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NASCAR racing has always been a family sport. Big Bill France got the sport going in 1948, turned over to his son Bill Jr. in 1972 and Bill’s son Brian took the helm in 2003.  Despite its rich tradition as a family sport, there are surprisingly few father-and-son combinations where both have managed to win races in the NASCAR Premier Series– what today we call the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series….

The sixth annual NASCAR Hauler Parade will rumble through Sacramento, Calif., next Thursday. The haulers, which will be in Northern California for next Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, will travel across the Tower Bridge in Sacramento and around the State Capitol in the popular NASCAR fan event. The parade begins at noon on Thursday, June 23, as the haulers depart their staging area. Expect to see the haulers from…

After Croatia was once more the focus of racist behavior and fan disorder at a European Championship match, UEFA formally opened a disciplinary case against the country’s national soccer federation on Saturday. The federation apologized for the incidents during Croatia’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic on Friday, while also blaming its national government for not identifying and punishing hooligans in recent years. “The Saint-Etienne incident is the product of…

BANGOR — When Freeport High scored two runs in the top of the first inning, it looked good for the overachieving, underdog Falcons against favored Old Town. Freeport had allowed only three runs in its last three playoff games, and the Coyotes had not scored more than three runs in any playoff game. But Old Town broke out the bats Saturday afternoon and romped past Freeport, 12-2 in five inings,…

Numerous fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles were part of a parade celebrating Burlington’s state baseball title Saturday, June 18, 2016. Burlington defeated Hartland Arrowhead 6-4 on Thursday in Grand Chute to win the school’s first state baseball title. 

EAST LANSING, Mich — Brandon Riemersma drove in the tying run in the 4th inning and eventual winning run in the 6th as Holland Christian beat Linden 8-5 to win the division two state championship game at Michigan State University. The Maroons built a 4-0 lead after 3 innings but Linden came back with 5 in the top of the fourth to take the lead. “When the other team comes…

The acting governor of Rio de Janeiro’s state government declared a state of financial disaster Friday in an effort to change budgetary priorities without disrespecting Brazil’s fiscal laws. Francisco Dornelles’ move will let him adopt exceptional measures to pay costs related to the upcoming Olympic Games as the state grapples with the country’s steep economic recession. Dornelles’ office said in a statement that the decision was made because…

OMAHA, Neb. — Eight teams have arrived in the Mecca of college baseball, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, with their sights now set on the national championship. The College World Series is split into two brackets, which will play in a double-elimination format June 18-24/25, and the two bracket winners will meet in the CWS Finals June 27-28/29.  Interactive Bracket Scoreboard TV Schedule Listen Live Follow along with the latest action…

INDIANAPOLIS - A safe call at first base with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning handed unranked Roncalli a 3-2 win over top-ranked Zionsville in the Class 4A state championship game at Victory Field in Indianapolis. The Rebels’ Will Harris sent a grounder to shortstop and beat out the throw to first base which allowed Mark Cobb to score. Cobb pinch-ran for Jake Franklin…

Campbell County, the highest-scoring team through the first two rounds of the Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament, needed only one run to advance to its first state finals thanks to a dominant outing from star pitcher Alex Franzen in his final start. The Camels defeated Bullitt East 1-0 in the second semifinals matchup that went nine innings on Friday. St. Xavier defeated McCracken County, 3-2, in the first semifinal, and will…

The Strikeout Is Taking Over Baseball — and It’s Not Going to Stop Getty Images/Ringer GIF The Nationals’ starting rotation is on pace to become the first in baseball history to strike out 1,000 batters in a season. That’s a little surprising, isn’t it? Nobody’s done this before? Not the Dodgers with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale? Not the Diamondbacks with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson? Or the Red Sox with Schilling…

Image copyright EPA Image caption Accused of doping: Russia’s Mariya Savinova (right) won the Olympic 800m at London 2012 and Ekaterina Poistogova came third When I used to live in central Moscow quite often I would visit the giant swimming pool built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. And as I used to breast-stroke or crawl my way – embarrassingly slowly I have to say – up and down the lane,…

The burgeoning fantasy-sports industry got a lift from the New York legislature, which passed a bill early Saturday that explicitly would legalize and regulate the practice in the state. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t indicated whether he will sign the bill. The decision could have broad implications for an industry that has undertaken a major push this year to pass bills in statehouses that would validate its contention the practice…

ALBANY, N.Y. Fantasy sports moved a step closer to being legal in New York on Saturday when lawmakers approved the daily and season-long games, clearing a path for FanDuel, DraftKings and others to offer them to millions of players in the state. The multibillion-dollar industry, where players draft fantasy teams for sports including football, basketball and baseball, has drawn increased scrutiny since last year with the attorneys general of several…

Vladimir Putin has said it is “unjust and unfair” that the ban on Russian athletes imposed for systemic doping was upheld by the sport’s governing body – ruling out the country competing in track and field at the Rio Olympics. Despite desperate attempts by Russia to get the ban lifted before the Games in August, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) voted on Friday unanimously against lifting the prohibition….

Rio de Janeiro’s governor has declared a state of financial emergency and requested federal funds to help fulfill obligations for public services during the Olympics that start on August 5. Emergency measures are needed to avoid “a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management,” a decree in the state’s Official Gazette said on Friday. Rio de Janeiro state is in financial straits due…

The Strikeout Is Taking Over Baseball — and It’s Not Going to Stop Getty Images/Ringer GIF The Nationals’ starting rotation is on pace to become the first in baseball history to strike out 1,000 batters in a season. That’s a little surprising, isn’t it? Nobody’s done this before? Not the Dodgers with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale? Not the Diamondbacks with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson? Or the Red Sox with Schilling…

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – When it comes to developing top-end baseball talent in Fort Collins, it’s more than likely that one of that particular player’s bigger influences has been Ernie Romero. From players honing their skills at his facility to his annual Front Range Baseball School, Romero has helped players of all levels, from St. Louis Cardinals first-round draft choice Marco Gonzales, all the way to 5-year-old beginners. “Over…