Day: November 8, 2026

Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.) — Ryan Blaney got beat on a late pass by Tyler Reddick two years ago at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was able to return the favor Sunday in the 2026 season finale. Blaney won in dramatic fashion, capturing the season finale for the second consecutive year, while Kyle Larson won the championship. “The last two years, I’ve had nightmares about that finish,” Blaney said in his post-race news conference. “It’s nice to get a little redemption from that.” Here are my takeaways after Larson earned his third Cup title: 1. Larson Clinches Early Larson entered the race with a hefty lead in the point standings, needing just nine points to clinch the title even if Denny Hamlin or Christopher Bell dominated and won the race. A fourth-place finish in the opening stage clinched the title, as Bell was third and Hamlin was sixth, putting them just outside of catching Larson. Larson said on his radio to the team that it seemed a little anticlimactic. Larson ended up 12th in the race after scrubbing the wall a number of times. But that couldn’t dampen Larson’s happiness, as he snapped a 51-race winless streak to win three of the final nine races to win the title in the first year of a revised 10-race Chase format that removed eliminations in favor of pretty much a 10-race mini-season. “We absolutely could not have done what we did in the Chase without the teamwork that it took,” Larson, who entered as the seventh seed, said in his NBC post-race interview. “That’s what this championship is, makes it so meaningful, just the teamwork. This one more than any of them took teamwork.” 2. Hamlin, Bell Come Up Short Both Bell and Hamlin knew they would need a miracle to win the title. They both showed speed early and Hamlin won the second stage. Bell finished fourth and Hamlin finished sixth. Larson ended the year 49 points ahead of Bell and 56 ahead of Hamlin. “Obviously, disappointed we didn’t win more,” Bell told NBC after his one-win season. “[But] just happy and thrilled and thankful that I’m in position.” Hamlin said this one was easier to take compared to last year when he dominated the finale but a late four-tire pit stop lost too much track position for him to seal the championship. “I feel OK,” Hamlin told me and other reporters. ‘Knowing the outcome coming in made it way, way easier. … I was definitely at peace with this well before this weekend.” 3. Brad Keselowski Not Emotional Brad Keselowski got out of his car after a 28th-place finish and gave fist bumps and hugs to his crew following his final race with RFK Racing, a team he co-owns but a team whose management has opted to release him from driving and eventually sell his interest in the team. “I haven’t soaked it all in yet,” Keselowski told me. “I wish we could have got a better finish.” He took a photo with his team and Jack Roush (the R in RFK) before the race. “He was telling me about an IMSA race he ran here 20 years ago when he started last and won and it’d be nice to do it again,” said Keselowski, who started last Sunday after a wreck in qualifying. 4. Noah Gragson Apologizes To Daniel Suárez Noah Gragson apologized to Suárez after contact with him late in the race. Gragson went up to him and patted himself to indicate it was his fault. “I hit the seam and got loose and was chasing [the car],” Gragson told me after the race. “I didn’t mean to get into Daniel. … I try to race as clean as I can, and that was just a mistake on my part.” 4 ½. What’s Next Some rest for the teams and drivers, although some anticipated movement of crew chiefs and others. Among the anticipated movement is Alex Bowman crew chief Blake Harris to crew chief for Shane van Gisbergen, whose crew chief (Stephen Doran) is likely headed to Spire Motorsports to work with Michael McDowell.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From inspiring stories to friendly competition between the academies, FOX NFL Sunday’s Veterans Day show didn’t disappoint. The broadcast headed to both Army (West Point, New York) and Navy (Annapolis, Maryland) for the first time ever. Here are the top moments from this year’s two-hour show: The King of Veterans Day stunts took on a brand-new adventure at Army. Rob Gronkowski slid headfirst down a slide into the combat wave pool for the Survivor Gate 4 challenge, which all cadets must pass. Before Gronk completed the challenge, which was done in full combat boots and pants, Gronk pulled a brick from the bottom of the pool, with a message to the Cadets that said, “Combat uniform all next week.” That meant the cadets would be able to opt out of their more formal dress uniform for the whole week, which they were unsurprisingly excited about. Just before Gronk slid headfirst into a pool in full combat gear, he went back to his roots and put the football pads back on, but this time it was an Army uniform. What was thought to be a mystery person dressed head-to-toe in the Army’s brand-new green uniform was revealed to be Gronk when he took off his helmet in front of the cadets. While analysts like Julian Edelman, Gronk and Charles Woodson have had their fair share of football snaps, it was time to give Army the field. Setting up for a quick drive, Edelman, Gronk and Woodson joined a group of Cadets for a touchdown that resulted in a Gronk spike. As if the rivalry on the football field wasn’t enough, the cadets and midshipmen brought the rivalry to Sunday’s show. One representative from each academy went head-to-head in a rope-climbing race from both on-site locations. In the end, Army earned the bragging rights in a tight race. Ahead of Sunday’s games, FOX Sports’ Tom Rinaldi highlighted cadet Taylor Flowers and her inspirational journey to West Point. After multiple rejections, Flowers finally got her chance on her third application and has since become an inspiring cadet sergeant in her third year at West Point.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Ten years, six Super Bowls, and incredible comebacks highlight the legendary Patriots career of Tom Brady. During Sunday’s Packers-Patriots game, Brady reflected on returning to Foxborough for the first time as a broadcaster. After retiring from the NFL, Brady immediately moved into the broadcast booth as a color analyst alongside play-by-play analyst Kevin Burkhardt. Now, in his second season calling games on Sundays, Brady finally returned to Gillette Stadium for Week 9. “Oh man, it’s been nostalgic to be back here … and to see all my old teammates yesterday and to honor Gronk,” Brady told Kevin Burkhardt in the booth during the Packers-Patriots game. Brady began his career in New England as a sixth-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft out of Michigan. While sitting behind quarterback Drew Bledsoe in 2001, Bledsoe’s midgame injury against the Colts on Sept. 30, 2001 handed Brady the keys as starting quarterback, and the rest is history. Brady compiled a 219-66 record as a starter, earned 15 Pro Bowl nods, and became a three-time NFL MVP.​ One of Brady’s most memorable moments in a Patriots’ jersey was the nearly impossible comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. After trailing 28-3 halfway through the third quarter, Brady led the New England offense to 31 unanswered points, capped by an overtime touchdown to win 34-28. But his career in New England wasn’t done on his own. Brady credited his coaches and the Patriots community for the love and support along the way. “I can’t thank everyone enough for the love and support over 10 years here,” Brady said. “I feel like the luckiest person alive to play for this unbelievable community … a lot of great clutch performances by my teammates, and that’s why they hang those banners. They can never be defended. They’re going to hang up there forever.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Green Bay Packers ruined a day of celebration for the New England Patriots. With legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski returning to Gillette Stadium to be inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame and Tom Brady making his return to Foxborough as a broadcaster, the Patriots lost to the Green Bay Packers 45-27. It’s the most points New England has ever allowed at Gillette Stadium. With the win, the Packers have now won five of their last six games, improving to 6-3 on the year. The Patriots dropped to 5-4 this season. Here are my takeaways: New England has one of the better defenses in the league, but the Patriots provided little resistance for Green Bay’s gunslinger quarterback Jordan Love. The Utah State product executed as if playing against the air in a casual, dress-rehearsal practice for a game, finishing 23-of-29 (79.3%) for 372 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Love also had a 13-yard touchdown run. Love was sacked three times, posting a 149.4 passer rating. The Patriots didn’t blitz much, but when they did, Love made them pay. According to Next Gen Stats, Love finished 10-of-10 with 146 yards and a score. Love entered Week 9 leading the NFL with 2,246 yards. The last time a Green Bay quarterback led the league in passing was Hall of Famer Brett Favre in 1998. Love could be on his way to earning a league MVP trophy like Favre. Love’s favorite target was Matthew Golden. The second-year pro out of Texas had six receptions for 126 yards and an interception – in the first quarter (!) – helping the Packers jump out to an early 17-0 lead. According to FOX Sports Research, it’s the second-most receiving yards in the first quarter in franchise history since 1991, only trailing Antonio Freeman, who had 129 yards in the first quarter in 1998. It’s also the most receiving yards in the first quarter this season and the most since Marvin Harrison Jr. had 130 in 2024. Entering Sunday’s game, Golden had the seventh-most receiving yards (619) in the NFL and led the league with 22 deep targets. Golden finished with 10 catches for 164 yards. Christian Watson also had a big day for the Packers, finishing with seven receptions for 171 yards and a score. Maye was under duress most of the afternoon from a Green Bay pass rush that’s still missing its best pass rusher, with Micah Parsons working his way back from a knee injury. Entering this weekend’s game, Maye had been 16 times and thrown eight interceptions. The Packers sacked Maye four times and forced three more interceptions. The Packers finished with a 52% pressure rate against Maye, blitzing nearly 46% of the time, per Next Gen Stats. The Patriots had won four of their last five contests entering Sunday’s game. However, New England started the season 1-2 and Maye was responsible for six interceptions during that stretch, including a three-interception performance in a season-opening loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. With their top two playmakers from the team’s Super Bowl no longer on the roster in Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte, the trade for A.J. Brown was expected to fill the void for New England. However, the former Philadelphia Eagles struggled to stay on the field, and when healthy, to contribute. Maye has had to rely on role players like receivers Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III. To make matters worse, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels hasn’t figured out how to consistently run the football. The Patriots finished with just 73 rushing yards against Green Bay’s stout defensive front and abandoned the running game altogether in the second half because Maye was chasing points. 3 ½ What’s Next? The Packers face another tough test, this one at home. Green Bay is set to host the leaders of the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings, at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Packers are currently in last place in the NFC North and sit 1-2 in the division despite their 6-3 record. Meanwhile, New England will look to rebound on the road against another talented team in the NFC North as they face the Detroit Lions in Munich. The Patriots own a 3-2 record in international games.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough on FOX’s Green Bay Packers-New England Patriots broadcast came with a pack-ripping surprise. During the second quarter, Brady signed an exclusive 1-of-1 Topps trading card live in the booth. In honor of Brady’s return to Foxborough, a photo of him in the broadcast booth was printed live so he could sign it on air. Seated alongside broadcast partner Kevin Burkhardt, Brady signed the photo live to showcase its authenticity. “Oh, I love that,” Brady said on air when he was presented with the card. “Tom Brady back in Foxborough. LFG. Let me hold that up for you guys. I’m glad there’s no statistics on the back [of the card] for how many times I’ve cursed on air this year. I love it.” Burkhardt explained that the card was printed in the booth and then given to Brady to sign. The card is part of the Topps NOW cards that include other star athletes like LeBron James and Lionel Messi. LeBron’s was signed celebrating the announcement that he would be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Messi’s surrounded his farewell to the Argentina national team. The latter generated a record 664,325 purchases. The printed card went on sale shortly after Brady signed it on air. And one fan will have the chance to pull the 1-of-1 card. Brady is a noted card collector, having bought a 1-of-1 Fernando Mendoza rookie card earlier in the year. He’s also a primary investor in CardVault. This weekend was the first time that Brady has called a game at Gillette Stadium, where he played all but one of his seasons with the Patriots. He was also part of the Patriots Hall of Fame celebrations on Saturday, which saw former teammate and fellow FOX analyst Rob Gronkowski inducted.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports