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Fox News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
NASCAR Ponders Unique Elements Of New Course On Naval Base
CORONADO, Calif. — As Ben Kennedy described the roughly three-mile course where NASCAR Cup Series cars will weave through Naval Base Coronado next year, he mentioned elements that don't sound typical of a NASCAR course. There will be a turn by the aircraft carrier. Maybe some by helicopters and F-18s. Another turn onto the tarmac of the naval base, a tarmac area that could include a chicane or some esses (quick, multiple turns). Kennedy, NASCAR's chief venue officer, doesn't have the course finalized yet. He's having drivers work through a variety of elements on iRacing, the racing game simulator that has helped NASCAR work on designs for street courses and other track reconfigurations. The June 19-21 race weekend next year will be NASCAR's first on a military base and will coincide with the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy. "You have the tarmac, which is as wide as you want to make it," Kennedy said while standing near the top of the base's control tower. "And then a lot of the roads and streets that we drove in this morning, they're five or six lanes wide. So this is going to create for some really good passing zones." Kennedy says there will probably be 10 to 15 turns on what will be a relatively flat course, with a slight decline on the frontstretch and a slight incline when they get to the road by the bay. "I don't know all the challenges they're going to face with the location," said seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who will possibly compete in the event, as he grew up in the San Diego area. "I'm highly confident we're going to have an incredible venue, incredible backdrop and great racing." Drivers who visited the base on Wednesday didn't seem too concerned about the design of the track. "I have heard a rumor that on one of the straightaways, we will be going by a couple aircraft carriers, so that's going to be hard not to pay attention to going by those on the sea," said 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney. "I don't have any expectations. I know it's going to be a great layout and a great course and just a special place to be able to go run here at such a famous base. "I'm honestly really honored that they are having us and letting us do what we're going to do. And I think it's going to be a heck of a time. I'm incredibly excited about it." All three NASCAR national series will compete on the track, with the course finalized sometime this fall. "I have no clue," said 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson. "I haven't seen any drawing or anything of anything yet. But I don't really care what the course is. I'm just happy that we're doing this. "It's going to be a fun event no matter what. It's a beautiful part of the country. You're racing on a Navy base. This is pretty surreal." Larson indicated that they won't know how the track will race until they race. "A lot of times, the weirder and crazier the tracks are, the better racing we have," Larson said. "When we think things aren't going to be right, it creates chaos and whatnot. ... We could build an oval right here. We can build a road course. I don't care. "I'm just glad that we're here racing on this base, and it should be fun." One thing that probably won't be possible (and won't be a goal) is to design a course that could limit the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen, who has won the last three road courses this year. The three-time Supercars champion has won at Mexico (where he battled stomach issues), the Chicago street course and Sonoma in the last couple of months. "Food poisoning still won't get the job done so we've just all got to get better," Blaney quipped. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
NASCAR Ponders Unique Elements Of New Course On Naval Base
CORONADO, Calif. — As Ben Kennedy described the roughly three-mile course where NASCAR Cup Series cars will weave through Naval Base Coronado next year, he mentioned elements that don't sound typical of a NASCAR course. There will be a turn by the aircraft carrier. Maybe some by helicopters and F-18s. Another turn onto the tarmac of the naval base, a tarmac area that could include a chicane or some esses (quick, multiple turns). Kennedy, NASCAR's chief venue officer, doesn't have the course finalized yet. He's having drivers work through a variety of elements on iRacing, the racing game simulator that has helped NASCAR work on designs for street courses and other track reconfigurations. The June 19-21 race weekend next year will be NASCAR's first on a military base and will coincide with the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy. "You have the tarmac, which is as wide as you want to make it," Kennedy said while standing near the top of the base's control tower. "And then a lot of the roads and streets that we drove in this morning, they're five or six lanes wide. So this is going to create for some really good passing zones." Kennedy says there will probably be 10 to 15 turns on what will be a relatively flat course, with a slight decline on the frontstretch and a slight incline when they get to the road by the bay. "I don't know all the challenges they're going to face with the location," said seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who will possibly compete in the event, as he grew up in the San Diego area. "I'm highly confident we're going to have an incredible venue, incredible backdrop and great racing." Drivers who visited the base on Wednesday didn't seem too concerned about the design of the track. "I have heard a rumor that on one of the straightaways, we will be going by a couple aircraft carriers, so that's going to be hard not to pay attention to going by those on the sea," said 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney. "I don't have any expectations. I know it's going to be a great layout and a great course and just a special place to be able to go run here at such a famous base. "I'm honestly really honored that they are having us and letting us do what we're going to do. And I think it's going to be a heck of a time. I'm incredibly excited about it." All three NASCAR national series will compete on the track, with the course finalized sometime this fall. "I have no clue," said 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson. "I haven't seen any drawing or anything of anything yet. But I don't really care what the course is. I'm just happy that we're doing this. "It's going to be a fun event no matter what. It's a beautiful part of the country. You're racing on a Navy base. This is pretty surreal." Larson indicated that they won't know how the track will race until they race. "A lot of times, the weirder and crazier the tracks are, the better racing we have," Larson said. "When we think things aren't going to be right, it creates chaos and whatnot. ... We could build an oval right here. We can build a road course. I don't care. "I'm just glad that we're here racing on this base, and it should be fun." One thing that probably won't be possible (and won't be a goal) is to design a course that could limit the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen, who has won the last three road courses this year. The three-time Supercars champion has won at Mexico (where he battled stomach issues), the Chicago street course and Sonoma in the last couple of months. "Food poisoning still won't get the job done so we've just all got to get better," Blaney quipped. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Golden Knights eliminated, five factors behind their early exit
The Vegas Golden Knights (Credit: Getty Image) The Golden Knights entered the playoffs with momentum, a Pacific Division title, and standout individual seasons. Expectations were high. Yet after a five-game loss to Edmonton, they're left with questions, not answers. Despite solid numbers in the regular season; most goals in franchise history, a top-five offense; Vegas couldn't carry the same impact into the postseason. In the final two games, they failed to score. For a team that averaged over three goals a night, that silence spoke volumes. Key players failed to rise when stakes climbed. Jack Eichel ended the series without a goal. Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev didn't score or assist. The attack became predictable, and Edmonton's defense absorbed it with ease. The power play faded, the urgency dropped, and the finishing touch disappeared. Stars stalled as depth faded fast NHL Mic Drop: Oilers vs. Golden Knights Game 5 | Stanley Cup Playoffs Vegas needed more from its bottom six forwards, but those contributions never came. Meanwhile, Edmonton found timely goals from names beyond McDavid and Draisaitl. In tight series, depth matters. For Vegas, too many regulars vanished from the score sheet. Multiple players who shined during the season; Barbashev, Howden, Kolesar; were ineffective. The supporting cast that once added balance now added little. The Oilers exploited that. They rolled four lines and kept pressure constant. Vegas couldn't match the intensity or adjust. The top line looked isolated, and the secondary lines didn't generate enough danger. Defensive edge and crease control vanished The Vegas Golden Knights (Credit: Getty Image) Much of Vegas' 2023 Cup run leaned on heavy, physical defending. That edge was absent this time. The Golden Knights allowed too many goals from high-danger areas. Edmonton, by contrast, won key net-front battles and finished close-range chances. Goaltender Adin Hill wasn't perfect, but the breakdowns in front of him were often glaring. Defensive gaps and second-chance rebounds hurt. At the same time, Vegas rarely forced Edmonton's goalie into difficult saves. The commitment to crash the crease simply wasn't consistent enough. Winning playoff hockey comes down to detail and grit in front of both nets. Vegas lacked both when it mattered most. Wasted leads, missed chances on home ice Vegas grabbed early leads in Games 1 and 2 but couldn't hold them. Opportunities to control the series slipped away. In Game 4, they had three first-period power plays but didn't score. At home, they went winless; something that rarely happened all year. These were not isolated lapses but a pattern. Vegas struggled to finish games, extend leads, and respond when pressed. The Oilers capitalized on those gaps and never looked back. The next step requires hard questions Vegas has the pieces of a contender. But this postseason showed cracks. Whether it's a change in offensive mindset, lineup balance, or defensive toughness, adjustments are needed. Read more: Beyond the blue line, how Evan Bouchard's personal life shapes his rise in the NHL The team can't rely on past success. Winning now takes more than numbers and skill. It takes urgency, execution, and fight; qualities that disappeared just when they were needed most. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Toronto Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Let's keep the Maple Leafs' series lead in perspective after OT loss
Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) stops a shot on goal during overtime in Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Florida Panthers, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Marta Lavandier / AP Photo Taking a 3-0 lead in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Ottawa Senators was one thing. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Expecting to take a similar stranglehold against the defending Cup champion Florida Panthers was asking for too much. The Maple Leafs couldn't get the decisive goal in overtime on Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena and lost 5-4 when Brad Marchand — who else could it have been — scored at 15:27. Once the Leafs start physically recovering on Saturday, they are bound to keep in mind that they lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday night in Sunrise. Our takeaways from Friday night: THE BIG PICTURE A 3-0 lead against Florida, which also played in the 2023 Cup final when it lost to Vegas, would have been dreamy for Leafs Nation. By no means, though, are the Leafs in a nightmare situation because they lost Game 3. Let's keep some perspective here. The players certainly are. 'We're happy to be up in the series,' defenceman Morgan Rielly told media in Sunrise after the game. 'Tonight isn't the result we wanted, but there are good things going on. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're in a good position. So it's important that we keep focus, have a good day (Saturday), and get ready to play (on Sunday).' Said John Tavares, who scored his first two goals of the series: 'We know we can be better. We have to be. It's a great chance for us to regroup and get back at it on Sunday.' What Tavares acknowledged, knowing the team can be better, was important. Though the Leafs shouldn't have any negative thoughts about being up 2-1, they probably don't have much interest in heading home for Game 5 on Wednesday tied 2-2. There should be confidence for the Leafs in scoring another four goals on Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. He stood tall in overtime, especially with saves on William Nylander and Matthew Knies, but his save percentage in the series now stands at .840. Bobrovsky certainly is not providing the kind of goaltending that leave the Leafs muttering to themselves in frustration. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On three of their four goals, the Leafs were buzzing in front of Bobrovsky. They're getting to the inside in the offensive zone. That has to continue on Sunday. Three of the Panthers' goals came off deflections or redirections. Those weren't the fault of goalie Joseph Woll. THE STARS After everything he did as the Leafs won the first two games of the series — scoring three goals and recording an assist — Nylander didn't have a good night in Game 3. Go after Nylander if you want for his lack of effort before Marchand scored in overtime, but keep in mind that Nylander was at the end of a shift that had stretched to one minute 42 seconds when the puck went off Rielly and over Woll for the winner. Nylander had 32 shifts on Friday night, averaging 44 seconds. His OT shift was the equivalent of an eternity for a hockey player. What was a little more troublesome, and we know that Nylander can turn it around and be a controlling factor in Game 4, is that he didn't have a shot on goal until Bobrovsky stopped him on a semi-breakaway in OT. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When Nylander was on the ice at five-on-five, the Panthers had 15 shots on goal. None of the other Leafs forwards were on the ice for that many shots against at five-on-five. The hope has to be that Game 3 was a one-off for Nylander, because the Leafs need him to be a lot better if they're going to give themselves their best shot at winning Game 4. Captain Auston Matthews had two assists in the game, but he has not scored a goal in the series and has just two in nine playoffs games. Yes, the series has been tight, yet Matthews should be finding an extra gear offensively. Perhaps the injury that popped up earlier in the season is taking a bite out of him now. Even if it is, Matthews would be loath to acknowledge as much. At any rate, Matthews is doing a lot of other things well, making a difference in areas that don't garner as much attention. Mitch Marner had two assists. Generally, we're fine with what Matthews, Nylander and Marner have done in the series. It's only going to get more difficult, though, and each has to find a way to make a bit more of an offensive difference. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The best way to describe what happened in the second period was that in the Craig Berube era, definitely in the playoffs, it was an aberration. Allowing three goals in a span of just under 11 minutes isn't a habit for the Leafs, let alone two in 64 seconds, especially when those three goals resulted in a lead change in Florida's favour. 'We weren't direct in the second, turned too many pucks over, allowed them to come back at us and play their game and got hemmed in too much,' Berube said. In a game that was determined by bounces, the Leafs recovered in the third, with Rielly scoring the only goal of the period to send the game to extra time. The Panthers won in the end, but they didn't beat a Leafs team that was lucky just to get to overtime. It required determination on the part of the home team. What did Berube take from the Leafs' push in the third? 'We got back playing our game, and we're pressuring and putting pressure on them, and getting pucks in behind him and going to work,' Berube said. 'We have to continue to do that. And then in overtime, we had our opportunities. 'It's a bounce. That's what happens in overtime a lot.' tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Journal
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Let's keep the Maple Leafs' series lead in perspective after OT loss
Article content Once the Leafs start physically recovering on Saturday, they are bound to keep in mind that they lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday night in Sunrise. Our takeaways from Friday night: THE BIG PICTURE A 3-0 lead against Florida, which also played in the 2023 Cup final when it lost to Vegas, would have been dreamy for Leafs Nation. By no means, though, are the Leafs in a nightmare situation because they lost Game 3. Let's keep some perspective here. The players certainly are. 'We're happy to be up in the series,' defenceman Morgan Rielly told media in Sunrise after the game. 'Tonight isn't the result we wanted, but there are good things going on. 'We're in a good position. So it's important that we keep focus, have a good day (Saturday), and get ready to play (on Sunday).' Said John Tavares, who scored his first two goals of the series: 'We know we can be better. We have to be. It's a great chance for us to regroup and get back at it on Sunday.'
