Free agent left-hander Rich Hill had surgery on his pitching elbow and he's likely to miss the first half of the 2020 season, according to multiple reports.

Rather than have Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, Hill had what is called primary revision surgery, according to The Associated Press. This type of surgery usually requires a shorter recovery time, and Hill is expected to start throwing by the end of April, the AP reported.

Hill, who turns 40 in March, was 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, completing a three-year, $48 million contract.

He was sidelined between June 19 and Sept. 12 with a strained flexor tendon in his pitching forearm. In his first start back from the injury, he had right knee pain that delayed his next outing until Sept. 24.

Hill started Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals and did not get a decision.

Hill's surgery was first reported by WEEI.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Attack coach Scott Wisemantel has left his role with England, leaving boss Eddie Jones with another position to fill before the Six Nations.

The 49-year-old's contract with the Rugby Football Union ended after England's defeat by South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final this month.

Scrum expert Neal Hatley has already left to join Premiership side Bath.

Forwards coach Steve Borthwick is expected to join Leicester's coaching staff in the coming months.

However, the RFU is confident former England captain Borthwick will remain in position for at least the Six Nations, with Jones' side starting their campaign against France in Paris on 2 February.

Wisemantel joined the England coaching team in the summer of 2018 and is credited with sharpening the side's attacking play over the past 18 months.

However, the Australian has been courted by Rugby Australia and is tipped to join new coach Dave Rennie's backroom team.

"Scott's contract finished at the end of the Rugby World Cup and we had some discussions but he has decided to move on," Jones said of his compatriot.

"Whatever role he takes on next I know he will do an outstanding job because he was fantastic for us. We will miss him but we wish him all the best and his family."

Jones, along with his number two John Mitchell, is contracted until the summer of 2021.

Don't imagine that it's merely qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds at stake for Spain's leading clubs this week, when Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid travel to Juventus, Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund at Camp Nou and Chelsea go seeking revenge in Valencia. The next 48 hours are, in fact, a huge referendum on the health -- and wealth -- of Spanish football.

This week's fixtures mirror Matchday 1, when La Liga's four clubs managed to score a measly three goals, win once and accumulate five out of a possible 12 points. While the standings in Groups A, D, F and H aren't sufficiently critical to run around screaming "the end is nigh," nor is the patient robustly healthy, gobbling down his porridge and bothering the nurses for a release date.

Of the four, only Barcelona lead their group. But Ernesto Valverde's side have the second-lowest points total, the lowest goal difference of any group leader and in terms of goal totals -- normally the calling card of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez & Co. -- Barca trail everyone except RB Leipzig by between five and 11 goals. It might not be pitiful, but it ain't great -- and it marks a decline.

Madrid should go through Group A, but they may well already be consigned to second place, meaning the knockout tie -- against a group winner -- will be home first and then the decisive match away. That's not an outright disaster, but to be avoided, in case the draw is to an intimidating, rarely breached citadel -- like Anfield, for example.

Atleti are in Turin this week to face perennial Italian champions Juve. This is the Bianconeri team that led 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano in September before the hosts staged a monumental comeback, including a last-minute equaliser. Regardless of whether Cristiano Ronaldo is fit, plays or is in bristling form, this remains the team that tore Diego Simeone's side to shreds last year, eliminating them from the competition in the process.

If Juve were to repeat that pummelling of eight months ago (3-0) and if Lokomotiv were to beat Bayer Leverkusen in Moscow, then Atleti would face an all-or-nothing final group match against the Russians on Matchday 6. Okay, in the Spanish capital and with the head-to-head in their favour, but -- as with Madrid -- it's a situation that would be better avoided, and would only see them through as runners-up, and thus at greater risk when the knockout-round draw comes around.

Home first and then, potentially, Manchester City or Bayern Munich away in the return leg. Obviously, those are the sorts of threats to be avoided if at all possible. The danger is a tie in which -- after being bullied out of the competition in March (for the second successive year) away to a Liverpool, a Bayern or a City -- even your most supportive fans, media and club directors will moan: "Well you shouldn't have been floundering about in second place by the end of the group!"

Valencia are joker in the pack; tied on seven points with Ajax and Chelsea, third because of goals scored and goal difference, but with the head-to-head advantage over Frank Lampard's men thanks to that surprising 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. If Los Che lose to Chelsea, especially by more than one goal, then the advantage will disappear and, more than likely, any chance of group victory will too.

In fact, with Valencia traveling to Ajax on the last day, having already lost heavily to the Eredivisie champions at Mestalla, tripping up to Chelsea this week could be pretty disastrous for Albert Celades' team. It could be a huge step towards elimination and merely a place in the Europa League at a time when owner Peter Lim and his board desperately need the vast riches that knockout Champions League football bring in order to service their debt and retain their star players.

But such a bleak set of threats are, hopefully, no worse than decorative scene setting. We shall see.

La Liga's clubs, right now, are giving off the impression that not only are they not the vanguard, but that they are struggling under an onslaught of new European football standards; standards of intensity, standards of pressing, standards of coping with adversity, pace of play and top, top-quality finishing.

Last season Barcelona had an equally difficult group but romped it, won by a huge points margin and after Matchday 4 had scored seven more goals than so far this campaign. Madrid, too, strolled through what was an only slightly easier group, having scored more and conceded fewer at this stage. Like Barcelona, they are in a worse position year on year. Atleti, entering Matchday 5, had more points and more goals last season, ending up tied on 13 with Dortmund and finishing second on the head-to-head rule. Again, worse in 2019.

Only Valencia are better off today than a year ago, which is where the concept of the referendum comes in.

While I'm not predicting this outcome, it's quite feasible that PSG draw or win at Madrid, that Dortmund take a point at Camp Nou, that Juve beat Atleti and that Chelsea win at Mestalla. If, and admittedly it's a big if, those results came to pass, then three of Spain's big four would be left sweating over elimination on the final matchday.

- Champions League group stage: All you need to know
- ESPN Champions League fantasy: Sign up now!

The financial referendum, as far as Barcelona, Madrid and Atleti are concerned, has already been won. UEFA's revenue distribution this season means that those three have already earned at least €56 million, €57m and €54m, respectively. And there's another €5.4m available to each, should the three all win their remaining two matches. Valencia, because they are further down the club coefficient ranking, have been awarded significantly less, and yet still earned nearly €44m -- again, with another €5.4m automatically theirs if they beat Chelsea and then Ajax.

Getting out of their groups and reaching no further than the quarterfinals would net another minimum €20m, which, once the TV payments are divided up and added, would mean Madrid, Barcelona, Atleti and Valencia earning at least €85m, €84m, €83m and €76m, respectively. The rewards shoot up, especially the market pool of TV revenue, for making the semifinals and/or the final.

These are remarkable sums and emphasise why it's not just getting out of the group that is utterly vital, finishing first in order to nudge the percentage chance of proceeding through the round of 16 is hugely desirable. It is at minimum a difference of €20m-€30m to your books. Prestige is ferociously important to these Patrician members of the European elite, but it's nothing compared to hard cash given their voracious need for ever increasing revenue. This week's European referendum may look highly enticing and enjoyable to you, the spectator, but it's transcendentally important to Madrid, Barcelona, Atleti and Valencia.

My best guess is that Madrid beat PSG but don't win the head to head, that Barcelona defeat Dortmund in a five-goal thriller, that Chelsea take no worse than a point at Mestalla and that Atleti, possibly, create a big shock and win in Turin. Sadly, there are no market pools, win bonuses or coefficient points for columnists.

Whether it's watching Spain's giants sweat, stumble or triumph -- enjoy. This could be special.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Aaron Donald is humble. He's quiet. He doesn't self-promote his out-of-this-world physical feats.

But sometimes that's out of his control.

Donald's freakish athleticism can make even a mundane preseason practice something to marvel at. During a routine speed drill, he pumps his knees and taps his toes quick as lightning as he moves laterally over four bags.

Aaron Donald with the speed ?

(via @LindseyThiry) pic.twitter.com/F20KtoKq1D

— ESPN (@espn) August 13, 2019

Even to Los Angeles Rams teammates who see the 6-foot-1, 280-pound NFL Defensive Player of the Year every day, the speed of Donald's feet is astonishing when they review video of him.

"They sped them s---s up!" linebacker Cory Littleton said, referring to Donald's feet. "They put them on fast-forward."

"It's sped up," defensive end Michael Brockers said. "His feet are not moving that fast."

Except, they are. No digital enhancements needed.

The video of Donald's fast-moving feet, which he calls "nothing special," has more than a million views on social media. Friends, family members and even complete strangers have asked Rams players and coaches via text messages and social media whether the video was real or digitally altered.

"Everybody across the country, college coaches, even people I don't know," defensive line coach Eric Henderson said, "will reach out in regards to try to get a better understanding."

But it really just comes down to one thing.

"He's a freak," running back Todd Gurley II said.

When the Rams host the Baltimore Ravens (8-2) at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum for Monday Night Football, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will become acquainted with that freakishness when Donald's fast feet patter toward him, with the Rams (6-4) clinging to playoff hopes a season after appearing in Super Bowl LIII.

"Aaron Donald, name speaks for itself," Jackson said. "No. 1 D-tackle in the league last year. We gotta deal with him."

Outside of his flashy Gucci shorts and huge diamond-encrusted necklace -- you'd hardly guess Donald was the Rams' $135 million phenom, a player who was voted the NFL's most spectacular talent by his peers before the season.

Donald's own social media feeds are relatively tame, outside of a few shirtless photos that make you wonder whether a man his size could possibly feature a six-pack, or whether perhaps he's wearing one of those ab T-shirt cover-ups you might find at Venice Beach.

But his fast feet aren't his only viral video.

Aaron Donald's new training regimen involves ... KNIVES!? (via @2_10ths) pic.twitter.com/h2YG2HSJa4

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2018

He wasn't the one to post about his insane knife workout with his trainer that circulated before last season and caused concern that Donald was possibly putting himself in harm's way. It turned out, of course, those knives weren't real.

"It doesn't ever hurt to try different stuff," Donald said.

Donald, 28, grows a childish grin when compliments are delivered, or when teammates -- especially his defensive line counterparts -- decide to give him grief, which they do often in good fun, knowing they're witnessing a generational player, a future Hall of Famer.

"Man, it's not that impressive," Brockers said about Donald's feats, as overhearing teammates began to laugh.

Donald's upper body has the power to move one, two and sometimes even three blockers from his path.

"I usually look at him and say, 'Wow,'" defensive coordinator Wade Phillips deadpanned.

He has the best pass rush win rate as a defensive tackle (28.4%) in the NFL, despite being double-teamed at the highest rate in the league (67.9%) among tackles who have played in at least 10 games, according to ESPN metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.

Donald's lower body features the quickness and agility to sometimes make all those blockers miss him altogether.

"He got DB feet as a defensive lineman," cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman said. "He got a motor, like real motor feet. His upper body is a D-lineman, and his lower body is like a safety."

"He's quick, his feet super quick. Comparing himself to me, I don't think he got me yet," cornerback Jalen Ramsey said, smiling. "But he got super-quick feet."

Donald's secret?

Hard work, of course, along with trimming some extra weight he entered the NFL with -- he was listed at 285 pounds when the Rams selected him with the No. 13 pick in 2014.

And there's also Dewayne Brown, Donald's trainer in his hometown of Pittsburgh, whom he has worked with since high school.

"I've just been training with that guy and working a lot of footwork, training like a DB over the past years," Donald said. "Just help me work on my feet, the speed of my feet, athleticism."

Brown's philosophy is to work out athletes like they're ... athletes. In other words, Brown doesn't take it easy on Donald just because he's a big guy. There's no time to catch your breath, and Brown doesn't cater any of his drills to accommodate for Donald's position.

"He used to think that I was nuts because of the tempo I train at," Brown said. "I train at a pace."

The workouts take place three days a week and last only 45 minutes. It's a dynamic warm-up, followed by running form, linear and lateral movements, core work and explosive training. Sometimes it features flipping tires and, of course, hand-fighting with fake knives.

"I'm just training guys to be athletic -- it's not real sport-specific," Brown said. "It's the repetition, bang, bang, bang, and Aaron goes 150 to 200 percent every time he does a drill."

Donald also goes 150 to 200 percent every day at practice, and most certainly in every game.

"It's the talent, but then it's using that talent and working as hard as you possibly can to maximize that talent," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "There is never complacency that sets in."

Donald has eight sacks this season, including a takedown of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph that resulted in a safety. He's not keeping the same pace as last season, when he set an NFL record for an interior lineman with 20.5 sacks -- two sacks shy of tying the NFL's single-season sack record. Instead, he ranks 11th in the NFL, which is surprising, given how dominant he played a season ago. But it shouldn't be shocking. Most opponents make it a priority to keep Donald from wrecking their offense.

"To be able to see somebody play the game the way he plays it on every snap -- it doesn't matter run, pass, down-and-distance, where he's at on the field," said Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy, who faced Donald in Week 11. "If you don't know where he is on the field on every single play, you're going to be in trouble."

Attention spent on Donald has enabled teammates to combine for 21 sacks.

"As long as somebody is making sacks, I'm happy," Donald said. "If somebody wasn't, I'd be frustrated."

However, Donald has committed himself to finding new ways to beat blocks -- whether it's a double- or triple-team -- with the hope of getting to the quarterback.

"He's an animal," quarterback Jared Goff said. "He's a freak of nature, and we see it every day."

"It's like, dude, take a couple days off real quick, man," Robey-Coleman said.

Aaron Donald really lifted up Devonta Freeman ? pic.twitter.com/bjyt1oFSCk

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 20, 2019

Donald's latest viral move, when he Darth Vader-lifted Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman into the air, had teammates in stitches and produced laugh-out-loud memes.

"I've seen it everywhere," Donald said, shaking his head and chuckling.

"We kind of reenacted what we thought was going on in that foul," said Robert Woods. "Just big Aaron Donald and Devonta Freeman."

Freeman, the Falcons' pint-sized running back, lacking for better judgment, latched on to Donald's face mask after a play was blown dead in Week 7.

Donald held Freeman away by his shoulder pads as his legs kicked through thin air inches off the ground.

"It was like he was riding a bicycle," outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. said about Freeman, holding back laughter.

Finally, Donald set the 5-8, 206-pound running back down. And just as he did, social media picked up the moment.

"You know," said Donald, grinning while attempting to downplay the situation, "I just wanted to get him off my face mask."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Right-hander Adrian Sampson has been placed on unconditional release waivers by the Texas Rangers, a move that allows the right-hander to pitch in South Korea.

Sampson is set to join the Lotte Giants following the move announced Monday.

He went 6-8 with a 5.89 ERA in 125⅓ innings over 15 starts and 20 relief appearances for the Rangers last season, when he was one of seven big league pitchers with at least 15 starts and 20 relief appearances. Only Mike Minor and Lance Lynn pitched more innings for Texas.

The 28-year-old made his big league debut with a start for Seattle in 2016. He was 6-11 with a 5.64 ERA the past two seasons for Texas.

‘Our stars are dotted all over the world but we are all working towards doing well at the 2022 Comm Games’
By ROD BANNISTER – Squash Mad Correspondent

It’s a time of change for squash in Australia, with Lachlan Johnson moving in as the new High Performance Manager. Here he answers a few questions from Rod Bannister, Teaching Pro at the Carrara National Centre in Gold Coast.

Hi Lachlan, what attracted you to the role?
I’ve worked across a number of sports in science and coaching roles while I was at the Queensland Academy of Sport, and I played squash competitively as a junior. The opportunity to use the skills I’d gained in an elite sport at the QAS, and apply them to the sport I grew up with was the major drawcard.

Who are your top athletes and where are they based?
Our athletes are everywhere! Most of our top men are in New York – Ryan Cuskelly, Cam Pilley & Zac Alexander. Donna Lobban is in Sheffield. The rest of the top players spend most of their time in Australia – some in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. There’s a number of good juniors coming through Perth as well.

What’s the National Squash Centre’s program on the Gold Coast?
The players who train at the National Centre (Carrara Squash Centre) train every day at the courts. We’ve also set up a great network of service providers on the Gold Coast – psychology, strength and conditioning, nutrition and physiotherapy. Our S&C coach is based across the road from the National Centre, and we use the Gold Coast Suns (Australian Rules Football team) facility for some sessions as well. They’re in the building next door so it’s great to have some good partnerships on the Gold Coast.

What’s the HP plan for the next three to five years?
We’re working towards the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 firstly, so we’ll be looking at how we can prepare for that to give ourselves the best possible chance of success there. We have a lot of experience on board with players who have been successful in previous Commonwealth Games, so we’ll be looking at how we can utilise that experience.

While we’re doing that, we’re also building on the support we can provide the next generation. Having Stewart Boswell on board is really exciting and he’ll be instrumental in that area. We also have Jenny Duncalf working in the Pathway area to broaden our reach to the next generation around the country.

What’s the next generation of Australian players looking like?
There are a number of promising players coming through the junior ranks who we think can make the transition to senior PSA level as they move through juniors. and Ethan Eyles and Alex Haydon have a lot of international experience already. All the girls in this years WJC team which made the quarter finals are eligible for the individual event in 2020, which is promising. One of our younger players, Oscar Curtis, reached the semi-finals of our Junior Championships this year as a 14-year old. There are a number of good prospects.

What’s the biggest HP challenge in your role?
Australia is a big country, so being able to provide support and involve everyone is difficult. I speak a lot with my HP Managers in other sports, and it’s a common challenge. By virtue of the successful era Squash Australia had in the past 20-30 years, we have a lot of really good people across the country who are keen to be involved. Making sure we reach them and provide avenues for them to contribute to the next generation is important, but it’s a challenge!

How’s your men’s team shaping up for the World Teams event?
Quite well. It’s the same team which won bronze in France in 2017, and since then, they’ve enjoyed further international success. Cam and Zac both won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and we had some good success at this year’s World Doubles. There are a few teams who have top players ranked in the 20’s and 30’s, so I think it will come down to some key match-ups, and we’re confident our men can put in a really strong performance.

How exciting is it to have a national squash centre?
It’s really nice to have a good facility where our HP players can train day-in, day-out. The courts were built for the Commonwealth Games, so they’re in really good shape. It’s far more cost-effective for us to set up our HP training centrally with service providers on-hand close by, so it helps that we can do that on the Gold Coast.

What’s the benefits of hosting major events like the world juniors in 2020 at your national centre?
It’s exciting to have so many world class players coming to the Gold Coast. Our focus in HP is on a lot of players in that next generation as well, so having the best juniors in the world in our backyard will give them some exposure to junior squash of the highest level. We’ve been really fortunate to have had the Commonwealth Games and World Doubles here in the past two years, so this provides another access point for our community to see world class squash.

What does a young up and coming athlete need to do to succeed in a HP environment?
They need to be driven to succeed. The HP environment we’re setting up will give the athletes access to coaching and support services which will assist their journey to world class level, but the players ultimately require a significant internal drive to do whatever it takes to reach the top. It’s no different to any other sport – we just want to put the tools and support in place to allow our players to go as far as they can.

Interview by ROD BANNISTER. Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

FARGO, N.D. – A pair of World of Outlaws champions are teaming up this December.

Donny Schatz will field his own dirt late model for two-time World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard during the upcoming Arizona Sport Shirts Gateway Dirt Nationals at the Dome at America’s Center December 19-21.

“We were at Volusia in February and after the races one night, Sheppard was over and we were having a few beers. I was saying how I wanted to go to the Dome this year, but I don’t want to race it myself. I want to go watch it one year first,” Schatz explained. “He said, ‘Well hey, I’ll drive your car.’”

“I told him you’re probably going to get the body tore up a little bit,” said Sheppard. “He was like, ‘Oh, I ain’t worried about that. Let’s go do it.’ It’s definitely an honor to drive for him. I’ve looked up to him for a long time. It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to hopefully make something happen.”

The first laps Sheppard will turn in Schatz’s Petro Fargo/Fastlane Car Wash No. 15 Rocket will be at the Gateway Dirt Nationals, but Sheppard is confident he will be comfortable in the car from the get-go.

“I think we can get everything changed over to my liking pretty quick,” he said. “I don’t think what Donny has been running lately is too far off from where we are at. He and Mark (Richards) keep in touch on a lot of things. I don’t think it’ll be too much of an adjustment. His motors are a little bit different than what I run, but truthfully, as small as that track is, you just have to take all the power away from it and go.”

Sheppard recently claimed his second World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series championshipin convincing fashion, collecting 18 wins and 37 top-five finishes in 41 events.

“Brandon is one of the best late model drivers there is and I’m pretty fortunate to have him in the car,” said Schatz, who owns 10 Northern Late Model Racing Ass’n late model wins. “I’m sure he’s going to be in a position to battle for a win and be competitive.”

Schatz said the uniqueness of the event is what attracted him to partake this year.

“It’s a cool event. There is nothing else going on at that time of year. We hear about the Chili Bowl and all of these indoor Midget races, but to be able to put the Late Models and Modifieds indoors is huge. It’s great for our sport,” said Schatz. “It’s just one of those things I haven’t experienced yet, but I’m looking forward to experiencing it this year.”

Schatz has played the role of car owner on a few other occasions this season with his late model. Two-time NLRA series champion Cody Skytland piloted Schatz’s Rocket to three top 10 finishes in NLRA and WISSOTA action in August and September.

TULSA, Okla. – Reigning World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Brad Sweet headlines the first wave of Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals entries, which were released to the public on Monday evening.

Taking place Jan. 13-18 atop the clay of the Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla., eight of the 101 entries received thus far are in search of a driver, while 24 are among those who have made the cut into Saturday night’s championship A-main.

Among the entered is Sweet, who will wheel a Rusty Kunz-wrenched, RMS-prepared mount. The Grass Valley, Calif., native has an average finish of seventh among his five A-main starts, with a best finish of third in 2013.

Keeping in theme with the World of Outlaws, the first entries received for the 2020 event came from World Racing Group Director of Broadcasting Brian Dunlap, who will field a pair of cars.

One of the Dunlap entries will be driven by World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series director Casey Shuman, who has five Saturday A-main starts, while the second finds Washington’s Gary Taylor, who has made the show on three occasions.

In terms of the most impressive Chili Bowl resume of those entered so far, that honor goes to Dave Darland, who has 15 A-main starts, two podiums, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes since 1998.

While the list of drivers who have made the cut always reads like a list of current and future Hall of Fame drivers, there are currently 15 on the list taking their first crack at the Chili Bowl.

Continuing the trend of attracting talent from nearly every discipline, Australia’s James Davison is among the list of Chili Bowl rookies.

From Formula Ford, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Indy car racing, and select starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the 33-year old racing veteran will be aboard a Hayward Motorsports mount for his first shot at the Golden Driller.

With the number of drivers entered expected to swell rapidly as teams wrap up this week’s 79th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at California’s Ventura Raceway, the deadline for the discounted early entry fee of $150 is Friday, Dec. 13.

After that, the prices per entry goes to $200.

2020 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Entry List (as of Nov. 25)

0G-TBA
0K-Don O’Keefe, Jr. (Pittsboro, IN)
00S-Randy Sterling (Morrisdale, PA)
1G-Kyle Cummins (Princeton, IN)
1K-Brayton Lynch (Springfield, IL)
1R-Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA)
2B-Tyler Hewitt (Noblesville, IN)
2BX-Brett Becker (Odessa, TX)
2C-Seth Carlson (Stafford, CT)
2D-Matt Sherrell (Owasso, OK)
2G-TBA
2L-Landon Simon (Avon, IN)
2N-Weston Gorham (Colleyville, TX)
2ND-Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
2W-Wyatt Burks (Topeka, KS)
4M-Michelle Decker (Guthrie, OK)
5D-Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL)
5H-Jack Hawley (Menifee, CA)
5TBA-TBA
5TBA-TBA
5K-Justin Peck (Monrovia, IN)
07W-Mitchel Moles (Fresno, CA)
7-Shannon McQueen (Tehachapi, CA)
7J-Shawn Jackson (Bear, DE)
7M-Brody Roa (Bueno Park, CA)
7MF-Chance Morton (Coweta, OK)
7T-TBA
7X-Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, CA)
8-Alex Sewell (Broken Arrow, OK)
8B-Colin Deming (Hobbs, NM)
8J-Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK)
8K-Josh Hawkins (Whitehouse, TX)
8M-Kade Morton (Coweta, OK)
9H-Emilio Hoover (Broken Arrow, OK)
9JR-Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)
11-Cale Conley (Vienna, WV)
11A-Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO)
11E-Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, CA)
11F-Michael Faccinto (Hanford, CA)
11P-Laydon Pearson (New Castle, OK)
11T-Larry Petersen (Wahiawa, HI)
13G-James Davison (Melbourne, VIC)
14E-Jake Neal (Omaha, NE)
14F-Cameron Hagin (Broken Arrow, OK)
14TBA-TBA
14X-Jody Rosenboom (Rock Rapids, IA)
15D-Andrew Deal (Caney, KS)
17B-Ryan Bickett (Romona, SD)
17T-TBA
17W-Shane Golobic (Elk Grove, CA)
19-Tanner Thorson (Minden, NV)
19B-Spencer Bayston (Lebanon, IN)
20-Tadd Holliman (Murray, NE)
21-Daryn Pittman (Owasso, OK)
21D-Justin Dickerson (Pittsboro, IN)
22C-Charlie Crumpton (Bixby, OK)
22S-Sean McClelland (Owasso, OK)
22X-Steven Shebester (Mustang, OK)
28-Ace McCarthy (Tahlequah, OK)
28Q-Sean Quinn (Clovis, CA)
32-Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
32D-Casey Shuman (Rattlesnake Bend, AZ)
32T-Trey Marcham (New Castle, OK)
35X-Tyler Robbins (Collinsville, IL)
41-Oliver Akard (Ft. Myers, FL)
46-Kenney Johnson (Bethany, CT)
46X-Jeffrey Champagne (Westfield, MA)
47-Alex Bright (Collegeville, PA)
47X-Danny Stratton (Reading, PA)
49-Scott Kreutter (Alden, NY)
50-Daniel Adler (St. Louis, MO)
51-Curtis Jones (Sand Springs, OK)
51X-Joe Walker (Grandview, MO)
52-Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK)
56D-Mitchell Davis (Auburn, IL)
57W-Dustin Golobic (Elk Grove, CA)
63-Michael Pickens (Auckland, )
68B-Blain Peterson (Essex, IA)
72-Eric Fenton (Jenks, OK)
72C-Chris Tarrant (Rockwall, TX)
72X-Jeff Wheeler (Rockwall, TX)
75-Bryan Stanfill (Bakersfield, CA)
75X-Mike Griffiths (Melbourne, VIC)
77-Colby Copeland (Roseville, CA)
77W-Ryan Bernal (Hollister, CA)
80-Joe Spillman (Austin, TX)
81-Colten Cottle (Kansas, IL)
83-Austin Liggett (Tracy, CA)
84M-Alex DeCamp (Locust Grove, OK)
85-Matt Moore (Edmond, OK)
91-Jeff Stasa (Kingman, KS)
92-Josh Most (Red Oak, IA)
93-TBA
95-Chris Andrews (Tulsa, OK)
97W-Kaidon Brown (Sydney, NSW)
97X-Austin O’Dell (Rochester, IN)
98-Ryan Padgett (Anadarko, OK)
99K-Robert Carson (Concord, CA)
117-Jack Dover (Springfield, NE)
155-Ryan Truitt (Dewey, OK)
321-Chad Winfrey (Gladstone, MO)

CARROLLTON, Mo. – TruStar Energy will serve as the primary partner of Mason Daniel next season as he prepares to embark upon his first full season competing with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

“TruStar Energy is why we are going racing with the World of Outlaws,” Daniel said. “The Outlaws features the best drivers in the sport and it’s a dream to be able to compete with the series. Our main goal is just to bridge the gap and get up to speed with those guys. We want to be up to speed quickly and hopefully start performing right away. We will have that opportunity thanks to TruStar Energy.”

TruStar Energy, which is a Fortistar Company, is one of the largest developers of infrastructure for CNG fueling stations.

“We’re extremely grateful and excited for the support of TruStar Energy and we can’t wait to showcase the company in 2020 as we embark upon the World of Outlaws trail for the first time,” Daniel said. “The last couple of years has been a climb and we’re glad to have TruStar Energy on board for our biggest season yet.”

Daniel relocated to Missouri prior to the 2018 season when he earned the North American 360 Rookie of the Year Award from the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. This season he made the transition to 410ci winged sprint car competition.

“It was a big adjustment period, but overall I think it went well,” Daniel said. “We still have stuff to get used to. We mostly competed with the World of Outlaws this year when we ran a 410. The toughest part was the competition level and getting up to speed with those guys, who have been on tour for 10-plus years. At some tracks we bridged the gap and at some tracks we have more work to do. We made improvement from the beginning of the year and we’re excited for next year.”

Daniel highlighted the year by scoring a Sprint Invaders victory at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, on July 11 and earning his career-best World of Outlaws result of 15th on Sept. 20 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kan.

“We ran good in a 410 show in Donnellson and should have had that race won, but it didn’t work out and we finished second,” he said. “We took the lead three times and kept getting put back on restarts. We have good speed at that track so it was awesome to go back a couple weeks later in a 360 and win.

“We were good at Dodge City, but a mistake on the start cost us so we had to go to the back. I think we would have had a top 10 if I didn’t make that mistake, but you learn from it. That’s a lot of what racing with the World of Outlaws entails.”

Despite missing races, Daniel finished third in the Rookie of the Year chase at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, where he placed 15th in the 410 championship standings thanks to a pair of top 10s.

“Knoxville is a great track and it’s reliable,” he said. “Every Saturday night they are going to run. They had a lot of rainouts this year and we were there for a lot of them. We didn’t get as many races in this year because of that. However, it’s always nice to run there and I think it helped our growth in a 410.”

Retired Netherlands football star Marco van Basten has been benched for a week by Fox Sports for saying "sieg heil" on air.

Van Basten, working as an analyst, was off camera on Saturday when he used the German phrase for "hail victory" that became notorious for its use at Nazi rallies.

Van Basten, who made the comment after a German coach had been interviewed by a reporter, apologised later in the show saying he had "not intended to shock people."

Fox Sports said in a statement on Monday that it distanced itself from the comment, which the broadcaster called "stupid and inappropriate" and said it will not use Van Basten as an analyst this week and will donate his fee to a Dutch institute to promote knowledge about World War II.

The comments came on a weekend in which teams across the Netherlands had agreed to take part in anti-racism protests after Excelsior player Ahmad Mendes Moreira was subjected to racist abuse by Den Bosch supporters during last Sunday's Eerste Divisie -- Dutch second flight -- match.

Van Basten was a striker for Ajax and AC Milan and was one of the stars of the Netherlands team that won the European Championship in 1988.

After his playing career, he coached the Netherlands and other teams and was a senior official at FIFA.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.