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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves claimed a spot in the season-opening Daytona 500 as part of a slew of rule changes NASCAR announced Friday.

Castroneves is guaranteed a spot in the field under a new provision that earmarks a starting position for what NASCAR called “world-class drivers” who enter a Cup Series race. Before the Friday change, Castroneves was going to either have to earn his spot in the 40-car field on speed in time trials or finishing position in a qualifying race.

If he failed to do either, the Brazilian would be in the field as a 41st car and four open spots would still remain for drivers hoping to race in the Feb. 16 “Great American Race.” Castroneves will be driving for Trackhouse Racing in his NASCAR debut at age 49.

Under the new rule, if the provisional is used, the driver/car owner will not be eligible for race points, playoff points or prize money. Cars that finish below the driver who uses the provisional will have their finishing position adjusted upward one spot and also have their prize money, race points and stage points adjusted.

If the provisional car wins a race and/or stage, that car will be credited with the race win. It will not count toward playoff eligibility. The second-place finisher will inherit first-place points, but will not receive playoff points or playoff eligibility.

Among other changes issued Friday:

Playoff waivers: NASCAR said if a driver misses a race for anything besides a medical emergency, the driver will forfeit all current and future playoff points and will start the playoffs with a maximum of 2,000 points.

Covered under medical emergency would be emergencies for the driver, the birth of a child or a family emergency, as well as age restrictions.

It means that Kyle Larson, who is scheduled to again race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 for a second consecutive year, must return from Indiana to North Carolina and compete in the Cup race. It was a point of contention last year when rain delayed the 500 in Indy, Larson was late to arrive in North Carolina for the 600, and by the time he got to the track, rain had stopped that race.

Larson never got to compete in the Coca-Cola 600, and NASCAR hemmed and hawed for a lengthy amount of time before finally granting him a waiver.

Waivers previously came with no penalties such as the loss of playoff points.

Penalties to manufacturers: After the penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway was marred last year by allegations of manufacturers banding together to push their drivers into the championship race, NASCAR vowed to look at how it can stop such manipulation in the future.

NASCAR said that, moving forward, violations by manufacturers may result in the loss of manufacturers points, and/or loss of wind tunnel hours. NASCAR will assess such penalties for violation of the vehicle testing policy, wind tunnel policy, event roster and code of conduct.

Performance obligation: NASCAR did not give many details on this change other than “verbiage around the 100% rule is replaced with a focus on ‘manipulating’ the outcome of an event/championship.”

Practice and qualifying: New practice and qualifying procedures were formally added to the rulebook. Group practice goes from 20 to 25 minutes; single-round qualifying at all tracks but superspeedways, which will have a final round for 10 cars; and starting position is determined solely by qualifying results instead of row-by-row designation based on which qualifying group the car was in.

Suspension deferral: NASCAR said all suspensions that are a result of a technical penalty can be deferred without appeal for the next race following a penalty. All other suspensions are effective immediately.

Damaged vehicle policy: NASCAR has altered this policy for the Cup Series after many complaints about how the rule was applied last year.

Vehicles on the DVP clock may drive to the garage or be towed to the garage and will not be ruled out of the race. Previously, if a car on the DVP clock was towed to the garage or drove to the garage, it was out of the race.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Quenneville back in Chicago for 1st time since ban

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Quenneville back in Chicago for 1st time since ban

CHICAGO — First-year Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville returned to the United Center on Sunday night for the first time since he and two other former Chicago Blackhawks executives were banned from the NHL in October 2021 for their mishandling of a sexual assault allegation by a former player in 2010.

Quenneville, 67, has the Ducks off to a 2-2-1 start almost four years after he was forced to resign as coach of the Florida Panthers. He was banned from the NHL for nearly three years.

“I’m grateful to be back in the game,” Quenneville said before Chicago’s 2-1 win on Ryan Donato‘s overtime goal. “I’m excited about being back in here in Chicago.”

It has been a long road for Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history. His 971 career victories entering Sunday trail only Scotty Bowman’s 1,244.

An independent investigation commissioned by the Blackhawks led to Quenneville stepping down from the Panthers in October 2021. The investigation concluded the team mishandled allegations raised by 2008 first-round draft pick Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s first Stanley Cup run.

Former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and assistant GM Al MacIsaac also resigned and were prohibited from working in the NHL.

They were reinstated by the league in July 2024. Bowman became the Edmonton Oilersgeneral manager three weeks later. The Ducks signed Quenneville in May to replace Greg Cronin.

Quenneville has spent parts of 25 NHL seasons behind the benches of St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and Florida. He guided the Blackhawks for more than 10 years and led them to championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

The Blackhawks fired Quenneville in November 2018 after a 6-6-3 start. He joined the Panthers for the 2019-20 season.

Quenneville returned to the United Center for the first time with Florida in January 2020 and received a video tribute from the Blackhawks and a roaring ovation from fans. He was behind the Panthers’ bench in the arena four times during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, but no fans were present.

Quenneville seemed a little uncertain about how he might be received by United Center fans this time.

“The memories we had were all very positive here,” he said. “I’m just happy to be back in that building and hear the crowd being excited, and the crowds look like they’ve been good so far this year.”

When asked if he expected acknowledgment from fans, Quenneville responded with his signature, “We’ll see.”

The reaction turned out to be muted and mixed.

Public address announcer Gene Honda called Quenneville’s name in a routine introduction as the visiting team coach about 10 minutes before the opening faceoff. A handful of fans cheered and about the same number booed, with only about half of the United Center’s 19,717 seats occupied.

The Ducks conducted background checks and spoke with Beach before hiring Quenneville, who said he has accepted responsibility for his role in failing to properly address the allegations and has engaged in educational activities to deepen his understanding of sexual assault scenarios.

“Right from the day that we joined the Ducks, it’s been a lot of positivity,” Quenneville said. “Just getting around people that are in the game, being around the organization, having a young team, kind of reminds me of the team when we were here.”

With Anaheim, Quenneville took over a team with the NHL’s third-longest active playoff drought. The Ducks finished sixth in the Pacific Division last season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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AP Week 8 poll reaction: What’s next for each Top 25 team

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AP Week 8 poll reaction: What's next for each Top 25 team

Two top five teams lost in Week 8, with Miami losing to Louisville and Ole Miss blowing a multi-score lead against Georgia. Texas Tech’s first loss of the season came in a squeaker against Arizona State. Meanwhile, Ohio State looked as steady as ever in a 34-0 shutout of Wisconsin and Indiana blew out Michigan State to remain undefeated.

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times Eastern.

Previous ranking: 1

2025 record: 7-0

Week 8 result: Defeated Wisconsin 34-0

Stat to know: Ohio State has won 15 straight games as the AP No. 1, the longest streak by a Big Ten team.

What’s next: Nov. 1 vs. Penn State


Previous ranking: 3

2025 record: 7-0

Week 8 result: Defeated Michigan State 38-13

Stat to know: Indiana is now 16-0 against unranked opponents under Curt Cignetti.

What’s next: Saturday vs. UCLA


Previous ranking: 4

2025 record: 7-0

Week 8 result: Defeated Arkansas 45-42

Stat to know: This is Texas A&M’s first 7-0 start since 1994.

What’s next: Saturday at LSU, 7:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 6

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Tennessee 37-20

Stat to know: With the win over Tennessee, Alabama became the first team in SEC history to win four straight games, all against ranked teams, with no bye week mixed in.

What’s next: Saturday at South Carolina, 3:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 9

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Ole Miss 43-35

Stat to know: Georgia is 2-0 at home under Kirby Smart when trailing by nine or more points entering the fourth quarter.

What’s next: Nov. 1 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Florida), 3:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 8

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Rutgers 56-10

Stat to know: Oregon is 6-0 following losses under Dan Lanning.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin


Previous ranking: 12

2025 record: 7-0

Week 8 result: Defeated Duke 27-18

Stat to know: Georgia Tech had a 95-yard fumble return in the first quarter, the longest in school history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Syracuse, noon


Previous ranking: 5

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Lost to Georgia 43-35

Stat to know: Ole Miss gained just 13 yards in the fourth quarter, tied for its third-fewest in a quarter under Lane Kiffin.

What’s next: Saturday at Oklahoma, noon, ABC


Previous ranking: 2

2025 record: 5-1

Week 8 result: Lost to Louisville 24-21

Stat to know: The loss to Louisville was Miami’s fourth home less as a double-digit favorite under Mario Cristobal, the most losses in FBS in that span (since 2022).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Stanford, 7 p.m., ESPN


Previous ranking: 17

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated LSU 31-24

Stat to know: This is Vanderbilt’s first 6-1 start since 1950.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Missouri


Previous ranking: 15

2025 record: 7-0

Week 8 result: Defeated Utah 24-21

Stat to know: BYU has started 7-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

What’s next: Saturday at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., Fox


Previous ranking: 13

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Defeated USC 34-24

Stat to know: Notre Dame has won seven of its past eight meetings with USC.

What’s next: Nov. 1 at Boston College


Previous ranking: 14

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated South Carolina 26-7

Stat to know: This was Oklahoma’s first win against South Carolina.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Ole Miss, noon, ABC


Previous ranking: 7

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Lost to Arizona State 26-22

Stat to know: The loss to Arizona State was Texas Tech’s first game of the season with 20 or more points allowed.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State, 4 p.m.


Previous ranking: 16

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Auburn 23-17 (2 OT)

Stat to know: Missouri has won 22 straight games against unranked opponents.

What’s next: Saturday at Vanderbilt


Previous ranking: 18

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Washington State 22-20

Stat to know: Virginia’s 6-1 start is its best through seven games since 2007.

What’s next: Saturday at North Carolina, noon, ACC Network


Previous ranking: 11

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Lost to Alabama 37-20

Stat to know: Tennessee’s 20 points against Alabama is its fewest scored in a game this season.

What’s next: Saturday at Kentucky, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network


Previous ranking: 19

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Florida Atlantic 48-13

Stat to know: The win over FAU was South Florida’s fourth straight game with at least 48 points.

What’s next: Saturday at Memphis, noon


Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 5-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Miami 24-21

Stat to know: Louisville’s win over Miami was its second over an AP top-2 team in program history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Boston College, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network


Previous ranking: 10

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Lost to Vanderbilt 31-24

Stat to know: Garrett Nussmeier has thrown a passing touchdown in 13 straight games, the third-longest active streak among current SEC quarterbacks.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 24

2025 record: 6-1

Week 8 result: Defeated Oklahoma State 49-17

Stat to know: This is Cincinnati’s first 6-1 start to a season since 2022.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Baylor, 4 p.m.


Previous ranking: 21

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Defeated Kentucky 16-13 (OT)

Stat to know: Texas’s 179 total yards against Kentucky marked its fewest in a win in the past 30 years.

What’s next: Saturday at Mississippi State


Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Washington


Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Defeated Texas Tech 26-22

Stat to know: Arizona State is now 6-1 against AP-ranked opponents since the start of the 2024 season.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Houston, 8:00 p.m., ESPN2


Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 5-2

Week 8 result: Defeated Washington 24-7

Stat to know: Michigan is on a 28-game home winning streak against AP unranked teams.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 7:30 p.m., NBC

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Knights’ Stone leaves with apparent wrist injury

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Knights' Stone leaves with apparent wrist injury

LAS VEGAS — Golden Knights captain Mark Stone suffered an apparent wrist injury in the third period of Vegas’ 6-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said he would know about Stone’s status Sunday or Monday.

Stone left the ice about midway through the third period and then headed to the locker room.

He had two goals and two assists before exiting, giving him a six-game point streak with two goals and 11 assists.

When healthy, Stone has been one of the Golden Knights’ top players, but he has had trouble avoiding injuries. His 66 games last season were his most since appearing in 77 games in the 2018-19 season.

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