DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson was caught red-handed by NASCAR.  Gragson was the first d...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson was caught red-handed by NASCAR.Gragson was the first driver busted during Daytona 500 qualifying for violating the new rule that specifies drivers are banned for sticking their hands out the opening of the window during the qualifying run.Gragson's time in the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports was thrown out Wednesday because he used his left hand in an attempt to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I completely forgot about that rule so that one's on me," Gragson said. "Yeah, I feel like an idiot for that."The 27-year-old Gragson did not advance to the second round of qualifying and lost his chance to race for the pole. The starting order for Sunday's Daytona 500 will be determined by a pair of Thursday night qualifying races."I feel like the Daytona 500 is such a long race, you can kind of start wherever," Gragson said. "It is what it is. I feel like an idiot for that. I'm dumb for that."On the other hand, most in NASCAR found it hilarious."This is the most Noah thing ever," NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote on social media. "Don’t touch that stove, it's hot. Touches stove. Gets burnt. Says yes, it is hot."Kyle Busch won the pole for the Daytona 500. Chase Briscoe, last year's pole-sitter, qualified second and got a good chuckle out of Gragson getting busted."He's my buddy, but I'm not surprised it was the guy that had it happen to him," Briscoe said. "I told my guys as soon as it happened, of all the people, I bet he didn't even remember it was a rule."Good call.Teams believed that drivers could earn an aerodynamic advantage on superspeedways with the gesture before NASCAR made the call in the offseason to ban it."Sometimes you have a car that drives very easily, and you can do it easily and other times you have got your hands full and you can't do it,” Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman said. "You always have an engineer telling you that you need to do it, exactly what position to put your hand in and all that. But I am glad that I can just keep two hands on the steering wheel for this one."NASCAR suspended Gragson in 2023 and he parted ways with Legacy Motor Club for liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyd's face.Gragson is winless in 111 career Cup races and will make his fifth Daytona 500 start."I don't care if I start last for this race," Gragson said. "I know that's probably not what people want to hear, but my best finish in Cup is third at Talladega and we qualified second-to-last. It's kind of crazy, but it is what it is here."___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Noah Gragson (#4 Front Row Motorsports Rush Truck Centers Ford) walks down pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

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Gragson busted for sticking hand out window during Daytona qualifying

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid is counting on a team-bonding dinner reportedly paid for by the team's ...

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid is counting on a team-bonding dinner reportedly paid for by the team's biggest stars will boost their late-season pursuit of the La Liga and Champions League trophies.Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe paid the bill at the restaurant in Madrid on Tuesday, midfielder Dani Ceballos told reporters. The tab ran over 1,000 euros ($1,100), according to accounts by Spanish media.Vinicius posted a photo of the entire squad during the dinner near the city center in a fancy location that features "Art Dining Club."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Fans waited outside the restaurant to try to talk to the players after the dinner, which went well past midnight.Coach Alvaro Arbeloa and his assistants were not part of the dinner, Spanish media said.The show of unity came a week before Madrid faces Benfica in the first leg of the knockout stage of the Champions League. The team dropped out of the top eight that automatically qualified for the round of 16 after a 4-2 loss at the same Benfica in the final round of the league phase.Defender Raul Asencio told media after the dinner that the team was "very united."Madrid went through turmoil at the end of last year, with some players reportedly not on the same page with coach Xabi Alonso, who was replaced by Arbeloa last month.Madrid improved, but under Arbeloa it was eliminated by second-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16, and lost to Benfica in the match that relegated the team to the Champions League's first knockout stage.In La Liga, Madrid has won seven in a row to be one point behind leader Barcelona. A victory against Real Sociedad on Saturday would lift Madrid into first place before Barcelona’s trip to face Girona on Monday.Eighth-placed Sociedad is coming off a 1-0 win at Basque Country rival Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid celebrate victory during the La Liga 2025/26 match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on February 1.

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BERLIN (AP) — Germany's referees are under scrutiny after a plethora of questionable decisions an...

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's referees are under scrutiny after a plethora of questionable decisions and incorrect calls compounded by anger over the video assistant referees' failure to correct them.It's leading to widespread frustration among players and coaches, while fans' patience is tested by lengthy VAR checks that don’t always bring clarity, or contentious calls that aren't checked at all.The latest example came in the German Cup on Wednesday when Leipzig was aggrieved not to be awarded at least a free kick after Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic clearly fouled Antonio Nusa on the edge of the penalty area early in Bayern's 2-0 win.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It's absolutely crazy," Leipzig coach Ole Werner said. "If four people can't see that as a foul then it's not quarterfinal level, I'm sorry."Bayern also had a questionable call go its way in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim last weekend, when defender Kevin Akpoguma was sent off early. There was no VAR intervention.The previous weekend, there were contentious decisions in Bundesliga games between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, Leipzig and Mainz, Hoffenheim and Union Berlin, and Augsburg's match against St. Pauli.Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj called for VAR to be scrapped altogether after he was incorrectly penalized in the subsequent game against Mainz. A minutes-long delay for VAR failed to correct referee Patrick Ittrich's erroneous call. Ittrich acknowledged his mistake after the match but by then it was too late."The biggest problem is there’s no common denominator," Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said. "Whoever is sitting in the studio or whoever is refereeing has a different perception and that makes it difficult. Regardless of who's sitting there the decisions should be consistent."

08 February 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne: Soccer, Men: Bundesliga, 1. FC Köln - RB Leipzig, Matchday 21, RheinEnergieStadion, Coach Ole Werner (RB Leipzig) gives instructions on the touchline. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL German Football League and the DFB German Football Association, it is prohibited to utilize or have utilized photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequential images and/or video-like photo series.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the agreement to formally end the divisive Super League p...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the agreement to formally end the divisive Super League project and said, "Football wins when we unite."UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin also hailed the consensus as a victory for soccer.Their comments came during the 50th UEFA Congress in Belgium on Thursday, a day after Super League's end was signaled by an agreement of principles between Real Madrid and UEFA.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Madrid, the 15-time European champion, and its president Florentino Perez looked even more isolated after Barcelona formally pulled out of Super League."Yesterday, we heard the great news about the agreement between UEFA, the EFC (European Football Clubs) and Real Madrid," Infantino said.He congratulated Ceferin, EFC leader Nasser al-Khelaifi and Perez for having reached the agreement."I would like to ask you to clap hands for Alexander, for Nasser and for Florentino," he said. "Because football wins when we unite."Infantino in the past was accused of being complicit in the formation of the breakaway plans by Europe's elite clubs before belatedly denying he colluded with the rebels after months of silence.Ceferin said he was "very happy" that Madrid and Barcelona "joined the family again.""Honestly speaking, we were all tired of these disputes," he said. "We had some disagreements with the president of Real Madrid but let me be clear, we never lost respect to ourselves, to each other, and we never lost the love for the game. And let me be even clearer, the only winner of this situation is football, nobody else."Ceferin said Al-Khelaifi's "leadership has been instrumental in turning dialogue into a shared direction of travel, so thank you very much for that."Madrid and Barcelona won a ruling at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg against Champions League organizer UEFA more than two years ago, but no new clubs publicly came forward to join the breakaway project which had no clear path forward.The agreement on Wednesday between Madrid, UEFA and the influential EFC group said principles were agreed that "will also serve to resolve their legal disputes."It was announced as European soccer leaders met in Brussels on the eve of UEFA's annual congress of 55 member federations.Madrid had been at the head of 12 Spanish, Italian and English clubs who challenged UEFA in April 2021 by launching a breakaway Super League which hoped to start play with 20 teams. But the project collapsed within 48 hours amid a fierce backlash in England by fans and the government which threatened legislation to protect the traditional structure of European soccer.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 12: Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President, interact during the 50th UEFA Ordinary Congress Meeting at Brussels Expo on February 12, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.

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Prosecutors in Utah have filed a first-degree felony rape charge against Brigham Young University...

Prosecutors in Utah have filed a first-degree felony rape charge against Brigham Young University standout wide receiver Parker Kingston, officials said Wednesday.Kingston, 21, is being held without bail in St. George, a city near Arizona, Washington County prosecutors said. His initial appearance in court is scheduled for Friday.The investigation began last February, prosecutors said in a news release. A woman who was 20 years old at the time told officers at a St. George hospital that Kingston assaulted her on Feb. 23, 2025, prosecutors said. Police gathered digital and forensic evidence and interviewed the parties involved and other witnesses, prosecutors said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was not clear if Kingston had an attorney. He didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. A phone message left for his family was not immediately returned.BYU said in a statement that it takes any allegation very seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement. It said it would not be able to comment further due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students.Kingston had a team-leading 67 receptions and 928 yards with five TD catches last season. He also rushed for 199 yards on 25 carries with a score, and returned 17 punts for 230 yards and a TD.

PROVO, UTAH - NOVEMBER 29: Parker Kingston #11 of the BYU Cougars lines up before a play during the first half against the UCF Knights at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Provo, Utah.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Busch won the pole for NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500 to giv...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Busch won the pole for NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500 to give the driver with the longest active losing streak in “The Great American Race” a shot at the victory that has escaped him his entire career.Busch is 0 for 20 in the Daytona 500 and hasn't started in the top five since 2016, when he still drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. He started fourth and finished third that year, then was a career-best second to then-teammate Denny Hamlin in 2019.“Kyle, we've got to get him this 500,” said team owner Richard Childress.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DAYTONA500?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DAYTONA500</a> pole for Kyle Busch! Richard Childress shares the moment with his driver after qualifying. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HotPass?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HotPass</a> <a href="https://t.co/WGfbQg3ybr">pic.twitter.com/WGfbQg3ybr</a>— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/2021783373283287382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>No driver has ever won their first Daytona 500 after 20 previous attempts. The late Dale Earnhardt won for Childress in his 20th start in 1998 — three years before Earnhardt was killed in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 race.“Sounds really good right now — being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special," said Busch, who wore custom-designed Olympic-themed racing shoes at Daytona International Speedway.He earned the pole Wednesday night with a lap at 183.925 mph in a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, the team that signed him before the 2023 season when his contract was up with Gibbs and his salary was too high for most teams.But his time in the No. 8 has been rocky for the two-time NASCAR champion. He's won three races since joining RCR — all in his first season — and takes a 93-race losing streak into the Daytona 500.Busch starts the year with new crew chief Jim Pohlman, who led Justin Allgaier to the 2024 championship in NASCAR's second-tier series.The pole runs continues a strong few weeks for Busch and his family: Older brother, Kurt, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last month.“Feels really good for RCR as a group,” Busch said. “Just a valiant effort by everybody here. It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”RCR last put a car on the pole for the Daytona 500 in 2014 when Austin Dillon, grandson of the team owner, qualified first. Dillon won the race in 2018.Chase Briscoe, last year's pole-sitter, qualified second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.“It’s a really big deal, not only for myself, but I haven’t even checked my phone, I’m sure (Bass Pro Shops owner) Johnny Morris is ballistic already,” Briscoe said of his sponsor. “He gets super fired up for this race. He’s called me two or three times this week telling me he’s so excited to get here and asking me how the car is. It’s a big deal for him, as well. It should be awesome to be on the front row again Sunday.”Although 37 drivers were locked into the race ahead of time trials, the starting order is not determined until after a pair of Thursday night qualifying races. Of those locked in, 36 drive chartered cars that guarantee a spot in every race. An additional slot went to seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson under a provisional rule that allows for a 41st “world-class driver” trying to enter a Cup event.Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and finished third last year. He left full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season.There were two spots open for those not already locked in and they were claimed by Corey Heim for 23XI Racing and Justin Allgaier for JR Motorsports. They were the fastest cars in time trials.Heim, last year's Truck Series champion, will be making his Daytona 500 debut.“Kind of nerve-wracking for sure,” said the 23-year-old from Georgia. “So impressed and thank you for 23XI Racing and Toyota, coming here with an open car and a fourth team at 23XI, to be able to do that is pretty impressive even from my eyes. I feel like that’s a very big accomplishment from those guys. Just blessed to be a part of the team.”Allgaier is in for the fourth time in his career and the second consecutive year while driving for two-time race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr.“It's such a great sport to be part of it and it's awesome to be able to come down here and try to make your way in,” Earnhardt said. “It is stressful, but that's the best part about it.”There are two remaining open spots in the field that will be decided Thursday night via a pair of 150-mile qualifying races. The highest finisher in each race among the drivers not qualified will earn a berth in the Daytona 500.Those still trying to get in the race are: Anthony Alfredo, Corey LaJoie, BJ McLeod, Casey Mears, Chandler Smith and J.J. Yeley. Only two will race Sunday.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet, poses for a photo during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has sign...

<div>
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two-time and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/daytona-500-kyle-larson-598e7f6d79ae70e544273b96fb6be471">defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson</a> has signed a five-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports, putting the 33-year-old driver under contract through 2031.
Hendrick also announced Wednesday a five-year extension with primary sponsor HendrickCars.com and a multi-year deal with Larson's crew chief, Cliff Daniels.
Since being paired in the No. 5 Chevrolet in 2021, Daniels and Larson have won two championships (2021, 2025) and led the Cup Series in nearly every major statistical category. HendrickCars.com serves as the car's main sponsor for 35 of 38 Cup Series events.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
Larson moved to Hendrick after he was fired at Chip Ganassi Racing and suspended by NASCAR during the pandemic shutdown for using a racial slur during an online racing event.
Larson has 32 career wins in the Cup Series, including 26 since joining Hendrick Motorsports. He leads all drivers over that span in wins, runner-up finishes (18), top-five finishes (78), top-10 finishes (103) and laps led (7,149).
“This team, this organization and this family have given me everything I need to compete at the highest level," Larson said in a statement. "We’ve accomplished a lot together, but I truly believe the best is still ahead. ... I’m excited to keep chasing wins and championships with Cliff and the 5 team for many more years.”
Jeffrey “JB” Brown, president of Hendrick Automotive Group, said keeping the championship team together for years to come was "a no-brainer.”
Team owner Rick Hendrick added that building a successful team “starts with people.” 
“Kyle is one of the most complete drivers in our sport,” Hendrick said. "His talent, work ethic and instincts give us a chance to win every time we race. Cliff is a true servant leader who brings out the best in everyone around him and sets the standard for how we go to the track. Having HendrickCars.com alongside this group continues to create real, measurable value for our automotive business.
"Together, it’s a combination that will keep winning races and competing for championships for a long time.”
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Kyle Larson (#5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) is being interviewed during Media Day for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 11, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has a strained left hamstring, an injury ...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has a strained left hamstring, an injury that could call into some doubt his availability for the reigning MLS Cup champions’ regular-season opener at LAFC on Feb. 21.The team announced the injury on Wednesday.Messi, MLS’ back-to-back reigning MVP, scored a goal in a preseason game in Ecuador last weekend but was subbed out about 12 minutes into the second half — presumably because of the hamstring issue.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“His gradual return to training will depend on his clinical and functional progress in the coming days,” Inter Miami said in a statement.The injury also means that what was supposed to be Inter Miami’s preseason finale will now be played about a week after its MLS opener. Inter Miami will face Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle at Bayamon, Puerto Rico on Feb. 26, with an open practice scheduled as part of that trip as well.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR - FEBRUARY 7: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami looks on during a friendly match between Barcelona SC and Inter Miami at Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo on February 7, 2026 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

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The Miami Marlins are signing left-handed reliever John King to a one-year deal to bolster their ...

The Miami Marlins are signing left-handed reliever John King to a one-year deal to bolster their bullpen, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. It was first reported by ESPN.The 31-year-old King became a free agent in November after being non-tendered by the St. Louis Cardinals. His contract will be worth $1.5 million, per ESPN.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>King had a 2-1 record with a 4.66 ERA in 51 appearances with the Cardinals last season. He spent the past 2 1/2 seasons in St. Louis after beginning his MLB career in 2020 with the Texas Rangers. He is 16-14 with a career 3.80 ERA over 253 1/3 innings.The Marlins have been busy in free agency recently, agreeing on Monday to sign right-hander Chris Paddack to a $4-million, one-year contract. Miami also signed right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks and utility player Christopher Morel in December.King will join Cade Gibson, Josh Simpson and Andrew Nardi as the left-handed relievers on the Marlins' 40-man roster.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/MLB</a>

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: John King #47 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on September 22, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Denny Hamlin read all the social media comments and absorbed the warm ...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Denny Hamlin read all the social media comments and absorbed the warm words from NASCAR fans.The ones who offered support — first after his defeat in a championship race, then through a wearying offseason that encompassed a federal trial against NASCAR and the death of his father in a house fire — for one of racing's most divisive drivers and wondered if perhaps his approval rating might be rocketing up."It made me feel like I was a champion," Hamlin said, "even though I didn't have the ring and the trophy."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hamlin might serve as a sympathetic figure to some — perhaps even a conquering hero to others in his fight against NASCAR. He most wants to be known as a winner and insisted he will dig deep to work through his grief and again find the drive to chase his first Cup Series championship, and his fourth Daytona 500 victory."I'd be lying if I said I was as highly motivated as I have been in years past," Hamlin said Wednesday. "It would take some time. Every day at the racetrack is certainly getting there. I'm way too competitive to just go through the motions."For a driver taking life day by day, the 45-year-old Hamlin seemingly had a good one hours before NASCAR was ready to determine the pole winner for Daytona 500. He enjoyed the routine that settled him at the track. He was fitted for his Toyota. He practiced. He cracked jokes as he made the rounds at media day.If the heavy subject matter affected Hamlin, it didn't show in his answers.Hamlin certainly is at the right track to get right.Hamlin has mastered Daytona International Speedway with wins for Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2016, 2019 and 2020 Daytona 500s. Cale Yarborough with four wins and Richard Petty with seven are the only drivers with more Daytona 500 victories.Hamlin came oh-so-close to win No. 4 last season.William Byron won last year's event in overtime after Hamlin got spun as the race leader on the final lap, igniting a multicar crash. Byron ended up passing eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane."The list is so small at that four number," Hamlin said. "It certainly was on my mind on the last lap last year when we were leading that we were going to go get another one."Hamlin rebounded to win six races — a significant number that essentially became an afterthought when he collapsed again in the finale over the final three laps at Phoenix to win his first Cup title. The unofficial tag of greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship has been affixed to him for more than a decade.Then came the December federal antitrust trial in which Michael Jordan-led 23XI Racing, a team in which Hamlin is co-owner, joined with Front Row Motorsports to sue NASCAR. The bruising trial lasted nine days before NASCAR settled, with teams given the permanent charter status they fought over for more than two years.The euphoria of that victory was short-lived for Hamlin: His father, Dennis, who mortgaged everything the Hamlin family owned to get his son to NASCAR's top level, died in a late December house fire<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-fire-death-racing-5b3dcf4d0ee95278259943338d666319">.</a> Dennis Hamlin had been terminally ill at the time of the fire, and his son had been desperately trying to win a Cup title while his father was still alive<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-phoenix-hamlin-championship-father-144c85d10eae9fd48c208bbc8759ef77">.</a>"I feel good the last race my dad got to see, I was at my best," Hamlin said. "He got to see as good as I'll ever be."A man of deep faith, Gibbs served as an emotional bedrock for the family over the last year as Hamlin's father fell ill. Hamlin noted that he was beat to the hospital by Gibbs after the fire. Hamlin took comfort that Gibbs and Dennis Hamlin had weekly visits last season, when they prayed together and shared life experiences."My dad, you know, was trying to get right with the Lord," Hamlin said with a laugh.Hamlin's mother, Mary Lou, suffered catastrophic injuries in the fire that leveled the two-story home. Hamlin brought his mother with his family to Florida.Hamlin even aggravated an old right shoulder injury when he fell scouring the rubble at his parents' house. The oldest full-time driver in the Cup Series, Hamlin said he'll race through injury and put off possible surgery until the "first day of the offseason.""I don't feel like there will ever be a time where I'm holding the car back from performing," Hamlin said.Hamlin — who has 60 career Cup wins — has the support of his peers as he forges ahead in his dual role as team owner and driver."I think he's doing the best that he can, right? We were all down at The Grove yesterday playing some golf, boy's therapy, you know?" 23XI driver Bubba Wallace said.Jordan even joined the boys on the course.Play time was over the next day at Daytona. Hamlin insisted he's ready to get back to work — and ultimately persevere to find that path to that first NASCAR championship."I've got still got plenty of fire left, plenty of ability left," Hamlin said. "It will happen more natural than you would think."Just maybe, he'll pick up a few more fans along the way."If the boos turn to cheers," said Hamlin, "that will make me happy."

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 National Debt Relief Toyota, speaks to the media during Media Day for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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MILAN (AP) — Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron arrived at the Milan Cortina Olympic...

MILAN (AP) — Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron arrived at the Milan Cortina Olympics amid a swirl of controversy, with the French ice dancers hoping to upset the dominant American duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates when it mattered most.They will leave with a gold medal.Maybe a little bit more controversy, too.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Beaudry and Cizeron answered a season-best free dance by Chock and Bates with a season best of their own Wednesday night, giving them 225.82 points and the top step of the podium. Chock and Bates finished with 224.39 and a bittersweet silver medal after having lost just four times in the four years since they finished fourth at the Beijing Games.“We’re still in shock,” said Cizeron, who also became the first skater to win back-to-back ice dance gold with different partners, having won previously with Gabriella Papadakis. “Looking back a year ago, when we started dreaming this, it’s pretty incredible.”There were some who viewed their victory as unbelievable.Cizeron made several mistakes, including a glaring one during his twizzle sequence, while Chock and Bates were nearly perfect. Yet the French judge favored the French skaters by nearly eight points in the free dance, while five of the nine judges favored the American team. The other three that gave top marks to Guillaume and Cizeron did so by a slim margin.“I feel like in life, sometimes you can feel like you do everything right and it doesn’t go your way, and that’s life in sports,” said Bates, who along with Chock won a second straight gold medal in the team event earlier in the Winter Games. “It’s a subjective sport. It is a judged sport. But I think one fact that is indisputable is that we delivered our best. We skated our best.”The Canadian team of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier earned the bronze medal with 217.74 points, pulling away from the Italian team of Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri and the British duo of Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson with a deeply emotional free skate.“I usually prefer Guillaume and Laurence,” Fabbri said, speaking candidly following the medal ceremony. “But today, in my opinion, they didn’t skate so well. So I think Madison and Evan would have deserved to win.”Beaudry and Cizeron arrived at the Winter Games with controversy hanging over them stemming from their former partners.This time last year, Beaudry was wondering whether she would even compete this season after Skate Canada banned her partner and longtime boyfriend, Nikolaj Sorensen, amid allegations of “sexual maltreatment.” Beaudry has maintained his innocence and the suspension was overturned in June on jurisdictional grounds, but the case is still pending.Cizeron stepped away from competition after the 2022 season, shortly after his Olympic triumph, and retired two years ago. But the chance to make a comeback with Beaudry, who was ninth with Sorensen at the Beijing Games, was too good to pass up.Beaudry and Cizeron won every event they entered this season save the Grand Prix Final, when they finished second to Chock and Bates in their previous head-to-head meeting. But their smooth ride to Milan was shaken up when Papadakis wrote in her new memoir that Cizeron had been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/papadakis-nbc-book-cizeron-winter-olympics-1864ab50837e00558f989f4914832696">demanding, controlling and manipulative</a> toward her — accusations he called a “smear campaign.”“It’s been quite a challenge that we set out to do,” Cizeron said. “I think from the beginning we tried to create a bubble where we really supported each other through everything, and we’ve been through some incredibly hard moments. But I think the love we have for each other and for the sport really draws through, and it kind of helped us keep our heads on our shoulders.”Beaudry and Cizeron hardly seemed distracted by any of it Monday night, when they edged Chock and Bates in the rhythm dance.The French team most definitely was not distracted by anything Wednesday night.It would have been easy to be thrown off, too, the way Chock and Bates performed in the minutes before them.Skating to an orchestral version of “Paint it Black” from the dystopian sci-fi show “Westworld,” they turned in the kind of program that they have spent the last 15 years together working toward. Every movement seemed to be in perfect harmony, and the flamenco-styled choreography had the crowd clapping along with them.The only question left was whether the husband-wife team had done enough to earn the one medal that has eluded them.It looked as if Beaudry and Cizeron gave them an opening with a bobble on their twizzles. But they soon settled into their program, set to the soundtrack from “The Whale,” and moved as if they were under water with a marvelous degree of refined elegance.As their winning score was read, Chock and Bates joined the crowd inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena in applauding them.Then, an hour later, Chock was fighting back tears in a tunnel far from the ice.“It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling at the moment,” she said. “We have had the most incredible year — fifteen years on the ice together. First Olympics as a married couple. And we delivered four of our best performances this week. I think we’re really proud of how we handled ourselves here and what we accomplished.”___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Gold medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry and partner Guillaume Cizeron of Team France, Silver medalist Madison Chock and partner Evan Bates of Team United States, and Bronze medalists Piper Gilles and partner Paul Poirier of Team Canada pose for a victory selfie during the medal ceremony for Ice Dance on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Curling powerhouse Canada began its bid to reclaim the men’s titl...

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/curling-olympics-winter-cortina-64d55b7582479467d114298a6865346b">Curling</a> powerhouse Canada began its bid to reclaim the men’s title at the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Winter Olympics</a> by needing an extra end to beat Germany 7-6 on Wednesday.Canada skip Brad Jacobs returned to the Olympic stage for the first time since leading the team to men’s gold in Sochi in 2014 and was faced with a pressure shot to clinch victory on the opening night of round-robin play.Jacobs made it perfectly, nudging a German stone out of the house and leaving his own in the button for the decisive point.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It’s been a long time for me — I’m cherishing every moment of this,” Jacobs said. “This is spectacular.”Germany made a two-point play off the final shot of the 10th end to tie the score at 6-6 and take the match to an extra end.It was the final match left on the ice, with Italy having wrapped up a 7-6 win over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-curling-mens-sweden-gold-2bbb4097a88e4f65c77abddef27fff30">defending champion Sweden</a> to a backdrop of fervent home support inside the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.In other matches, Britain beat China 9-4 with an end to spare and the United States beat Czechia 8-7.Canada, the sport’s stronghold, is under some heat heading into the men’s and women’s events after the mixed doubles team <a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-curling-milan-olympics-gallant-peterman-ee1c0fd2a4fd4bf24620d0f20547e45f">failed to reach the semifinals</a> in Cortina.The world has caught up with Canadian curling over the past decade, meaning the men’s team’s last Olympic medal was under Jacobs 12 years ago.Since then, the U.S. and Sweden have won men’s gold — with Canada winning just one bronze in that time.“People need to understand how difficult international curling is these days,” said Marc Kennedy, Jacobs’ teammate. “These teams are good, these players have been around a long time. A lot of them come to Canada, work on their game, and they are as good or better than most of our Canadian teams.“That expectation of winning a medal every time, it’s gone. It’s a tough battle out there.”The women’s competition starts on Thursday.Sweden won the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/milan-cortina-winter-olympics-curling-mixed-doubles-16997d4520c048403dc980b0e026e057">mixed doubles</a>, beating the United States in the final on Tuesday.___AP Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Brad Jacobs of Team Canada competes alongside Ben Hebert of Team Canada and Brett Gallant of Team Canada during the Men's Round Robin Session One match between Team Canada and Team Germany on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

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Second-to-last Burnley came back from 2-0 down at Crystal Palace to win 3-2 on Wednesday.  Palace...

Second-to-last Burnley came back from 2-0 down at Crystal Palace to win 3-2 on Wednesday.Palace's record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen scored twice on his home debut, but his celebrations turned to disappointment as Burnley rallied late in the first half.Hannibal Mejbri sparked the fightback in the 40th and four minutes later the game was level Jaidon Anthony equalized.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Burnley's winner came before the break through an own goal from Jefferson Lerma in the second minute of first half added time.Nottingham Forest is just three points above the Premier League's relegation zone after a goalless draw with last-place Wolves.___James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Jaidon Anthony of Burnley celebrates goal with Josh Laurent of Burnley during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Burnley at Selhurst Park on February 11, 2026 in London, England.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lying on the ground with a broken right leg, NASCAR driver Brad Keselo...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lying on the ground with a broken right leg, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski was in so much pain that he briefly contemplated taking a Civil War approach to his injury.“What was going through my mind was like, ’Oh my God. Think about the soldiers in the Civil War,'" Keselowski said during Daytona 500 media day Wednesday. "They just would cut their leg off right here. And I understood why they would do it because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I’ve ever went through.“I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was part of me that’s like, ‘That might actually feel better.’”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Keselowski <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-keselowski-daytona-500-2dc5cb51315ef54ca25c6054c82b253b">suffered the injury when he slipped on ice during a family ski vacation</a> in mid-December. He had surgery a day later and spent weeks rehabbing. He missed the exhibition Clash last week at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.He passed a driving test Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway and was cleared to get behind the wheel in the No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing. He was using a cane — complete with sponsor decals, of course — to get around Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday.“It’s hard to explain to people that have never broken their femur before what it’s like,” said Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion. “It’s not the same as breaking your leg below your knee. Your femur is the biggest bone in your body. It’s got a lot of things running through it, and it has to heal. You can’t really cast it. You can’t do any of those things.“You just kind of have to tough it out.”Keselowski said a full recovery will take roughly six months. He added that he won’t know how he will handle the pain until he drives a 60-lap qualifying race Thursday. The toughest part is getting in and out of the car window.“I’m eight weeks in, and until about three-to-five weeks in, there was a question if I was going to walk again, let alone drive a race car,” he said. “Those were the thoughts that were going through my mind. I was confident I was going to put the work in, and I was going to own whatever result there was.“There were certainly a lot of moments where you’re like, ‘Ooh, this isn’t a layup.’ … But until you get in a race car going 190 miles an hour, you don’t know. You don’t know how it’s going to feel.”Logano's haircut has the garage buzzingJoey Logano has a new look for the Daytona 500. Fittingly, he’s calling it hair-o-dynamics.Logano showed up at NASCAR’s season opener sporting a bald head, a significant change for the 35-year-old Team Penske driver. Just three years ago, Logano had voluminous black locks courtesy of a sponsor that treated him for alopecia and early baldness. The procedure gave him a full head of hair for the first time in a decade.Now, he’s taken a 180-degree turn.“You can do this haircut at home,” Logano quipped.He said the autoimmune disease causes random bald patches that take time to come back. He had a flare-up in the offseason and responded, “Screw it. I’m just shaving it all off.” He handed clippers to his 9-year-old son, Hudson, and said “Have at it.”“I figured he would have fun doing that,” Logano added.Following the suggestion of his wife, Brittany, Logano decided to grow out facial hair to even out his new look.Bad Bunny's halftime show brought Wallace ‘a lot of joy’Bubba Wallace danced his way through <a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-60-celebrities-bad-bunny-a577c46590ba5309d94247c9a905174f">Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show</a> and then took to social media to praise the performance.“What a proud moment it must be for the Puerto Rican community!! I enjoyed that,” he posted.He received a handful of negative responses, but as the only Black driver racing full-time at NASCAR’s top level, Wallace felt a connection to Bad Bunny’s moment on a global stage.“I didn’t understand a word that he was saying, but I put myself in the Puerto Rican shoes, tried to, and I was like, ‘Holy cow, this is probably really big for them.’ And that brought me a lot of joy. And I may have been moving a little bit having a beer or two, you know.”Despite not understanding the Spanish lyrics, Wallace understood he was watching a cultural moment at a difficult time in the United States.“We’re in such a divisive country right now, and it’s sad. And to see how music brings people together, it’s like, ‘We need help, you know?’ I don’t know where that starts," Wallace said. "I’m not trying to become political about it at all, but I just I enjoyed it because I know millions of other people that have never been able to be on the big stage did, and that’s a really cool moment. It’s as simple as that. It was coming from the heart.”___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 25: Brad Keselowski (#6 RFK Racing Buildsubmarines.com Ford) looks on during qualifying for the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 on October 25, 2025, at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA.

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MILAN (AP) — Jordan Stolz pictured this moment most of his life, ever since he was 5 and learning...

MILAN (AP) — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-jordan-stolz-speedskating-1d6682752608070ce283542eba39dfca">Jordan Stolz</a> pictured this moment most of his life, ever since he was 5 and learning to skate on a frozen pond in his Wisconsin backyard after falling in love with speedskating while watching the 2010 <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Winter Olympics</a> on TV — and hoping to one day step atop the podium himself.So what was the little hassle of a 10-plus-minute wait to make sure this first speedskating gold medal officially would be his Wednesday? Especially because, as Stolz would say later, “I didn’t think anybody was going to beat that time.”Stolz needed to hold off on a celebratory lap with a U.S. flag until another competitor got the chance for a re-skate, then soon enough was able to smile while leaning forward to receive his gold for winning the men’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-erin-jackson-olympics-speedskating-8fd61a93247b9b4f7df4c99356db264a">1,000 meters</a> at the Milan Cortina Games in an Olympic-record time thanks to a blistering closing stretch.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It was just a feeling like, ‘You finally did it,’” said the 21-year-old Stolz, who was trailing silver medalist Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands with 400 meters to go. “It almost doesn’t seem real, right?”Stolz’s father, Dirk, plowed away snow on their pond all those years ago so that little Jordan and his older sister, Hannah, could skate — over the objections of their mother, Jane. When they all gathered after Wednesday’s race, Dirk said, “He showed me (the medal) and said, ‘I finally got it!’”Now Stolz will hope to keep going and add to his collection of trophies: He’s entered in three more events in Milan.“Well, it’s hard to say, ‘Oh, I could win four gold medals,’ when you haven’t won one yet. Now that I’ve won one, I kind of know what to expect and can kind of feel like how the crowd is, with the energy, and the ice,” he said. “So it’s going to be good.”Skating in the next-to-last pairing at Milano Speed Skating Stadium, a temporary facility constructed for these Olympics, Stolz finished in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds.That didn’t threaten his world record of 1:05.37 but did better the Olympic standard of 1:07.18 that stood since 2002. All four long track speedskating races in Milan have been won in the fastest times ever turned in at an Olympics.De Boo ended up a half-second slower; no one else came within a full second of Stolz. Zhongyan Ning of China got the bronze.“He’s just a killer on the last lap,” said Bob Corby, Stolz’s coach.Stolz’s medal was his first at this level: As a 17-year-old at the 2022 Beijing Games, he was 14th in the 1,000 and 13th in the 500.It also was the first medal of any sort in the men’s 1,000 for the United States since the 2010 Vancouver Games. That’s when Shani Davis — a mentor and, at one point, a coach to Stolz — won his second consecutive gold in that event, and Chad Hedrick got the bronze. Dutch men had won the 1,000 at each of the past three Winter Games.With Eric Heiden, the only speedskater to win five golds at one Olympics, sitting next to rapper Snoop Dogg in the stands, Stolz pulled ahead of de Boo by the time one full lap was done. Then de Boo moved in front and was still there at the 600-meter mark.But Stolz zoomed ahead around the final corner and crossed the line first with his hands on his knees, then rose for an understated pump of his right hand.“I had high hopes. But his last lap is just incredible,” de Boo said. “I heard him coming at 800 meters, and then I just knew it was too late.”Stolz entered the day as a big favorite.He holds the 1,000 world record and is a two-time world champion at the distance. Plus, he went 5-for-5 on the World Cup circuit this season in the event, confirming his status as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-stolz-milan-olympics-speedskating-5564aacec42158bd4b816229d56dba03">the man to beat at the Olympics</a>.“Everything up until today was nothing. It was just: ‘Eh, it’s a regular meet.’ We get ready. We get set. We rest. And we’re skating good in practices,” Corby said. “After he sat down after the race, he was kind of like, ‘Wow. This is a pretty big deal.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, it is.’”Up next: Stolz races the 500 on Saturday, the 1,500 on Feb. 19, and the mass start on Feb. 21.Stolz’s name is often mentioned alongside that of Heiden, the only speedskater to claim five long track gold medals at a single Winter Games. At the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, Heiden won the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.Stolz is flattered to hear such comparisons but also quick to note that what Heiden accomplished was remarkably different, covering five distances. Stolz might add the longer events to his repertoire down the road; for now, he is the best there is in the sprints.“One gold medal is huge enough, right? It would be super nice to have two, three, right?” Stolz said. “But just having one means a lot.”___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Gold medalist Jordan Stolz of Team United States celebrates after the Speed Skating Men's 1000m on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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MILAN (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky had Slovakia’s only two goals four years ago in the first men’s hoc...

MILAN (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky had Slovakia’s only two goals four years ago in the first men’s hockey game at the Beijing Olympics, a convincing loss to Finland.Slafkovsky again scored twice in the tournament opener. Only this time, Slovakia upset Finland 4-1 Wednesday to get the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/milan-olympics-nhl-cd910b7b6bf0067f5f7ed11cf8ad890b">first Olympics with NHL players</a> in more than a decade off to a stunning start.“This is way better — a way better feeling to win,” Slafkovsky said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>With Slafkovsky, the MVP in 2022, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-hockey-standout-stars-d08345e0b0912ecb74d926fe4248ccfe">picking up where he left off</a> at the Olympics and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj stopping 39 of the 40 shots he faced, Slovakia served noticed by knocking off a medal favorite that it should not be taken lightly despite having only seven NHL players, while all but one on Finland’s roster plays in the league.“We are kind of that team no one’s really expecting us to win much of the games,” alternate captain Martin Fehervary said. “We haven’t won against Finland for a long, long time. I felt like this is the day. I felt like this is the time, and we did it.”Slafkovsky, who now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, scored the first goal of this tournament less than eight minutes in, skating through Finland’s defense and sliding the puck past a helpless Juuse Saros. After Dalibor Dvorsky scored with 13 minutes left to put Slovakia ahead, Slafkovsky wired a shot past Saros on the power play and pumped his fist to the crowd.“I guess the Olympics are fitting to him,” defenseman Erik Cernak said. “He’s playing well at the Olympics. I’m really happy for him. He’s playing well in Montreal. Now, he brought the same play, same everything.”Hlavaj had a lot to do with the initial underdog story on the ice, fending off one onslaught after another as Slovakia was outshot 18-5 in the first period and 40-25 overall. Fehervary called Hlavaj, a Minnesota Wild prospect playing in the American Hockey League in Iowa, Slovakia’s best player.“To be honest, I’ve never seen him play before,” Cernak said. “But he was outstanding. He kept us in it in important moments.”Unable to watch while the U.S. team he runs was practicing next door, Wild general manager Bill Guerin said “it’s great” that Hlavaj got off to such a strong start at the Olympics.It was not so good for Saros, the Nashville Predators starter who allowed three goals on 24 shots in defeat.Finland next plays archrival Sweden on Friday, and it’s possible Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen gets the nod, just as he did in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/4-nations-faceoff-d07ea79dd08bc692a16656aaea9c938a">replacing Saros in net at the 4 Nations Face-Off</a> a year ago.“It’s too early to say,” Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. “I like how Juuse played, and it wasn’t an easy game for him because not that many shots.”Eeli Tolvanen, also <a href="https://apnews.com/article/milan-winter-olympics-hockey-4e77b6fb107005544af8b24df2204664">a returning Olympian</a> after playing in 2018, scored Finland’s only goal. Adam Ruzicka scored into an empty net to seal it for Slovakia and deal Finland an unexpected early defeat.“Obviously, it wasn’t the start we wanted,” captain Mikael Granlund said. “We all know the most important games are ahead of us. No panic.’’Sweden gets a scare from Italy before winning 5-2Favored to beat the host country by more than five goals, Sweden fell behind against Italy when homegrown winger Luca Frigo beat Filip Gustavsson, who had dropped his stick. Gabriel Landeskog and Gustav Forsling scored to take the lead with a gargantuan shot advantage, but that did not stop Italy from tying it again less than a minute into the second period on a goal by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-hockey-olympics-foreigners-8935dcd10663f410ed3e911dbf0320f4">Canadian import</a> Matt Bradley.Sweden went ahead for good when William Nylander scored late in the second, and Italy goalie Damian Clara left with an injury midway through the third after making one of his 46 saves, cutting short an incredible performance by the Anaheim Ducks prospect drafted in the second round in 2023. Goals by Mika Zibanejad and Victor Hedman on backup Davide Fadani made it 5-2, as the all-NHL Swedes had 60 shots to Italy’s 22.Gustavsson allowed two goals on the first four shots he faced, then stopped the final 18.___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Dalibor Dvorsky #15 of Team Slovakia celebrates scoring a goal in the third period during the Men's Preliminary Group B match between Slovakia and Finland on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron will try to win his third straight Daytona 500 on Sunday...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron will try to win his third straight Daytona 500 on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd.Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday that all reserved grandstand seats have been purchased for the 68th running of "The Great American Race."Though grandstand tickets and camping are sold out for Sunday's marquee event, limited upgrades and premium packages are still available. More than 100,000 fans are expected to pack Daytona.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Byron won last year's event in overtime after race leader Denny Hamlin got spun on the final lap, igniting a multicar crash. Byron ended up passing eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane.Comedian Nate Bargatze will serve as the grand marshal and give the command for drivers to start their engines. Actor Kurt Russell is the honorary pace car driver, and country singer Miranda Lambert will perform a prerace concert. Miss America Cassie Donegan will sing the national anthem.The purse of $31,045,575 is the largest in Daytona 500 history.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, leads Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, to the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf won gold and silver for the United States ...

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf won gold and silver for the United States in women’s freestyle moguls skiing on Wednesday.Lemley, 20, won the eight-skier final with a score of 82.30 points.The 29-year-old Kauf repeated as silver medalist with a score of 80.77. She also won silver in 2022 in Beijing,<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Perrine Laffont of France, the 2018 gold medalist, took bronze.Defending champion Jakara Anthony of Australia finished eighth after slipping on the last run of the final.___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

LIVIGNO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Gold medalist Elizabeth Lemley of Team United States, Silver medalist Jaelin Kauf of Team United States and Bronze medalist Perrine Laffont of Team France pose for a photo after competing in Women's Moguls Final on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Air Park on February 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.

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MADRID (AP) — Young forward Samu Aghehowa was in disbelief after missing out on a chance to play ...

MADRID (AP) — Young forward Samu Aghehowa was in disbelief after missing out on a chance to play in his first World Cup with Spain because of a serious knee injury sustained while playing with Porto.The 21-year-old Samu got hurt in Porto's 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league on Monday in what he called "the unluckiest day" of his career. Porto said he sustained a torn ACL on his right leg."I suffered a serious injury. I still can't believe it. I'm devastated, speechless," Samu said on an Instagram post. "I'll be out of action for a few months. It hurts me not being able to help the team as I'd like, fighting on the field. Now I'm just another fan supporting us. Trusting in God's plan, being strong and positive is what will make me come back stronger than ever."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Samu made his first-team debut with Spain in 2024. He helped Spain win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

VALLADOLID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 14: Samu Aghehowa of Spain reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Spain and Bulgaria at Jose Zorrilla on October 14, 2025 in Valladolid, Spain.

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Spain's Samu Aghehowa 'devastated' after injury ends World Cup chances

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Sure, Chloe Kim was a touch nervous. But who were we kidding?  “I might be ...

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Sure, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-chloe-kim-0f058b2e4d21a03a51b4cc038a552cd9">Chloe Kim</a> was a touch nervous. But who were we kidding?“I might be better at snowboarding than I am at walking,” she said.That was apparent Wednesday when Kim, four weeks removed from a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chloe-kim-olympics-injury-6c7430225ada2223a8170b5831301bb9">schedule-scrambling shoulder injury</a>, soared through a no-fuss, no-drama qualifying round, finishing first to easily earn a spot in the final where she'll attempt to become the first snowboarder to win three straight <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Olympic</a> gold medals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Two dozen riders got two turns down the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-japan-hirano-shaun-white-78a2282fd63c2c4e02f757b3a568e0d8">Olympic halfpipe</a> on a partly cloudy day in Livigno, with their best score counting and only 12 advancing to Thursday night's final.Kim dropped in the middle of the pack and immediately separated herself from everyone.The run included a massive big air leap, some 13 feet over the edge of the halfpipe, punctuated with a showy grab of the board, and also a 1080-degree spin while riding backward — a trick she can make even harder by adding an extra flip.When she was done, she smiled huge for the camera and stuck out her tongue.“I’ve been doing this for 22 years,” said Kim, who is 25. “Muscle memory is a thing.”There were other hard tricks going down on the halfpipe — American Maddie Mastro led off both of her runs with double corks — but in many ways, this looked like most contests Kim has been part of over her decade of dominance. She's just a lot better.Kim is competing in these Olympics wearing a shoulder brace, the result of an awkward fall four weeks ago during a training run in Switzerland. She returned to the halfpipe only two weeks ago. This marked her first truly meaningful run since last March.“She's been very well behaved,” Kim said, looking down at her left shoulder. “So I'm grateful for that.”The men's qualifying was set for later Wednesday, with all of last year's podium — Ayumu Hirano, Scotty James and Jan Scherrer — in the lineup, and this sport's GOAT, Shaun White, on hand for NBC.Kim said she was hoping to link frontside and backside 900s on her second run, but she skidded a bit after the first one, so pulled up to save herself for the final, where she'll go bigger. A few minutes later, she was in the crowd, sharing hugs with her boyfriend, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.“I've landed all the components of my finals run, I just haven't put them together,” she said. “So I'll get to do it on the big day.”Among her biggest challengers will be Mastro, Japan's Sara Shimizu and Sena Tomita, Korea's Gaon Choi and U.S. rider Bea Kim, all of whom made the final 12.They are all in the running for medals — and a gold one if Kim is not at her best.Seasoned as she is in jumping huge in big contests, Kim conceded the injury, which forced her to switch things on the run in the run-up to Milan Cortina, has changed her perspective on the possibilities of being the sport's first to win three in a row.“If you'd asked me before the shoulder injury, I'd maybe have a different answer for you," she said. "But just because I'm coming back from an injury, obviously I didn't get nearly the amount of reps I would normally get going into an Olympics, I'm just really proud of myself and proud that I've been able to push it as far as I have.”___AP Winter Olympics: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics</a>

11 February 2026, Italy, Livigno: Olympia, Olympic Winter Games Milan Cortina 2026, Snowboard, Halfpipe, Women, Qualification in Livigno Snow Park, Chloe Kim from the USA in action. Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa

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Chloe Kim shows no rust, tops Olympic halfpipe qualifying

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