Van Gisbergen wins in Chicago once again, completing a NASCAR weekend sweep
It was van Gisbergen's second victory of the season and his third career Cup win. The Trackhouse Racing driver also won in Chicago in 2023, becoming the first driver to take his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
Ty Gibbs was second, and Tyler Reddick finished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.
It was a dominant weekend for van Gisbergen, a three-time champion in Australia's Supercars. The 36-year-old New Zealand native won the Xfinity Series race from the pole Saturday. He also was the top qualifier for the Cup race.
Michael McDowell joined van Gisbergen on the front row and quickly moved in front. He won Stage 1 and led for 31 laps before he was derailed by a throttle cable issue.
Van Gisbergen regained the lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog moved into downtown Chicago with thunderstorms in the forecast, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way.
AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece finished seventh. Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.
William Byron's day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver began the day on top of the series standings.
After McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between Turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.
'I didn't see it until the last second,' Keselowski said. 'I slowed down and I actually felt I was gonna get stopped and then I just kind of got ran over from behind. It's just a narrow street course and sometimes there's nowhere to go.'
Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of NASCAR's inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to finish the race. Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset top-seeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta.
Gibbs, Preece, Alex Bowman, John H. Nemechek, Zane Smith and Erik Jones also advanced. The winner of the five-race, bracket-style tournament takes home a $1 million prize.
Bowman, the 2024 champion on the downtown street course, won his head-to-head matchup with Bubba Wallace. Bowman and Wallace made contact as they battled for position late in the race after they also tangled in Chicago last year.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
When do College Football 26 player, team ratings come out? When is game's release date?
(Editor's note: EA Sports released its deep dive into Road to Glory mode for College Football 26 on Friday, June 27.) College Football 26 is coming out soon, and EA Sports has been busy sharing details this past week with highly anticipated deep dives into Team Builder and Dynasty mode. The next big one that fans are dying to know: What are the player and team ratings? Advertisement We already know a few players' ratings (well, we think). Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was shown to be part of the 99 Club in the Dynasty deep dive on the Orlando-based video game company's website. His fellow cover athlete, Alabama receiver Ryan Williams, was shown to be a 97 overall (though his Elusiveness was a maxed-out 99). And there were a couple others revealed in the deep dive, including Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander (86), Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen (94) and Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer (94). Last year for College Football 25, the team ratings came out fresh off the tail of EA Sports' announcement of the 25 toughest places to play, which were released for CFB 26 on Tuesday, June 24. Player ratings waited until July 10, a week before the game's release date. We are still waiting on one last deep dive into Road to Glory and its high school football component, so keep an eye out for updates. Here's what we do know so far about College Football 26, including its release date, prices, platforms and cross-play ability: When does College Football 26 come out? College Football 26 will have its wide release Thursday, July 10. Early access will be available for those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle on Monday, July 7. Advertisement How much is College Football 26? The Standard Edition of College Football 26 will cost $69.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99, and the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Edition of both CFB 26 and Madden 26, is $149.99. CFB 26 Dynasty deep dive EA Sports shared new information about gameplay, presentation, the Team Builder function and Dynasty mode over the past week. Here's a look at the changes to the popular Dynasty mode in a video narrated by Kirk Herbstreit: Looking for more details? We've got you covered. Will high school be in College Football 26? The Road to Glory mode will allow a created player to start as a high school football recruit, building a recruiting tape for colleges, earning scholarships, announcing their college decision in a hat ceremony and even decommitting if a better offer comes up. There is also a high school football stadium template available in Team Builder. Advertisement Here's a rundown of the new features as announced by EA Sports: Dynamic and auto subs for quick substitutions and unique formations Real-world coaches and new playbooks, formations and positions In-game traditions such as Georgia's spiked shoulder pads to celebrate turnovers Crowd songs such as "Seven Nation Army" and "Enter Sandman" Wear and tear for player injuries over the course of a season Cross-play between consoles for Online Dynasty Mode A high-school component in Road to Glory Stadium pulse will get louder during primetime games Return of Trophy Room to showcase awards to other players What's the difference between the College Football 26 editions? The Deluxe Edition of College Football 26 includes more bonus features and three-day early access to the game. The MVP Edition's main bonus is its bundle with Madden 26. Here's a look at the different pre-order benefits for each edition: Standard Edition: includes All Hands Ultimate Team pack, Dynasty coach points and Road to Glory skill points. Deluxe Edition: includes Standard Edition bonuses, plus early access, 4600 College Football points, early access Ultimate Team solo challenges and Top Prospect Ultimate Team pack (for orders before June 19). MVP Edition: includes Deluxe Edition bonuses, plus Deluxe Edition of Madden 25 and Exclusive Elite Player Ultimate Team pack. Like CFB 25, College Football 26 will be available to play only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There are no known plans to make it available for PC gamers and those on previous-gen consoles such as Xbox One and PS4. Advertisement Will College Football 26 have cross play? Yes, those playing College Football 26 on PS5 will be able to take on those playing on one of the Xbox consoles. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: EA College Football 26 release date, team and player rating schedule
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
College Football 26 out now: Deluxe Edition, MVP Bundle pre-orders grant early access
College Football 26 is here. Users who pre-ordered the Deluxe edition or the MVP Bundle, which includes College Football 26 and Madden 26, can begin playing the game on July 7. EA Sports granted three days early access to those who pre-ordered. If you did not pre-order, you have to buy the game on its official release date, July 10. Advertisement The Standard Edition of Madden 26 will cost $69.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99, and the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Edition of both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, is $149.99. Much of the information regarding the game has been released. Deep dives on Dynasty Mode, Road to Glory, Ultimate Team and online head-to-head can be found on the EA Sports College Football website, where you can also find gameplay and presentation deep dives. EA dropped their top 10 offensive and defensive player ratings on July 1 with Ohio State's wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs being the top on their respective sides of the ball. The top five ratings for each position were also dropped with Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier tied at the top for quarterbacks with a 92 rating. The team ratings have also been released with Alabama leading the FBS with a 89 overall team rating. Advertisement What console will College Football 26 be available on? College Football 26 will be available on the current generation Xbox and PlayStation. That means that only the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the PlayStation 5. The Xbox One nor the PlayStation 4 will have access to the game. The game also will not be available on Nintendo Switch or PC. Top offensive player ratings Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State - 98 OVR Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama - 95 OVR Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - 95 OVR Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - 94 OVR Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama - 94 OVR Spencer Fano, RT, Utah - 94 OVR Ar'maj Reed-Adams, RG, Texas A&M - 93 OVR Advertisement Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt - 93 OVR Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami - 93 OVR Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State - 93 OVR Alabama receiver and cover athlete Ryan Williams goes for a catch against Georgia in EA Sports College Football 26. Top defensive player ratings Caleb Downs, FS, Ohio State - 96 OVR Anthony Hill Jr, MIKE, Texas - 95 OVR T.J. Parker, Left Edge, Clemson - 95 OVR Dylan Stewart, Right Edge, South Carolina - 94 OVR Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennesse - 94 OVR Peter Woods, DT, Clemson - 94 OVR Colin Simmons, Right Edge, Texas - 93 OVR Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame - 93 OVR Keldrick Faulk, Left Edge, Auburn - 93 OVR Dillion Thieneman, SS, Oregon - 93 OVR This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: College Football 26 out now: Who has early access from pre-order?
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Prediction: This Company Will Be the Robotics Leader, Not Tesla
While Tesla has talked a big game about its Optimus robot, Amazon just deployed its 1 millionth robot at its fulfillment centers. The company's robots are using AI to help make the company's warehouse operations much more efficient. Meanwhile, it's also using AI in areas like delivery and inventory management. 10 stocks we like better than Amazon › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) gets most of the media attention when it comes to robotics, thanks to its humanoid robot prototype, Optimus, and Elon Musk's bold claims. In fact, last year Musk said that Optimus could eventually be worth more than everything else from Tesla combined. But while Tesla talks about the future of robotics, Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) robots are already delivering the goods -- both literally and figuratively. In fact, Amazon is already the largest manufacturer and operator of mobile robotics in the world. So if you're looking for the real leader in artificial intelligence (AI) robotics, it's Amazon. Amazon got into the robotics space in 2012 when it acquired Kiva Systems for $775 million. While a small deal at the time, it is really starting to pay dividends for Amazon. Earlier this month, the company surpassed 1 million robots operating inside its fulfillment centers. These robots now assist with about 75% of all customer orders placed through Those are some huge numbers, and they are likely only going to get bigger. The company is soon expected to have more robot workers than human ones. Amazon's robots also aren't just moving packages around. They're sorting inventory, lifting heavy loads, unloading trailers, and increasingly handling complex warehouse tasks. What sets Amazon apart from other robotics companies is how it's using AI to make its robots smarter to improve efficiency. Its Lab126 team is working on a new generation of warehouse robots that can follow voice commands, adjust to problems in real time, and even fix themselves when something breaks. Amazon also just introduced an AI model called DeepFleet to manage and coordinate its entire robot fleet. The goal is to move packages faster and at lower cost by making better decisions about what robots should do and when. These robots also go well beyond moving boxes. They can find specific parts, reroute if an aisle is blocked, and unload trucks without needing everything pre-programmed. Some can even spot damaged items before they're shipped, which should reduce returns and improve customer satisfaction. Robots also don't take breaks or call in sick, which means they can keep working around the clock. Over time, this should lead to faster shipping, lower labor costs, and stronger operating margins in Amazon's core e-commerce business. Robots are just part of Amazon's AI efficiency story. Amazon's new Wellspring system uses AI to map out hard-to-reach delivery locations, such as large apartment complexes and office parks. The data can also be integrated into smart glasses for real-time navigation. This all helps improve delivery times, letting drivers complete more routes per shift. The company is also using AI to fine-tune its inventory and delivery network. Through its SCOT (Supply Chain Optimization Technology) system, Amazon is now able to forecast demand for specific products by taking into account things like regional preferences, weather, and price sensitivity. Ultimately, this keeps inventory closer to customers, helping reduce shipping costs. These improvements are already translating into better operating performance. Last quarter, Amazon's North America segment grew operating income by 16% on just 8% revenue growth. That's great operating efficiency. Of course, robotics is only one part of the Amazon story. Its cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), is its largest business by profitability, and its fastest growing. Customers continue to turn to Amazon's cloud infrastructure to build, train, and scale their own AI models and apps. Meanwhile, Amazon has developed its own custom AI chips, which help give it a cost advantage. It also has a fast-growing sponsored ads business that is seeing strong growth. When investors think of digital advertising platforms, they generally think of Alphabet's Google search engine or Meta Platforms' social media apps, but Amazon is actually the third-largest platform in the world. Meanwhile, the company is using AI to help third-party merchants both improve listings as well as better target potential customers. While the stock has rebounded off its lows this year, the company still trades at a reasonable valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 36 times this year's analyst estimates. That's still below its historical average. Between its strong cloud computing growth, leading e-commerce operations, and the lead it has in automation and robotics, Amazon stock looks like a solid long-term buy. Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Amazon wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $976,677!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Prediction: This Company Will Be the Robotics Leader, Not Tesla was originally published by The Motley Fool
