Lochie Hughes Secures Pole Position at WWTR, Gaining Momentum for Season Lochie Hughes needed this. The series veteran earned his third career pole and first of the 2024 season for the INDY NXT by Firestone at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, securing the front row with a two-lap average of 162.578 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry. This marked his first pole on an oval track, a significant milestone in his career. Hughes expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged the pressure of the moment. “I think I just left the tiniest bit of margin out there, so I was a little bit nervous because I knew probably could have gone a bit quicker. But it was a really good two laps. It’s so easy to overdo it, as well,” he said. The 28-year-old driver emphasized the importance of the result, noting that the season had started with challenges. “My mind has been a bit like a pretzel, so I’m relieved to have a pole position. Hopefully we can back it up with a win. That’s what we need. But this is nice. It’s some momentum going the right way.” The 75-lap race on the asymmetrical, 1.25-mile oval—marking the first oval event of the season for the series—will broadcast live on FS1, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The race promises high stakes, with the series leader and arguably its fastest driver on ovals starting from the back of the grid. Rookie Alessandro de Tullio continued his strong qualifying performance this season by securing the outside spot on the front row at 162.363 mph in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing machine. De Tullio, who has five poles and two second-place qualifying performances in eight starts this season, showcased his consistency and speed.#indycar #fs1 #lochie_hughes #world_wide_technology_raceway #andretti_global
Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece Collide in Texas Tussle A dramatic collision between Ryan Preece and Ty Gibbs during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 3, 2026, ended Gibbs’ day early and sparked a heated exchange between the two drivers. The incident occurred in Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 101, when contact from Preece sent Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota spinning sideways and slamming into the SAFER barrier. The crash left Gibbs’ car severely damaged, forcing him to retire from the race. The incident began with a tense moment in Turn 1, where Gibbs made a late charge to Preece’s left, prompting frustration from the 23-year-old driver. As the two cars raced side by side during a Stage 2 restart, Preece executed a aggressive move by surging to the rear bumper of Gibbs’ Toyota, sending the No. 54 car careening into the wall. Preece later admitted that while the contact may not have been intentional, Gibbs’ earlier actions had built up his frustration. After the crash, Preece vented his frustration over the in-car radio, delivering a fiery rant that was later transcribed and shared on social media. “What a [expletive] idiot that kid is. He is so lucky his car is so [expletive] fast. … All right, when I get to that 54, I’m done with him. [Expletive] idiot. That car is so [expletive] fast, [expletive] pisses me off. Stupid. I’m gonna vent for 15 seconds. I can’t stand when idiots like him have fast race cars that they can do stupid [expletive] and get away with it. End of rant.” Gibbs, who briefly continued racing after the crash, eventually drove to the Texas garage and retired from the race. He described the damage to his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota as too severe to continue. “I haven’t seen the replay. It broke one of the little welds on the front clip, so it probably wasn’t the best decision to go back out,” Gibbs said.#nascar_cup_series #ty_gibbs #fs1 #texas_motor_speedway #ryan_preece
USA-Dominican Republic game sets World Baseball Classic record The semifinal matchup between the United States and the Dominican Republic on Sunday broke the viewership record for the World Baseball Classic. The game, held at loanDepot park in Miami, drew an audience of 7.369 million viewers, marking the most-watched broadcast in the tournament’s history. The event was broadcast on FS1 and FOX Deportes, with FS1 alone attracting 6.864 million viewers, the highest number for the network since 2019. This game also became the most-watched sporting event of the weekend. Viewership reached its peak during the final moments of the game, with 8.170 million people tuning in to FS1 between 11 p.m. ET and 11:08 p.m. ET. This surge in viewership coincided with Team USA securing its third consecutive trip to the WBC championship game. The thrilling 2-1 victory highlighted the intense competition and global appeal of the tournament, solidifying its status as a premier international baseball event.#loandepot_park #dominican_republic #fox_deportes #usa #fs1
Dominican Republic Third Baseman Manny Machado Shines in World Baseball Classic Manny Machado, the 33-year-old third baseman for the San Diego Padres, has enjoyed a distinguished 14-year Major League Baseball career marked by impressive statistics and accolades. Through his time in the majors, Machado has compiled a .279/.338/.486 slash line with an OPS of .824, along with 369 home runs, 1,144 RBIs, and 113 stolen bases in 1,894 games. His achievements include seven All-Star selections, three Silver Slugger Awards, two Gold Gloves, and one Platinum Glove. This spring, Machado is representing the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where the team has made a strong start in Pool D. The Dominican Republic has secured victories in its first two games, including a 12-1 mercy rule win over the Netherlands on Sunday. Machado has contributed significantly to the team’s success, going 3-for-6 at the plate with three walks and two runs scored in the tournament. His defensive skills have also been on full display, particularly during a standout performance against Nicaragua. Machado’s pregame demeanor has sparked some controversy. Before the Dominican Republic’s game against the Netherlands, he was seen in the dugout expressing frustration over the lack of media attention. “Look around, no meetings here, barely any people. They don’t want to wake up early but they’ll roll up asking me questions later. Not a single person here. Don’t come sweating me later,” he remarked. Fans have responded with mixed reactions, with some criticizing his attitude and others questioning his focus. The Dominican Republic will next face Israel on Monday at noon ET in Miami, with the game broadcast on FS1.#dominican_republic #world_baseball_classic #manny_machado #san_diego_padres #fs1
