Sports
Michael McDowell captures fifth consecutive superspeedway pole for Talladega
Sep 15, 2024; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell (34) looks on prior to the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images TALLADEGA, Ala. — Front Row Motorsports and driver Michael McDowell continued a superspeedway qualifying mastery with McDowell claiming the pole position for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
McDowell’s No. 34 FRM Ford turned a lap of 183.063 mph in Saturday’s final qualifying session around the 2.66-mile high banks, besting Austin Cindric’s lap in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford by less than two-tenths of a second.
It was McDowell’s sixth pole position of his career — all six coming this year — and five of them consecutively on superspeedways, also including a sweep at both Talladega and Atlanta Motor Speedway as well as the top starting position at Daytona International Speedway this summer.
“We knew coming here we’d have a shot at the pole and it’s a priority for us, so you feel that pressure of not making any mistakes and screwing it up,” McDowell said. “I’m really proud of the effort. We sort of had this in mind that today would be a day to come here and get the rest of the superspeedways locked down.”
Cindric, a Playoff contender and the 2022 Daytona 500 winner, smiled following qualifying and offered, “His right foot must be heavier than mine.”
Ford drivers claimed six of the top-10 starting positions Saturday. McDowell’s teammate Todd Gilliland was third fastest in the No. 38 FRM Ford Mustang. Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, a two-time Talladega winner, was fourth fastest in the No. 8 RCR Chevrolet.
Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were fifth and sixth fastest followed by RCR’s Austin Dillon in the No. 3 Chevy. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin was the only Toyota to make the 10-car final round and he’ll roll off sixth in the No. 11 JGR Supra. Wood Brothers Racing’s Harrison Burton and Kaulig Racng’s Daniel Hemric rounded out the fast-10.
The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Blaney is the defending race winner and has three Talladega trophies to his credit. 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick — the regular season champion — will roll off 14th.
Cindric, Blaney, Logano and Hamlin are all current Playoff drivers, as are Blaney and Reddick. Hendrick teammates Chase Elliott, a two-time Talladega winner and Kyle Larson will start 11th and 12th. Their teammate William Byron will roll off 16th.
Christopher Bell, who will start 21st, Alex Bowman (23rd), Daniel Suarez (31st) and Chase Briscoe (36th) round out the Playoff lineup.
–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
Apr 3, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; A view of the Portland Timbers logo before the game against the LA Galaxy at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen, The Athletic reported on Monday.
Janssen, 32, is a free agent after departing Belgium’s Royal Antwerp earlier this summer.
He reportedly will not occupy a designated roster slot in Portland, where he could fill the vacancy opened by Felipe Mora’s recent departure to Liga MX side Atletico San Luis.
Janssen had 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season with Royal Antwerp.
He previously played in North America with Mexico’s Monterrey from 2019-22, tallying 24 goals, in addition to stints with Turkey’s Fenerbahce, England’s Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands’ AZ and Almere City.
Internationally, he scored seven goals in 22 caps with the Netherlands and participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
Jul 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) is checked on by Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) and training staff during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds placed versatile infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a right wrist sprain.
Steer was injured while making an awkward swing on Sunday when facing St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in the fifth inning. He fouled off the pitch and began shaking the hand.
A trainer and Reds manager Terry Francona had a conversation with Steer before the decision was made to have Edwin Arroyo finish the at-bat. Arroyo lined out and replaced Steer in the field at second base.
Steer, 28, is batting .238 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games. He has started 27 games at first base, 26 in left field, 23 in right field, 14 at second base and two in center field.
Steer is in his fifth season with the Reds. He has 82 homers, 301 RBIs and a .242/.327/.739 slash line in 586 career games.
Steer has been rumored to be a possible trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. He went 0-for-5 in four games with the Reds earlier this season.
The Reds host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night in the first of a three-game set.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sixers give 'King James' royal welcome to Philadelphia
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 postseason, superstar LeBron James wrote that he was “done,” but on Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers officially welcomed the four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion into the fold.
James, who turns 42 in December, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to join a star-studded Sixers roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Rookie of the Year runner-up VJ Edgecombe.
The NBA’s all-time scoring leader, James will enter his 24th season with the goal of helping the Sixers win their first title since 1983. Like the Lakers, the Sixers were bounced in the second round, falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks. Philadelphia has not advanced past the second round since 2001.
“I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly,” team owner Josh Harris said.
Despite his age, James remains one of the league’s best players, coming off a season when he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games. Over his 23 seasons, the 22-time All-Star has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 1,622 games.
“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” team president Mike Gansey said.
Among James’ numerous accolades, he is a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He is also the first player to earn NBA Finals MVP honors with three teams (Lakers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers).
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James played seven seasons before taking his talents to South Beach with the Heat, winning his first two NBA titles in Miami. He went back home to Cleveland and helped end a 56-year title drought in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Lakers and led them to a championship in 2020.
James and Gansey, who have ties going back to their Ohio high school basketball days in 2001, will reunite in Philadelphia. Gansery took over GM duties after Daryl Morley was fired in May.
Gansey, who starred at Olmsted Falls High School, was runner-up for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2001 to James, who won the award three times at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School before going straight to the NBA in 2003.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey,” Gansey said. “He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor and a tireless worker. But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him.”
–Field Level Media
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
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