Sports

Daly, Mayweather team up for Daytona 500 run

Published

2 years ago

February 7, 2023

admin

9:51 AM ET

Associated Press

IndyCar driver Conor Daly will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 with the NASCAR team owned by Floyd Mayweather.

The Money Team Racing raced its way into the Daytona 500 last year with driver Kaz Grala; Daly made his Cup Series debut for the team in October on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“The Money Team Racing shocked the world by making the Daytona 500 last year and I believe in this team and know we will prepare a great car for this year’s race,” Mayweather said Tuesday. “Like a fighter who’s always ready to face the best, Conor has the courage to buckle into this beast without any practice and put that car into the field.

“Conor is like a hungry fighter and my kind of guy. I sure wouldn’t bet against him.”

Daly will be among six drivers vying for four open spots in the 40-car field. Among those also trying to qualify for an open spot in the Feb. 19 season opener is seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and action sports star Travis Pastrana, a close friend of Daly’s.

The announcement to enter Daly in the Daytona 500 came just eight days before Daytona International Speedway opens for race preparations. Daly said last week he was not hesitant to accept a late offer and TMT said it will enter Daly in at least six other Cup races this season.

The effort will be funded by Bitnile.com, which is Daly and Ed Carpenter Racing’s sponsor in IndyCar.

Bitnile executive chairman Todd Ault III said it would also sponsor Daly at Circuit of the Americas in Austin in March for the “Texas Two-Step,” in which Daly will run the IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway the next week.

Ault also said there would be a “Daly Double” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August, when Daly runs both the IndyCar and Cup races on the same weekend on the road course.

“Our next generation marketplace launches just 10 days after the Daytona 500 … to help promote our marketplace, we asked Conor to run a number of NASCAR events this year in addition to our sponsorship of his full-time job in IndyCar,” Ault said.

The remaining Cup races Daly enters will be dependent on his schedule.

“I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to attempt to run in the Daytona 500,” he said. “It is the most prestigious race in NASCAR and to have the chance to compete in it is truly an honor. I am also excited to be running the entire IndyCar Series season and select NASCAR Cup events.

“I am looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get behind the wheel of whatever BITNILE.COM race car, boat, dune buggy or vehicle they ask me to drive.”

Sports

MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2025

admin

MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

Associated Press

Jul 10, 2025, 04:27 PM ET

NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.

He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.

Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.

Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.

Sports

A’s Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2025

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A's Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

Associated Press

Jul 10, 2025, 01:16 PM ET

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”

Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.

His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.

The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.

Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

Sports

Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2025

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Mets recall Acuna from Triple-A, DFA Jankowski

Associated Press

Jul 10, 2025, 01:54 PM ET

BALTIMORE — The New York Mets recalled 23-year-old utility man Luisangel Acuna from Triple-A Syracuse before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

The brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., Luisangel Acuña went 13-for-45 (.286) for Syracuse after the Mets optioned him in late June.

Capable of playing second base, shortstop or the outfield, Acuna had batted .241 in 65 games before going to the minors.

“He was a big part of this team the first couple of months,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters. “We got to a point where we felt like, ‘Hey, let’s get him some everyday playing time. ‘And now it’s time for him to be back up here, continuing to help us win baseball games.”

In a corresponding move, the Mets designated outfielder Travis Jankowski for assignment.

Acuna was on the bench for New York’s first game of the doubleheader.