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Drivers prepare for emotional Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte

NASCAR OReilly Auto Parts: Andy's Frozen Custard 340May 2, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain (1) is interviewed after the qualifying session for the 2026 Wurth 400 Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Like most drivers this weekend, Ross Chastain will commute a short distance from Mooresville to Charlotte for what should be a spectacular weekend of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, though a huge loss leading up to the 68th annual Coca-Cola 600 has cast a shadow over NASCAR’s longest race.

Like 19-year-old rookie teammate Connor Zilisch, Chastain is not doing The Double — the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 — but instead competing in all three national divisions at CMS for a total of 1,100 miles.

They will drive 200 in the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday, 300 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series the following day and the bulky 600 on Sunday.

Chastain captured last year’s Cup race by starting from the field’s rear in a backup No. 1 car and recorded his only victory in 2025, extending his streak of race-winning seasons to four.

The 33-year-old Alva, Fla., native will try to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson (2003, 2004, 2005) to win consecutive 600s.

Tragically, the major story entering the season’s 13th race will be the absence of 41-year-old Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch, the 2018 Memorial Day weekend winner while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, who was hospitalized Wednesday with a “severe illness,” according to his family, and passed away Thursday.

Sunday’s pre-race activities — a somber remembrance honoring fallen military heroes — will surely unfold with added thoughts of the sudden loss of the two-time Cup champion at the forefront, including his grieving family, wife Samantha and young children Brexton and Lennix.

When the garage opens Sunday, it will harken back to Rockingham in 2001, a week after NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt was killed in the Daytona 500.

With the racing community losing former driver Greg Biffle in a plane crash the week before Christmas and now Busch, the past six months have been a sucker punch to the soul.

The current pall will cloak every speedway’s garage and grandstand remaining on the schedule just like it did a quarter century ago with Earnhardt.

Busch’s teammate at JGR for 15 seasons, Denny Hamlin posted on Instagram that “we lost our Kobe Bryant” and said Friday that Busch’s impact was immeasurable.

“I just know that as a race fan, every race that he was in was more exciting to watch than the ones he wasn’t,” Hamlin said on ‘Good Morning America.’ “Simply put, he kept our fans entertained (and) kept the media members on their toes at all times.”

Busch’s career ends with 63 Cup wins, gridding ninth all-time, while Hamlin is right behind with 61.

Added the No. 11 driver: “As a competitor, there’s no way that I’d have the wins that I have, had I not had Kyle Busch as a teammate to push me to be better.”

In Busch’s place, Childress will turn to O’Reilly’s driver Austin Hill, who has won 15 times in the support series and made 17 career Cup starts.

RCR Chevys have won the 600 three times with Earnhardt (1986, 1992, 1993), twice with his replacement Kevin Harvick (2011, 2013) and with Austin Dillon (2017).

JGR also has a half-dozen wins including four of the past eight 600s via four drivers: Busch (2018), Martin Truex Jr. (2019), Hamlin (2022) and Christopher Bell (2024).

Bell’s win was the race’s second-shortest run ever, going just 249 circuits (373.5 miles) before his No. 20 Toyota was declared the winner over Brad Keselowski due to weather.

This will be a difficult weekend for the motorsports world, but the racing continues and the series soldiers on.

–Field Level Media

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Mike Trout homers, Angels best Rangers for rare back-to-back wins

MLB: Texas Rangers at Los Angeles AngelsMay 23, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Mike Trout hit a two-run homer to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

It was the 417th homer of Trout’s career. Zach Neto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored for Los Angeles, which won the first two games of a series for the first time since opening the season with back-to-back wins at Houston on March 26-27.

Walbert Urena (2-4) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out six. Kirby Yates pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his first save with the Angels and the 99th of his career.

Kyle Higashioka hit a home run and Alejandro Osuna went 3-for-3 with a run scored for Texas. Nathan Eovaldi (5-5) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Eovaldi, who came into the contest allowing just one run over his previous 22 innings spanning three starts, gave up two to the first two batters he faced in the game. Neto led off with a walk and then scored on Trout’s 13th home run, a 411-foot drive to left-center. It marked the fourth straight game that the Angels hit a homer in the first inning.

Texas cut the lead to 2-1 in the second when Osuna led off with an infield single, went to second on a walk by Jake Burger, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ezequiel Duran.

The Angels extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning when Neto doubled into the left field corner and scored one out later on a double into the right field corner by Nolan Schanuel.

The Rangers cut the lead to 3-2 in the seventh when Higashioka led off with his third home run, a 395-foot drive to left-center.

The Angels added a couple of insurance runs in the eighth inning on a two-run, bases-loaded single by Oswald Peraza.

–Field Level Media

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NASCAR trucks race postponed to Sunday due to weather

Syndication: Florida TodayThe NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250, held Feb.13 at Daytona International Speedway.

CONCORD, N.C. — For the third time in two days, the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed.

After the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race was moved from Friday night to Saturday morning and then Saturday night due to persistent inclement weather, it was moved once more to 10 a.m. Sunday.

The latest postponement came when the NASCAR O’Reilly Series Charbroil 300 was ended prematurely after just 91 of the scheduled 200 laps due to a second rain delay beginning after the first lasted more than four hours.

Sunday morning’s event will be broadcast on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, as previously planned.

–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service

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MLB roundup: Stephen Kolek's shutout helps Royals snap 4-game skid

MLB: Seattle Mariners at Kansas City RoyalsMay 23, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) shakes hands with catcher Carter Jensen (22) after throwing a complete game shutout to beat the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Stephen Kolek threw a complete-game shutout to lead the host Kansas City Royals to a 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Kolek (3-0), who threw his first complete-game shutout last May with the San Diego Padres, struck out two and limited the Mariners to four hits and one walk to notch the Royals’ first complete-game shutout since Sep. 13, 2020 and the fourth overall of the 2026 season.

Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits and two runs and Michael Massey contributed two hits. Carter Jensen was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs as the Royals picked up their first win on a nine-game homestand which started with four straight losses.

Luke Raley was 3-for-3 with a double for Seattle. Mariners starter George Kirby (5-4) allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits in six innings.

Dodgers 11, Brewers 3

Teoscar Hernandez homered and matched his career high with six RBIs, and the Los Angeles bullpen extended its scoreless streak to a franchise-record 36 innings to preserve a victory over host Milwaukee to even the series between division leaders.

Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki (3-3) allowed three runs in the first, but left after five innings with a 4-3 lead. Relievers Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Tanner Scott and Jonathan Hernandez each followed with a scoreless inning to extend the bullpen’s scoreless streak to 36 innings, the team’s longest in the modern era, surpassing the previous franchise record of 33 innings set in 1998.

The Dodgers erased a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the fourth off Robert Gasser (0-1), capped by Hernandez’s three-run homer. Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages opened with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1. Kyle Tucker drew a one-out walk and Hernandez then sent an 0-2 pitch 357 feet to left for his seventh homer.

Cardinals 8, Reds 1 (Game 1)

Bryan Torres hit a two-run homer in his major league debut and Andre Pallante retired 13 straight batters as St. Louis took Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader in Cincinnati.

Pallante (5-4) allowed just one run and two hits over six innings for the Cardinals, who snapped a two-game slide. Victor Scott went 3-for-4 and Ivan Herrera added two hits and two runs.

Nathaniel Lowe hit a solo homer in the second to give the Reds a brief 1-0 lead. Starter Chris Paddack (0-6) gave up three runs on seven hits in his five-inning stint.

Reds 7, Cardinals 6 (Game 2, 11 innings)

Blake Dunn’s infield grounder drove in the winning run in extras to help Cincinnati defeat St. Louis and earn a split of their doubleheader.

Dunn looped a ball up the middle. Shortstop Masyn Winn fielded and threw home, but he was unable to get a sliding Spencer Steer. Cincinnati scored five runs in the fifth with Elly De La Cruz and Nathaniel Lowe both going deep. Chase Petty was appointed as the extra roster player for the doubleheader and got the start, allowing four runs on six hits over five innings.

Jordan Walker hit a three-run homer, his 15th, after also homering in the early game. He also provided a game-tying RBI single in the ninth. Kyle Leahy pitched five innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, striking out a career-high eight.

Phillies 3, Guardians 0

Zack Wheeler pitched six strong innings as Philadelphia notched a shutout victory over visiting Cleveland to snap the Guardians’ seven-game winning streak.

Bryson Stott knocked in two runs for the Phillies, who had lost their previous three games. Bryce Harper also provided some support for Wheeler (4-0) by chipping in three hits and scoring twice in a game that began two hours late due to rain. Jhoan Duran picked up the save a night after surrendering the game-winning home run Friday.

Slade Cecconi (3-5) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings for Cleveland. However, he received no support from the Guardians’ offense, which totaled only three hits.

Astros 3, Cubs 0

Christian Walker lined two homers into a stiff wind and Kai-Wai Teng went a career-long six innings to enable Houston to send host Chicago to its seventh consecutive loss.

Walker roped a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fourth for the Astros, who lost Yordan Alvarez mid at-bat in the sixth to back spasms. Teng (3-3) scattered two singles and three walks over six innings.

Cubs starter Colin Rea (4-3) allowed three runs and four hits over a season-high seven innings. The Cubs put just one runner in scoring position as they were shut out for the second time in three games.

Padres 2, Athletics 0

Lucas Giolito tossed five shutout innings and San Diego took advantage of surprising wildness from Athletics starter J.T. Ginn in a home victory.

Giolito (2-0) allowed four hits and issued five walks but was able to pitch out of multiple jams. Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam each handled an inning before former Athletic Mason Miller, facing his old team for the first time since being traded at the deadline last year, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save in as many chances.

Ginn (2-3), who threw eight no-hit innings Monday night before losing 2-1 to the Angels in Los Angeles, left this one with a no-hitter. But he only lasted 2 1/3 innings because he walked six, hit a batter and threw 73 pitches. Ginn fanned four and was charged with both runs.

Blue Jays 5, Pirates 2

George Springer and Tyler Heineman stroked solo home runs and host Toronto defeated Pittsburgh and ace Paul Skenes.

Toronto left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-1) finished six innings, allowing one run, five hits and no walks while striking out a season-best seven. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

Skenes (6-4) allowed four runs and a career-high nine hits in five-plus innings. Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Marcell Ozuna drove in both Pittsburgh runs.

Giants 10, White Sox 3

Casey Schmitt ignited a six-run fifth inning with a two-run homer and Harrison Bader capped it with a grand slam, allowing San Francisco to use a rare power display to pull away en route to a home win over Chicago.

Willy Adames added a solo shot for the Giants, who recorded three home runs in the same game for just the fourth time this season. Matt Gage (4-1) threw 1 1/3 innings, including getting the final out of the top of the fifth before the Giants’ explosion, striking out four and allowing one hit to help snap San Francisco’s four-game losing streak.

Erick Fedde (0-5) came on in the second inning following opener Bryan Hudson and allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Miguel Vargas and Tristan Peters had two hits each for the White Sox, who have alternated wins and losses in their last six games.

Twins 4, Red Sox 2

Minnesota scored twice in the first inning and held on to edge host Boston.

Starter Taj Bradley (5-1) struck out seven across five innings of one-run ball in his first start since coming off the injured list. Taylor Rogers fanned Jarren Duran looking with the bases loaded in the ninth, earning his second save of the season.

Trevor Larnach went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs to pace the Twins. Austin Martin and Orlando Arcia each posted two hits and one RBI for the Twins. Ceddanne Rafaela doubled and drove in the first run for Boston, which was limited to five hits.

Nationals 2, Braves 0

Jake Irvin and two relievers combined to throw a one-hitter, Dylan Crews and Jorbit Vivas each homered and visiting Washington blanked Atlanta to even the series.

Irvin (2-4) tossed five no-hit innings, striking out seven and walking one before exiting with shoulder soreness Brad Lord allowed one hit across three scoreless frames before Richard Lovelady threw a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save.

Grant Holmes (3-2) threw five innings for Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits. Michael Harris II accounted for the Braves’ only hit with a seventh-inning single as Atlanta’s four-game winning streak came to an end.

Marlins 4, Mets 1

Max Meyer remained unbeaten, teaming with a pair of relievers on a three-hitter as host Miami locked up a series win by beating New York in the second game of a three-game set.

Liam Hicks had his first career two-homer game for the Marlins, who have won consecutive games for the first time since May 9-10. Mark Vientos had two hits, including a ninth-inning RBI single to end the shutout bid, for the Mets.

Meyer (5-0) gave up one hit — Vientos’ single leading off the second — while winning his third straight start. The 27-year-old is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA in five starts this month, which began when he limited the Philadelphia Phillies to one hit over seven innings while earning the win in Miami’s 4-0 victory on May 2.

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 4

Ketel Marte went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer to lead Arizona to a victory over Colorado in Phoenix.

Nolan Arenado had a two-run double and Geraldo Perdomo contributed two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Zac Gallen (3-4) gave up three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings before Paul Sewald recorded his 12th save in 13 attempts with a 1-2-3 ninth.

TJ Rumfield went 3-for-4 with a homer and Troy Johnston had two hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who lost for the 10th time in 14 games. Michael Lorenzen (2-7) was touched up for five runs and eight hits over five innings.

Angels 5, Rangers 2

Mike Trout hit a two-run homer, the 417th of his career, to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Texas in Anaheim, Calif.

Zach Neto went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored for the Angels, who won the first two games of a series for the first time since opening the season with back-to-back wins at Houston on March 26-27. Walbert Urena (2-4) allowed one run on five hits over five innings and Kirby Yates recorded his first save with the Angels and the 99th of his career.

Kyle Higashioka hit a home run and Alejandro Osuna went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Rangers. Nathan Eovaldi (5-5) gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six.

–Field Level Media

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