Sports
Justin Allgaier holds off teenager Brent Crews to win at Nashville
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Justin Allgaier (7) makes a pit stop during the Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, May 30, 2026. LEBANON, Tenn. — After multiple brilliant and exhilarating door-to-door battles — veteran against rookie — in the closing portion of Saturday night’s Sports Illustrated Resorts 250, the old man emerged victorious.
And after JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier held off 18-year-old rookie Brent Crews at Nashville Speedway, he hoisted his series-best fourth race trophy of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
Allgaier’s win in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet — ultimately by 1.4-second over Crews — was his third at the 1.33-mile Nashville concrete oval and the 32nd overall win of the 2024 series champion’s career. And it took hard, clean side-by-side racing lap-after-lap for Allgaier to eventually get by Crews’ No. 19 Joe Gibbs Motorsports Toyota for good with 20 laps remaining and hold on to victory.
The veteran Allgaier celebrated by climbing out of his Chevy’s roof hatch then bowing to the Nashville crowd — an ode to the trademark winning celebration of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who died May 21 after pneumonia turned into sepsis.
“First of all, it’s been a rough couple of weeks, and lots of prayers to (Busch’s wife) Samantha and Kyle and (their children) Brexton and Lennix — it’s been an emotional couple weeks,” Allgaier said.
“This team, right here, they are incredible. To win in Nashville, you fans … this place is electric. I love coming to Nashville.
“I told them before the race, that we were going to go to victory lane,” said a grinning Allgaier, who turns 40 years old next week and is capping his winning race weekend by running a triathlon in downtown Nashville Sunday.
“What a race,” he added with a grin.
The near-miss marks the North Carolinian Crews’ second runner-up finish this season. He led the race twice for a total of 45 laps — the most he’s ever led in a single race. After the race he called his battle with Allgaier “the most fun I’ve had without winning.”
“Man, the positive was, I thought we were going to win that race,” Crews’ said when asked about the takeaway from the race. “I’m happy for our guys.
“Had to start 33rd and worked our way up to the lead and led a lot of laps and got to race one of the best guys in our series of all-time for the win in the last few laps,” he said. “Couldn’t ask for much more, other than to beat him.”
Crews’ teammate William Sawalich finished third to claim his third-consecutive top five. Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer finished fourth — his fifth straight top 10 at Nashville with another JGR driver, Brandon Jones, rounding out the top five.
Corey Day, Carson Kvapil, reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith rounded out the top 10. Smith, of note, is competing in the Nashville triathlon with his JR Motorsports teammate Allgaier.
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love finished 16th after leading the most laps (87) — a pit stop miscue put the reigning series champion a lap down at one point before he rallied back. He lost some ground in the title run and now sits 179 points behind Allgaier in race for the championship.
“Definitely really frustrating,” a disappointed Love said after the race. “Our Camaro was really fast and I know we had a misstep on pit road but we’ve got the best pit crew in the garage right now, it’s not even close.
“The only thing I can control is the way I prepare and keep showing up even when it hurts and I know right now, my path isn’t necessarily coming with a lot of wins and that can be frustrating but it’s the past now, so all I can do is keep showing up and preparing. It’s going to turn around. It has to. There’s no other possible way it’s not going to and having faith in that will get me through all this.”
YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland finished 35th in his second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start — rallying from a series of late-race pit stop miscues and penalties to finish the race in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
After a streak of racing in 16 consecutive weekends, the series has its first off week next weekend before returning to competition June 13 in the Miller Tech Battery 250 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (4 p.m., The CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Connor Zilisch is the defending race winner.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race — Sports Illustrated Resorts 250
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville, Tennessee
Saturday, May 30, 2026
1. (17) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 188.
2. (33) Brent Crews #, Toyota, 188.
3. (5) William Sawalich, Toyota, 188.
4. (34) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 188.
5. (29) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 188.
6. (3) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 188.
7. (4) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 188.
8. (6) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 188.
9. (27) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 188.
10. (8) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 188.
11. (2) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 188.
12. (9) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 188.
13. (7) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 188.
14. (13) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 188.
15. (24) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 188.
16. (1) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 188.
17. (12) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 188.
18. (31) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 187.
19. (25) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 187.
20. (21) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 187.
21. (23) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 187.
22. (15) Leland Honeyman Jr(i), Chevrolet, 187.
23. (19) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 187.
24. (20) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, 187.
25. (16) Patrick Staropoli #, Chevrolet, 187.
26. (32) Logan Bearden, Chevrolet, 186.
27. (35) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 186.
28. (11) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, 186.
29. (26) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 185.
30. (14) Austin Green, Chevrolet, 185.
31. (18) Lavar Scott #, Chevrolet, 184.
32. (28) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 184.
33. (10) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 184.
34. (36) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 183.
35. (38) Cleetus McFarland, Chevrolet, 182.
36. (30) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 179.
37. (22) David Starr, Chevrolet, Suspension, 151.
38. (37) JJ Yeley, Ford, Rear End, 59.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 132.452 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 53 Mins, 16 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.403 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 2 for 15 laps.
Lead Changes: 12 among 7 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Love 1-49;J. Yeley 50;J. Love 51-54;J. Allgaier 55-75;J. Love 76-85;J. Allgaier 86-94;J. Love 95-118;B. Crews # 119-145;B. Jones 146;A. Hill 147-148;R. Sieg 149-150;B. Crews # 151-168;J. Allgaier 169-188.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Jesse Love 4 times for 87 laps; Justin Allgaier 3 times for 50 laps; Brent Crews # 2 times for 45 laps; Ryan Sieg 1 time for 2 laps; Austin Hill 1 time for 2 laps; JJ Yeley 1 time for 1 lap; Brandon Jones 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 2,17,7,21,88,1,18,39,8,19
Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,2,1,18,19,17,41,99,88,39
–Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Red-hot Ronald Acuna Jr. homers twice to lead Braves past Reds
May 30, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a solo home run in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Ronald Acuna Jr. launched a pair of home runs on Saturday night to help the visiting Atlanta Braves post a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Acuna tallied his first multi-homer game of the year, hitting his third and fourth home runs in the last three games after he had just two in his first 42 games. Jorge Mateo and Matt Olson each added a solo homer for the Braves, who won their fourth game in five tries and became the first team in the majors to reach 40 wins.
Martin Perez (3-3) allowed two runs on four hits over five innings, striking out a pair and walking three.
Raisel Iglesias completed his 10th save in as many tries with a perfect ninth inning. The Braves improved to 33-0 this season when leading after eight innings.
Brady Singer (2-5) yielded three runs on four hits in five innings, walking four and striking out two. JJ Bleday hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who dropped their third straight and fell to 9-17 in the month of May.
Ozzie Albies began the second inning with a double and scored the game’s first run on Mike Yastrzemski’s RBI single.
The Reds took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the second, as Spencer Steer’s walk was followed by Bleday’s ninth homer of the season to give Cincinnati a 2-1 edge.
Acuna knotted the score in the third with his first homer of the day.
Mateo launched his third homer of the year in the top of the fifth, restoring Atlanta’s lead.
Singer then walked Acuna, Michael Harris II and Olson to load the bases with two outs. Albies popped out to end the jam.
Tejay Antone threw a scoreless sixth in relief of Singer.
Tyler Kinley took over for Perez in the bottom of the sixth, throwing just six pitches in a perfect frame.
Olson doubled the Atlanta lead with a solo blast in the seventh off reliever Brock Burke before Acuna’s 405-foot homer in the ninth off Lyon Richardson pushed the margin to three.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blackhawks great Dennis Hull dies at 81
Oct 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the logo on the jersey of Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Dennis Hull, a five-time All-Star forward for the Chicago Blackhawks and the younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, died on Saturday, the team announced. He was 81.
No other details were given with the announcement from Blackhawks owner and CEO Danny Wirtz.
“The Chicago Blackhawks are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dennis Hull earlier this morning,” Wirtz said. “Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career built on his scoring ability and consistency, leaving lasting contributions not only to the Blackhawks franchise but to the game itself.”
Hull played the first 13 of his 14 NHL seasons with Chicago (1964-77) before finishing his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1977-78 after a trade.
He played in five All-Star Games, including four consecutive seasons from the 1970-71 through 1973-74 campaigns, and was selected a second-team NHL All-Star in the 1972-73 season.
Hull totaled 654 points (303 goals, 351 assists) and a plus-22 rating in 959 regular-season games. He also recorded 67 points (33 goals, 34 assists) in 104 playoff games. He played for the Blackhawks in three Stanley Cup Finals (1965, 1971, 1973).
on behalf of the Wirtz family and Chicago Blackhawks organization, we mourn the passing of Dennis Hull??
we extend our deepest condolences to the Hull family during this time.https://t.co/oafhCuX63g pic.twitter.com/ZptDCBfGfS
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 31, 2026
“Known around the league for his immense skill, toughness and intelligence, Dennis was as dominant on the ice as he was beloved off it,” Wirtz said. “He often drew on his sharp wit and sense of humor to keep the locker room loose, while his warmth and humility made everyone he met feel welcome.
“On behalf of the Wirtz family and the entire Blackhawks organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dennis’s family, friends and teammates, and the many fans who adored him.”
A native of Point Anne, Ontario, Canada, Hull was nicknamed the “Silver Jet” as his brother Bobby was the “Golden Jet.” Bobby Hull, who died in January 2023 at age 84, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
Dennis Hull played for Canada against the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series and totaled two goals and two assists in four appearances as Canada triumphed.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pete Crow-Armstrong erupts out of slump as Cubs top Cards
May 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) is safe from St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (26) during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images Pete Crow-Armstrong busted out of his slump with a season-high four hits to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-1 victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.
The Cubs centerfielder entered with a modest four-game hitting streak, but he was hitting just .154 (10 for 65) in his last 19 games. His 4-for-5 night included a double and his seventh home run of the season. He scored twice and drove in a pair.
Ben Brown (2-2) limited St. Louis to just three hits and a run over seven innings, which tied his career high. He struck out six and walked one.
The Cubs took the lead in the sixth, scoring twice thanks to a throwing error by Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-1) that allowed Miguel Amaya to reach with one out. Fernandez then walked Dansby Swanson, prompting manager Oliver Marmol to bring in Justin Bruihl.
Bruihl hit Crow-Armstrong to load the bases, and Nico Hoerner, who went 2-for-6, singled to right to bring home the go-ahead run. Michael Busch followed with a sacrifice fly to right to make it a two-run game.
Ian Happ went 2-for-5 in the win.
The Cardinals struck first in the fourth with Alec Burleson’s one-out single to right scoring JJ Wetherholt, who led off the inning with a single up the middle.
Chicago answered in its next at-bats. Busch hit a one-out single to center that brought home Crow-Armstrong, who doubled off starter Kyle Leahy to lead off the frame.
The Busch single would end the night for Leahy, who scattered six hits in 4-1/3 innings. He struck out four with no walks and hit a batter.
Fernandez pitched an inning. He did not allow a hit, but he walked a pair, and his error led to two unearned runs.
Crow-Armstrong added an insurance run in the eighth, blistering a Gordon Graceffo fastball 444 feet to right field as St. Louis fans showered the centerfielder with chants of “overrated.” At 114.6 MPH, it was also the hardest-hit ball of his career, according to the TV broadcast.
An inning later, his line drive single scored Seiya Suzuki, and he ended the game robbing Jordan Walker of extra bases with a sliding catch in the left-center gap.
–Field Level Media
Red-hot Ronald Acuna Jr. homers twice to lead Braves past Reds
Blackhawks great Dennis Hull dies at 81
