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Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Kyle Kirkwood remembers first meeting Kyle Busch. It was just the second professional motorsports race he had ever attended. He believes it was at the age of 7. And he wanted to get the hat signed. That hat remains part of his racing trophy and memorabilia collection. The Andretti INDYCAR driver calls it a pivotal moment in his racing career. “That was like one of the first moments that I got around professional cars,” Kirkwood said at a post-Indianapolis 500 practice news conference Friday. “In a way, he turned me on to motor racing and wanting to move forward from karting.” Busch died suddenly Thursday at age 41, a day after being taken to the hospital for having trouble breathing and coughing up blood following a session in the Chevrolet racing simulator. The motorsports world is mourning the loss of the two-time Cup champion. Kirkwood said he met Busch at Texas Motor Speedway. “That was the first professional racer that I think I met from all forms of motorsports,” Kirkwood said. “I remember I got that signature, and for many years — still to this day, I still have that hat. I still have it with my trophies at my house. “But I remember that moment kind of really turned me on to racing. It was one of those moments where I’m never going to wash my hand again, you know? I think I was probably 7 years old or something like that. I fell in love with motorsports kind of after that and then meeting a few other guys and falling in love with INDYCAR.” Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, also a former Indy 500 driver, was in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage taking in practice. He was also watching some of his Legacy Motor Club pit crew members who are on the pit crew of the Arrow McLaren car of Ryan Hunter-Reay. He said he recently talked to Busch. Busch, like Johnson experienced late in his Cup career, was mired in a long winless streak. They talked about feeling they could still win amid the slump. Johnson told me and another reporter that he will remember Busch for his bravery, among other things. “The bravery, just natural skill, and then being able to tie that all back to the engineering process and communicating what he’s feeling, and expanding on that, and understanding cars, and the build [of the cars],” Johnson said. “Technically, in [knowing] the build of a car, he’s one of the best. He had that old school know-how and understanding, but could relate to the engineers — which is very special on its own. “And then he had all this bravery and skill to match it up.” NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar and Busch didn’t have a strong relationship but were teammates when they both raced trucks for Spire Motorsports, which bought the Kyle Busch Motorsports trucks program a few years ago. “Whether he disliked me or not on Sundays, when it came to … at Spire, we were teammates,” Hocevar said on the FOX telecast of INDYCAR’s Carb Day practice Friday. “That said a lot about him.” Katherine Legge, who is attempting to do both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Coke 600 on Sunday, said Busch and his wife, Samantha, welcomed her into the NASCAR garage. “A lot of the drivers don’t even say hi, but they took the time to get to know me and give me some help and advice, and I would class them as friends,” Legge said at Friday’s post-practice news conference. “So it’s desperately sad. … Racing has lost one of the greatest drivers, in my opinion, of all time.” Busch won more NASCAR national series races (234) than any other driver in series history and ranked ninth all-time in Cup wins with 63. Josef Newgarden, a two-time INDYCAR series champion, went to one of Busch’s two Cup championship parties. He considered them acquaintances and reacted to Busch’s death in the view of them both being parents. Newgarden has two young sons; Busch was the father of two children — an 11-year-old son (Brexton) and a 4-year-old daughter (Lennix). “He was an extreme racer, one of the best you’d ever see on track, and I’m just speaking about his skill set,” Newgarden said at his post-practice news conference. “I’m sure that the toughest part about it is just what he leaves behind with his kids and what they have to go through. “Incredibly sad for everybody. I didn’t even know Kyle very well. Just when I look at from afar, how can it not break your heart when you think about his kids?”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Prestige, entertainment and life-changing opportunities are synonymous with the iconic 2.5-mile track and one of the biggest motorsports events in the world. Well, the hot dog-based motorsports world anyway. We are, of course, talking about the second edition of the Wienie 500 on Friday afternoon, and while the sun was far from out, the buns definitely were. “We’re OK with soggy buns,” Corn Dog driver, Trey O’Shea, a.k.a. Tailgate Trey, told us. But luckily, the only thing raining was mustard when New York Dog took the checkered flag. Six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles hit the iconic 2.5-mile track Friday afternoon, delivering a fun and exciting second edition of the Wienie 500 in front of many fans who were dressed as hot dogs for the occasion. The Wienermobiles represent different regions around the U.S.: Chi Dog (Midwest), New York Dog (East), Chili Dog (South), Seattle Dog (Northwest) and Slaw Dog (Southeast) were joined by a fan-picked Corn Dog, representing the country as a whole. The six vehicles are rarely in the same place, as they travel around the country throughout the rest of the year. The Wienie 500 brought them all together again as the appetizer for Sunday’s 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. And, to be frank, the “hotdoggers” — the Wienermobile drivers and spotters in the passenger seat — knew it would be tough to catch up to and dethrone the reigning champ Slaw Dog. But they managed to pull it off as the New York Dog held onto its lead, emerging as the top dog, getting all the glory in the “Wiener’s Circle” with the “Borg-Wiener Trophy.” “It was fun,” Andy Richter, the “Commander in Beef,” told us in Wiener’s Circle. “I [picked] Corn Dog, and they were last. But they’re the new ones, so I like the underdog, no pun — this is the punniest place I’ve ever been. If you talk to any of those drivers, it’s nonstop puns.” Here are our takeaways from the 2026 Wienie 500: 1. Three-Wide Racing Is Especially Wild With Wienermobiles The two-lap race may seem like a sprint compared with the 200-lap Indy 500, but there was still plenty of action — starting with the Chi Dog practically running Seattle Dog off the track. Slaw Dog took an early lead, followed by Chi Dog, Chili Dog, Corn Dog, New York Dog and Seattle Dog. But the defending champ’s advantage didn’t last. Racing three-wide on the second 2.5-mile lap, Chili Dog, Chi Dog and New York Dog were almost trading bun shades in a heated battle for the lead. Ultimately, New York Dog pulled out front and held on for a mustard-filled celebration in the Wiener’s Circle. “There’s no way to describe it,” New York Dog driver Camila Fowler, a.k.a. Cook ‘Em Cam, told us afterward. “No words. At the end of the day, we were a team, we were ready for anything and just happy to be here and happy to do it for New York.” The Wienermobiles kept it exciting, proving three-wide racing is captivating in any form. Perhaps the New York Dog crew of hotdoggers picked up some tips and tricks from the pros. For the second edition of the Wienie 500, INDYCAR drivers Scott McLaughlin, Nolan Siegel and Sting Ray Robb worked with the hotdoggers, offering a little bit of coaching on how to handle the IMS oval. They were also in a coaching booth during the race. “Tastes like victory,” New York Dog spotter Jack Cupit, a.k.a. Jack and Cheese, shouted while downing a dog in the Wiener’s Circle. He didn’t know the team’s top speed, just that it was “faster than second.” Here are the complete results from the 2026 Wienie 500: 2. Slaw Dog Just Didn’t Have Enough This Year As the winner of the inaugural Wienie 500 last year, Slaw Dog has had bragging rights while living that glizzy glam life. And it had a chance to defend its title late in the race but was maybe relishing last year’s “W” a little too much. Ultimately finishing third, maybe Slaw Dog’s aero-dognamics just weren’t the best. After the three-wide moment that sent New York Dog up front, Slaw Dog looked like it could have followed the leader’s draft. But third place is still respectable. Not the wurst, but not the best. 3. Corn Dog Should Be A Staple, But What Other Dogs Could Be Added? The Corn Dog was new for the 2026 Wienie 500, but it needs a permanent spot in the starting lineup. Replacing the Sonoran Dog, fans voted in a Pick Your Dog” bracket to add the Corn Dog to the mix, complete with a stick in its derrière. “Last year, Sonoran Dog had smoked buns — did not cut the mustard — so they actually relegated that name,” Corn Dog driver, Trey O’Shea, a.k.a. Tailgate Trey, told us before the race. “They’re 27 feet long, and we got an extra six feet on the back here,” he added. “So knowing how to maneuver it [can be challenging]. That’s why we got two of us. Four eyes on the road at all time.” What else could be added to the Wienie 500 lineup? Of course, it’d likely have to be a real Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, but what about a Coney Dog or kielbasa or bratwurst or Italian sausage? 4. Absurd Juxtaposition Offers Levity Around The Biggest Race Weekend In The World The Indy 500 is serious business. For some drivers and teams, it’s the only INDYCAR race they compete in all year, using the entire calendar to prepare for race day. Losing is heartbreaking, but winning the Indy 500 truly is life-changing. And with heightened emotions, pressure and stakes, the Month of May is all business for competitors. And that’s why the Wienie 500 is a delightful respite and a welcome highlight of Carb Day at IMS. Where else can you see a bunch of Wienermobiles running around a legendary 117-year-old track? And that’s the amuse-bouche to the Indy 500, when drivers regularly break 200 miles an hour? It’s an excellent addition to Carb Day’s lineup, which historically has been mostly about the final Indy 500 practice, the Pit Stop Competition and concerts for fans. But the Wienie 500 is incredible entertainment, and hopefully IMS and Oscar Mayer keep this race going for a while. 4 1/2. What’s Next? The main course. The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 24, at 12:30 p.m. ET with Alex Palou leading the field to green. The pre-race broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. ET, followed by The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, both of which can be watched on FOX or streamed on FOX One.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

An Indianapolis 500 champion. A two-time INDYCAR champion. Known as the fastest racer in INDYCAR with a record 71 pole positions, and 45 career victories for fourth on the all-time wins list. Will Power has had the kind of career drivers dream of — and until 2026, he spent 17 years with Team Penske. In news that shocked the racing world, Power and Team Penske parted ways at the end of the 2025 season, and the 45-year-old Australian landed with Andretti Global. His roller-coaster journey and early struggles with a new team are examined in the latest episode of “All In” — a real-time docuseries from FOX Sports, INDYCAR and Shadow Lion. “You’re in a contract year, and that’s the year the team has a big struggle,” Power said of his final year with Team Penske in the “All In” episode titled, “Murphy’s Law.” He noted that Roger Penske gave him the green light to explore opportunities with other INDYCAR teams but didn’t get the discussions he was seeking from his own team. “They didn’t even talk to me in the offseason,” Power said. “That definitely pissed me off. I would say it’s a lack of respect for someone who had been there as long as I had.” While Team Penske brought in David Malukas, Power found a new opportunity to build on his already legendary career with Andretti. Although he faced uncertainty surrounding his future, he said he was drawn to Andretti’s resources, budget and potential. “Everybody’s very excited to see what Will can do behind the wheel of a different car because he had been with Penske for so long,” INDYCAR on FOX analyst James Hinchcliffe said in the latest “All In” episode. “We’ve never really seen him in anything different. You just never thought you’d see the day where Will was rocking up to the track in anything but Penske gear. But he’s here, and he’s hungry.” But he hasn’t had the best of luck so far this season. Following Power around Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indy Road Course weekend, “All In” captures a behind-the-scenes angle on Power starting from the back of the field, working his way to the lead, only to have a potential win slip through his grasp with a preventable penalty. Power obviously knows what it takes to win, and his motivation isn’t waning. But he’s eager for his Andretti team to break through and regularly contend for race wins, including Sunday’s 110th Indy 500. “I think I’ve improved every single year in my career, but it’s really hard to decipher what is what because the competition has become so much harder,” Power said in “All In.” “You’ve got to be able to adapt quickly.” Featuring INDYCAR drivers and insiders — along with INDYCAR on FOX’s Hinchcliffe, Will Buxton and Townsend Bell — “All In” examines the biggest challenges, the pressure points and the high-speed competition of racing in the series. But each episode features its own focus on a driver, team or series storyline. Watch “All In” on the INDYCAR On FOX YouTube page, FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, FOX One, as well as INDYCAR and INDYCAR on FOX social channels.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

After months of speculation surrounding a 24-team College Football Playoff model, all eyes now shift to next week’s SEC spring meetings, where one of college football’s most powerful conferences could ultimately determine the future of the sport’s postseason. FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt spent this week at the Big Ten spring meetings in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where CFP expansion dominated conversations among coaches, athletic directors and conference leaders. According to Klatt, the takeaway from those meetings was clear: support for a 24-team playoff is much stronger than many initially believed. While the Big Ten has discussed expansion possibilities for months now, commissioner Tony Petitti publicly offered his strongest support yet this week for a 24-team CFP format. The latest proposed model would eliminate automatic qualifiers in favor of a selection-based format featuring the 23 highest-ranked teams and one Group of 6 representative. That framework has recently gained traction across the ACC and the Big 12, both of which have shown support for the proposal. But despite growing momentum, the spotlight now turns to the SEC, which will hold its annual spring meetings in Destin, Florida. According to Klatt, those meetings could become one of the most pivotal moments yet in the CFP expansion debate. “I had multiple coaches tell me that 90% of the coaches in the SEC and 100% of the athletic directors in the SEC favor a 24-team model for CFP expansion,” Klatt said in a clip released from an upcoming episode of “The Joel Klatt Show.” That runs counter to the belief that the SEC was firmly opposed to a 24-team model. In fact, Klatt said there is a growing sense within Big Ten circles that next week’s SEC meetings could feature significant disagreement. “That makes this next week in Destin so interesting because there is a sentiment, at least among the Big Ten coaches, that the meetings between Greg Sankey — the commissioner of the SEC — and his coaches are going to be contentious,” Klatt said. Support for the 24-team model has continued to grow beyond just the Power 4 conferences. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a highly influential group of coaches in college football, has also backed the proposal. That group includes Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, arguably the most influential coach in the SEC and one of the sport’s most powerful voices. That’s why next week’s meetings in Destin could become a turning point for the future of college football. “The coaches are gonna be pushing for one thing, and Greg [Sankey] has publicly stated something very different,” Klatt said. “They might not have a consensus down there in those rooms.” Ultimately, though, the final decision might not rest solely with coaches or conference commissioners. As Klatt pointed out, it’s the university presidents who have the ultimate say. Sankey, who has served as the commissioner of the SEC since 2015, works for the president of the SEC. “If the athletic director and coaches get their presidents on board, Greg Sankey is not going to fend off all of his bosses,” Klatt said. “He has 16 bosses in the SEC.” Petitti indicated this week that if the SEC were to support the 24-team format, implementation could happen as early as the 2027 season. Whether Sankey and the SEC can come to an agreement remains unclear. But after months of speculation, the center of the college football world is about to shift to Destin, where the next chapter of CFP expansion could take shape.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — The long wait is finally over. And that wait started minutes after the checkered flag fell on Alex Palou’s victory in the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Thirty-two drivers eagerly waiting for another chance to add their name to the list of those immortalized by winning The Great Spectacle in Racing. One driver looking to defend his title as the 500 champ. The Indy 500 is held in the largest sports area on Earth, Sunday is the 110th race since 1911, and it’s the most important race to any driver who has the privilege of even attempting to compete in it. When you stack all those things on top of each other, it isn’t surprising that the Indy 500 intensifies every emotion that a driver feels. As a driver, you know winning this race changes everything. Your life will never be the same, and you feel that in every lap you do here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You also know that the team has put countless hours into preparing and running the car. Leading any INDYCAR race always feels good, but there’s nothing comparable to the thrill of leading the Indy 500. When you take the lead at Indy for the first time, you can’t help but smile in your helmet. You can almost hear the cheers of the crowd through the noise of the engine. Your heart rate spikes, and the adrenaline pumps harder. I remember leading the 2016 race into Turn 1 at the start, and you could see the grandstands come alive. After two weeks of staring at them while driving down the frontstraight, largely empty and gray, they are suddenly this vibrant, colorful living thing. The view takes your breath away… for one second! Then you have to focus back on the corner coming at you at 220 miles an hour. Qualifying on pole, leading laps and, of course, winning the race, just mean so much more here at IMS. This place truly makes drivers experience the highest of highs. But… that comes with the obvious caveat. For every heightened positive emotion, the negative ones hit and leave you breathless in an entirely different, soul-crushing way. A bad Indy 500 sits with you so much longer and weighs much more heavily on your mind. It’s one of the hardest things to get over. My rookie year, I crashed in the Indy 500 right at the halfway marker. As I lost control and hit the wall, my heart sank lower than it ever had in my career. I was desperate, in that moment, to invent a way to turn back time with my mind. Just a few seconds, nothing crazy. There was almost a refusal to accept what had just happened. But when it finally set in, the feeling of devastation is unparalleled for a driver. Whether you crash out mid-race like me, or with a handful of laps to go like Pato O’Ward in 2023, or before the green flag even fell like Scott McLaughlin last year, the feeling is the worst thing you can emotionally experience as an INDYCAR driver. The highest of highs can only happen at the same place that deals you the lowest of lows. Second place at any other track is a decent day. Second place at Indy is a fiery dagger to the heart. You only need to look at footage of the drivers who have finished second in recent years to understand. A picture is worth a thousand words, and those clips are novels of pain and disappointment. All that said, as painful as the results can be, as low as those lows are, every driver will gladly stare that pain in the face for a chance to feel the glory. SOUND LIKE AN INDYCAR EXPERT We all know that racing is a team sport — from the fabricators back at the shop, to the truck drivers, commercial staff, PR, mechanics, engineers and on and on — and nowhere is that more on display than at Indy. We’ve already talked about all the hard work that goes in back at the shop in the build-up to the Month of May, and then, if you’re lucky enough to qualify for the race, the real high-pressure stuff starts. In a typical INDYCAR race, we are usually talking about the debate between two and three stops. At the Indy 500, there could be six, seven or maybe eight stops. That means that performing exceptionally on pit lane is a must for a team to win. Teams will put in extra hours practicing pit stop perfection for the Indy 500. On Carb Day, there is even the official Pit Stop Competition, which is a huge point of pride for the squads going over the wall. These crews will work with physical trainers and sometimes mental coaches to try and maximize their performance on race day. [INDY 500: What Makes The Indy 500 So Hard?] And talk about a high-pressure environment. Hanging tires, refilling fuel and working the air jack are all tense tasks on their own. But these pit crews aren’t working in a quiet room or even on a wide open field. They are in a concrete alley with race cars flying by at 60 miles per hour, all trying to beat one another off pit lane. The fact that these crew members are all exposed to 30 or more cars going highway speeds just inches from their largely unprotected bodies — they are wearing fire suits and helmets — definitely raises the temperature in the pressure cooker. And just like the drivers, pit crews know that any small mistake or hiccup can cost them the chance at glory. So just know that when you see a driver drinking their celebratory choice of milk in Victory Lane, all the team members celebrating with them played just as big a part. MY VIEWS AT THE INDY 500 I have been so lucky to experience the Indy 500 from three distinctly different seats. First, as a fan. When I was a kid, I watched this race and cheered on my heroes. And it was not only a fun and entertaining way to spend a Sunday in May, but I also felt, even back then, that it was a great way to bond with friends and family. It was always a great opportunity to get together with people you care about and cheer on the same driver (or not!) and be able to say, “I was watching when that driver’s life changed.” Then, of course, my 11 years as an INDYCAR driver gave me a completely different appreciation for this event. To have played a small part in the storied history of this great race is an immense point of pride. The history of this event is unmatched in the racing world, and there is no doubt that’s why it means so much to any driver lucky enough to compete. And now, I get to be a part of the event in a completely different way as a broadcaster. Helping tell the story to the millions of people watching at home of what is happening on track, and ultimately what it means, is a real privilege. There are many parts of the race that I love. Many traditions that I think are incredible. As a fan, a driver or a broadcaster, the best part of it for me changed and evolved, but I will always hold this race very near and dear to my heart. 1 FOR THE ROAD If you needed any more proof that INDYCAR drivers are modern-day gladiators, look no further than Alexander Rossi. After a stunning performance in qualifying and putting himself and his team P2, he suffered injuries in a Monday practice crash. He required surgery on his left hand and his right foot. And despite crashing at 200-plus miles an hour, and having scars and metal in him that he didn’t a week ago, he plans to suit up and still compete in the 110th running of the Indy 500 from the middle of the front row. No fear. No hesitation. Just a single-minded desire to return to victory lane, where he stood 10 years ago after winning as a rookie. Everyone likes a comeback story, and this would be one worthy of a Hollywood script. MORE DRIVER’S EYE:​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A consistent theme has emerged on the eve of Mauricio Pochettino selecting the United States men’s national 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.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports