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Arrow McLaren selects Pourchaire as replacement driver for the injured Malukas
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Posted May 9 - 1:36 p.m. | Save Story
Arrow McLaren has named reigning F2 champion Theo Pourchaire as the replacement driver for the injured David Malukas. Pourchaire will compete in each of the IndyCar Series remaining races except for this month's Indianapolis 500. Callum Ilott took over for Malukas in this season's first two races and completed April's open test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5-mile oval. Malukas was dropped by the team April 29. He did not start a race this season after suffering a dislocated his wrist and torn tendons in an offseason mountain bike crash.
Maryland governor signs bill to rebuild Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes
Brian Witte, Associated Press | Updated May 9 - 11:34 a.m. | Save Story
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has signed a measure to rebuild Baltimore's historic but antiquated Pimlico Race Course and transfer the track to state control. Under the new law, Maryland can use $400 million in state bonds to rebuild the home of the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. The 149th running of the race is set for May 18. The plan also calls for transferring Pimlico from the Stronach Group, which is the current owner of Pimlico and nearby Laurel Park, to a newly formed nonprofit that would operate under the state.
Former Daytona 500 winner McDowell will leave Front Row Motorsports for Spire in 2025
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Updated May 8 - 11:22 a.m. | Save Story
Former Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell says he won't return to Front Row Motorsports after this season and is moving to Spire Motorsports. The 39-year-old has been with Front Row Motorsports since 2018. McDowell won the Daytona 500 in 2021 and last year's Cup race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course driving the No. 34 Ford for Front Row. Shortly after McDowell said he was leaving Front Row, Spire said it had signed McDowell to a multiyear contract.
Preakness gets 3 horses confirmed. Status of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan remains unclear
Stephen Whyno, Associated Press | Posted May 7 - 2:02 p.m. | Save Story
Three horses have been confirmed as headed to Baltimore for the Preakness. The status of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan remains unclear. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas-trained Derby runner Just Steel and undercard winner Seize the Grey are set to run in the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 18. Mugatu is also going to the Preakness after being the last horse left out of the Derby field. Mystik Dan is scheduled to return to the track and train at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. Trainer Kenny McPeek says he and owners will see how the rest of the week goes.
Uncertain plans for Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and others leave questions for Preakness
Gary B. Graves, Associated Press | Updated May 6 - 3:15 p.m. | Save Story
The second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown could be absent of 150th Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and other contenders who contributed to the thrilling three-wide photo finish. Mystik Dan trainer Kenny McPeek and ownership were noncommittal about sending the colt to Baltimore for the Preakness on May 18 and instead might opt for the relocated Belmont Stakes in June at Saratoga. The Preakness still could feature quality, rested horses, including some by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert as he seeks a follow-up to National Treasure's win last year.
Analysis: Lando Norris win shows McLaren is ready to return to global motorsports prominence
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Posted May 6 - 2:01 p.m. | Save Story
Lando Norris says the online trolling never really bothered him as he went winless through his first five Formula 1 seasons, even when it got worse as one of the breakout stars for fans introduced to the sport through Netflix.
Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, the dominant NASCAR Cup Series drivers, could have a blooming rivalry
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Posted May 6 - 11:36 a.m. | Save Story
What is fast becoming the best rivalry in NASCAR evidently has a willing participant in Kyle Larson. After beating Chris Buescher in the closest finish in history in Sunday's Cup Series race at Kansas, Larson said he would've been OK with being second because the ending was so "frickin' awesome." But, Larson admitted, he wouldn't have been nearly so cheery being second if Denny Hamlin was first. That has happened six times, including the previous week at Dover and last year at Kansas, and every time Hamlin has been the victor. The two have combined to win five of the first 12 Cup Series races this season.
Larson edges Buescher at the line at Kansas Speedway in closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Updated May 5 - 9:08 p.m. | Save Story
Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher to the line at Kansas Speedway on Sunday in the closest finish in NASCAR history. The official winning margin for the Cup Series race Sunday was a thousandth of a second. A caution flag forced a green-white-checkered finish, and Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the final lap, then came around him through the final corner. The two cars banged doors as they headed for the stripe. Martin Truex Jr. finished fourth and Denny Hamlin, who had the lead on the final restart, faded back to fifth. The win was Larson's second of the season.
Kentucky Derby's thrilling finish draws 16.7 million viewers. It's the biggest audience since 1989
The Associated Press | Posted May 5 - 7:31 p.m. | Save Story
Mystik Dan's nose victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby drew 16.7 million viewers, the biggest audience for the race since 1989. NBC Sports says viewership peaked at 20.1 million from 7 to 7:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, when 18-1 shot Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone and Forever Young hit the wire together in the Derby's first three-horse photo finish since 1947. That marked the biggest peak audience ever for the Derby on NBC. The 16.7 million viewers was up 13% from last year's 14.8 million. NBC Sports says it was the biggest Derby audience since 18.5 million watched Sunday Silence win in 1989, when the race was shown on ABC.
Lando Norris earns 1st career F1 victory by ending Verstappen's dominance at Miami
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Updated May 5 - 5:09 p.m. | Save Story
Lando Norris needed 110 starts and a mistake by Max Verstappen to earn his first ever Formula 1 race and end Verstappen's dominance at the Miami Grand Prix. Verstappen started from the pole and was out front when he hit a chicane and knocked a cone out of place on the circuit. It forced the three-time reigning F1 champion to pit and gave Norris the lead. The 24-year-old driver for McLaren then controlled the race to give the organization its first win since a Daniel Ricciardo victory in 2021. It also made him the second British driver in F1 history to be feted on the podium by "God Save the King."
Kentucky Derby victory aboard Mystik Dan provides signature win for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Gary B. Graves, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 8:16 p.m. | Save Story
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Mystik Dan to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby to complete the most rewarding weekend of his career. The Eclipse Award winner and Breeders' Cup champion won the milestone derby a day after guiding filly Thorpedo Anna to a wire-to-wire victory by 4 3/4 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks. He became the first jockey to complete the Derby/Oaks double since Hall of Famer Calvin Borel in 2009, fitting considering Hernandez studied Borel's derby wins and spent time with him in his Kentucky racing career. And, he's no longer under the radar as a jockey.
Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in the closest 3-horse photo finish since 1947
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 7:39 p.m. | Save Story
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a dramatic three-horse photo finish, edging out Sierra Leone and Forever Young for the upset victory. It was the 10th Derby to be decided by a nose, the closest margin in horse racing. Sent off at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a short lead. Sierra Leone and Forever Young from Japan gave chase and pressured the leader to the wire in front of 156,710 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies a day earlier with Thorpedo Anna. Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22 to win.
Christopher Bell stops run of misfortune with pole qualifying run at Kansas Speedway
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Posted May 4 - 5:41 p.m. | Save Story
Christopher Bell put an end to a run of misfortune by qualifying on the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Bell turned a lap of 183.107 mph in his No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing, putting him on the front row alongside Ross Chastain for Sunday's race. Noah Gragson and Kyle Larson will start a row behind them, while Kyle Busch qualified fifth. Bell has dealt with tire problems, spins in qualifying and crashes during races in recent weeks. But he was nearly perfect while whipping around Kansas Speedway, earning his third pole in his last five Cup Series visits to the track.
Kyle Larson eyes Indy 500-Coke 600 double as busy May begins for him at Kansas Speedway
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Posted May 4 - 4:14 p.m. | Save Story
Kyle Larson's busy month of May is getting going at Kansas Speedway. He will be driving his No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. That comes after two nights driving his sprint car at nearby Lakeside Speedway. But the big weekend will be Memorial Day weekend, when he tries to pull off "the double" by finishing every lap of the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Tony Stewart remains the only drive to pull off the feat. Larson was second to Denny Hamlin in the spring race at Kansas last year. He also was second to Hamlin last week at Dover.
Max Verstappen ties Alain Prost's record with 6th pole-winning run to open an F1 season
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 4:04 p.m. | Save Story
Max Verstappen inched closer to a third consecutive win at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday by continuing his long domination of Formula 1 qualifying. The three-time reigning F1 champion won his seventh consecutive pole, but first at Miami, where Verstappen failed to earn the top starting spot in the first two races around Hard Rock Stadium, yet still won them both. The pole-winning run tied Verstappen with Alain Prost in opening the season with six consecutive poles. Prost did it in 1993. Verstappen opened Saturday with a win in the sprint race and ended the day with his 38th career pole. The Red Bull driver beat the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. and will lead the field to green on Sunday for the first of F1's three races this year in the United States.
Kentucky Derby fans pack the track for the 150th Run for the Roses
Claire Galofaro, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 3:27 p.m. | Save Story
Fans packed into Churchill Downs Saturday for the 150th Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously held sporting event in the country, and many said they felt the milestone made race day feel extra special this year. Some said that as they approached the track, they imagined what Churchill Downs must have been at that first race on May 17, 1875, when patrons arrived to watch the horses by riding horses there themselves. The 150th Run for the Roses would be unrecognizable to the 10,000 people who attended that first race. More than 157,000 arrived at Churchill Down from all over the United States for a dayslong spectacle of huge hats and mint juleps.
Logan Sargeant is the only American driver in F1. His seat is in jeopardy as he heads into home race
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 2:39 p.m. | Save Story
The only American driver in Formula One had a somewhat decent showing in the Saturday sprint race ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. It's just not clear how long Logan Sargeant can stake claim to his seat with Williams as the Floridian heads into his home race Sunday under tremendous pressure to deliver or lose his job. Williams team principal James Vowles has said that to keep his seat, Sargeant must elevate his performance to consistently match teammate Alex Albon. The speculation is Sargeant could be replaced this month. The leading candidate to take Sargeant's seat is Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
AP PHOTOS: The Kentucky Derby is one of the most fashionable sporting events. See the splendor
The Associated Press | Updated May 4 - 1:40 p.m. | Save Story
A Kentucky Derby look isn't complete without headwear. Hats or fascinators for women. Hats for men, and not only traditional ones.
Kentucky Derby to remain on NBC through 2032 in extension with Churchill Downs
The Associated Press | Posted May 4 - 10:07 a.m. | Save Story
The Kentucky Derby will remain on NBC through 2032 after the network and Churchill Downs Inc. extended their contract through 2032. The deal was announced hours before the running of the 150th race on Saturday. The race switched to NBC in 2001 after airing on ABC from 1975 to 2000. It was on CBS from 1952 to 1974. The multi-year extension will make NBC the longest-running home of the Kentucky Derby.
