Ep. 011: Graig Hoffman, event director for NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway
On May 14, 2025, Chris sits down with Graig Hoffman, who works for Speedway Motorsports, live from North Wilkesboro Speedway. Graig is the event director for the All-Star Race and was instrumental in bringing racing back to North Wilkesboro Speedway even before NASCAR's return.
Tune in using the video player above or stream it live on . You can also watch it on the on Roku, AppleTV and Fire TV.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago baseball report: Cubs make the case for Seiya Suzuki as an All-Star, White Sox get a viral stolen base
The Chicago Cubs have a chance to secure a sweep heading into a big weekend series against a division rival. After taking the first two games of their series against Cleveland, the Cubs turn to rookie Cade Horton to finish off the Guardians before the St. Louis Cardinals come to Wrigley Field for the holiday weekend. The Cubs have a great opportunity to build on their division lead, currently 3 games up on the Milwaukee Brewers and 5 games ahead of the Cardinals. The teams with the two worst records in the majors meet in Denver when the White Sox visit the Colorado Rockies for a three-game series beginning on Friday. The Sox are in last place in the American League Central with a 28-57 record entering Wednesday. The Rockies are on pace to break the modern-day MLB record for most losses in a season — 121 set last year by the Sox. They were 19-66 entering Wednesday. Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White the rest of the All-Star Game rosters are revealed Sunday, the Cubs are hoping Seiya Suzuki got enough votes from players to be included among the National League reserves. Suzuki's three-RBI night in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians put him atop the major-league leaderboard with 73 RBIs, one shy of his career high in 2023, while his 23 home runs already exceed the most he's hit in a season, which came last year (21). Manager Craig Counsell called Suzuki 'super deserving' for an All-Star Game honor after outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker were named starters Wednesday. 'He's having an All-Star year, there's no question about it,' Counsell said of Suzuki after the win. Suzuki picked up his 70th RBI on Tuesday in the Cubs' 85th game. The last Cub to reach 70 RBIs in 85 or fewer games was Sammy Sosa in 2001, per team historian Ed Hartig. Sosa reached 70 in the team's 69th game. Through Wednesday's game, Suzuki's .550 slugging percentage ranks fourth in the National League. And he continues to take advantage of his teammates getting on base ahead of him. Suzuki's 179 wRC+ with runners in scoring position is tied with the Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper for eighth-best in the NL. 'I don't think there should be any question or any thought that Seiya Suzuki's earned a spot on an All-Star team this year,' Crow-Armstrong said Wednesday. 'He's just really good about doing his work. … I don't think I've ever seen anybody flush baseballs like him that I've played with. (Ian Happ's) got a tendency to do that. And Oneil Cruz makes a baseball look really small, Ohtani does, but Seiya Suzuki, the way he compresses and spins baseballs is super impressive.' Asked about Crow-Armstrong's comment and potentially being an All-Star, Suzuki wasn't looking too far ahead. 'Obviously, if chosen I would want to go,' Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. 'But I think my focus is on trying to get to the postseason, that's more important.' Adrian Houser took his resurgence to another level Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. The Sox right-hander pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five and walking one in a 1-0 victory at Rate Field. It was Houser's third scoreless outing since signing a one-year deal with the Sox on May 20. The first two occurred in his first two starts with the club — May 20 against the Seattle Mariners and May 26 at the New York Mets. He went six innings in both of those appearances. Houser is 3-2 with a 1.90 ERA in seven starts for the Sox. 'I just try to focus on hitting my mechanic key points and keep that locked in and right where it's at,' he told the Tribune on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. 'For the most part, I'm tinkering with it, going back and forth, making adjustments when I need to. Just trying to hammer that down and keep it rolling.' Houser has bounced back from last year, when he had a 5.84 ERA in 23 appearances (seven starts) with the Mets. Following Saturday's start, Houser compared this stretch to a period of time when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. 'I put a pretty good run in there in '21, so it's up there,' Houser said. 'I'm just trying to work on the stuff I'm trying to do, make sure my mechanics are in the right spot, where I need them to be to be able to execute pitches. After that, the rest is out of my control.' Houser, whose name has come up in trade speculation, has pitched at least five innings in each of his starts. His next scheduled start is Friday against the Rockies at Coors Field. 'He's been able to pick us up when the guys (in the bullpen) really need a blow,' Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said. 'It's really good for our starters to see how he goes about his business, how he's been able to attack the strike zone.' The Sox have gotten plenty of work out of their bullpen. Their relievers are second in the American League with 339 1/3 innings pitched coming into Wednesday. Only the Athletics' relievers have logged more innings — 341 1/3 — among American League clubs. The basket above the ivy-covered outfield wall can be a hitter's best friend. Conversely, it can give pitchers nightmares on fly balls that otherwise would likely be outs at the wall. Left-hander Shota Imanaga allowed only four hits to the Guardians in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday, but three of those hits landed in the left-field basket for solo home runs. Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas hit back-to-back pitches into the basket — both off four-seam fastballs — to put Cleveland ahead in the second inning. David Fry followed in the third inning with another shot to the basket off another four-seamer. Santana's home run had a .270 expected average while Fry's was a .400 xBA. Thomas' home run featured a .960 xBA but would not have been gone in 10 ballparks, including Cleveland's. 'I just felt that that basket can mean heaven or it can be hell,' Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. 'Early on, I noticed that they were attacking the fastballs so I was thinking about how can I show them the fastball and then adjust with the offspeed pitches.' Eight of the 10 home runs Imanaga has surrendered this year have come without runners on base. Chase Meidroth attempted to steal second base in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The throw beat him to the bag, but Meidroth stopped his feet-first slide short of the base, avoided Brett Wisely's tag and then stepped on second. He was initially ruled out, but the call was reversed after a video review. The stolen base went viral. 'It kind of just happened,' Meidroth said on Tuesday. 'I didn't want to slide into his glove. Figured stop and see what's next. 'Just kind of one of those blacked out moments where you react to what's given to you on the field. It was a cool play. I've never done that before.' Manager Will Venable said Meidroth 'has those instincts' to make such a play. The rookie infielder has experienced another first in the three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which wraps up Thursday at Dodger Stadium. 'I grew up here,' said the Manhattan Beach, Calif., resident. 'As a kid, I came here all the time. It's cool to come back here. I've never played here. A first for me. 'It's a dream come true for myself and my family.' 'There's a gift, and your swing is a little bit of your DNA. You can't completely escape it, the way you first picked up a bat. But he's honed it to a wonderful place, and his strike zone discipline is outstanding as well.'
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Fletcher Place Community Center's All-Star makeover
Fletcher Place Community Center is celebrating the arrival of summer with much-needed facility upgrades and a new mural from a local artist. Why it matters: Improvements made to the east side gathering spot represent one of four "legacy projects" Hoosier nonprofits are rolling out this year with the support of $1 million in grant funding from the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee. Driving the news: FPCC and community leaders unveiled their All-Star facelift last week. Updates include kitchen improvements, upgrading the REACH Early Learning playground and toddler play space, a new greenhouse and enhancing the community garden. They also shared a mural by Boxx the Artist, a 2024 Art & Soul headliner who has installed more than 10 murals in Indy. What they're saying: Titled " Rooted Together," the goal of the mural was to honor the history of FPCC and its values of hope, compassion and renewal. The Rotary Club of Indianapolis and an anonymous donor also provided funding for the artwork. "To be able to help Fletcher Place ... complete their legacy project, which is going to help children and families for decades to come, is exactly why we wanted to host the WNBA All-Star Game," Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said at a recent ribbon cutting. What's next: Three other projects that received funding from the host committee are still underway.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Caitlin Clark injury update: Fever star ruled out of showdown vs. Aces
The Indiana Fever, the newly minted 2025 Commissioner's Cup Champions, return home to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 3 to face off against the Las Vegas Aces without Caitlin Clark. Clark will sit out her fourth consecutive game Thursday due to a left groin injury, which also kept her out of the Fever's 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 Commissioner's Cup final on July 1. She's set to miss her ninth game of the season after a quad injury sidelined her five games last month. The Fever have gone 4-4 without Clark in the lineup, but eagerly await her return to the court. "(I'm) doing everything I can to put myself in a position to play the next game every single time," Clark said on June 29. "That's always my goal — to be available for the next game. Doing everything I can with the medical staff to be able to get my body right and be able to do that." Despite being listed as "day-to-day," Clark was ruled out of Thursday's matchup one day before the game. Fever head coach Stephanie White said July 2 that the team was taking a cautious approach with Clark and putting "her long-term health and wellness at the forefront." "I think it's five games before All-Star break," White continued, "so let's just ease her mind even though she's antsy, and let's do this the right way and make sure we're ready to go and 100% when she comes back." Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year's playing status: 2025 WNBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP: Highlights, recap as Fever beat Lynx OPINION: Conspiracy theory about Clark, jealous players much ado about nothing Is Caitlin Clark playing vs. Las Vegas Aces? No. Clark was ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Aces, the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Fever lost the first matchup 89-81 in Las Vegas on June 22. Clark had 19 points, 10 assists and three rebounds in the loss. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 3. It can be streamed on Prime Video. Caitlin Clark injury update: What happened? Head coach Stephanie White said she first learned of Clark's groin injury on June 25 following the Fever's 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm on June 24, where Clark finished with six points (3-of-13 FG, 0-of-6), nine assists, three steals and two rebounds in 31 minutes of play. Clark previously suffered a quad injury during the Fever's 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24. Clark returned to the Fever's lineup on June 14 in the Fever's 102-88 win over the Liberty after missing five games, which officially ended her longest stretch of missed due to injury in her collegiate or WNBA career. She dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. "No one said this season was going to be perfect for us. There's going to be ups and downs," Clark said on June 29. "From injuries or coaches not being here for a couple of games. Everybody has been through a little bit of adversity here. So I think just giving our group credit for being able to stick together and know that whatever we have in our locker room is really all we need to go out there and win. I'm just proud of our group." Caitlin Clark stats Clark ranks second in the WNBA in assists per game to start the 2025 season. Here's a look at the 2024 Rookie of the Year's full stats (per game): The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
