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NASCAR will conclude its initial three-year agreement for the street race held in Chicago in July and has not yet committed to holding the event beyond 2025.

“For us, we’re just looking at 2025. It’ll be the third year of a three-year run, and each year we’ve wanted to build upon the momentum that we have,” NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell told the Sports Business Journal. “We’ve learned things each and every year — it’s our first street race, a lot of learnings came from that.”

If NASCAR does not renew the Chicago event, there has been speculation that the series could look to stage a street race in San Diego. O’Donnell did not confirm nor deny whether the series’ interest in a San Diego race.

NASCAR has “a number of folks who are interested at looking at NASCAR from a street race [perspective],” he told the SBJ. “We are certainly interested in California and the Southern California market, and that will continue to be a focus for us, but nothing to confirm at this point.”

Street race specialist Shane van Gisbergen won the inaugural Chicago race in 2022, while Alex Bowman won a rain-shortened Grant Park 165 last July.

O’Donnell also did not provide details on whether NASCAR has plans to eventually hold a race in Saudi Arabia but said that interest in the series remains strong in the United States and internationally.

Saudi Arabia’s planned Qiddiya entertainment mega city could target a NASCAR race for the Speed Park circuit under development that is scheduled to open in 2028.

The Cup Series will hold its first points race outside of the United States in 67 years when it visits Mexico next year.

“I wouldn’t put it specifically on Saudi,” said O’Donnell, adding that there has been interest from Europe and Asia, among other global markets. “We’ve got a finite amount of content we can bring, but I think as you look at NASCAR from an international standpoint, it’ll be more around that Mexico model where we want to look to grow the overall sport and build it within the culture wherever we go.

“So, we can certainly take a race from an exhibition standpoint or from a national series, but you’ll see it coupled if we do go somewhere with a grassroots efforts as well.”

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Army to allow alcohol sales at football games

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Army to allow alcohol sales at football games

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army will begin selling alcoholic beverages at football games at Michie Stadium beginning with its game Friday against Tarleton State, athletic director Tom Theodorakis announced Wednesday.

Army was the last service academy to not sell alcohol at football games. Air Force began sales in 2017 and Navy in 2021.

“The opportunity to purchase alcohol has become common practice at college athletic venues across the country, and we’re pleased to introduce it here at West Point as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the gameday experience,” Theodorakis said, adding that Army is committed to ensuring a safe and family-friendly environment for fans.

Fans will be able to purchase beer and ready-to-drink cocktails with a limit of two drinks per transaction. A portion of the revenue from alcohol sales will help support Army’s other 29 sports.

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Harvard-Yale rivalry to return to Fenway in 2026

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Harvard-Yale rivalry to return to Fenway in 2026

BOSTON — Harvard and Yale will play The Game at Fenway Park next season, the second time the rivalry has moved to the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.

The Nov. 21, 2026, game will be the 142nd meeting between the Ivy League schools — the third most-played rivalry in college football. Yale leads the series 71-61-8, including the last three years.

Harvard won the 2018 game 45-27 at Fenway, the first time The Game was played off campus since an 1894 meeting that was so violent the Harvard faculty voted to disband the football program.

Fenway has hosted football since its opening year in 1912, and it served as the home of the AFL’s Boston Patriots from 1963-68. More recently, the ballpark has hosted some Boston College and high school football games and the Fenway Bowl.

Fenway also has hosted concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, big air skiing, Irish hurling and pickleball.

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Sources: Tide DL Keenan (ankle) out for opener

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Sources: Tide DL Keenan (ankle) out for opener

Alabama will be without team captain and starting defensive tackle Tim Keenan III for Saturday’s opener against Florida State after he suffered a high ankle sprain Tuesday in practice, sources told ESPN.

Keenan was scheduled to undergo a tightrope surgical procedure Wednesday and is expected to miss multiple games, but sources said Alabama expects him back at some point this season. The Crimson Tide face UL Monroe in Week 2, Wisconsin in Week 3 and then have a bye week before traveling to Georgia for the SEC opener on Sept. 27.

Coach Kalen DeBoer said earlier Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference that Keenan was still being evaluated after suffering a lower-body injury and would “probably not” be full go for the game.

Keenan, a fifth-year senior, is one of the anchors of an Alabama defensive line that should be one of the strengths of the team. He’s a two-year starter and one of the strongest leaders on the team. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Beaman and true freshman London Simmons are next in line to step in for Keenan, who was second on the team a year ago with 7.5 tackles for loss.

Offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts‘ status for Saturday’s opener remains uncertain, according to DeBoer. The fifth-year senior, who has started 21 games over the past two seasons, has been “very limited” in recent practices as he works his way through the NCAA concussion protocol.

The Crimson Tide were already going to be without starting running back Jam Miller, who dislocated his collarbone in a scrimmage and will miss multiple games. DeBoer told ESPN last week he expected Miller to be back for the Georgia game.

On3.com was the first to report the news of Keenan’s surgery and the expectation he would miss multiple games.

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