Sports
Carson Kvapil earns 1st OAP victory at Indianapolis
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Carson Kvapil (1) celebrates Saturday, July 25, 2026, winning the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SPEEDWAY, Ind.– Carson Kvapil chose the perfect time to claim his first victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Kvapil’s emotional victory in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — one of the biggest stages in motorsports — had the driver shedding tears and team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. temporarily at a loss for words.
It was a day of milestones. With Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott in positions two through four, respectively, JR Motorsports scored the first four-driver sweep of an event in series history.
The victory was the 14th of the season for JRM with six different drivers, the latter number tying the record the organization set last year. For the 79th straight race, JR Motorsports placed at least one driver in the top 10, tying the record set by RFK Racing from 2008-2010.
“It means the world to me,” Kvapil said, as his No. 1 Chevrolet team climbed the frontstretch catchfence in celebration of the victory. “It’s very emotional. I rode around on that lap backwards (after taking the checkered flag), and I sat there just thinking about all the hard work I’ve put in — me and my dad, Travis — to get to this point.
“And the faith (team principals) Dale Jr., L.W. Miller and Kelley Miller put behind me to give me this opportunity — a second chance, I guess you could say, to come back at it this year… I’m going to try not to cry too much. I’ve already shed a few tears — just trying to hold it together right now.”
In an event that featured just one caution for an on-track incident, Kvapil passed Chastain on Lap 79 of 100 and held it the rest of the way. Allgaier powered past Chastain into second place on Lap 94 and closed his deficit to Kvapil to less than a car-length on the white-flag lap.
Crossing the Yard of Bricks with one lap left, Allgaier trailed by a scant 0.283 seconds, but his efforts to shrink the distance on the final circuit proved fruitless, and Kvapil crossed the stripe with a 0.643-second advantage to score his first victory.
Kvapil accomplished more than just a win. He moved into second place in the series standings, 265 points behind Allgaier, who has already clinched the top Chase seed.
Kvapil also joined Allgaier and Jesse Love in the Chase with two regular-season races left — as did Sheldon Creed (eighth Saturday), Corey Day (seventh), Brandon Jones (ninth) and Austin Hill (10th).
Allgaier, a six-time winner this season, felt the race slip away from him when his No. 7 Chevrolet fell from first to fourth after the Lap 67 start of the final stage.
“That was kind the difference maker for us, I feel like, over the day,” Allgaier said. “I guess, in some ways, we kind of set up to be good on long runs, and it showed through. That’s why we were able to be really good at the end of that run…
“We made good adjustments. We did all the right things. We just came up a couple of laps short. I think if we have a couple more laps, if we have maybe a little bit different help from some of the lapped cars, there’s things that we maybe could have done different.
“But again, super proud of Carson and the whole No. 1 team. He’s done a really good job, and as a company, to do what we did today shows really where we’re at and what we’re able to accomplish, and for that I’m super proud.”
Crew chief Rodney Childers and the No. 1 team kept Kvapil in the mix from start to finish, but that was no surprise. While working as Kevin Harvick’s crew chief, Childers fashioned two NASCAR Cup Series victories at the Brickyard.
Kvapil has cobbled the current season together in three different cars with three different teams–the Nos. 1 and 9 at JR Motorsports and the No. 91 fielded by Mario Gosselin for DGM Racing.
Saturday’s victory was vindication of Kvapil’s determination to sustain a career despite some imposing obstacles in his path.
With seven of 12 Chase positions now filled, the fight for the final spots intensified at Indy. After finishing 12th, Taylor Gray holds the final berth above the current cut line by seven points over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate William Sawalich and 20 over Rajah Caruth, who stayed out on old tires to win the second stage before finishing 22nd.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race — Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Saturday, July 25, 2026
1. (2) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 100.
2. (13) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 100.
3. (8) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 100.
4. (7) Chase Elliott(i), Chevrolet, 100.
5. (9) William Sawalich, Toyota, 100.
6. (15) Brent Crews #, Toyota, 100.
7. (11) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 100.
8. (1) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 100.
9. (6) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 100.
10. (19) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 100.
11. (17) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 100.
12. (5) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 100.
13. (3) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 100.
14. (20) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 100.
15. (12) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 100.
16. (26) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 100.
17. (14) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 100.
18. (24) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 100.
19. (10) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 100.
20. (23) Nick Sanchez, Chevrolet, 100.
21. (25) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 100.
22. (16) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 100.
23. (18) Patrick Staropoli #, Chevrolet, 100.
24. (22) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, 100.
25. (30) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 100.
26. (21) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, 100.
27. (31) Lavar Scott #, Chevrolet, 100.
28. (27) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 100.
29. (28) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 100.
30. (29) Preston Pardus, Chevrolet, 100.
31. (36) Nathan Byrd, Chevrolet, 100.
32. (33) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 99.
33. (32) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 99.
34. (37) Blake Lothian, Chevrolet, 99.
35. (38) David Starr, Chevrolet, 99.
36. (35) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 99.
37. (4) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 97.
38. (34) J.J. Yeley, Ford, Fuel Pump, 39.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 128.94 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 56 Mins, 20 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.643 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 3 for 13 laps.
Lead Changes: 10 among 8 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S. Creed 1-23;J. Clements 24-32;C. Kvapil 33;R. Chastain(i) 34-36;W. Sawalich 37-38;R. Chastain(i) 39-54;D. Thompson 55-56;R. Caruth 57-62;J. Allgaier 63-66;R. Chastain(i) 67-78;C. Kvapil 79-100.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ross Chastain(i) 3 times for 31 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 23 laps; Carson Kvapil 2 times for 23 laps; Jeremy Clements 1 time for 9 laps; Rajah Caruth 1 time for 6 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 4 laps; William Sawalich 1 time for 2 laps; Dean Thompson 1 time for 2 laps.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 51,9,1,18,41,7,00,54,19,8
Stage #2 Top Ten: 32,7,9,00,1,26,41,18,21,88
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth, Salvador Perez set the franchise home run record, and the visiting Kansas City Royals squeaked by the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, on Saturday.
Perez’s seventh-inning blast was his 318th career homer, surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett on the franchise’s all-time list. It was also Perez’s 31st homer against the Tigers.
Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits and scored a run for Kansas City.
Hao-Yu Lee drove in both Tigers runs with a double and solo homer. The Tigers had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Detroit starter Casey Mize gave up one run and three hits in six innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Loftin gave the Royals the lead with one out in the ninth, pulling an 0-2 pitch from Jacob Waguespack (0-1) over the left field wall.
Riley Greene led off the bottom of the inning with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2). Alex Lange then replaced him and struck out Lee. Zach McKinstry moved Greene to third with a single. Lange then struck out Matt Vierling and induced pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to end the game, allowing Lange to notch his 10th save.
The Royals took the lead in the second as Pasquantino led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a Mize wild pitch. He scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit tied it in the bottom of the second. Greene banged a double off the left field wall and scored on Lee’s opposite-field double.
With one out in the fourth, Lee took advantage of a hanging changeup and clobbered it over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Perez smashed his historic homer off Kyle Finnegan, pulling a hanging slider over the left field wall for an estimated 401 feet.
Perez couldn’t deliver again in the eighth with runners on the corners and two out as he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
