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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Brad Keselowski didn’t know in January if he would walk again, but there he was walking with a cane Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. And, of course, driving a race car. Keselowski passed a 50-lap driving test Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway that gave him the confidence he could race the Daytona 500 this week. And less than two months after breaking his femur on Dec. 18 when he fell on ice getting out of his vehicle at a ski resort. “I’m eight weeks in and I’ll tell you, until about three to five weeks in, there was a question of if I was going to walk again — let alone drive a race car,” Keselowski told reporters Wednesday at Daytona 500 media day. “Those were the thoughts that were going through my mind. I was confident I was going to put the work in and I was going to own whatever result there was.” The result was that Keselowski practiced Wednesday and set to qualify his car for the Daytona 500. “When I’m in the car, I feel I know I’ve got an injury, don’t get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car,” Keselowski said. “The seat is molded to me really well, and you get a little adrenaline flowing. So I felt pretty good.” The Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing co-owner and driver obviously wanted to race in the biggest event of the season, a race he hasn’t won in 16 starts. The 2012 Cup champion sheared his right femur and lost some feeling in his upper leg. The intense rehab of more than six hours a day got him into a position to race with an injury that likely won’t truly be healed for at least another four months. “When I was laying on the ground, and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, ‘Oh my God — think about the soldiers in the Civil War. They would just cut their leg off right here.’ “And I understood why they would do it because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was part of me that’s like, ‘That might actually feel better.’” After practice Wednesday, the team made some slight changes to the cockpit area as far as where his knees could hit a bar with the way he is seated in the car. “There’s not a lot you can do,” Keselowski said. “We put a little bit of soft padding in one section, but ultimately it is what it is.” Keselowski has former Cup driver David Ragan as a backup for the next couple of weeks and then will use road-racing standout Joey Hand as his backup for the road-course race Mar. 1 at Circuit of the Americas. “COTA is a big concern for me,” Keselowski said. “I’ve got two-and-a-half weeks to COTA. If I had to run the full race today, I’m not 100 percent sure I could do it. But I’ll have another two weeks of reps and rehab to continue to gain and hopefully I can get there.” Keselowski turns 42 on Friday and reiterated that he wants to continue racing for at least another few years. He was laughing and in a good mood Wednesday, even showing off the cane with the sponsor logs on it. “Got to own it,” Keselowski joked. “This is NASCAR. … I knew I probably was going to get picked on a little bit and at some point, own it.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There’s no sugarcoating it. Corbin Carroll’s hamate bone injury is a brutal loss for Team USA in next month’s highly anticipated World Baseball Classic. The Diamondbacks’ star outfielder broke his right hamate bone during batting practice at the outset of spring training on Tuesday. Carroll underwent surgery for the hand fracture on Wednesday, and he’s expected to be sidelined for several weeks, which sent Team USA scrambling for a replacement. Filling Carroll’s shoes won’t be easy. The 25-year-old is coming off his first-career 30/30 season. Carroll recorded a 140 OPS+ and won the Silver Slugger award last year. Team USA, strutting into the WBC with the best all-around roster in the tournament, suddenly needs to find another outfielder to suit up alongside Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong. As difficult as it will be to replace Carroll, who has been among the top position players in baseball since he debuted in 2022, if there’s any team that can pivot quickly to an exciting name, it’s the USA. Let’s dig into possible outfield replacements Team USA could try to recruit: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers Though Tucker might immediately seem like a no-brainer, particularly because he participated in the 2023 WBC for Team USA, there are some concerns worth flagging. Tucker played through a right-hand injury last season, and even though the newest Dodgers star is expected to be fully healthy to begin the year, playing in the WBC might not be worth the risk. The Dodgers also might prefer the outfielder to stick around at spring training and familiarize himself with his new team. Still, Tucker is the most obvious backup to fill in at the last minute. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres Merrill, entering his third season in the big leagues, is another logical replacement for Carroll. Though the 22-year-old only played in 115 games last season due to injuries, he still hit 16 home runs, collected 67 RBI and posted an OPS+ of 112. By any measure, that’s solid production for a center fielder in his sophomore season, even if it fell short of his incredible rookie campaign. Merrill is an obvious bounce back candidate for 2026 — and he can warm up by bringing his talents to the international stage. Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees After inking his new five-year contract with the Yankees, Bellinger said he preferred to stay with his team in a full spring-training regimen rather than compete in the WBC. But that could change now that Team USA is in need of his services. His Yankees teammates Judge and reliever David Bednar will be suiting up for the USA, and Bellinger has never participated in the WBC. The 30-year-old is coming off a successful year in New York; he hit 29 home runs and posted an .813 OPS in 152 games for the Yankees. In addition to his bat, Bellinger’s defensive versatility would be another huge asset for Team USA. James Wood, Washington Nationals Talk about imposing. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Team USA to roster a pair of 6-foot-7 outfielders in Judge and Wood. Wood is coming off a breakout season for the Nationals; the 23-year-old slugged 31 home runs and recorded an OPS+ of 132 last year despite no real protection in the lineup. The concerns for rostering Wood are his sky-high strikeout rate and limited track record. He might be overmatched in the WBC, especially against Japan’s terrifying pitching staff, should the USA face the Samurais. But Wood’s menacing power is enough for manager Mark DeRosa to give him a call. Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers One of the biggest losses stemming from Carroll’s absence is his stolen-base threat — and Langford could be the best option to restore that speed. The 24-year-old swiped 22 bases and hit 22 home runs for the Rangers last year. Langford is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, and though he’s not as impactful at the plate or a brand-name like Carroll, his on-base skills and speed are worth seriously considering. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels Could this really happen? Will the former captain once again wear the Stars and Stripes? It’s unlikely, due to the insurance issues that are preventing a number of MLB stars from participating in the tournament. But we can still dream.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There are three things Sebastian Berhalter does in order to perform at his best. Getting a good night’s sleep, of course. Reading – he’s currently digging his way through ‘The Light We Give.’ And thirdly, being diligent in his routine. This part Berthalter maps out carefully. The Vancouver Whitecaps and U.S. men’s national team midfielder keeps a data diary of his training and stays on top of his recovery. At home he uses a hyperbaric chamber, Normatec boots and a red light mat to make sure his body is right where he wants it to be. “I’m not saying those things make a difference, but for me, if there’s anything I can be doing to keep my mind and my body feeling as good as it possibly can, then I’m going to do it,” Berhalter told me ahead of the Whitecap’s preseason training. “Even just spending time with friends, going for walks and just being myself.” Berhalter, 24, is among the pool of MLS players hoping to make the 2026 World Cup roster. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino can only take 26 players to the tournament, which begins June 11. Somewhere around 17-20 of those guys play overseas, including the likes of forward Christian Pulisic and midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. That doesn’t leave many spots for MLS-based players. But Berhalter, along with his MLS comrades, is doing everything possible to stay sharp and ready to get called up. The next international window in March – which also happens to be the last camp before Pochettino makes his final World Cup roster decisions – is crucial. It will include matches against European powers Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta. And for all intents and purposes, if you’re going to make the final World Cup roster, it’s best you get called up in March. Pochettino said as much in a January conference call with reporters. “The idea is that the World Cup will start in March,” Pochettino said. The manager also delivered a message to his players in November after the squad’s last training camp when he said they “need to do everything to be in the best form to be selected for March.” Easier said for European players, who are in the thick of their respective club seasons. But as it pertains to MLS hopefuls like Berhalter, it’s a little more challenging being that most of them have been in the offseason since early November and preseason recently started. The MLS season begins Feb. 21, meaning they will only have a handful of matches under their belts before the March window. So what can guys do to stay in Pochettino’s World Cup plans? The USA’s staff doesn’t give players specific direction or instruction, though they’re always around as a resource. “They trust us and know we got to the national team for a reason,” Berhalter told me. “There’s nothing regimented. People have different ways of doing things. Some people like more recovery, some people do less, and they feel just as good. Everyone has their own things and different things they like.” Making the World Cup? ‘North Star Goal’ Berhalter took a week and a half off after starting for the Whitecaps in their MLS Cup final loss to Inter Miami on Dec. 6. He focused on eating clean and not pushing his body much physically aside from yoga just to stay active. After his self-allotted downtime, he was back to individual training sessions and getting touches on the ball. He ramped up the intensity over the next few weeks, writing down a list of what he wanted to accomplish each day in a notebook. He created a plan that included gym sessions, meetings, and meditation, and every time he’d complete something on the schedule, he’d check off the box he drew beside it. “It’s a system I’ve been using for awhile now and I feel like it’s something that keeps me accountable because I want to go back to the box and I want to check them off,” Berhalter said. “It’s satisfying to see at the end of the week that they’re all checked off. It’s about prioritizing things that I want to improve on or off the field and that keeps me organized.” Columbus Crew wing back Max Arfsten, who last played a competitive match in the USA’s 5-1 win over Uruguay on Nov. 18, spent part of his offseason in his hometown of Fresno, Calif. In the mornings, he’d train with a group of friends who also happened to be local professional players – mostly from the United Soccer League. They’d do technical work and play small-sided games. Then in the afternoons, Arfsten would go to the gym and lift before more conditioning. He’d also use the time as an opportunity to work on parts of his game that he can’t always get to during the season. For example, he’d take 30-40 shots in a row on goal or work on defending, crossing or building out of high-pressure situations that will help him as a left back in Pochettino’s system. “Having that North Star goal of trying to make the World Cup, there’s no time to just sit around, you know?” the 24-year-old Arfsten told me about his summer ambitions. “If you take too much time off, then it just takes longer to get back into it and I don’t think anybody wants to be in that situation.” Tim Ream, who will be 38 at this summer’s World Cup, agrees. When his season with Charlotte FC ended in early November, he took the necessary amount of time to rest and recover, and quickly jumped back into his program. “I’m one of those [guys] that I struggle with too much time off,” Ream told reporters during the USA’s November camp. “I’ll take 10 days off, completely shut the body down, and then get back on the bike and get back to running and get back to doing the things that I know work for me in the offseason. “As you get older, you actually need — or should be taking — less time off. I’ve found for me personally that’s really the approach. I’ll treat this preseason and this offseason the same way I treat every single one that I have in my career and come back ready to go in January knowing that 2026 is a huge, huge year, and that I have goals that I want to reach. It’s what you do when no one’s looking that allows you to reach those goals. And that’s what I’ll be doing.” ‘We’ll Have That Mental Freshness’ There are still a few weeks before the MLS season begins and soon after that, Pochettino will call in his March roster. Because of the layoff, are MLS players at a disadvantage in making the squad because they haven’t been playing regular matches like their European counterparts? Pochettino says no. “They’re going to [have] a very good level of energy,” the manager said in January. “Maybe [there’s a] lack of games, but I think you compensate with energy because they came from a period of rest and recovery and now they are charging their batteries to be full, to start competing in the end of or the middle of February. “And that is very good because I think in March they are going to be with all the power and it’s going to be good for them to show their quality. And of course for us, it’s good because they are going to be with all the energy and motivation to be part of the roster.” MLS players shrug their shoulders at the notion that the different schedules might play a part in who’s most deserving of a roster spot. There’s nothing they can do about it. “It just is what it is,” Berhalter said. “I think guys in MLS are just going to get right back at it.” “We can’t control the schedule,” added Arfsten. “One way to look at it is like, we’ll be more fresh. The European players by that time will be toward the end of the season. So they’re going to be more fit and in shape and in form, but I mean, after a long season you’re mentally drained so I think maybe we’ll have that mental freshness.” World Cup Watch: Could This Teenage Defender Make USA’s Squad? Thinking about that, though, is not productive for these MLS players. They’ve spent months trying not to get overwhelmed by how massive a year 2026 could be for them. Many are striving to play in their first World Cup. “I’m confident that everything I’ve done to get here is for a reason, and it’s worth it. It makes sense,” Berhalter said. “Anytime I step into the team – regardless if I am or not – I bet I’m the most prepared, the most hardworking, and it gives me a little edge, like, ‘I should be here. I deserve to be here. And now why not go ball out and do my thing?’ “If I get to the World Cup, that’s amazing. But if not, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good soccer player. I feel like you need to have perspective that even if it doesn’t happen, I’m going to be OK. I’ll be all right, and I’m gonna keep working. I don’t like to look at it as this is something hanging over my head like, ‘S—, I need to make the team.’ I take it day by day, and it would be the biggest honor of my life if I’m there.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Daytona International Speedway was alive again on Wednesday as the NASCAR Cup Series officially opened the Daytona 500 with the first practice. 2022 race winner Austin Cindric led the 45-car field with a session-best lap of 48.025 seconds (187.402 mph) in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Ross Chastain and Corey LaJoie followed closely behind. Check out the full results below. 2026 Daytona 500 Practice Results What is the Daytona 500 Schedule? Wednesday, February 11 Thursday, February 12 Friday, February 13 Saturday, February 14 Sunday, February 15​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Giving the command to start engines for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington next month will be two athletes who are familiar to anyone who has paid an ounce of attention to Texas sports. Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez were announced as the grand marshals for the March 15 race. The race will be the inaugural street-course event in Texas on a 2.73-mile circuit, that winds its way through the Arlington entertainment district, including AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers). Ware, a former Cowboy linebacker, is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Rodriguez, a former Rangers catcher, earned 13 Golden Glove awards. “DeMarcus Ware and Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez represent the very best of North Texas, championship-caliber excellence, unwavering pride and a deep connection to this community,” said race president Bill Miller in a news release.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NASCAR Cup Series has been unpredictable for several years, and a few of FOX Sports’ motorsports experts expect the 2026 season to be just as wild. In the most recent edition of “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” Bob Pockrass, Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith were all over the map with their predictions for the upcoming season. Each of them had different picks on who’ll be this year’s breakout driver, who’ll have the most wins and who’ll ultimately be the Cup Series champion. So, with Sunday’s Daytona 500 just days away (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), here is how Pockrass, Harvick and Smith expect the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series to play out. Which team has the most to prove this season? Pockrass: Richard Childress Racing With an uncertain future looming around RCR following an underwhelming season, Pockrass believes that Richard Childress Racing is under the most pressure in 2026. “You talk about Kyle Busch being a free agent and can you get the track right there with a new crew chief and get him feeling like this can be a place where he wants to keep racing at,” Pockrass said. “Where is Austin Dillon in his career? He obviously wants to run better as well. You’ve got a couple of young guys there who want to go Cup racing. Where are they looking for their futures? To me, RCR, they’ve gone through another round of competition changes, which seems like they’ve had a lot over the last two or three years. To me, they’re probably under the most pressure.” Both Dillon and Busch finished outside the top 12 in the Cup Series standings last year, placing 15th and 21st, respectively. Harvick: 23XI Harvick simply believes that 23XI needs to do more in 2026, specifically pointing to Tyler Reddick as a driver that needs to step up. “We gave them a mulligan last year,” Harvick said. “The bottom line is, Bubba [Wallace] got to victory lane, and we saw improvement from that car last year. Tyler Reddick has to win. I think he’s expected and went there to win races and been there long enough to win races. I think the scrutiny of that organization if they don’t, there’s no gimme this year. “Bubba’s been there long enough now that it’s time to start creeping into that multiple wins [per season]. Riley will hopefully run better after his first year in Cup. But the big Tyler Reddick scenario to me is you’re expecting multiple race wins out of that car and that company and, in my opinion, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin expect them to go out and contend for a championship.” After a three-win season in 2024, Reddick wasn’t able to get a win in 2025. He had seven top-five finishes, placing ninth in the season-long standings. Smith: RFK/22 Group Smith has a pair of teams that he believes need to step up in 2026. “RFK needs to show they can be a top team again,” Smith said. “Obviously, what we just saw with Ryan Preece, that was great. He’s their top guy. He’s consistently their fastest guy. If I would say who is the most motivated, the 22 Group is the most motivated because of maybe how much people on social media talk about their championships. “Watch the 22 Group show you what they can do in a different format. Watch them come out and be a top team as far as average, because it’s different.” None of RFK’s racers won a race last year, with all three finishing outside the top 15. Breakout Driver of the Year Pockrass: Chris Buescher Pockrass believes that Buescher could benefit from a potential strong season from RFK Racing. “When we talk to other drivers about, ‘Who do you think is gonna make the chase this year who didn’t make it last year?,’ a third of them didn’t even think twice before they said Chris Buescher. If RFK is stronger as a group, he’s going to be really strong,” Pockrass said. Buescher has taken a step back in the last two seasons following his seventh-place season finish in 2023, but had five top-five finishes in 2025. Harvick: Ty Gibbs Harvick thinks that one of Gibbs’ traits makes him strong enough to break through in 2026. “Just because he’s been so fast. He’s got the speed in the race car to keep himself in contention, can race well, and it’s just about getting over that hump to get to victory lane,” Harvick said. “I think they have the capability, the stability within the team now that they think they can have a breakout year.” The 23-year-old has finished in the top 20 of the Cup standings in all three of his seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. He had five top-five finishes in 2025. Smith: Chase Elliott Yes, Elliott is a past Cup champion, but Smith believes he’s due to climb back into contention after slipping to outside the top five in recent years. “I’m just thinking that they started figuring it out with the car,” Smith said. “That was just the biggest thing. He wasn’t very comfortable driving this car. Now, they figured it out. They went through all their gremlins. And their system is more to their liking. They probably feel like, ‘It’s back in our wheelhouse.” They’re probably going to have a good year.” Elliott finished eighth in the standings last year, picking up two wins. Who has the most wins this season Pockrass: Kyle Larson Pockrass thinks we see another strong year out of the No. 5 car in 2026 following his second Cup Series win last year. “I don’t see any reason why they’re going to get any worse,” Pockrass said. Harvick: Denny Hamlin Harvick believes that some external factors could come into play and lead to Hamlin having a strong year in 2026 following his second-place finish in 2025. “I could definitely make the argument for Larson, but there’s still a lot of motivation for Denny Hamlin,” Harvick said. “I just know he’s talked about his shoulder being hurt, being through so many things with his family, losing the championship and his dad’s passing and everything. I still believe there’s some fire in there to motivate him and as a driver, every year you’re looking for something to motivate you when you’ve done it that long. I hope that plays out, because I think he deserves it. I think sentiment for Denny Hamlin this year is going to be different. It started to shift last year. I believe that fan sentiment is going to be pretty positive this year as he rolls into the race track.” Smith: Christopher Bell Similar to Harvick with Hamlin, Smith thinks that motivation will play a role in Bell getting the most wins in 2026 after his midseason struggles last year. “I almost went with his other teammate, Chase Briscoe, but Christopher Bell is highly, highly motivated to win a championship,” Smith said. “That group is so fast. There’s really not any holes in his game. So, I think there’s a very good chance he ends the year with the most wins.” Who will be the Cup Champion? Pockrass: Ryan Blaney Pockrass didn’t offer an explanation for his pick, but Blaney has consistently been among the Cup Series’ top drivers. His sixth-place finish last year came two years after his 2023 title and a year after his 2024 second-place finish. Harvick: William Byron Harvick thinks it’s time for Byron to get over the hump following three top-five finishes. “It’s just that maturity and the things that go with a team. I think he and Rudy have a great relationship,” Harvick said. “They have worked through a lot of hard moments together, and that’s what it takes to be the champ.” Smith: Christopher Bell If Bell is going to get the most wins, why can’t he win the Cup Championship? That’s what Smith thinks of Bell entering 2026 as he had his fourth straight top-five finish in 2025. “Last year, I went with William Byron, and I still feel like the fire is there. But this year, I’m going with Christopher Bell. There’s something about it with him, and I think it’s his time.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson left full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season. Some thought he would come back for another full year in 2021 in front of post-COVID fan-filled tracks, but Johnson was ready for his next adventure. He’s had plenty of next adventures, including a couple of years racing in INDYCAR and purchasing a stake in GMS Racing, eventually becoming the majority owner of what is now Legacy Motor Club, which plans to expand from two to three Cup cars in 2027. Johnson had moved to England for a couple of years before returning to the United States full-time in 2025. He is back in the states trying to guide his team to improved performance. He also has two Cup races on his schedule this year — the Daytona 500 (he has run it the last three years) and the one-time race at Naval Base Coronado, near his hometown of El Cajon, California. Johnson talked to me about who he is — especially in his post-full-time NASCAR racing life: Post-full-time NASCAR career, who is Jimmie Johnson? It’s a great question. I am more aware. It’s been a great way to reflect. I’m learning more about myself, who I was, what it took to be that person. You know competition demands so much out of you that you’re on the hamster wheel but maybe don’t have the awareness that you could or should, and the more time I spend away from that environment, the more aware I become. So it’s a lot of reflection, I guess. How would your wife, Chani, describe you? I think at the core, she would say I’m so very much the same person — the work ethic, the journey, the motivation, my hours. Everything else is different, like my focus has shifted. I’m hopeful to train a couple of days a week. I’m still up so many hours and motivated by being a team owner and the things that go with it versus being out on a run in the morning. The hours and dedication are still very similar, but the pressure of [no longer] competing has brought awareness, peace, enjoyment, some other elements that I certainly think I’m much more aware of now. I think Chani would say the same. I remember when you helped open a street food restaurant in Charlotte. What’s more difficult, owning a restaurant or owning a race team? A race team. I had great partners in either scenario, but the restaurant was founded in an environment that was enhanced by my participation, not dependent upon it. So you’re saying that you’re more relied upon on the race team side? Totally. I’m the approved owner of the charters. My involvement is in some contracts written in with our partners and sponsors and in other elements, it’s maybe not in writing, but it’s an understanding. The big business side of this — if I wasn’t in it like I am, we wouldn’t have the great partners that we do. You seem to be a guy who loves people and loves relationships. Legacy has certainly had its share of changes. So I’m curious, how hard is it for you to make personnel changes as an owner? Without question, the most difficult part I’ve played. Because coming in, I felt like I would spend more time in a competition department. I probably talked about it before. As we’ve been on this journey, we’ve realized that my strengths are in different areas, and also my interests are in different areas. [Former Cup champion and Legacy adviser] Matt Kenseth has been such an asset for me, personally, to have the competition side with that experienced, watchful eye that I thought I could offer and bring to and the accountability that I could to our drivers and crew chiefs. But I’ve been on the front lines of revenue generation, partnerships and finding investors, all these different layers. So it’s been in a different scope of work, but highly relationship. Through that, we’ve had some turnover on the business ops side, but more turnover on the performance side. I haven’t been directly in a lot of that, and that’s an area that I’ve got to get more comfortable with and understand. But we’ve had groups that have evolved quite a bit, and there certainly have been plenty of tough conversations. So you’re racing this year, you have at least two Cup races, a truck race (also at Coronado), an off-road race. Is that just the start, or is that mostly what you’re going to do this year? Yeah, that’s the bulk of it. There’s a few historic car races I’ll be playing in. I’ll go to Monterey [California] this year and got a couple historic cars that I’ve purchased, and I’ll have a chance to drive them in addition to the Goodwood revival [in England]. That’s it for now. If something came along, I’d certainly take a look at it. From a Cup standpoint and the at-track demands that I have, I’m far more effective and useful out of a race car. So the Cup side is kind of baked for ’26, but if other opportunities came about, I’d look real hard at them. What is the most Californian thing about you? I’d say my eating habits. Full Mex at all times, especially growing up as close to the border as I did. What I know when we talked when you kind of went INDYCAR racing, of the reasons you went is because you could and because it was something that you wanted to do and had the opportunity to do. And I’m curious, what other things have you been able to do because you could and you had opportunities that you maybe you never thought you would get a chance to do, or were your favorite things to be able to do? I would say each step that I’ve made, personally and professionally, [has] been looking through that lens. Our time in London, that was kind of a reward that Chani and I had for ourselves. When the full-time racing stopped, we wanted to live abroad. And then it delayed a couple of years due to my idea to go INDYCAR racing. And then it all came together, and I was an owner, and thought, ‘Man, maybe, maybe it’s not a good time to go.’ And we had our tragedy [where investigators say his mother-in-law murdered her husband and her grandchild before killing herself], which then shifted it to, yeah, we should probably take advantage of this opportunity. It seems like a blessing that’s for us to be a family unit and be together. And that turned into a second year [there]. That’s one that really stands out personally. And then professionally — I guess it’s maybe not professionally in some respects — but driving that unlimited hydroplane [boat], committing to the [off-road race], committed to engage with a current partner and do cool things, Carvana and their support in this whole journey are like, what else do you want to do on that bucket list of ideas? So to create this fun opportunity with them, they’re like, ‘Hey, what do you want to go and try and do?” We try and do come up with those ideas and just have fun with it. What do you miss most about not being in London? There was a sense of freedom. That first year was really tough, but when you got established, there was big sense of freedom. And it was a good moment for me to separate from this hamster wheel that I’ve been on. You’re abroad. You’re five, six hours ahead. Sure, I had obligations and stuff as an owner and a partner to Maury [Gallagher at GMS], but it was Maury calling the shots. He was still the majority owner. And my schedule lightened up, and it was a nice shift for me to let go in a lot of ways and be with my family. And so that freedom that being away offered in my position in the team as a minority owner, and then the family time — it was just window of time I’ll always cherish. Are your teenage daughters into the 6-7 fad. And if they are, do you embrace it, or do you tell them that’s not allowed in the house? They were. It’s moved on to something else. When we try to be cool and bring it up, we get yelled at like, “You’re not cool, that’s so old, that’s yesterday.” But were you one who allowed it? Are you somebody who thinks there are other things to be worried about or fret over about. Or are you somebody who’s like: I don’t like it, we’re not having it? No. The fads, we just laugh. It’s funny. I remember feeling that my parents were so old and didn’t get it, and I remember thinking, “I’ll never be that.” And before I knew it, and without any clear understanding, I don’t know how to work my phone, I don’t know the fads — any electronic device that I get handed, they’re like, “[Give it] here dad” and within a few clicks, they’ve got it. It’s just wild when you’re younger and you make little mental notes or whatever it might be, “I’m not going to be that.” All of a sudden, you are that. And then finally, is this going to be your last Daytona 500? No, no, no. That was a quick answer. Yeah. Especially owning the team. I can call these shots, do what I want. So, yeah, without a doubt, there’s a trend of things slowing down. But this won’t be my last 500. What is it about the Daytona 500 that keeps bringing you back? What’s the best way to put it? Last year, I finished third. And when I go to other Cup races, and when you’re not a regular with a regular team, squeezing out that last little sliver of speed week in and week out, you’re just not in the window of the win. And it’s just a harsh truth, and one that I’ve accepted recently. And when I look over time and the unpredictable winners of a restrictor-plate race and also of the Daytona 500, why wouldn’t I? I can go get another one, get my 84th [win]. So it just works well with a part-time or a moonlight or whatever the right phrase would be. I think plate races in general, and then, of course, if you’re going to do it, you may as well do the big one.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For a moment when I saw Tony Stewart in November and asked him about racing a truck at Daytona, I had the feeling I looked at him as if he had two or three heads. As my camera rolled, Stewart declined to answer at the time about why he would think about doing it, but certainly my reaction wasn’t the only one. Apparently the reaction is common. Stewart described in a Dodge-moderated teleconference with reporters last month that his wife, Leah, also looked at him with some skepticism. “She looked at me like I had three heads,” Stewart said. “So it took a little bit of convincing to convince her that I was serious about it.” Oh wait, that actually was about him just racing a truck again. Not even at Daytona. And then she gave him another look when she heard about the plan for him to race for Kaulig Racing in the season opener Friday night. “She’s like, ‘Why would you do that?’” Stewart told me. “And she goes, ‘You’ve always told me it’s about a 70 percent chance you’re going to get wrecked out of any race at Daytona.’” So why is Stewart doing it? It’s no secret his NHRA drag racing team exists at least in part because of the investment from Dodge, the sister company to Ram, which enters the trucks for the 2026 season with an eye on returning Dodge to Cup in 2027 or 2028. The three-time Cup champion hasn’t raced anything in NASCAR since 2016, and he figures at least he knows the draft at Daytona. “All these guys that are running the truck series, they know the handling characteristics of these trucks,” Stewart said. “But when you go to a place like Daytona and Talladega, they aren’t necessarily the same handling characteristics and the things that you truly need to know about that is the draft. “And it doesn’t matter how much technology changes. The one thing that doesn’t change at Daytona is the air. So I think our record book shows we had a pretty good success rate at Daytona, and at least that we understood that part of it.” It will be cool to see Stewart in the truck race but also a little scary. It’s no secret that sometimes truck superspeedway races can morph into wreckfests. And at age 54, with a 15-month-old son and a vibrant NHRA team as well as a sprint-car team, is he taking too big of a risk? Stewart, who knows that his racing days are nearing an end, has never shied away from risks and part of him thinks this will be cool. Of course, there’s the big question mark of why even return to NASCAR considering what came out in the 23XI/Front Row antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Text messages revealed NASCAR brass wanted to “put a knife” in Stewart’s SRX Series that several NASCAR drivers participated in — something that NASCAR felt could impact its television rights negotiations if drivers continued to participate in other nationally televised stock-car events, albeit on a much smaller scale at smaller tracks than Cup typically visits. “I think everybody that’s on this call understands I didn’t have the best relationship with NASCAR, and surely, over the last 12 months, have had more reason to not have the best of relationships,” Stewart told me. “But still, at the end of the day, there were parts of the racing and people there that made it worthwhile — and the tracks and the cars, there were a lot of aspects that I truly do still miss to this day of it.” For young fans and his biggest fans, it will be a treat to see Stewart race the truck. He won’t even rule out another appearance later in the year. And if Stewart really wants to do it, then great — he’s earned the right to do what he wants. But let’s not hope he’s not doing it too often as a favor or in hopes of making sure he keeps his Dodge support. Doing it once as a bit of thanks and strengthening a relationship makes sense. But there’s a lot of risk for that to be the answer. In Second Thoughts, Bob Pockrass offers his opinion on a burning motorsports topic.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu will return for the 2026 season after being granted a ninth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The school announced Tuliaupupu’s return on social media on Monday alongside sixth-year offensive lineman Dylan Jemtegaard. Tuliaupupu will be entering his second season at Montana after starting his collegiate career at USC in 2018. He was sidelined for his entire undergraduate campaign at USC after two surgery-requiring injuries impacting his foot (2018) and knee (2020). The linebacker’s first season at Montana — and eighth overall — was just his second full season played and third with game action. He saw the field for the first time as a redshirt senior in 2022, appearing in all 14 games for the Trojans and recording 10 tackles, including three for a loss, and one quarterback hurry. Tuliaupupu returned to the sidelines with another injury in 2023 and missed the wholes season. He wrapped up his USC career in 2024, playing in seven games for the Trojans before his season was cut short due to illness. He transferred to Montana in 2025. Tuliaupupu will play under new Montana coach Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy is succeeding Bobby Hauck, who was named defensive coordinator at Illinois on Monday after a brief retirement. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Which conference can claim the title of best in college basketball? FOX Sports bracket forecaster Mike DeCourcy’s latest NCAA Tournament projections offer a snapshot of the national picture, and the arguments for multiple conferences are fascinating. The Big Ten and SEC feature the greatest depth, with both projected to send 10 teams to the tournament, according to DeCourcy’s projections. The Big Ten backs that up with five teams ranked in the top 13 of the AP Poll, while the SEC leans on balance, already boasting nine teams with at least 16 wins as of Feb. 10. The Big 12 and ACC make their case with top-end talent. The Big 12 is projected to place eight teams in the field and features six legitimate Final Four contenders, including four top-10 teams in Kansas, Arizona, Iowa State and Houston. Meanwhile, the ACC features blue bloods Duke and North Carolina, as well as a surging Virginia team that has won nine of its last 10 games. As the 2025-26 regular season quickly winds down, DeCourcy shares his latest NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament projections. EAST REGION SOUTH REGION MIDWEST REGION WEST REGION And it’s never too early to check in on the bubble. According to DeCourcy’s projections, Texas, Santa Clara, San Diego State and Virginia Tech are the last four teams in the tournament, while Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Cal and Missouri are the first four out. As for conference representation, the Big Ten and SEC lead the way with 10 teams, while the ACC has nine teams in DeCourcy’s latest tournament projections. The Big 12 has seven teams in the mix, while the Big East and West Coast have three teams each. The Mountain West conference has two teams represented in DeCourcy’s projections. Selection Sunday is just over one month away, and these projections will inevitably evolve. But for now, DeCourcy’s latest bracket forecast offers a clear snapshot of who’s rising, who’s falling, and which programs are already building the résumés they’ll need when March arrives.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports