Sports

Ryan Blaney claims NASCAR Cup Series title

Published

1 month ago

06/11/2023

Nancy

Ross Chastain scored his second victory of the year by winning the 2023 season finale, but second-place Ryan Blaney grabbed the biggest trophy in a 31-lap dash to claim the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

With 37 laps remaining, Chastain led and Blaney was in position for his first title, but Kyle Busch brought out the fourth caution with a spin.

With a clear track ahead of him, Chastain put his No 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet ahead by more than a second after the last green flag, but Blaney restarted in sixth, behind title contenders Kyle Larson and William Byron.

However, Blaney used his No 12 Team Penske Ford to pass both competitors and cruise to the championship by nearly two seconds. The race marked the fourth straight season NASCAR crowned its champion at the 1-mile track in the Sonoran Desert. Larson, Byron and Chris Buescher completed the top five.

Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup champion competing in his final race as a fulltime driver, started third and finished seventh.

The spring race winner nearly eight months ago, Byron put the No 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on the pole to start the season finale at the flat track. Larson (fourth), Christopher Bell (13th) and Blaney (15th) rounded out the Championship 4 starters.

On Lap 109, Bell became the first Championship 4 driver to be eliminated from contention when his brake rotor exploded and flattened his right front tire in the first incident.

His yellow No 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota then smacked the Turn 1 wall, slashing the championship field to three.

Tiny mic, big win for Ryan @Blaney.

The 2023 @NASCAR champ has a message for the fans. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8n71sU1ZXM

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 6, 2023

Buescher, who stormed through the summer with three wins in five races, claimed Stage 2 over Chastain and Harvick. Closely behind in the top seven were Byron, Blaney and Larson.

Blaney found power and handling in his No 12 Ford with about 100 circuits to go, passing Byron to take the top spot among the remaining trio of title contenders.

With 75 laps left, second-place Blaney topped fourth-place Byron by three seconds, but the first round of green-flag pit stops soon began with Larson’s and Byron’s Hendrick Camaros pitting together.

Source: Supersport

In other news – Rethabile Khumalo reveals baby’s sex

Congratulations are in order for South African singer Rethabile Khumalo as she prepares to become a first time mom.

The singer was thrilled about the next chapter of her life when she took to her timeline to announce she is the mother of a baby boy. Read more

Related Topics:NASCAR Cup Series title Ryan Blaney

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ZESCO United seek five in a row in MTN Super League

Published

2 days ago

08/12/2023

Nancy

ZESCO United will hope to make it five wins in a row when they welcome Forest Rangers in an Ndola Derby in the MTN Super League, having already opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table. But counting against them is an odd piece of history in this fixture – their having only been five home wins in matches between these two sides in their last 29 meetings.

That is an exceptionally low count, but perhaps it is the fact that neither side has far to go for games and they have in the past shared the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, but that does not really explain why the team listed away should enjoy three times more success (15 wins) in clashes between the teams.

Rangers have had a middling type of season, with four wins, four defeats and six draws, they sit 10th in the 18-team league. They have also both scored and conceded 15 goals.

Second-placed Nkwazi have lost only two of their 14 games so far as they welcome a NAPSA Stars side hovering just above the relegation zone. Stars are also still seeking a first away win (D2 L5) while Nkwazi are unbeaten on their own patch (W4 D3).

There has not been much to choose between the sides in their last nine meetings at Nkwazi, with three wins each and three draws.

Red Arrows have risen to third but remain inconsistent as they go away to ZANACO this weekend. Five of the last six meetings between the sides have been drawn, including the previous three.

FC MUZA are winless in four (D2 L2) after an excellent start to the season and have a tricky away day at Green Buffaloes, who have yet to lose on their own patch (W4 D3).

MUZA are the second highest scorers in the division with 19 goals, behind only ZESCO (23), so they know the way to goal and will hope for success.

Nkana FC got a win last time out to move to within two points of safety, but need to back it up with more as they go to Kansanshi Dynamos. Two of their three wins this season have come on the road, so they can take some confidence from that statistic.

Defending champions Power Dynamos just have not managed to get into second gear this campaign as they welcome bottom side Trident. Perhaps this is the time to change that, with the visitors still yet to register a win (D9 L5).

In other matches, Kabwe Warriors host Mutondo Stars, Green Eagles welcome Prison leopards and Mufulira Wanderers travel to Konkola Blades

Source: Supersport

Sports

Williams confirm Sargeant to stay with F1 team in 2024

Published

1 week ago

03/12/2023

Nancy

Williams have confirmed American driver Logan Sargeant will stay with the Formula One team next season. The British outfit have opted to retain Sargeant for a second campaign despite his troubled 2023 season. The 22-year-old, who scored just one point throughout the season, will race alongside Alex Albon, with the London-born Thai’s place already announced.

“I am thrilled to be continuing with Williams Racing for the 2024 season,” Sargeant said on Friday. It has been an incredible journey with the team so far and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a driver within such a talented and dedicated group.

“We have exciting plans for the future and I can’t wait to contribute to the team’s success in the coming year.”Sargeant claimed his maiden point in Formula One, the first American to score in the sport since Michael Andretti 30 years ago for McLaren, after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the United States Grand Prix in Austin in October.

Albon finished the year with an impressive 27 points to help Williams land seventh in the constructors’ championship, the team’s best result for six seasons.

“I am pleased to continue our journey with Logan into 2024,” said team principal James Vowles.

“Logan has demonstrated immense skill while under the pressure of the world stage, making him a perfect fit for our team. We have great confidence in his abilities and believe that together we can achieve even greater success in the upcoming season. The Formula One season will start in Bahrain on 2 March.

Source: Supersport

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