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Stubbs: COTA’s new layout sets up well for these drivers

NASCAR: Cup PracticeFeb 14, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) gets into his car during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

When the NASCAR Cup Series races at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this Sunday in Austin, Texas, the road course will look different than in years past.

That’s because NASCAR has chosen to utilize COTA’s shorter, “National” layout for this year’s Xfinity Series and Cup Series races at the Texas road course. The National course’s 20-turn layout is 2.3 miles in length, compared to the Full Course layout’s length of 3.41 miles.

The change will bring the length of Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX) from 68 laps to 95, and bring the length of Saturday’s Focused Health 250 (2:30 p.m. ET, CW) from 50 laps to 65.

The change in course layout, of course, will affect the drivers. Ahead of Sunday’s race, here are the drivers that the new COTA layout — and the trip to COTA in general — will benefit the most.

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

COTA’s National course doesn’t explicitly mirror any other road course on the schedule, which could make Larson a favorite to win on Sunday. Since joining Hendrick, Larson has become an elite road racer, boasting two wins apiece at Sonoma, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval. The high-speed frontstretch and faster portions of the track lean more towards Watkins Glen, while the slower, tighter and more technical portions of the circuit more closely mirror Sonoma and the Charlotte Roval, where Larson won last October. Larson’s ability to win at various styles of road courses should play right into his hands on Sunday.

Connor Zilisch, No. 87 Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing

Zilisch is making his Cup Series debut on Sunday, but he’ll have the benefit of running Saturday’s Xfinity Series race beforehand. As a road course ace, Zilisch will be one of the favorites in the Xfinity race, and he has a chance to turn heads the following day as well. His resume includes wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as an Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen in his debut. A year ago at COTA, Zilisch won the pole for the Truck race and earned a fourth-place finish. Regardless of layout, Zilisch will almost always be a force on road courses.

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing

The same can be said for Zilisch’s teammate in van Gisbergen, who is well-suited to compete at any road course NASCAR travels to. The New Zealand native showed he can win at any road course on the schedule when he captured the checkered flag in his Cup Series debut at the Chicago Street Course in 2023. His ability to learn on the fly will come in handy as he experiences the new COTA layout for the first time along with the rest of the field.

Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Bell is one of the more underrated road course racers in the field — he was runner-up to William Byron at COTA in 2024 — but he has one big advantage favoring him this weekend: momentum. Besides, he has nothing to lose. Bell’s victory at Atlanta on Feb. 23 locked him into the playoffs, meaning he’s free to use whatever strategy necessary to go for the win on Sunday. The layout will throw a new wrinkle into strategy, especially for teams racing for stage points, but Bell and crew chief Adam Stevens should be able to have more strategy options and race more freely with a postseason berth locked up.

–Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media

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Lionel Messi's brace helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd

MLS: Inter Miami CF at Colorado RapidsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) kicks and scores a penalty kick in the first half against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Lionel Messi recorded a brace and German Berterame added a tally on a header as Inter Miami earned a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Denver.

Messi scored the go ahead goal in the 79th minute. He started a run just inside midfield and went unchallenged until the box where he blasted a shot into the upper part of the left corner for a 3-2 lead.

Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each scored a goal for Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points) in a contest played in front of 75,824, the second-largest crowd in MLS history.

Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute after Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s pass was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio offered a hard challenge and drew a yellow card after video review.

Messi took the resulting penalty kick and rolled a shot straight down the middle as Miami took a 1-0 lead.

Colorado had a solid look at the goal when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a one-touch lob shot. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair sprinted well beyond the penalty arc to head away a loose ball, but Frederick’s attempt sailed over the open net.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Miami extended its lead to 2-0 as it connected on a series of passes deep in their attacking third. Messi got the run of play started with a tight touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.

De Paul sent Mateo Silvetti on a run to the boundary line. His inward-spinning cross floated to the front of the goal where Berterame rose above the Colorado defense and tucked a header under the cross bar.

Navarro’s goal cut the Miami lead to 2-1. He started a run at midfield and used a step-over move to get an open shot a few steps into the box that tucked inside the left post past a diving St. Clair in the 58th minute.

In the 62nd minute, second-half substitute Yapi settled on a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and sizzled a shot past St. Clair for the equalizer.

Miami closed the win playing a man down as Bright was sent off with a red card in the 87th minute.

–Field Level Media

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Brice Turang and Brandon Woodruff lead Brewers past Marlins

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Miami MarlinsApr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Brice Turang slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer, and Brandon Woodruff pitched seven brilliant innings as the Brewers beat the host Miami Marlins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Abner Uribe inherited a bases-loaded, one-out mess in the ninth. However, he got both batters he faced on only four pitches to record his second save.

Turang went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Milwaukee, which won its season-high fourth consecutive game.

Woodruff (2-0) allowed just three hits — all singles — one walk and one run, lowering his ERA to 3.42. He fanned four Marlins.

Miami has lost four straight and seven of their past eight games.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and three runs in five innings. He walked a career-high six batters and struck out just one, a career low in a start of at least five innings for the nine-year veteran.

Miami opened the scoring in the second inning as Liam Hicks singled, advanced on a groundout and scored on Connor Norby’s base knock to center.

Milwaukee loaded the bases with one out in the third on three walks, but Alcantara got the slow-footed Gary Sanchez to bounce into a double play.

The Brewers tied the score in the fourth as Luis Rengifo walked and scored on Brandon Lockridge’s two-out single.

Milwaukee grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fifth as William Contreras grounded a hustle double past two middle infielders and scored on Turang’s 402-foot homer to center. He hit a first-pitch slider for his fourth long ball of the year.

The Brewers extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Garrett Mitchell started the rally with a walk. He stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Sal Frelick. Mitchell was initially called out, but the Brewers won a challenge.

Turang then hit an RBI single to score Joey Ortiz, who had also walked.

Miami threatened in the eighth on a pair of two-out singles by Jakob Marsee and Xavier Edwards. But reliever Jake Woodford got Agustin Ramirez on a groundout, ending the inning.

In the ninth, the Marlins loaded the bases with one out, banging three singles against Woodford. Uribe got Heiberto Hernandez to ground to third base, plating Otto Lopez, then retired Javier Sanoja on a grounder to second.

Hicks and Norby had two hits apiece for Miami.

–Field Level Media

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Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

PGA: RBC Heritage - Third RoundApr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”

Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.

Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.

“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.

Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.

“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”

He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.

Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.

“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”

Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.

“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”

Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.

“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”

Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.

“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”

The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).

“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.

–Field Level Media

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