Connect with us

Published

on

Martin Truex Sr., the father of former NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. has died, Truex and his brother said in a statement Friday. He was 66.

“We are devastated by the loss of our father,” Martin Jr. and Ryan Truex said. “Simply put, he was our hero and a great man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”

No details of Truex Sr.’s death were revealed.

Truex Sr. was a former driver in in NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series, where he made 15 starts from 1989 to 1998. His best finish was 12th at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He retired early to advance the career of his two sons. His second son, Ryan, is the reserve and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Truex Sr. was one of the owners of the commercial fishing company Sea Watch International.

The Friday announcement of Truex Sr.’s passing came one day after Truex Jr., who retired from full-time competition at the end of the season, announced he will enter next month’s Daytona 500 with TRICON Garage as the team attempts to make its Cup Series debut.

Truex Jr. will pilot the No. 56 Toyota Camry XSE in collaboration between TRICON and Joe Gibbs Racing. The car will be “open,” which means Truex is not guaranteed a spot in the field and will have to make “The Great American Race” via speed in time trials or one of two qualifying races.

Truex won the Cup championship in 2017 and retired at the end of last season with 34 career victories.

Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, will also attempt to make the field as part of a two-race Cup Series schedule that also includes the Coca-Cola 600. Assuming all goes to plan, Johnson will be making his 700th career Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Johnson has won the 600 four times.

NASCAR has four open spots in the 40-car field, but under a new rule announced last week, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves can be added as a 41st car if he doesn’t qualify through the traditional process.

Seven drivers have announced they intend to compete for the open spots, with at least two more expected.

Continue Reading

Sports

San Jose State receiver Scudero to enter portal

Published

on

By

San Jose State receiver Scudero to enter portal

San Jose State wide receiver Danny Scudero, the leading receiver in FBS this season, will enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens in January, he announced Friday.

The 5-foot-9, 174-pound redshirt sophomore caught 88 passes for 1,291 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season with the Spartans, becoming a semifinal for the Biletnikoff Award and earning first-team All-Mountain West honors.

Scudero is expected to be one of the more coveted wide receivers available when the transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2 and has two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

Scudero spent two years at Sacramento State before transferring to San Jose State after the 2024 season. He broke out with 189 receiving yards to open the season against Central Michigan and surpassed 100 yards in five more games, including a career-high 215 and two touchdowns against Hawaii.

Scudero’s 88 receptions ranked fourth-most in FBS, and he leads all receivers this season with 16 catches of 30 or more yards.

The Spartans produced the No. 14 passing offense in FBS this season but went 3-9 in their second year under coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Continue Reading

Sports

Kitchens out as OC after Heels offense slumps

Published

on

By

Kitchens out as OC after Heels offense slumps

North Carolina offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will not return next season, with the school announcing the departure of both assistants after a 4-8 season in Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut.

“We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,” Belichick said in a statement. “We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”

North Carolina’s offense was one of the worst in the country, ranking 119th in the FBS in scoring (19.3 PPG) and 129th in total offense (288.8 YPG).

The Tar Heels had special teams issues coming down the stretch too, notably with Duke running a fake field goal to set up a late winning touchdown and NC State successfully running a fake punt for a first down the following week.

Kitchens, who served as Cleveland Browns coach in 2019, had been with the Tar Heels since 2023 and was the interim coach for their Fenway Bowl loss at the end of the 2024 season. Belichick was hired as the new head coach earlier that month.

Priefer was a longtime NFL special teams coach who followed Belichick to Chapel Hill but lasted just one season on the job.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Sources: Iowa St. QB Becht has shoulder surgery

Published

on

By

Sources: Iowa St. QB Becht has shoulder surgery

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht underwent labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder Thursday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Becht played the majority of the season with a partial labrum tear and using a harness on the shoulder. He was diagnosed with the injury after the Cyclones’ loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 4. He also dealt with an AC sprain in his throwing shoulder late in the season, which he is recovering from.

Sources said Becht is expected to make a full recovery in the upcoming months as he weighs decisions about his future. The quarterback is expected to consider a return to Iowa State or entering the transfer portal.

Longtime Cyclones coach Matt Campbell left the school earlier this month to become Penn State‘s coach. The Cyclones hired Washington State‘s Jimmy Rogers as his replacement.

Becht, a junior this season, threw for 2,584 yards with 16 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He has totaled 9,274 yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in three-plus seasons at Iowa State.

Iowa State went 8-4 this season but opted not to play in a bowl game after Campbell’s departure.

Continue Reading

Trending