KYLE LARSON

It was quite a year in the sports world, was it not?

Michelle and Anthony Martin co-founded Philadelphia's Urban Youth Racing School, an organization that connects young people of color with the racing industry.

Larson attended his first ever F1 race as part of his weeklong visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi during a vacation following his Cup championship win. The seven-time champion seemed so in control that Larson and his group had already headed for the exits when the yellow flew with five laps go. In Abu Dhabi, Larson ran into Fernando Alonso before he even entered the gate, and then Sergio Perez as soon as he got into the paddock. Alpine reserve driver Daniil Kvyat, who attended his first NASCAR race the week before the Cup Series championship in Virginia, recognized Larson immediately. Larson was surprised when IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward both recognized him and knew about his NASCAR season, and then took time to drive Larson around the track in a McLaren 720S.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson is among those conflicted over the ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson's first Formula One race was the season finale and he is as conflicted as anyone over the controversial ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Funny, Larson was wondering how he could get into Formula One.

Hornets Lakers Basketball Kyle Larson, center, Nascar Cup Series champion, is introduced during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Kyle Larson was running on empty, still trying to recover from the celebration. The NASCAR champion got a pointless two hours sleep before he was whisked off to Los Angeles for a whirlwind tour with his brand new Cup. When he hit I-10 headed toward L.A. Live, the electronic interstate billboards flashed a promo for NASCAR's big return to La-La-Land. He grabbed a steak at Fleming's at LA Live before NASCAR slotted him courtside at Monday night's game between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson is the first driver to get a good look at the site of the season-opening exhibition all-star Busch Light Clash.

The Urban Youth Racing School, the Philadelphia-based program that creates opportunities in racing for minorities, had founders Anthony and Michelle Martin and two students at the track -- and they all got swept up in the championship bash. “I feel like at this point Kyle can’t be denied, on or off the track,” Michelle Martin said.

Before he headed onto the track for the biggest race of his career, Kyle Larson heard Mario Andretti praise him as one of the most well-rounded drivers in all of motorsports.

NASCAR Phoenix Auto Racing Kyle Larson is introduced to the fans before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Rick Scuteri)AVONDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — Kyle Larson won. That was the expected result of NASCAR's season-ending championship race, right? Larson closed his comeback season in NASCAR with his first championship Sunday, where he capped his return from a nearly yearlong suspension with a title-winning victory at Phoenix Raceway. It was Rick Hendrick who decided to give him another chance and he hired Larson once NASCAR lifted his suspension. Larson watched last year's championship race from the competition compound on the Hendrick Mototsports' campus in North Carolina.

Kyle Larson closed out his comeback season in NASCAR with his first national title.

Phoenix Raceway will finally get to host championship weekend in front of a packed house.

Martin Truex Jr. is racing for his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Alex Bowman spun Denny Hamlin from the lead with six laps remaining at Martinsville Speedway and then went on to win his fourth race of the season.

The NASCAR championship will pit Rick Hendrick against Joe Gibbs as both team owners put a pair of drivers in the final four.

Alex Bowman spun Denny Hamlin out of the lead at Martinsville Speedway and then won in overtime as the field for NASCAR's championship race was set Sunday.

Brad Keselowski is in the final two races of his NASCAR career with Team Penske and would love nothing more than to close his 12-year run with another Cup championship.

Larson on Wednesday traveled across the Carolinas to present $280,000 to three different food banks as part of the Hendrick Cares social responsibility initiative. Larson presented the Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte with $150,000, a check for $50,000 to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston, South Carolina, and $80,000 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh. Rick Hendrick offered Larson his second chance once NASCAR lifted Larson's suspension, and Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports unsponsored. As he's rebuilt his image, the Hendrick group has made him the face of its charitable initiatives. Hendrick Cares has also started another program this year built around Larson called "Hendrick, Get Set.

Kyle Larson stepped out of the spotlight during last year’s NASCAR suspension and quietly turned his attention to charitable efforts for communities in need.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing Fans watch from the grandstand as race cars cross the start/finish line at the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. 5 Chevrolet to victory lane at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, the 17th anniversary of a Hendrick plane crash that killed all 10 people aboard. Larson's car is stylized to resemble Ricky Hendrick's scheme, and hours before Sunday's race, team owner Hendrick texted Larson to stress what a win would mean to him on this date. Larson beat reigning Cup champion and Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott by 3.619-seconds for the win. UP NEXT: The penultimate race of the season, at Martinsville Speedway, where the final three spots in the championship finale will be decided.

Kyle Larson drove to his ninth victory of the season and most meaningful to date in his new job with Hendrick Motorsports.

A conversation on driver code and on-track etiquette is raging in NASCAR, and with it comes debate about the expectations of non-playoff drivers.

FORT WORTH, Texas — (AP) — Kyle Larson claimed the first of four championship-contending spots in NASCAR's season finale with a dominating victory at Texas on Sunday to start the round of eight in the playoffs. There were two laps remaining on the final restart, and Larson was able to stay out in front of teammate William Byron. The seven remaining playoff contenders leave Texas with two more chances to get into the championship four, with Kansas and Martinsville left before the finale. Texas had always been the eighth of the final 10 races, and the middle race of the third and final elimination round, before this season. He also won at Texas in the $1 million, non-points All-Star race in June.

The third round of NASCAR's playoffs are getting started in Texas.

Rick Hendrick wants NASCAR to intervene in the ongoing feud between reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick after another on-track incident between the two.

Kyle Larson rallied from early electrical issues Sunday to win for the seventh time this season and storm into the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Kevin Harvick has never been knocked out of the playoffs in the second round since NASCAR introduced the format in 2014.

TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin is already through to the third round of NASCAR's playoffs with nothing to worry about at Talladega Superspeedway. ODDS AND ENDSDenny Hamlin is the 9/5 favorite to win Talladega, according to FanDuel. Since the start of the playoffs in 2004 the winner of the Talladega playoff race has never gone on to win the Cup title. The Talladega winner did finish second in the final standings, twice. ... A non-playoff driver has won Talladega five times in 17 races.

NASCAR's playoffs shift to Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for the middle race of the second round.

Denny Hamlin earned his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

Instead, all four Hendrick drivers go to Las Vegas with their title chances still intact and Larson returning to the site of his first victory of the season. “Las Vegas has been incredible for us,” Keselowski said. That’s really what it boils down to this time of year.”ODDS AND ENDSLarson is the 10-3 favorite to win at Las Vegas, according to FanDuel. ... UFC President Dana White, country music recording artist Matt Stell and comedian Jim Breuer are among the headliners for Las Vegas pre-race activities. ... Keselowski leads all active drivers at Las Vegas with three victories.

Kyle Larson returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking for yet another victory.

According to Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott doesn’t race very smart.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — (AP) — Kyle Larson denied Kevin Harvick his first win of the season with a masterful pass at Bristol Motor Speedway that was overshadowed Saturday night by a post-race skirmish between Harvick and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott. Elliott led a race-high 175 laps but Harvick passed him with 33 laps to go in an aggressive sequence in which their cars touched. It caused a flat tire on Elliott's Chevrolet while Harvick was able to drive away unscathed. The slowdown gave Larson a chance to close the gap and Larson made the race-winning move with four laps remaining. But as the eliminated drivers sulked over their fate and Larson celebrated on the frontstretch, Harvick and Elliott fumed on pit road.

Kyle Larson denied Kevin Harvick his first win of the season with a masterful pass at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson won at Bristol Motor Speedway — not really a big surprise or even the most interesting part of NASCAR's first playoff elimination race. The post-race feud between reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick stole the show Saturday night, especially when Harvick angrily told the energized crowd: “I’m ready to freakin' rip somebody’s head off." The fickle crowd struggled to pick a side before settling firmly behind Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver.

Hendrick Motorsports is in a precarious position heading into first playoff elimination round.

Mackenzie Salmon 'overreacts' to the biggest storylines from the NFL's Week One action in the AFC.

RICHMOND, Va. — (AP) — Two races into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, regular-season champion Kyle Larson is still the points leader, but the stable of contenders at Joe Gibbs Racing is making the most noise with victories in the last two races. It was during that winless spell that Larson really asserted himself, winning four times. “We had a lot of tough luck and a lot of crashes and got caught in the rain a few times. “In general, I think we felt good coming into the playoffs. He led 197 laps on Saturday and won both stages, just as he had in April when he led 207 laps.

Two races into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, regular-season champion Kyle Larson is still the points leader.

Martin Truex Jr. assumed the lead when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was penalized with about 50 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. But Hamlin held firm up near the wall to take the checkered flag“He was going to have to go through me,” Hamlin said. Hamlin broke out ahead of Larson on the restart 36 laps from the end. Earlier, Daytona 500 winner Mike McDowell hit the wall on the backstretch on lap 30 and was done for the day. UP NEXTThe NASCAR Cup series playoffs continue at Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday.

Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Tyler Reddick finished fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale Saturday night and secured the final spot in the 16-car postseason field.

Ryan Blaney won for the second consecutive week when the race Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway ended under caution in overtime with a typical fiery finish.

Ryan Blaney took the lead from William Byron on a late restart and bobbed and weaved his way across the final seven laps to win at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR Indianapolis Auto Racing Joey Logano (22) waves to fans after crashing during a NASCAR Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, in Indianapolis. The vaccine is suddenly a topic in NASCAR, though many drivers don’t want to discuss it. Most drivers said Sunday they believed a negative test should be good enough for NASCAR to greenlight a competitor. Austin Dillon noted there are many ways to isolate drivers from teams in racing, including the use of a helmet. Kyle Larson, a five-time Cup race winner this season and the points leader, said he hasn’t changed anything yet.

Some of NASCAR's top drivers are taking extra health precautions for the playoff chase.

One week after Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe tangled on the track in NASCAR's Cup Series, they'll be back in action Sunday at Michigan.

AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the last five laps — to win the Brickyard 200.

NASCAR Indianapolis Auto Racing Kyle Larson (5) drives through a turn during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Now, after one short practice session, Cup drivers will spend Saturday night plotting their strategical twists and turns for Sunday's reconfigured and renamed Brickyard 200. Larson is this season's points leader after adding his series-high fifth victory last week on the road course at Watkins Glen. Many wonder if the series' best drivers should even be competing on the road course. Declining attendance and complaints about passing on the 2.5-mile oval have had race organizers searching for ways to inject excitement into Brickyard weekend for years.

NASCAR drivers got their first laps on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course in practice — and it opened to mixed reviews.

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made their opinions perfectly clear Saturday. Now, after one short practice session, Cup drivers will spend Saturday night plotting their strategical twists and turns for Sunday's reconfigured and renamed Brickyard 200. Larson is this season's points leader after adding his series-high fifth victory last week on the road course at Watkins Glen.

NASCAR Watkins Glen Auto Racing Kyle Larson drives through the Bus Stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. Larson also held off Elliott in overtime to win on the road course at Sonoma in June. Larson had a lead of nearly three seconds on Truex as the laps began to wind down, but Elliott continued to charge. Truex, Bell and Larson were in a three-car breakaway early on the 50-lap final stage. Bell challenged Truex for the lead with Larson on lap 48 but couldn’t make it stick and backed off.

Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, building a big lead in the final stage and keeping Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott at bay over the final laps.

Chase Elliott is going for a three-peat at Watkins Glen International.

Jimmie Johnson returns to IndyCar on Sunday to tackle the street course in Nashville.

Kevin Harvick headed into NASCAR’s two-week break during the Tokyo Olympics delighted to be away from his own race car, but with plans to be wrapped up in his young son’s fledgling career behind the wheel.

With darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off a surprise for Stewart-Haas Racing’s first victory of the year.

Matt DiBenedetto could be out of NASCAR Cup Series options for 2022 after losing his ride with Wood Brothers Racing.

NASCAR Larson Sponsored Auto Racing FILE - Bubba Wallace, left, congratulates Kyle Larson after Larson won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Las Vegas, in this Sunday, March 7, 2021, file photo. Rick Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a second chance in NASCAR because Hendrick Motorsports had wanted him in its lineup for years. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) (John Locher)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Rick Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a second chance in NASCAR because Hendrick Motorsports had wanted him in its lineup for years. Now that Hendrick has his man, he has locked Larson down for two more seasons with full sponsorship. “My dealerships, the general managers and the employees, they didn't want anyone else on the car,” Hendrick told The Associated Press.

Kyle Larson has received a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2023 and full sponsorship through the length of the deal.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are looking for redemption at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Atlanta RepavingA uto Racing FILE - Martin Truex Jr. drives leads during a NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Saturday, March 20, 2021, file photo. After putting off the inevitable project as long as possible, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials, including track president Brandon Hutchinson, on Tuesday, July 6, announced plans to resurface the worn-out track following Sunday's NASCAR race. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) (Brynn Anderson)HAMPTON, Ga. — (AP) — After 24 years, Speedway Motorsports officials could no longer allow drivers to have the final word in delaying the inevitable repaving of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The decision comes in the year Atlanta Motor Speedway is hosting two NASCAR events for the first time since 2010. Atlanta Motor Speedway president Brandon Hutchinson said the resurfacing was overdue, no matter the schedule.

Atlanta Motor Speedway's 24-year-old track surface is finally due to be repaved.

Kurt Busch has welcomed the uncertainty of this season as he chases a playoff berth while pondering his future in NASCAR.

NASCAR Pocono Auto Racing Kyle Busch (18) takes the checker flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum)LONG POND, Pa. — (AP) — Kyle Busch came through in the clutch. Busch busted Hendrick Motorsports’ winning streak and denied the organization a shot at NASCAR history when he raced to his second vicrory of the season Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Busch, runner-up in Saturday’s Pocono race, led a few laps early until a leak in No. “I’m going to need a push truck to get to Victory Lane because I have no clutch,” Busch said on the radio. Hendrick was trying to become the first team since NASCAR’s modern era began in 1972 to win seven straight races.

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Jeff Gordon is ready to assume a daily role at Hendrick Motorsports as vice chairman.

Larson had won three straight Cup races and was in prime position to take this one at Pocono when he passed Bowman with three laps left in the race. Bowman was in the right spot to take advantage and win for the third time in his last 10 races. “I don’t know what to say.”For team owner Rick Hendrick, the wins keep coming. The Xfinity Series races Sunday followed by the second Cup race. Bowman is in his sixth full season of Cup racing and his fourth with Hendrick.

Alex Bowman made it six straight wins for Hendrick Motorsports when he took the checkered flag at Pocono Raceway.

Jeff Gordon will leave the Fox Sports booth for a daily role at Hendrick Motorsports as vice chairman.

LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — Kyle Larson won again — that's all he does these days — this time in the Cup debut at Nashville Superspeedway, where Hendrick Motorsports' new star drove to victory lane for the fourth consecutive week. Larson led 264 of 300 laps Sunday for his third consecutive win in a points race, fourth straight including last weekend's All-Star race. Nashville Superspeedway re-opened this weekend after a decade of dormancy to host its first ever Cup race. The pair of top-fives came the same day team co-owner Tony Stewart was at his first Cup race since the start of the pandemic. Dover Motorsports owns the track and moved one of its weekends from its Delaware facility to Nashville to reopen the speedway and at last host a Cup race.

Kyle Larson went to victory lane for the fourth consecutive week after a dominating run in the first Cup race at Nashville Superspeedway.

William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now.

(AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (Nell Redmond)The Hendrick Motorsports train rolls into Sonoma Raceway on a three-race winning streak that pushed it past Petty Enterprises as NASCAR's winningest organization. “I think we all look at them as being a really strong team and having really strong race cars consistently,” Truex said. Since then it has been all Hendrick Motorsports, starting with an Alex Bowman 1-2-3-4 sweep at Dover. Out in wine country, Elliott will be seeking his first career victory at Sonoma. Those six wins tie him for third on NASCAR's all-time road course win list with Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace.

NASCAR Charlotte Auto Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson drives in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (Nell Redmond)CONCORD, N.C. — (AP) — Kyle Larson continued his dominance at the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, sweeping the first three stages of NASCAR’s longest race. Larson has won a series-high nine stages this year. The 28-year-old Larson led 234 of 300 laps in the 400-lap race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Larson is the first driver since Kyle Busch in 2018 to win the first three stages of the Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR Charlotte Auto Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson drives in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (Nell Redmond)CONCORD, N.C. — (AP) — Kyle Larson led 90 of the first 100 laps and won the fist stage of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 28-year-old Larson hoped to give car owner Rick Hendrick a historic 269th career victory, which would pass Petty Enterprises for the most Cup Series wins. Larson won this year at Las Vegas. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

That long-term goal can become a reality Sunday when Hendrick goes for win No. 269 in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’ve had 268 circled for so long, I don’t even know what 269 is going to be like yet,” said Chad Knaus, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports. He finished fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 last season. The Coca-Cola 600 is the only Cup Series race of the season that is broken into four stages of 100 laps each.

NASCAR Dover Preview Auto Racing FILE - In this Sunday, May 9, 2021, file photo, Kyle Larson uses his cell phone before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. Larson took time out from his NASCAR schedule to Zoom in with the class at Philadelphia’s Urban Youth Racing School. The school has served more than 7,500 students from ages 8 to 18 over the last 22 years and teaches all aspects of auto racing, including driving and Black racing history. The Joe Gibbs Racing star and 2017 Cup champion has been the runner-up finisher in three straight Dover races. For the lottery's current fiscal year of July 1, 2020 through May 13, 2021, auto racing comprised $196,000 or 0.18% of the wager handle. _____More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NASCAR Darlington Auto Racing Martin Truex Jr. drives into Turn 1 during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, May 9, 2021, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Terry Renna) (Terry Renna)DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. powered his way around Darlington Raceway, sweeping both stages and leading the final 105 laps Sunday. Kyle Larson cut into Truex's often large lead over the final 30 laps, coming as close as two car-lengths down the stretch. The victory gave Truex some payback at Darlington from the last time here last September, when he led 196 laps, yet finished 22nd after tangling for the lead late with Chase Elliott. WHO’S HOTKyle Busch followed up his first win of the season at Kansas last week with a solid third place at Darlington. But Busch hasn’t come that close to a Darlington victory in 22 races since.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing A limited amount of fans watch the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 2, 2021. Busch had stalked Kyle Larson all day before beating him on a late restart to take the lead. Then, after another caution in the closing laps, Busch followed up his Truck Series win Saturday night with another trip to victory lane. “That's a Kyle Busch win right there,” he said. Even after he was beaten by Busch on that late restart, he had another chance when Christopher Bell got sideways in Turn 4 to bring out another caution.

Las Vegas — Kyle Larson wasn't sure he'd ever race again in NASCAR, and if he could, he didn't know who would even hire him. It was Rick Hendrick who took the chance on a driver many believed was radioactive for sponsors. On Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson raced to his first NASCAR victory since he was reinstated from a nearly yearlong suspension. "Thanks Mr. H. for believing in me," Larson radioed to boss Rick Hendrick after crossing the finish line. Bubba Wallace, left, congratulates Kyle Larson after Larson won the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series race on March 7, 2021 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

His Hendrick Motorsports team bounced back with a competitive Chevrolet in the 600 that Elliott drove to the front late in the race. Theres no other choice.KESELOWSKI SHOWS HIS WORTHA Daytona 500 victory is the only crown jewel race Keselowski is missing on his resume. "I hope to continue to compete at a very high level and be able to win races for a long time. Weve got a race win at a major on a team thats really just starting to click together. I hope it does because this is my 30th win at the Cup level with Team Penske.

A fan watches as cars practice on a short dirt track at Gas City I-69 Speedway, Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Gas City, Ind. The roaring engines and flying dirt pellets briefly brought Gas City I-69 Speedway back to life Sunday. Seventy-five miles away, the Indianapolis 500 was devoid of a crowd, the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana," even A.J. I went to my first Indianapolis 500 in 1969, and I love the 500," track promoter Jerry Gappens said. We're not the Indianapolis 500 but at least we have racing and that's a good sign."

Larson has returned to dirt racing after losing his NASCAR Cup ride with Chip Ganassi Racing for using a racial slur during an online race. The Sprint Car series returned last week at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa for a race run without fans. ___The English Premier League says two people from two clubs have tested positive for COVID-19 in the second round of testing. In the second round, the number of tests available to each club was increased from 40 to 50. All the tests in the second round of testing were negative.

The Outlaws returned last week in Iowa at Knoxville Raceway for a race run without fans. ___The NCAA is permitting athletes in all sports to participate in voluntary athletic activities on campus beginning June 1. Greg Abbott says he thinks college football will return on schedule with some level of fans in the stands. Once we get to college football season, our goal right now is to have college football season start as planned, with fans in stands, the Republican governor told Austin television station KXAN. ___The Southeastern Conference is allowing voluntary athletic activities to occur on each of its campuses starting June 8, at the discretion of each university.

DARLINGTON, S.C. The win by Kevin Harvick in NASCAR's return to racing over the weekend was a bit predictable considering the enormous task teams are facing in a flurry of rescheduled events. Harvick, a former series champion and former winner at Darlington Raceway, was also the points leader through the first four events. He will try for the sweep when NASCAR returns to Darlington for its first Cup race on a Wednesday since 1984, when Richard Petty scored his 200th and final victory. This anticipated midweek race is just 300 miles 100 fewer than Sunday's return race, and the same distance as next week's junior series Xfinity Series race at Charlotte but still will start a test of stamina. The Cup Series will race for a third time in a week this Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the schedule.

His 50th career Cup Series victory felt like a lot like the others until he climbed out of his No. Harvick is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in each of the Cup Series' five races this season. The 48-year-old Kenseth raced in the Cup Series for the first time since the 2018 season finale. ___6:45 p.m.Two small grass fires broke out at Darlington Raceway behind Turns 1 and 2 during the final stage of the NASCAR Cup Series race. The Real Heroes 400 is underway at Darlington Raceway, without fans and with masks and social-distancing mandates all around.

FILE - In this May 11, 2012, file photo, drivers take the green flag for the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will re-fire the engines moments after mask-clad drivers climb into their cars at Darlington Raceway. (Tyler Barrick/Pool Photo via AP, File)DARLINGTON, S.C. NASCAR will not be as you remember it when racing returns at old egg-shaped Darlington Raceway. He tested at Darlington shortly before the season was suspended and determined then he was fit to race again. Busch and Hill are adding Xfinity Series races at Darlington and Charlotte, and a Truck Series race at Charlotte to their calendar. His only victory so far this season was the Truck Series race at home track Las Vegas.