Connect with us

Published

on

AUSTIN, Texas — Reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion Zane Smith became the first repeat NASCAR winner at the Circuit of The Americas road course, holding off Kyle Busch to win the XPEL 225 on Saturday.

Smith, a 23-year-old driving the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford, led the final 15 laps and crossed the finish line 5.451-seconds ahead of Busch.

Front Row Motorsports is a perfect 3-for-3 in Truck series races at COTA; Todd Gilliland won the inaugural 2021 race.

Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum and Ross Chastain rounded out the top five.

“It was fast when it mattered,” said Smith, who won the season-opening race at Daytona. “I just enjoy coming to all the road courses, especially here. So cool. Just a true testament to this team.

“Once we got to that 8 [laps]-to-go point and I was told Kyle was in second, my heart rate went up a little bit — just because he’s so good at managing his stuff when it mattered. So I just tried not to make any mistakes.”

Chastain and Busch combined to lead 22 laps early on. Smith was able to take the lead after pitting just before the final caution, getting track position. Chastain actually fell back to 28th for the final restart and Busch was 17th, yet they both rallied to top-5 finishes.

Both of the NASCAR Cup Series full-timers wasted no time navigating upward through the field. On just the single restart lap, Busch picked off positions with ease, moving up 10 spots to run seventh. He moved into second with six laps to go, but by that point Smith had already opened up more than a 5-second advantage.

“Played the long game and unfortunately the long game didn’t work,” Busch said of gambling with a pit strategy that resulted in him pitting two laps — and a caution flag — after Smith made his final stop. “They got lucky and beat us.”

Corey Heim, rookie Nick Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Kaz Grala and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top 10.

Continue Reading

Sports

Oklahoma DE Thomas unlikely to play vs. Bama

Published

on

By

Oklahoma DE Thomas unlikely to play vs. Bama

Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas is unlikely to play against Alabama on Saturday because of a quad injury.

A final decision on Thomas’ availability isn’t expected until game time, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, but he is listed as doubtful on the SEC availability report.

Thomas suffered the injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown during the Sooners’ Nov. 1 win over Tennessee.

Oklahoma’s best defensive player, Thomas has a team-leading 6.5 sacks this season along with two forced fumbles and the scoop-and-score fumble recovery.

Starting cornerback Gentry Williams is also doubtful to play against the Crimson Tide. He is set to miss a third straight game with a shoulder injury suffered Oct. 18 against South Carolina.

Continue Reading

Sports

Sources: Wisconsin turns to freshman QB vs. IU

Published

on

By

Sources: Wisconsin turns to freshman QB vs. IU

Wisconsin will start true freshman quarterback Carter Smith at No. 2 Indiana on Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, replacing Danny O’Neil after the sophomore was carted off the field with a right leg injury last week.

O’Neil was injured on a 21-yard keeper during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 13-10 win over then-No. 23 Washington. He had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room.

Smith made his season debut following O’Neil’s injury, completing 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Also available to the Badgers at quarterback is senior Hunter Simmons, who is 48-for-95 for 485 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

For Indiana, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is doubtful to play, sources said. Sarratt, who is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions, injured his hamstring against Maryland on Nov. 1 and missed the Penn State game last week.

With Indiana having a bye next week, Sarratt is on track to return against Purdue on Nov. 28.

Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin all season and throughout coach Luke Fickell’s three-year tenure.

Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the season, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ opener and has played only one full series since.

Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand in 2023. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the 2024 season.

Wisconsin’s intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of the 34 games the Badgers have played since the beginning of the 2023 season. The last time Fickell had his season-opening starting quarterback healthy for a full game was in a 27-13 victory over South Dakota on Sept. 7, 2024.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Sources: UCLA QB Iamaleava out vs. Ohio State

Published

on

By

Sources: UCLA QB Iamaleava out vs. Ohio State

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava will not play Saturday against No. 1 Ohio State because of a concussion, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Iamaleava was injured during last week’s loss to Nebraska. He began experiencing concussion symptoms after the game, according to On3, which first reported that Iamaleava would not play.

With Iamaleava out, redshirt sophomore Luke Duncan will make his first career start. Duncan has not attempted a pass in college as he tries to take down the top-ranked Buckeyes.

Iamaleava has thrown for 1,659 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first year with the Bruins after transferring from Tennessee.

He led UCLA to three straight wins in October, including a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State, but the Bruins (3-6) have lost two straight and need to win out to become bowl eligible.

Continue Reading

Trending