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		<title>Latest Sports News from FOX Sports</title>
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			<title>Latest Sports News from FOX Sports</title>
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			<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 06:15:38 -0400</pubDate>
		<copyright>Copyright 2026 FOX Sports</copyright>
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					<![CDATA[Kyle Busch Loved To Win, Hated To Lose — And Fans Reveled Watching It All]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kyle-busch-death-obituary</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kyle-busch-death-obituary</guid>
				<category>nascar</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died suddenly Thursday at age 41.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 21:25:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Kyle Busch loved to race and compete. He loved to make moves that no one else would dare to make. He loved being brash, whether with the car or with his tongue. But most of all, Rowdy loved to win. Man, did he love winning. He also hated losing. And those two attributes provided a combination on the track that turned Busch into one of the greatest talents ever to hold a NASCAR steering wheel. The 41-year-old Busch died Thursday, a day after being hospitalized overnight for a severe illness. The Busch family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing released a joint statement Thursday, calling Busch "a giant of the sport." "His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation,'" the statement said. The stat sheets will say he won more national series races (234) than any other driver. He ranks ninth in all-time Cup Series wins at 63 and first in wins in the Craftsman Truck Series (69) and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102). Stats don’t tell the entire story of the Las Vegas kid just trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Kurt Busch, to NASCAR. He literally got there too soon, having to leave his truck seat in 2001 at age 16, when it was determined that as long as Winston sponsored the Cup Series, he couldn’t compete with the cigarette company branding on track property. One of the sport's brightest stars would have to wait a couple of years to return to full-time NASCAR racing, and when he finally came on the scene, he was aggressive and brash and determined to make up for lost time in becoming one of the NASCAR greats who will for sure join his brother in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won throughout his 24-plus years in the sport, all the way to the end. His most recent victory came in a truck just last week at Dover Motor Speedway, where he competed in both the truck race and the NASCAR All-Star Race. Busch earned his best Cup finish of the season in the most recent points race on May 10, when he placed eighth at Watkins Glen International. During the event, he asked for a doctor to meet him after the race, but the reason was unclear. Busch indicated last weekend at Dover that he was still feeling a little under the weather. His family announced Thursday morning that he had been hospitalized with a "severe illness." Even with the serious tone of the announcement, it was hard to believe that someone fans had just seen race, someone they had seen battle for a win, could be gone. Many in the sport accept that tragedies could happen on the track. But off the track? Not to Rowdy. Not to the guy who loved to needle the media and loved to needle other competitors when in the right mood. Not the one who everyone was still hoping to rattle off some wins at any moment and help lift RCR to greater heights. RCR was the third Cup organization Busch had driven for, and one that seemed to fit his hard-nosed racing mold. He started his Cup career at Hendrick Motorsports in 2004, but when he found out he would be without a ride in 2008, he landed at Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch spent 15 years at JGR, where he won 56 Cup races as well as Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. He moved to RCR in 2023. He won three races with the team, the last one in June 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis. Busch also owned a race team that primarily competed in the truck series. Kyle Busch Motorsports won 100 truck races over 14 years with two driver championships (Erik Jones and Christopher Bell) and seven owners championships. His ownership of race teams connected him with hundreds of industry personnel, who have him to thank, at least in part, for helping mold their careers. But the 2015 Cup title might be one of his greatest accomplishments. The comeback from an accident at Daytona International Speedway where he broke his right leg and left ankle required an intense rehab that had him working hours on end to regain the strength to be able to compete. He missed 11 races, won soon thereafter – and captured the title. For those who didn't think he should be the champion after missing 11 races? He didn't think twice. Don't hate the player, hate the game. And Busch often played the game. [NASCAR MOURNS: Tributes Pour In For Kyle Busch] Among his other accomplishments? The building of his family with wife Samantha and their two children, Brexton (11) and Lennix (4). Samantha and Kyle had trouble conceiving, and had Brexton through in vitro fertilization. When they discovered the high costs of the procedure, they dedicated their charitable efforts to raising funds so those who could not afford the price would still have a chance at becoming parents. Kyle raced against Brexton for the first time in micro sprints last year in March at a small dirt track in North Carolina. Kyle finished a little bit better and quipped with a laugh: "I’ve got bragging rights for the next couple of weeks." That was Kyle Busch. Competitive even against his son. But also seeing the humor in such a statement. Busch could see the humor in racing in the moments he wasn't seeing red amid the anger of losing. He would make fun of himself and others, especially those he felt had done him wrong. He would say things with a smirk or dripping with sarcasm, especially if he felt he was being unfairly singled out or treated unfairly. He could even find humor while seething. One of the funniest lines he ever delivered was in the aftermath of a fight a couple of years ago with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., when Stenhouse told Busch he would wreck him. Busch replied: "Bring it. … I suck just as bad as you." He carried that brutal honesty whether he was glum with the way he was running or elated with wins. Whenever Busch would win a race, he would deliver his signature bow. An act of confidence and an act that implied: "Yes, I've got a lot of these wins, come try to get you some." Fans would cheer. Fans would boo. Some lived to see him win. Some lived to see him lose. But he made them all feel alive. And, because of that, many will remember Kyle Busch as one of the greatest of all time.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Tributes Pour In For Late Kyle Busch As NASCAR World Mourns His Death]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kyle-busch-died-motorsports-world-mourns</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kyle-busch-died-motorsports-world-mourns</guid>
				<category>nascar</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The motorsports world is mourning the sudden death of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 18:51:47 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died Thursday, following his hospitalization this week with a severe illness. He was 41. One of the most successful NASCAR drivers of all time, Busch made his Cup Series debut in 2004 and had 63 career victories, putting him ninth on the all-time wins list. He competed in the Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing for 15 years before moving to Richard Childress Racing after the 2022 season. The news of his sudden death shocked the NASCAR and motorsports worlds, along with Rowdy Nation, and the tributes to one of the best and most competitive racers began pouring in.]]>
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					<![CDATA[‘Pushing Each Other To The Limit’: Kevin Harvick Reflects On Kyle Busch Relationship]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kevin-harvick-reflects-on-relationship-with-kyle-busch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/kevin-harvick-reflects-on-relationship-with-kyle-busch</guid>
				<category>nascar</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Kevin Harvick remembers his former rival, Kyle Busch, after his sudden passing on Thursday.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Kevin Harvick remembered Kyle Busch as one of his fiercest competitors. And he also credited Busch, who died suddenly on Thursday at age 41, as one of the sport’s most influential figures. "NASCAR lost one of its true giants, whose impact is almost beyond measure," Harvick wrote in a post on social media. Harvick, now a FOX Sports analyst, and Busch had much in common, both growing up on the West Coast (Harvick in Bakersfield, Calif., and Busch in Las Vegas) and carrying the competitive desire that nothing else mattered but winning. The two nearly came to blows in a confrontation at Darlington Raceway in 2011. Harvick got out of his car after the race, went over to Busch’s car and took a swing at the window net while Busch drove away and hit Harvick’s car in the process. Busch and Harvick waged fierce battles over the years. Busch had to beat Harvick (as well as two other Champ 4 finalists) in both the 2015 and 2019 championship races, with Harvick finishing just 1.5 seconds behind Busch in 2015. They competed against each other over 20 Cup seasons. Busch sits ninth on the all-time wins list at 63; Harvick is 11th at 60. "Kyle Busch and I spent years pushing each other to the limit," Harvick wrote. "We raced hard, traded paint and fought for every inch because all either of us wanted to do was beat the other. "What people may not realize is how much that rivalry drove us both. Kyle made me better because you had to be at your absolute best to beat him. Over time, that fierce competition turned into a mutual respect." They both shared a passion for the sport that went beyond driving. Harvick and Busch both owned teams that raced in NASCAR’s national series. Kevin’s son, Keelan, is a few years older than Busch’s son, Brexton. Both Keelan and Brexton are aspiring NASCAR drivers. "As our careers evolved, so did our conversations," Harvick wrote. "We talked over building race teams, life beyond the racetrack, and our families, especially raising young sons who want to be racers themselves." The NASCAR industry mourns the loss of Busch, who is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their children, Brexton and Lennix. "I’m deeply saddened for Samantha, Brexton and Lennix," Harvick wrote. "There’s nothing that can replace a husband or a father."]]>
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					<![CDATA[What Is the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500? Everything To Know About Epic Hot Dog Race]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/motor-what-is-wienie-500-everything-know-indy-hot-dog-race</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/motor-what-is-wienie-500-everything-know-indy-hot-dog-race</guid>
				<category>motor</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[What to know for the 2026 Wienie 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 15:27:00 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There are countless marquee races in the calendar year, but there's only one Oscar Mayer Wienie 500. Here's everything to know about the critically acclaimed hot dog motor race. What Is The Wienie 500? Two days before the Indianapolis 500 (Sunday, May 24 this year), six enormous hot dog cars (also known as Wienermobiles) drive a two-lap race around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the site of the Indianapolis 500. When Is The Wienie 500, And Where Can I Watch It? The race will take place on Friday, May 22 at 2 p.m. ET. You can watch on FOX and stream on FOX One. How Fast Are The Hot Dogs? The Wienermobiles can max out between 60 and 70 miles an hour. What Happened At Last Year's Wienie 500? The Slaw Dog car took the checkered flag at last year's Wienie 500, the first at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner beat out the Chi Dog, New York Dog, Sonoran Dog, Chili Dog and Seattle Dog. Each hot dog is supposed to represent a different region of the United States (e.g., the Slaw Dog represents the Southwest, the New York Dog represents the East and the Chi Dog represents the Midwest). Moreover, the winning Wienie gets a Wiener’s Wreath in Victory Lane. What Role Does Andy Richter Play In All This? The actor and comedian is the official Wienie 500 "Commander in Beef," a role similar to the honorary Indy 500 Grand Marshal that will see Richter commence the race. And Don't Forget … Catch the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 this coming Sunday, May 24 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One and the FOX Sports app.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Latest Intel On USA's 2026 World Cup Roster: What Surprises Are Looming?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-world-cup-roster-gozo-richards-mckennie-pulisic</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-world-cup-roster-gozo-richards-mckennie-pulisic</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A consistent theme has emerged on the eve of Mauricio Pochettino selecting the USA's roster for next month’s World Cup: Nobody really knows.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 00:26:02 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A consistent theme has emerged on the eve of Mauricio Pochettino selecting the United States men’s soccer team’s roster for next month’s FIFA World Cup: Nobody really knows. Pochettino will inform the 26 players who survive the cull this weekend, according to multiple sources briefed on the Argentine’s plans. The ex-Chelsea and PSG boss has previously said he won’t contact the pool of more than 50 players he’s called up during his 20-month tenure at all. Through much of that time, a window far shorter than the full four-year cycle most national team coaches have. Pochettino deliberately obliterated the hierarchy cultivated under predecessor Gregg Berhalter. It was an attempt to both deepen the player pool with hungry youngsters and push veterans who had become too assured of a starting spot. Starters at Qatar 2022, including the likes of striker Josh Sargent and midfielder Yunus Musah have been out of the picture for months. Juventus standout midfielder Weston McKennie was left home for September friendlies against Japan and South Korea, a message to the rest of the veterans that was clear. Pochettino vocalized it anyway. "No one has a place for sure," he said before that camp began. So is it any wonder that the player pool is on edge right now as a potentially life-changing decision looms? On Thursday, a source close to one of Pochettino’s regulars told me he’s not sure whether elation or anguish awaits. He’s probably not alone. McKennie responded to the September snub with a career-best season. He’s a lock now if he wasn’t then. So is forward Christian Pulisic, despite his career-worst scoring slump with AC Milan, and a few others including midfielder Tyler Adams, fullback Antonee "Jedi" Robinson and center back Chris Richards. That’s assuming Richards is even fully fit following news on Thursday that the defender tore ankle ligaments last week playing for Premier League side Crystal Palace. After that it’s anyone’s guess — and guess they pretty much have to. Because Pochettino has employed the same backroom staff for almost two decades, taking assistant coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino and Toni Jimenez from Espanyol to Southampton to Spurs before stops with PSG, Chelsea and now the U.S. team. Not much leaks out. The coaches all live in Europe. They communicate in Spanish. Compared to the lead up to previous World Cup roster announcements, there’s a dearth of reliable information to be had. Within the span of a few minutes on Thursday night, a source told me one player who most would expect to be picked was hurt and likely out. Unprompted, another texted me the exact opposite; that the player is fine and therefore in. A similar thing happened regarding another veteran. Right now, I don’t have a good sense of where either player stands. "I’m not sure even Gooch knows" who’ll make it, a source told me, referring to acting U.S. Soccer sporting director Oguchi Onyewu. The only thing I can report confidently after a week-plus worth of digging is this: 19-year-old Real Salt Lake sensation Zavier Gozo was included in the provisional World Cup squad U.S. Soccer submitted to FIFA before the May 11 deadline. That list can include up to 55 names, from which the final 26 must be selected. Will Gozo stick when Pochettino makes it official on Tuesday? While my gut says probably not, a hard truth remains: My head really has no idea.]]>
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					<![CDATA['It Changed Everything': Reliving The 1994 World Cup As Told By USA Legends]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/1994-usmnt-world-cup-oral-history</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/1994-usmnt-world-cup-oral-history</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Recounting the USA's 1994 World Cup run by the players who captured a nation's imagination during an epic summer.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 16:54:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[For me and many others, this particular World Cup completes a full circle. I was a literal child when the 1994 World Cup arrived on these shores. I fell in love with the event thanks in large part to a bunch of unknown American players with some epic hairdos and hideous faux-denim jerseys. Before we turn toward this year's 48-team extravaganza, let's hear from some of the men who represented the Stars and Stripes 32 years ago and from others who were impacted by that epic summer. Chapter 1: The Preparation With no domestic league and only a smattering of overseas players, the U.S. Soccer Federation turned the national team into a de facto club team, signing players to contracts and training full-time in Mission Viejo, California, in the years leading up to USA ’94. Cobi Jones | Midfielder/Forward: In 1994, hardly anyone was paying attention to soccer. Eric Wynalda | Forward: We were trying to prove to the American people that we didn't suck. Mike Sorber | Midfielder: Nobody even knew who we were, what we were. Nobody knew anything. The media knew nothing about soccer. It was considered a foreign sport. Tab Ramos | Midfielder/Forward: There were people who had no idea the difference between soccer and lacrosse. So we were all used to selling the game. Tony Meola | Goalkeeper: The idea that U.S. Soccer had to put us together was crazy. But I realize how important it became, in the end, to build that group. There wasn't a guy there that wasn't ready to fight for the next guy. Hugo Pérez | Midfielder: This is a team that was basically together for three years. Ramos: Out of the 22 players on the final World Cup roster in '94, something like 14 or 15 didn't even have a club. The squad trained year-round under their new coach, Bora Milutinović. Under the well-traveled Serbian manager, the U.S. went from a defensive team that just tried to survive against top opponents to one that tried to go to-to-toe. Sorber: We needed an international coach. The American coaches only wanted guys who could run and were physical. But we always had that. We needed football IQ and brains. Bora wanted guys who were smart and could figure things out and make plays. Pérez: Bora, when he came in, on one of the first days said, "We're gonna change the way we play football in this country." He believed in keeping the ball, possession. And he picked the players to do it. Meola: No host nation had ever not made it to the second round. That was always something that we had in the back of our minds. I think every one of us said "it's not going to be us." Chapter 2: Ready For Showtime Few thought the U.S. would advance in the World Cup, especially in a group that included two stout European squads (Switzerland and Romania) and a tough Colombia squad. Wynalda: "You guys won’t get out of the group." That was all we heard. Every sponsor was like, "don't f*** this up." It was bad. The pressure on us was immense. Pérez: Between ’91 and ’94, we played more than 80 games internationally, all over the world, against the best clubs and national teams. I think that was a key factor in our preparation. Because when we arrived at the World Cup, we knew we could play against anybody. Ramos: After all those results, we thought, "Hey, you know what? We're going to force all these teams to play their best to beat us." It wasn't so much that we were great. But we knew we were good enough to really compete. Sorber: I remember specifically [English journalist] Paul Gardner at the draw. Paul says, "Do you think you can get out of the group?" I said, "Absolutely." He was blown away. But I’d already played Colombia, Romania, Brazil. Were we better? No. But we were right there. Chapter 3: Against All Odds The U.S. opened against Switzerland on June 1994 at the Pontiac Silverdome, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It was the first indoor match in World Cup history. After falling behind, Wynalda’s sensational free-kick goal salvaged a crucial point and a 1-1 draw. Wynalda: The night before the game, I took two free kicks in the Silverdome. If I don't hit those, I don't know the flight of the ball in that stadium. I realized I don't have to hit it that hard. So I was standing over the ball, trying to control my emotions and all this adrenaline and just calmly hit the same way. And it actually went exactly where it was supposed to. Next up was a date with Colombia at the Rose Bowl. The U.S. won 2-1, in part due to an own goal scored by Colombian defender Andres Escobar. The U.S. captured the imagination of what had been a skeptical American public, though it was dampened by Escobar’s murder in Colombia days later. Alexi Lalas | Defender: There was this David-Goliath type of narrative that led up to that game. Pérez: Colombia was coming to the tournament, they hadn't lost in three years. Everybody was saying that they were favorites to win the World Cup. Wynalda: When we beat Colombia — and I have to say, when Escobar got killed it was horrible, we’d exchanged jerseys a bunch of times, he was a friend — that's when we won over the public. Sorber: The Colombia game changed everything. Lalas: That was certainly a defining type of moment, a touchstone. It was the first time America was proud relative to the game of soccer. That was something that America had never experienced before. Sorber: The next day, there’s twice as much media there. At least. Jones: We're the USA, right? We like winners. Wynalda: The next game, against a really good Romanian team, was the first time I felt the belief from our supporters. It was the first time that they felt that they could back us. Chapter 4: The Dream Run Ends Losing 1-0 to Romania in the group finale meant that the U.S. had to face mighty Brazil in the round of 16 at Stanford Stadium on July 4. Milutinović elected to bench Wynalda and insert Perez in midfield in place of suspended captain John Harkes. The home side played the entire second half up a man but without Ramos, whose skull was fractured by the flagrant elbow that got Leonardo red-carded just before the break. But Brazil won on Bebeto’s 73rd minute goal, ending the Americans’ run. Pérez: Everybody thought that they were gonna destroy us, and it turned out to be the opposite. Wynalda: That was the worst day of my life. Pérez: At halftime we passed by the locker room, and I could hear guys complaining. They were nervous. They didn't know why they were not beating us, so they had, they got battle, they were nervous. We had the momentum. Unfortunately, we couldn't finish it off. Pérez: For me, it was the biggest game so far in the history of our country. …We were able to play them without any fear. I still think we could have won the game. Wynalda: I saw Bora in Miami a few years ago and said, "We could’ve beaten them if you would’ve f***ing put me on the field." I had to get it off my chest. Chapter 5: Legends And Legacy Created The Americans had done their country proud — even if they didn’t immediately realize the impact the tournament had made not just on mainstream America, but on the country’s youth. Landon Donovan | Midfielder/Forward | USA ‘02, ’06, '10: It’s crazy to say, but prior to 1994, I had no clue that anything like the World Cup existed.  I knew nothing about soccer. Maurice Edu | Midfielder | USA '10: I can still see Bebeto scoring. I remember thinking, "Come on Tony, you can save that!" I was only eight, but I remember damn near everything. Eric scoring that free kick against Switzerland, the Colombia game and Earnie Stewart’s goal, and obviously the own goal and what happened after that, unfortunately. Seeing the guys after the Colombia game walking around the pitch with the flags draped around their shoulders? Those images, they live with you. Jones: Especially as I've gotten older, more people talk about the fact that they watched me during the 1994 World Cup, that I was an inspiration to them within the Black community and even beyond. Pérez: The importance of what football is right now in this country, a lot has to do with that team in ’94. Sorber: How good that team was doesn't get discussed enough. Wynalda: The legacy of '94 is that it was when people fell in love with the game, when they actually thought for the first time that we're not going to stink at this. Lalas: I'm talking to you today because of the summer of ’94. Ramos: I can't tell you the number of people who say 1994 was the first time I really got into soccer. Donovan: There’s no question the 1994 World Cup helped propel me to wanting to be a pro. Sorber: It doesn't get discussed enough, how good that team was. Wynalda: I think we were proud that America was finally proud of us. That was not the case until the 1994 World Cup. Chapter 6: A Big Opportunity This summer, a new generation of U.S. players – led by star forward Christian Pulisic and dynamic midfielder Weston McKennie – get the rare chance of playing a World Cup on home soil. Will they capture fans' hearts like their predecessors in 1994? Ramos: If we win the first game of the [2026] tournament against Paraguay, the whole country will be behind the team. It’s hard to understand for people that didn't live the experience of 1994. Lalas: It's going to be fun to see who emerges from this group, in terms of that attention that you know inevitably is going to come. Ramos: The current group is just so much better in every way. These are seasoned soccer players. A lot of them are going to their second World Cup. For them, it’s not about competing. … I was disappointed with Mauricio Pochettino when he said we competed really well against Belgium in March, because we've been doing that for 40 years already. We have good players. I don't think we get excited about competing. We get excited about achieving the results we're not supposed to. Meola: There's somebody today that has no idea who Christian Pulisic or Weston McKennie are. And a month from now, they're never going to forget them for the rest of their lives.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Hot Diggity Dog! How to Pick the Incomparable Wienie 500]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/hot-diggity-dog-how-bet-incomparable-wienie-500</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/hot-diggity-dog-how-bet-incomparable-wienie-500</guid>
				<category>other</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Indianapolis Motor Speedway will also feature wienies come this weekend. Sammy P informs on how to bet the famous Wienie 500.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 14:21:01 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The hot dog is a polarizing vessel across the United States. One of the last times I was back home in Chicago was for a Fourth of July cookout that featured juicy smashburgers, succulent chicken thighs and a hot dog bar with all the accoutrements a Chicagoan could ever desire. A red-and-white checkered cloth covered a table stacked with dogs, poppy seed buns, three kinds of mustards, fresh tomatoes, neon sweet relish, chopped onions, pickle spears, sport peppers and shakers of celery salt. Everyone knows I love a spread (get it?). This Friday, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Chi Dog (Midwest) is one of six Wienermobiles set to race in the second annual Oscar Mayer Wienie 500. It joins the New York Dog (East), Chili Dog (South), Seattle Dog (Northwest), last year’s winner Slaw Dog (Southeast) and the newest competitor via fan vote, Corn Dog. Race day coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One. One of my jobs around these parts is to handicap sporting events, dive inside the odds and give you an educated idea of what to bet. Thing is, not a single American sportsbook is taking wagers on the Wienie 500. Why? "Is that a serious question?" Circa Sports director of operations Jeff Benson texted me earlier this week. "It isn’t approved by gaming. You know that." I did know, but Benson’s reaction was worth the ask. So we can’t bet on it, but I still have a wienie in the race. And you will, too. Odds are good you’ll root for the hot dog that brings back your best childhood memories. Nostalgia tends to hit home in events like this. If you lathered yours with brown mustard and sauerkraut, you’ll be pulling for the New York Dog. If you went chili or chili-cheese, you know the drill. If you put cream cheese or slaw on your dog like a monster, God bless. We try not to judge around here. Last year, Slaw Dog sat in second place around the final turn before chasing down Chi Dog with a near 70-mile-per-hour rip to take the checkered flag. "I’m knee deep into college baseball right now," one anonymous bettor told me when pressed on this year’s race. "But I love a good villain. Give me the Slaw Dog to run it back. It’ll set up the three-peat for next year." Choose your wienie wisely. I’m going Chi Dog with revenge. What about you?]]>
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					<![CDATA[Top 10 QBs Of All-Time: Where Does Aaron Rodgers Rank Ahead Of Final Season?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/top-10-qbs-all-time-where-does-aaron-rodgers-rank-ahead-final-season</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/top-10-qbs-all-time-where-does-aaron-rodgers-rank-ahead-final-season</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Aaron Rodgers will wrap up his Hall of Fame career this season. That got us thinking where he ranks on the all-time quarterbacks list.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 20:35:05 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[After years of retirement rumors, Aaron Rodgers made it official on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback announced that the 2026 season will be his last. While the last few seasons haven't been kind to Rodgers, he sealed his place as one of the greatest players in pro football history well before his time with the Green Bay Packers came to an end. He is a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he may eventually get a street named after him in Green Bay. And Rodgers' name will come up whenever a discussion is held on the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The only debate will be about how high on the list he should rank. So, with Rodgers entering his 22nd and final NFL season, where does he fit on the all-time quarterbacks list? Here are my top 10 quarterbacks to ever play the game. Easily the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. Dan Marino did lead the Miami Dolphins to one appearance, though, in his spectacular second season. That year, he became the first quarterback to ever top 5,000 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns in a single season and was the NFL’s MVP. Known for his lightning-quick release, he was the most prolific passer of the 1980s and early ‘90s. He still ranks 10th all-time in passing yardage (61,361) and eighth all-time in passing touchdowns (420). Ernie Accorsi, the long-time NFL general manager who worked for the Baltimore Colts during the Unitas era, once told me, "The definition of leadership was watching Johnny Unitas get off the team bus." Unitas had an aura and confidence about him at a time when quarterbacks were just beginning to be superstars in the league. In fact, he helped set up the modern passing era with his golden right arm, leading the Colts to three championships and winning three MVPs. His numbers may pale in comparison to the modern stars, but in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, he dominated the league. Drew Brees might be the most prolific, high-volume passer of all time. He was one of only two quarterbacks ever to top 80,000 career yards (80,358) and he led the NFL in passing seven times in his 20 seasons. He is also second all-time with 571 passing touchdowns. Despite being just 6-feet tall, he had remarkable accuracy, completing 67.7% of his career passes. He led the NFL in that category six times, topped 70% in seven of his seasons and set the all-time record when he completed 74.4% of his passes in 2018. He went to 13 Pro Bowls and was the Super Bowl MVP when the New Orleans Saints won their only championship. John Elway wasn’t as prolific as some of his counterparts in the 1980s and ‘90s, but he did lead the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowls. And when he capped his career with back-to-back Super Bowl championships, his place in the top 10 was secured. Elway won an MVP, too, and he finished with impressive career numbers. His 51,475 passing yards ranked second all-time when he retired and currently sit in 12th, while his 300 passing touchdowns ranked third when he retired and still rank 14th. Those are impressive marks considering the rise of the passing game since Elway retired. More importantly, Elway retired as the winningest quarterback in NFL history with 148 victories — a number that still ranks seventh all-time. Brett Favre was the definition of a "gunslinger. The Green Bay Packers icon was one of the most prolific passers in NFL history … and is still the all-time leader in interceptions (366, including the playoffs). But Favre was a master of the broken play, with the ability to turn scrambles into dazzling, highlight-reel throws. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. He is also the only player in NFL history to win three straight MVP awards (1995-97), a remarkable feat. Favre's 71,838 passing yards still rank fourth all-time, and his 508 touchdown passes are still the fifth-most. What might have made Favre different, though, was his Iron Man status. He set a position player record with 297 consecutive starts in his career — 321 straight when the playoffs are included. Now entering his final season, Aaron Rodgers is 42 and still putting up respectable numbers at quarterback. But while there’s always a chance for a late-career miracle, his best days are behind him and his legacy is very secure. Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP — one of only two players to ever win that many, and one of just five players to ever win the award in back-to-back seasons. He also took the Packers to a Super Bowl in 2010 in only his third season as a starting quarterback, while making Green Bay a playoff mainstay as he led it to four NFC Championship Games in 11 seasons. Ahead of the 2026 season, Rodgers is fifth all-time in passing yards (66,274), fourth all-time in passing touchdowns (527), with a chance to finish third. But what's made Rodgers elite is his efficiency. He currently has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history and is also the all-time leader in passer rating (102.2). Sure, Rodgers is also the most-sacked quarterback of all time (600), but you can look past that when he's put up the numbers he's had and the amount he's won. Rodgers is sixth all-time in wins with 163, and is just one last 10-win season away from finishing fourth. The scary part about Patrick Mahomes is that he’s still only 30 years old and has played just nine NFL seasons, including the year he was Alex Smith's backup. But that means his career might only be half over, and look what he’s done already: 35,939 passing yards and 267 passing touchdowns — including two seasons over 5,000 yards and one season with 50 touchdowns. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion (and Super Bowl MVP), has been to two other Super Bowls, and before he got hurt last season, he had led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first seven years as their starter. He’s got a 17-4 record in the playoffs and has thrown 46 postseason touchdown passes. Only Tom Brady has thrown more and won more in the playoffs, and he might have another decade to add to a résumé that almost no one else can match. In many ways, Peyton Manning was the prototype of the modern quarterback, making him easily the most anticipated quarterback prospect ever. And Manning more than lived up to his considerable hype. He's the only five-time MVP in NFL history and led two teams to Super Bowl championships (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos) and played in four. He might have made a couple more, too, if he hadn’t kept running into Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the playoffs. He’s third all-time in passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539) and tied for second in wins (186). He also arguably had the best season for a quarterback in NFL history, throwing for a record 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns with Denver in 2013. Before Tom Brady came around, "Joe Cool" was the undisputed king of NFL quarterbacks. Joe Montana set the standard in the 1980s and early ‘90s, running the Bill Walsh West Coast offense to perfection. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and didn’t throw a single interception in his 122 Super Bowl passes. Montana's Super Bowl passer rating of 127.8 is a record that still stands, and his 45 playoff touchdown passes and 16 playoff wins rank him third all-time. His career numbers aren’t dazzling (40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns), but they were a product of a different era and the fact that he was only a starter for 12 seasons. But he made the most of those dozen years, taking his teams to the playoffs 11 times. There is no debate about who is No. 1, and no one is even close. The 199th pick in the 2000 draft, Tom Brady won seven Super Bowls (more than any single franchise has ever won), five Super Bowl MVPs and three NFL MVPs. A 15-time Pro Bowler, he is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), passing touchdowns (649) and wins (251). He’s also the all-time playoff leader in those categories (13,400 yards, 88 touchdowns, 35 wins). But Brady was unparalleled as a winner. With him leading the way, the Patriots won 17 division titles, including 11 in a row, and went to 13 AFC Championship Games, including eight in a row. He took the Patriots to nine Super Bowls, winning six, and then won one in his first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too. In case you need more, Brady was the oldest NFL MVP (40), the oldest Super Bowl MVP (43) and the oldest quarterback to receive a Pro Bowl nod (44). Brady played an astonishing 23 seasons in the NFL, which was long enough to land him on the all-decade teams for both the 2000s and the 2010s.]]>
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					<![CDATA[4 New Additions At The 2026 Wienie 500 — Including Commander In Beef Andy Richter]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/4-new-additions-2026-wienie-500-carb-day-indy-500</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/4-new-additions-2026-wienie-500-carb-day-indy-500</guid>
				<category>motor</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[From the Commander in Beef to a new dog in the fight, here are four fun additions that fans can expect to see at the second-annual Wienie 500.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 15:50:32 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It’s back! The Wienie 500 is returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22. The second annual race is spicing up the competition with fun new features, including its very own grand marshal. Here are four new additions to this year’s Wienie 500 race: 1. Andy Richter Named "Commander in Beef" You’ve heard of Commander in Chief but what about Commander in Beef? Writer, actor and comedian Andy Richter will take on this brand-new role in this year’s race. The Commander in Beef will serve as the event's grand marshal, leaving Richter to lead all festivities like the pre-race activities and the Wiener Anthem. 2. Winner Takes Home First-Ever Borg-Wiener Trophy The Oscar Mayer brand has teamed up with BorgWarner to create a new award, the Borg-Wiener Trophy. Engineered to replicate the iconic Indy 500 award, BorgWarner’s CEO Joe Fadool will present it to the winning team in Wiener's Circle on race day. 3. Coached By The Pros Oscar Mayer is adding some serious horsepower to the track. INDYCAR drivers like Nolan Siegel, Scott McLaughlin and Sting Ray Rob will coach the Hotdoggers, offering pro tips as teams compete for the Borg-Wiener Trophy. 4. A New Dog Hits The Track Earlier this year, Oscar Mayer handed the keys to fans with its first-ever "Pick Your Dog" bracket, letting America decide who would claim the coveted sixth spot after Sonoran Dog was removed from the competition because it just wasn't cutting the mustard. The results are in. And Corn Dog will take the track for the first time, repping America’s Dog and competing among the five other regional dogs.]]>
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					<![CDATA[In His Words: Alex Palou Explains How He Won 2025 Indy 500]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/alex-palou-how-he-won-2025-indy-500</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/alex-palou-how-he-won-2025-indy-500</guid>
				<category>motor</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Alex Palou has relished hearing "2025 Indianapolis 500 champion" all year. But how did he accomplish the career feat? He explains.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 15:08:17 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Alex Palou has relished hearing "2025 Indianapolis 500 champion" all year. But how did he accomplish the career feat one year ago, winning the race from the sixth starting spot thanks to a pass on Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 and holding on to the lead over the final 14 laps? He relived his 2025 victory with me last week, explaining what he was thinking not just during the 500, but also in the days and weeks leading up to the race. On his car in practice leading up to the race: ALEX PALOU: "I don't think it was our best 500 car. In traffic, we were struggling a little bit. I know that heading into the race, we were confident, but not like, ‘Oh yeah, we have a car that can move really fast up front.’ So we struggled quite a lot in practice. Even in the race. I think there was cars like Josef [Newgarden] for example. You look back and he was just moving from last — he made it up to top-eight or top-six. We could not do that. I feel there's been years in the past where we had that car, and we were able to do it. But last year, we struggled a little bit more." On the specific troubles he faced during practice: "Just traffic runs. I remember a couple things that we really loved about the car that we've already tried this year, something that kind of allowed me to be more comfortable following cars, fourth, fifth in line." On going by the seat of his pants vs. engineering: "We do a lot more than you think. Sometimes we just go back to basics. At the end of the day, places like this, at the speedway, it's more like what my body feels than what the ideal scenario or what the ideal simulation says. The car is really good. But at the end of the day, if you don't feel comfortable, you cannot extract 100 percent from the car. So that's No. 1." And then being fastest on the first day of qualifying: "Saturday felt really weird for us last year because suddenly we were P1, and we did not expect it at all, and it didn't feel like we knew why it was so fast. So then we went into Sunday, and suddenly we lost our advantage a little bit. The conditions changed a lot. It was super windy, and it made it that our car suddenly wasn't as fast, so we couldn't be as fast with the car that we had. We still made it to Fast Six, but I think we qualified sixth. Obviously, if you’re P1 on Saturday, you expect more. But we didn't feel, "Oh yeah, we got this." It was more like, how are we so fast yesterday? And how are we going to be as fast on Sunday? "This place is like this sometimes, There might be you draw a number [in the qualifying order] that is perfect conditions, and you get a little bit of tailwind, more than everybody else, and you can suddenly carry two-tenths of a mile an hour more — and then suddenly it's a big difference. You have to have fast car, don't get me wrong. My car was super fast, otherwise you don't get to the Fast Six. But I don't think it was the best car. I've been on the pole here, and my car was like a complete rocket ship in any conditions. Last year, we needed the perfect amount of wind, perfect temperature to kind of be good." Then on race day, it started to rain just before the start: "Yeah, I handled it OK — just because everybody was in the same situation. If I'm the only one sitting in the car strapped in 40 minutes or 30 minutes more than everybody else, I would handle it pretty bad. But as I saw that everybody was in the same situation, I was like, ‘Well, hopefully I do better than some other people.’ But I struggle a lot with having to pee. You hydrate yourself so much expecting to sweat right away, and then suddenly you're there for 40 minutes, and the only thing you can think about is I need to pee and I need to be here for at least two and a half hours. But I did not pee [in my suit]. I did not." On if he saw Scott McLaughlin crash on the pace laps: "I see the car crashed, but I don't see what happened. Like, obviously, I just see a car that is in the grass, but I don't know what happens." Then there’s another crash on the opening lap: "Yes, at the beginning, you're like, 'What's going on?' But you just focus on your things. You know it's a 500. You know that crazy stuff happens all the time, and you know that it's going to be a long, long race. So you need to be patient." When he knew he had a race-winning car: "I would say last stint, honestly. We were struggling a little bit at the start of the race and kind of made our way through. It’s not like we had to overtake a bunch of cars, but we were like, sixth, seventh, fifth, but we're struggling to be there. It was not super easy for us, but we kind of made the car a little bit better. Some cars had a couple of issues like [Ryan] Hunter-Reay, and then we suddenly pitted for the last stint, and we're a second behind ... and Marcus Ericsson came out in front." Going from struggles to the lead amid lapped traffic: "[We struggled with] just overall speed, just trying to be as fast as they were, and saving fuel as they were. You know you're not going to find speed, but you just need to try and play your cards. I don't think we had the fastest car, but we probably had the best car, being fourth, and that's how we were able to overtake Marcus [Ericsson]." On what happened next: "You're in the lead, and you are like, 'OK, now it's game on.' It’s like let's see if I can stay up front, because you don't know if Marcus suddenly is going to react and he's going to overtake you back, and then you're just trying to be there, waiting and praying that there's not going to be a yellow so you can still have the [lapped] traffic cars up front. Otherwise, I was not going to win that race." On needing those lapped cars between him and the other cars on the lead lap: "Yeah. I say I was not going to win that race. Maybe I'm maybe wrong. It was going to be a lot tougher for me to win the race." And then taking the white flag as the leader: "I'm thinking, ‘Yeah, just four more corners.’  But I'm not thinking that it's done. He [Ericsson] actually got very close, I think, the lap before. And actually the last lap exiting of [Turn] 2. And it was not because I relaxed, it was just because he made a last try, and I was just already 100 percent but just struggling with overall grip. So I don't remember exactly what I thought, but I remember I was not excited yet. I was like, ‘Man, please.’ I've been leading already two laps to go in this race with Helio [Castroneves], and then he overtakes you. And there's a big difference between finishing first and second. So you don't allow yourself to even think that you can win." On his loud screams after the win: "I have no more voice already two minutes after I'm screaming. I know that I lost the voice already in the car. But I was so happy. I just could not wait to stop the car and celebrate with everybody. It’s super cool to celebrate alone. But the best thing is when you can celebrate with your people, with your team, with your family. And you can see on the screen that they are celebrating together, and you're like, ‘Man, I want to be part of it.’ I'm just here alone in the car. Super cool, don't get me wrong. But I just want to be with the crew guys." Why he threw his gloves on the ground and ran to his crew after getting out of the car: "That is not what I had in mind. You have perfect ideas in your head whenever you go to bed of how would you celebrate if you win. But then the reality is that you cannot plan anything. You just go with it. But I was just so happy, and I just wanted to run to my mechanics that I just started throwing stuff." On his dad being in that group: "He's out there jumping as well. I just saw the group. I just saw the group of yellow shirts, people running towards me."]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Preview: The 10 New Coordinators Who Could Shape Upcoming Season]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-preview-10-new-coordinators-who-could-shape-upcoming-season</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-preview-10-new-coordinators-who-could-shape-upcoming-season</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A total of 36 coaches were hired to offensive or defensive coordinator roles this offseason. Here are the 10 most likely to make an impact.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 13:17:15 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[We've all gotten caught up in the moves made during free agency and the NFL Draft this offseason, but it's so easy to forget that the biggest upheaval of the winter and spring was the massive change in the coaching ranks across the league. Ten teams got a new head coach this offseason, which marked the most head coaching hires in an offseason since 2022. But there were nearly four times as many offensive and defensive coordinator hires this offseason, too. A total of 36 coaches were hired for offensive or defensive coordinator roles, with a substantial 21 teams set to have a new offensive coordinator in 2026. As for the 15 new defensive coordinators hired, that number doesn't include New England Patriots defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr, who has a new title this season but filled in running the Patriots' defense for most of last season during Terrell Williams' medical leave. The new coordinators run the gamut from recently fired head coaches to first-time playcallers. In trying to trim the list to the 10 most likely to impact the 2026 NFL season, we put a premium on coordinators on the opposite side of the head coach, though there are teams significant enough that we included coordinators who are essentially running someone else's scheme. To appreciate the depth of this year's new coordinators, we'll offer five honorable-mention names that didn't make the list but would in many seasons: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, New York Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Onto our 10 choices … The Buffalo Bills' offense should be largely the same with Joe Brady elevated from coordinator to head coach after Sean McDermott's firing. The task of improving the Bills' defense falls to Jim Leonhard, 43, who returns to where he started his NFL career as a safety. They signed edge rusher Bradley Chubb in free agency and used six of their 10 draft picks on defense, including Clemson defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and Ohio State corner Davison Igbinosun in the second round. Buffalo only had defensive lineman Ed Oliver for three games in 2025, so his healthy return will help them against the run, where it ranked 28th last year. Leonhard had eight years of college experience, but this is only his third season as an NFL coach, so it's a big leap for an important team as the Bills try to wrest the AFC East back from the Patriots. Declan Doyle is only 30, and was allowed to make a rare lateral move, going from offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears (where he worked under offensive playcaller and head coach Ben Johnson) to now calling his own plays on Jesse Minter's new Ravens staff. So Doyle is 10 months older than his new quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and the challenge is to help get Baltimore deeper in the playoffs, with only one conference championship appearance in Jackson's time there. Can first-round guard Vega Ioane be a difference-maker? Can Derrick Henry stay healthy and ageless at 32? Baltimore set the bar high in moving on from a head coach and offensive coordinator who both immediately became head coaches for other teams, but success with the Ravens could make Doyle a coveted candidate to become a head coach in 2027. Chris O'Leary, 34, might be the coordinator fans know the least. If Minter is old enough to have coaching disciples, O'Leary would be one, playing for him at Indiana State and coaching under him at several stops. He was the Chargers' safeties coach in 2024, went to Western Michigan to run their defense and now returns to take Minter's place on Jim Harbaugh's staff. Can they improve on ranking 29th in red-zone defense last year? Can first-round edge rusher Akheem Mesidor learn from Khalil Mack and upgrade the pass rush? In a division where all the other offenses should be improving, it's a difficult task, helped by Los Angeles' offense getting better at the same time. Sean Payton liked Davis Webb, 31, enough to fire offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and elevate him after just three seasons as an NFL assistant. The Denver Broncos had six straight losing seasons before Payton took over in 2023, and his three-year arc has gone from 8 to 10 to 14 wins, losing to the Patriots in last year's AFC title game. No quarterback threw more passes last year than Bo Nix, but only Cam Ward threw for fewer yards per attempt out of the league's top 12 passers. Adding wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will help the offense, but this is a status-quo team that might be the least-tweaked roster of any 2025 playoff team, trusting that coaches can get more out of the same, at least in the postseason. The Dallas Cowboys' defense was bad last year. They were the only team in the league to give up 30 points per game, while ranking 30th against the run and 32nd against the pass. Christian Parker, 34, was poached from the Philadelphia Eagles and has new talent to work with, as Dallas traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary and linebacker Dee Winters and signed safety Jalen Thompson. The rest of the NFC East has all new offensive coordinators, so if Dallas is to get back to being a playoff team, much of that is whether they can just get to an average defense amid improving offenses all over their divisional schedule. Jonathan Gannon, 43, struggled with the Arizona Cardinals, as his defense ranked 31st in scoring in 2023 and 29th last year, but he takes over a Green Bay Packers defense good enough to make Jeff Hafley the Miami Dolphins' head coach. When does Micah Parsons get back healthy? Can Green Bay improve at forcing takeaways after getting just 14 last season, with only three teams forcing fewer? The Packers' top draft pick was used to get Parsons and the first three they used went on defense, so there's an awareness that the division had two top-10 offenses and the Minnesota Vikings' offensive unit should be better. Nathan Scheelhaase, 35, was perhaps the biggest up-and-comer not hired in the last coaching cycle, landing a promotion to offensive coordinator when Mike LaFleur got the Arizona job. This is only his third year as an NFL assistant, and as high as the expectations are for the Rams, they have a limited window to win with Matthew Stafford, and they're playing in a division that has arguably three of the league's top eight teams. This season ends with a Super Bowl in Los Angeles, so the key for the Rams might be securing the division and home games to set up a postseason path that doesn't go far from home. This is still Sean McVay's offense, and they were the NFL's No. 1 offense in points and total yards, but with no significant additions on that side of the ball, Scheelhaase's challenge is keeping that unit as the league's best. At 49, Raheem Morris is the old man on this list, back at coordinator after three losing seasons as the Atlanta Falcons head coach. He was the Rams' defensive coordinator when they won the Super Bowl in 2021, and he'll inherit a talented San Francisco 49ers defense that was limited by injuries last season. San Francisco's only losses from November on last year were to the Rams and Seattle Seahawks, giving up 42 in a home loss to Los Angeles and 41 in a playoff loss to Seattle. Fred Warner is healthy, Dre Greenlaw is back and the front added Osa Odighizuwa, so getting back to a top-10 defense could be the difference between the top seed in the NFC and the fifth seed as a wild card. Brian Fleury, 47, had a longer path to coaching in the NFL, spending four years each at Sacred Heart and Towson before getting his first pro coaching job. He spent the last four years as the 49ers' tight ends coach, but now he's a first-time play-caller armed with one of the best offenses in the NFL. Can the run game stay solid with Kenneth Walker gone and first-rounder Jadarian Price stepping in? Can Sam Darnold continue to play at a Pro Bowl level when Seattle has a target on their backs every week as defending champs? This was an outside-the-box hire that's crucial to the Seahawks' hopes of getting back to another Super Bowl. Mike McDaniel, 43, went 35-33 in four years as the Dolphins' head coach, and now his task is getting Justin Herbert to his first playoff win in his seventh NFL season. The Chargers were limited by losing both tackles last year, but with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater healthy and a retooled interior line, this should be a much-improved offense, including second-year back Omarion Hampton. Can under-the-radar signings like Keaton Mitchell and David Njoku help the Chargers catch the Broncos and stay ahead of a bounce-back Chiefs team? McDaniel has speed and talent at his disposal and a chance to set himself up as a top candidate again in 2027. The Rams aren't the only team with dreams of a home-field Super Bowl.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Everything To Know For The 2026 Indianapolis 500]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/2026-indianapolis-500-everything-know</link>
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				    <![CDATA[Welcome to The Greatest Spectacle In Racing. Here's what to know about the 2026 Indianapolis 500 ahead of Sunday's race.]]>
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				<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 15:34:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Welcome to The Greatest Spectacle In Racing. The Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From "Back Home Again In Indiana" to "Taps" to "Drivers, Start Your Engines" to the green flag to the checkered flag to the milk in Victory Lane, there is no other prerace like it, there is no other race like it, there is no other victory celebration like it. The drivers of the INDYCAR Series work all year toward this race. Approximately 350,000 people — one person for approximately every 1,000 Americans — will attend. Several million will watch on television in the United States and around the world. Here’s what to know about the 2026 Indianapolis 500: What time will the race start? The green flag is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. FOX coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET. How long is the race? It is 500 miles — 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval. Unlike some other forms of racing, there is no overtime or provision for additional laps. An official race, if it rains or there are other factors for the race not to get to the finish, is 250 miles or beyond. Is it really an oval? It is a rectangular circuit. The frontstretch and backstretch are five-eighths of a mile each (1.25 miles total). The four turns are each a quarter mile (1 mile total). And the short chute between each turn one-eighth of a mile (0.25 mile total). The turns are banked 9 degrees, 12 minutes. The frontstretch and backstretch have no banking. The straightaways width is 50 feet; the turns width is 60 feet. Does IMS have lights? Not for the racing surface to be able to race at night. How many Indy 500s have there been? This is the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. Who are the favorites? You have to start with polesitter Alex Palou. He is the defending winner of the race and a four-time INDYCAR champion driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. And then? Most every other driver in the field could conceivably win the race depending on strategy, when they choose to pit, when the cautions come out and if they have to save fuel to make it work. In the 109 races, 21 winners have come from the pole and 46 have come from the front row. That should be good news for Palou, ECR Racing’s Alexander Rossi and Team Penske’s David Malukas. Another 21 drivers have won from the second row. This year, that’s Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci and Pato O’Ward. And nine have come from the third row. This year that’s Kyffin Simpson, Conor Daly and Scott McLaughlin. That leaves 33 winners (30 percent) who have won outside the third row. No driver who has started 18th, 23rd, 24th, 26th or 29th-33rd has ever won the race. Rossi and O’Ward do have to go to backup cars after a hard crash in practice Monday. They get to keep their starting positions. [WHO TO ROOT FOR: Guide To Choosing Your Favorite INDYCAR Driver] How many former winners are in the field? There are nine former winners in the field: --Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021)--Takuma Sato (2017, 2020)--Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024)--Scott Dixon (2008)--Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014)--Alexander Rossi (2016)--Will Power (2018)--Marcus Ericsson (2022)--Alex Palou (2025) Castroneves, to me and other reporters, on the Drive for 5: "Last year, when I finished the race, I tell you what — I was already thinking about. I was actually angry a little bit because it was a lot of small mistakes. And even with the small mistakes, we still finished in the top 10. And that's where my frustration came in because the car was excellent, the setup was really good." Is there anyone doing The Double? Yes. Katherine Legge will drive in the Indianapolis 500 for HMD Motorsports as part of an alliance with A.J. Foyt Racing. She will then travel to Charlotte and compete in the Coke 600 for Live Fast Motorsports. Legge has made eight Cup starts over the last two years. [WHO IS KATHERINE LEGGE? The Double Driver On Dogs &amp; Being Fearless] "It is the opportunity of a lifetime," Legge said in a virtual news conference last week. "I'll be the sixth person to have ever [done] it, and that's in the world, right? That's really cool. So I'm excited." Do any other drivers in the field have NASCAR national series experience? Yes. Conor Daly has three Cup starts, three O’Reilly Series starts and six truck starts. Santino Ferrucci has nine O’Reilly Series starts. Are there any former F1 racers in this event? Yes. There are five drivers who have competed in a Formula 1 race. --Takuma Sato raced from 2002-2008--Marcus Ericsson raced from 2014-2018--Romain Grosjean raced from 2012-2020.--Mick Schumacher competed from 2021-2022.--Alexander Rossi did five races in 2015. Speaking of Rossi, is he injured from his crash Monday? The team says he has minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle, both of which needed outpatient procedures. They say he plans to participate in practice Friday and race in the Indianapolis 500. Are there any other drivers nursing injuries? It’s hard to know. Mick Schumacher has been nursing an injured wrist from an accident at the start of the season that will likely require offseason surgery. Who are the rookies in the race? There are four drivers who will start their first Indy 500: --Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing--Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing--Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing--Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports Schumacher, Collet and Hauger are full-time rookies in the series. Abel was a rookie last year but did not make the race. This will be his first start of the 2026 season. Mick Schumacher, that name sounds familiar? Mick Schumacher is the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, who had great success at Indianapolis — on the road course, where he won five Formula 1 races. Mick Schumacher is a rookie this year driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. "I'm very much now looking forward to the race," Schumacher said Tuesday in a virtual news conference. "I think that's going to be the highlight of the year. It's such a special event and such a special race, and I just can't wait for everybody to be here." Who are other big names in new places? Will Power, after 17 years at Penske, is now at Andretti Global, where he replaced Colton Herta. Power hasn’t had an easy transition as he sits 14th in the standings. He has speed but not the results. "This organization is great," Power said in a news conference Monday. "The people are great. Obviously we're working hard putting processes in place. I think we had really good handling cars here [in qualifying], but obviously there was a little bit of speed lacking. "But, honestly, I think our race cars are really good just with the work we've done in the short period we've had leading up to this. I'm definitely looking forward to the race." His replacement at Penske, David Malukas, sits third in the standings and will start the race Sunday in the front row. "There was a lot of pressure going into preseason, not just even for this race, but also all the races," Malukas said at his post-qualifying news conference. "It's just been an incredible start. I'm just so thankful, so grateful. And every single day I show up to the track a little bit more confident, a little bit more happy to just to be here and be a part of this Team Penske family." Speaking of Penske, where are the executives who were released last year? The three executives released after a technical violation was discovered in qualifying prior to the 2025 Indy 500 are all at Indianapolis hoping to win the race. --Former Penske INDYCAR President Tim Cindric is back at Team Penske, but only as a strategist for Scott McLaughlin. --Former Penske INDYCAR managing director Ron Ruzewski is now the team principal at Andretti Global. --Former Penske INDYCAR general manager Kyle Moyer is director of competition at Arrow McLaren and strategist for Christian Lundgaard, who won the Indy Grand Prix on the road course a couple weeks ago. Moyer said it is "odd" to be at Indy and not with Team Penske. Part of that is because he has been reunited with Tony Kanaan, who he had worked with at Andretti, and they are in the old Andretti shop. "I thought I would probably retire at Penske," Moyer told me. "That didn’t happen. It was very, very nice that McLaren and TK and [McLaren CEO] Zak [Brown] gave me the offer for her to be able to run another professional team and be on top of the game. "I was hoping I could do another one of the bigger teams again and fortunate enough that it worked out here." Ruziewski said being at the Indy 500 isn’t emotional because it is with a new team. "Independent of what group I'm working with, this place is — it's an emotional place," Ruzewski said during a news conference Monday. "Honestly, it's why I do it. It's why I'm in INDYCAR and not another series. "This place is special. It's the greatest race in the world. I’ve been super fortunate to drink the milk seven times, and I only want to drink it the eighth time even worse." What are these cars? These specifically-built cars, designed by Dallara, use twin-turbocharged, 2.2-liter, V-6 engines with hybrid technology. Chevrolet and Honda provide engines to teams. The cars weigh 1,635 pounds without driver or fuel. The cars are about 40 inches high with a wheelbase of 117.5-121.5 Inches. Firestone does the tires. The cars reach 240 mph in qualifying and will reach around 225 mph during the race. Why does the winner drink milk? The milk tradition goes back 90 years ago to 1936 when Louis Meyer, celebrating as the first driver ever to win three Indianapolis 500s, drank buttermilk in victory lane. [GOT MILK? Drivers' Make Celebratory Milk Choice If They Win In 2026] Who will sing the national anthem? Jordin Sparks. She also sang the national anthem in 2015 and 2024. Singing "America The Beautiful" will be Indiana native Ephraim Owens. Who will give the command? There are two major commands for the Indianapolis 500. The first is "Drivers To Your Cars" — that will be done by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The second is the command to start engines. That likely will be Roger Penske, owner of INDYCAR and IMS parent company Penske Corporation (and owner of Team Penske). Penske gave the command last year, and it traditionally has been someone from the track owner’s family. Who will drive the pace car? NCAA champion Indiana University football coach Curt Cignetti will drive the pace car prior to the opening lap of the race. Don’t know who he is? Google him. Who will wave the green flag? Actor Brendan Fraser, who was born in Indianapolis. Will Gronk be there? Of course. Rob Gronkowski will be the "grand marshal" of the Snake Pit. The Snake Pit? Yes, that is an area in Turn 3 where fans used to watch the race that IMS has now turned into a concert venue that has several acts before and during the first portion of the race. Expected to perform at the EDM festival are Crankdat, Wooli, it’s murph and Wax Motif before headliner Zedd takes the stage. Finally, what’s the weather forecast? As of Thursday morning, the FOX Weather forecast is for temperatures in the 70s and a 33 percent chance of rain.]]>
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					<![CDATA[History Of The 1,100-Mile Double: Drivers Who Attempted Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/history-indy-500-coca-cola-600-double</link>
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				    <![CDATA[A look at the history of drivers who have attempted The Double ahead of Katherine Legge's attempt this year.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 11:50:42 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Katherine Legge will make history Sunday as the first woman to attempt to race 1,100 miles in two different types of race cars in what's known in motorsports as The Double. Legge will jump from Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX and streaming on FOX One), the crown jewel of INDYCAR racing, to NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, that evening. But Legge is far from the first to try both legs of this journey. A total of five men have come before her, achieving a wide range of results in a tradition that goes back more than three decades. Here’s a closer look at the history of those drivers who have attempted The Double: Kyle Larson Years: 2024, 2025Indy 500 results: Started 5th, finished 18th (2024); started 19th, finished 24th (2025)Coca-Cola 600 results: Never got in the car (2024); Started 2nd, finished 37th (2025) Kyle Larson, like Kurt Busch before him, was a NASCAR champion and sprint car legend who’d always wanted to try the Indy 500. After testing the waters, car owner Rick Hendrick partnered with Zak Brown of Arrow McLaren to produce the best-funded Double effort in history, putting Larson behind the wheel of their fourth entry, the No. 17, for the Indy 500. As a rookie, Larson took Indy by storm, qualifying a surprising fifth ahead of two of his teammates. Leading four laps in the race during pit cycles, he was a consistent top-10 car until a pit road speeding penalty left him stuck in traffic. Charging back to 18th, the finish still won him 2024 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. It also proved costly. Finishing the race meant sitting through a rain delay, with Larson arriving to the Coca-Cola 600 too late to get in the car. As Justin Allgaier drove to a 13th-place result, Larson missed a race that left him in jeopardy of missing the NASCAR playoffs. (He wound up getting a waiver, weeks later with the ruling becoming a circus-like distraction). The pressure not to miss the NASCAR event for a second straight year combined with heightened attention took its toll in 2025. Larson qualified just 19th at Indy last May, lacked speed throughout the month and crashed in the race, slumping to 24th. He promptly left for Charlotte, arriving in plenty of time Year 2 … only to wreck there, too. Since then, Larson emerged as the 2025 Cup Series champion but has gone a full year-plus without winning a race. "What I do is tough," Larson said last week while promoting a new documentary, "Kyle Larson vs. The Double," about his NASCAR experience. "And it’s not always perfect." Kurt Busch Years: 2014Indy 500 results: Started 12th, finished 6th Coca-Cola 600 results: Started 28th, finished 40th Kurt Busch became the first Cup Series champion to race the Indy 500 with a 2014 Double attempt (Tony Stewart had not yet won a Cup title at the time of his entry). Armed with veteran support from his NASCAR organization, co-owned by Stewart, plus a successful Indy rookie test in 2013 led to buzz Busch could win one of the races. Busch qualified 12th with Andretti Autosport at Indy, part of a five-car effort that put current FOX Sports INDYCAR analyst James Hinchcliffe on the front row. Busch harnessed the support of his teammates to deliver a steady drive; finishing sixth, he wound up Indy 500 Rookie of the Year despite having no previous experience in the series. He was part of four Andretti cars in the top 6 as teammate (and 2026 Indy 500 participant) Ryan Hunter-Reay earned the Borg-Warner trophy with the win. Momentum came with Busch to the NASCAR race — too bad the engine never got the memo. Faulty equipment wound up ending Busch’s day a smoky mess, completing only 271 of 400 laps. "It was a challenge I put forth for myself," Busch said after the attempt. "I enjoyed it. I soaked it in." Robby Gordon Years: 1997, 2000, 2002-04Indy 500 results: Started 12th, finished 29th (1997); started 4th, finished 6th (2000); started 11th, finished 8th (2002); started 3rd, finished 22nd (2003); started 18th, finished 29th (2004) Coca-Cola 600 results: Started 28th, finished 41st (1997), started 42nd, finished 35th (2000)**; started 12th, finished 16th (2002); started 38th, finished 17th (2003); started 20th, finished 20th (2004) **PJ Jones started the car and was credited for the finish. Like John Andretti (below), Gordon pulled Double duty in 1997 while transitioning into a full-time NASCAR ride. Running for Rookie of the Year with Felix Sabates, the car owner chose to dabble in open wheel for the first time. Team SABCO’s early results raised eyebrows, with Gordon posting the fastest time in one of the early Indy 500 test sessions. But the best-laid plans turned into disaster. Gordon missed a NASCAR race (Talladega) to qualify on Pole Day at Indy, only mustered 12th and then endured an Indy 500 rainout. That made Gordon’s double a two-day affair — he flew to the NASCAR race, crashed, then endured a scary fire in the rescheduled Indy 500 a day later. Burns from that incident sidelined Gordon for weeks and the SABCO partnership never recovered. That black cloud followed most of Gordon’s double attempts. His 2000 effort was hampered by an Indy 500 rain delay — he didn’t make it to Charlotte until halfway and wasn’t credited for the drive (PJ Jones started the car). In 2004, a third rain-delayed race forced Gordon to leave Indy early for his NASCAR ride at Richard Childress Racing; Jaques Lazier filled in until mechanical failure sidelined the car. Only once, in 2002, did his Double efforts come off clean. Gordon was eighth in a Childress and John Menard-backed ride at Indy, completing all 200 laps before a respectable 16th-place effort at Charlotte, finishing just one lap off the pace. He does hold The Double record with the only Indy front-row start: Gordon qualified third in a Michael Andretti-backed car in 2003, running eighth only to struggle at Charlotte (17th). Tony Stewart Years: 1999, 2001Indy 500 results: Started 24th, finished 9th (1999); started 7th, finished 6th (2001) Coca-Cola 600 results: Started 27th, finished 4th (1999); started 12th, finished 3rd (2001) Yet another INDYCAR driver-turned-NASCAR rookie (sensing a trend?) leaned into Double duty when Stewart announced his bid in 1999. A different level of success was expected for the 1997 INDYCAR champion who had already earned a top-5 Cup Series finish, leading 68 laps in stock cars by the time the month of May rolled around. Sponsor Home Depot backed both 1999 efforts, attracting national attention and a grueling schedule: five trips from Indy to Charlotte and 25 days in a race car over the course of a month. Unfortunately, Stewart’s Indy team, run by Tri Star Motorsports, didn’t have the speed to contend. A disappointing 24th-place qualifying result led to worries Stewart would be bumped from the field — steady driving worked him up to ninth, four laps off the pace in a race won by Kenny Brack in A.J. Foyt’s No. 14, Stewart’s hero growing up. It was in the Coca-Cola 600 where this future NASCAR Hall of Famer excelled. Forced to the rear for missing the driver’s meeting, a rookie in his first Charlotte Cup race stayed patient, climbing from 43rd up to fourth. Stewart led 13 circuits and ended the night on the lead lap, an impressive end to Double duty despite draining him physically; legend has it, Stewart was so tired he nearly passed out in the car. The driver nicknamed "Smoke" looked to do better two years later, and he did, firing past any Double effort we’ve seen before or since. Qualifying seventh for the 2001 Indy 500 with powerhouse Chip Ganassi Racing, Stewart worked to the front in the second half of the race. Leading 13 laps, he was in position to win until a long pit stop and an untimely caution took away too much track position to fight back. Finishing sixth, Stewart would credit a month-long fitness and nutrition routine that kept him fresh, battling through cramps on his right foot he addressed during a 16-minute red flag. Landing in Charlotte, Stewart’s Coca-Cola 600 start began with a spin, pushing the car too hard when he once again started the race from the rear. Fighting through right front damage, he wound up fighting through the field a second time, winding up third and a handful of seconds behind winner Jeff Burton. To this day, that 2001 effort remains the only time a Double Duty driver completed all 1,100 miles as scheduled. "For those people who had any doubts that I was putting everybody in danger," Stewart said of making that 2001 attempt, "you are a bunch of idiots." John Andretti Year: 1994Indy 500 Results: Started 10th, finished 10th Coca-Cola 600 Results: Started 9th, finished 36th After a ho-hum INDYCAR career, winning just once in 72 starts, Andretti switched to NASCAR full-time in 1994. His inaugural Double attempt was a last hurrah in open-wheel racing, a curiosity attracting national attention he hoped would buoy a fledgling stock car Rookie of the Year bid. Andretti had struggled to pick up sponsorship despite driving for former NASCAR championship car owner Billy Hagan. For the Indy 500, Andretti found a spot driving for a team aligned with four-time 500 winner A.J. Foyt and Jonathan Byrd. It was smooth sailing, qualifying comfortably in 10th as one of three Andrettis in the race. Finishing there, four laps down, was a solid effort in what would be uncle Mario Andretti’s final Indy 500. After the checkered, it was a mad dash, 53-minute, 366-mile flight to North Carolina with a nurse and registered dietitian, making sure Andretti landed well hydrated and ready to go. The helicopter landed just before NASCAR opening ceremonies, but far too late for the driver’s meeting, wiping out Andretti’s career-best, ninth-place qualifying effort. He was sent to the rear of the field and struggled to pass, just 39th before wrecking in Turn 4 on Lap 91. Limping onward, Andretti eventually fell out with engine problems a little over halfway through the race: he completed just 220 of the race’s 400 laps. It was still an impressive effort that caught the eye of NASCAR’s first family, the Pettys — they wound up signing him to a long-term deal later that season, cementing the stock car switch. Forever remembered as The Double pioneer, it’s a history-making moment that continues to make the Andretti clan proud. "That’s my boy," Mario Andretti said of the effort. "He’s a pure racer. Pure racers run whenever they have the chance." Tom Bowles is an INDYCAR on FOX production researcher and the owner and editor-in-chief of the motorsports outlet, Frontstretch.]]>
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