the NFL draft.
Morrison announced his decision Thursday on social media, writing, "This is not just the end of one chapter -- it's the beginning of another. I'll carry the lessons, memories, and love from Notre Dame every step of the way."
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. lists Morrison as his No. 23 overall prospect and No. 3 cornerback for the draft.
Forever Irish pic.twitter.com/v73phwr998
Benjamin Morrison (@BMoe_21) January 23, 2025
Notre Dame also is losing several players to the transfer portal following Monday's loss to Ohio State in the CFP national championship. A pair of starting offensive linemen, Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan, entered the portal, as did backup Sam Pendleton with a "do not contact" tag. Other Notre Dame portal entries include wide receivers Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Morrison had six interceptions as a true freshman in 2022, tying for third nationally and earning freshman All-America honors from ESPN and other outlets. His six interceptions were the most for a Notre Dame player since linebacker Manti Te'o had seven as a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012.
Morrison had three interceptions and a team-high 10 pass breakups in 2023, when he was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. Named a preseason All-America selection in the fall, Morrison started Notre Dame's first six games before sustaining the hip injury Oct. 12 against Stanford. He underwent season-ending hip surgery.
He finished his Notre Dame career with 9 interceptions, 27 passes defended and 84 tackles. The Phoenix native is the son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison, who played for Washington from 1993 to 1996.
Thomas started 12 games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons and had 43 career receptions for 838 yards and seven touchdowns with Notre Dame.
Sources: Bucks' Jackson to be in dunk contest
Milwaukee Bucks forward Andre Jackson Jr. has committed to the slam dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday.
Jackson, a 2023 NCAA champion at UConn, has emerged as a Bucks starter in his second season. He joins Chicago Bulls rookie forward Matas Buzelis and San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle so far in the dunk contest.
Jackson made highlight reels last season for his leaping ability on putback dunk attempts. He had his teammates jumping off the bench following a dunk in December against the Nets and then his head went above the rim on a missed putback opportunity last March against the Kings.
Milwaukee is 23-16 when Jackson plays and 20-11 since he joined the starting lineup, adding youthful energy to a veteran team. Per ESPN Research, Jackson has held opponents to 42% as the contesting defender, which ranks in the top 50 leaguewide (minimum 200 contests).
Spoelstra to Heat on Butler's ban: 'Get over it'
MILWAUKEE -- Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra delivered a message to his team in the wake of another suspension for star forward Jimmy Butler, who will miss this upcoming two-game road trip in Milwaukee and Brooklyn as punishment for missing a team flight.
"The point that I made to our team is get used to it," Spoelstra said following shootaround Thursday morning. "Get over it. This is the NBA life; this is the life we chose. If you think it's going to be predictable, you're really mistaken."
The Heat suspended Butler on Wednesday for his "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing Wednesday's team flight to Milwaukee," the team said in a statement, the latest in an ongoing saga between the Heat and their disgruntled star.
Before the start of Spoelstra's media session, a Heat public relations official informed reporters he would not be answering questions on Butler, a practice that was employed for several weeks during the initial suspension.
Butler had just returned Friday from a seven-game team suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team." He appeared in three games -- averaging 13.0 points in 29.3 minutes -- before his latest two-game ban, which left the Heat preparing to play without him in Milwaukee on Thursday.
"It takes a mental fortitude and commitment in terms of the task at hand," Spoelstra said. "Nothing changes in terms of the task at hand. We have a game tonight, we have enough continuity, we know what our identity is at this point. You can make any excuse you want to, but we get to do what we love.
"We've had this happen all season long, so we know the exercise and what we need to do to make those adjustments."
ESPN's Shams Charania has reported Butler's desire to be traded since last month, and Friday, sources told ESPN the Heat want to find a deal to accommodate Butler's wishes.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6.
When asked about the Butler saga, Heat guard Tyler Herro said, "We all know everything that's going on. Not much to talk about."
"It's probably not the easiest to work with someone who's going to be in and out in any job," Herro said Thursday morning. "We love Jimmy; we'd love for him to be here. I love Jimmy."
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