Latest news with #No.20
NBC Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
After All-Star Race victory, Christopher Bell focuses on a second Coca-Cola 600 win in a row
Christopher Bell walked into Victory Lane a year ago, arriving before his car when the Coca-Cola 600 was called due to rain. So began an up-and-down 12 months that sees Bell return to Charlotte Motor Speedway after his first All-Star Race win last weekend and looking to defend his Coke 600 title this weekend. Only Kyle Larson has won more Cup races than Bell since last year's 600. Larson has seven victories. Bell has five points wins and the All-Star triumph. But Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team also went winless in the final 18 races of last year and missed making the Championship 4 after he had made the race in 2022 and 2023. He said last year that he felt 'cheated' by Chevrolet teams that he said 'fixed and manipulated' the finish of the Martinsville playoff race, preventing him from making the Championship 4 a third consecutive year. He's rebounded to win three of the first 12 points races this season. Dustin Long, The past year also has seen growth from Bell and his No. 20 team. 'In the last 12 months, I do feel like I've done a great job at maturing as a driver and finishing races off, where throughout the early part of my career and really not even just NASCAR, like even going back to dirt track races, my achilles heel was I would beat myself at certain times,' Bell said after his All-Star Race win. 'Really the last 12 months, (crew chief) Adam (Stevens) has been on me hard about just making sure that I beat that tendency. And I don't think you'll completely beat it, but I have been able to see myself mature in that stage of just taking what's coming to us and getting to the checkered flag, and that really shows this last two months or so.' That maturation, Bell said, wasn't as much of a factor in his late-race duel with Joey Logano to win the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro but in other situations this season. 'If I have pace in my car, I have done well at finishing races off,' Bell said. 'It's whenever I'm the one that's falling back or I have the slower car, I would get myself in trouble, I would spin out, I would hit the wall, I would wreck trying to overextend myself whenever it wasn't my day. 'Certainly the last couple at Texas and Kansas and Darlington, those races are the ones that come to my head.' Bell finished second at Kansas, third at Darlington and ninth at Texas. He was strong early in the season, winning at Atlanta, Circuit of the Americas and Phoenix in consecutive weekends. Nate Ryan, The key was taking advantage of particular situations in those races. 'Last year we just weren't able to capitalize the second half, maybe last two-thirds of the season,' Stevens said. 'There were a tremendous number of races where we had race-winning speed, and for whatever reason, a lot of them didn't work out. 'You have to go through the calendar individually to pick them all apart, and that's frustrating when you're in the middle of it. You want to win, and Bell wants to win immensely. So it's frustrating for myself. It's frustrating for the team. Our conversion rate was low. And this year our conversion rate has been extremely high on top of being competitive. Building on his success this weekend at Charlotte also will have challenges. 'I've definitely been surprised about just lacking pace on the intermediate tracks, like at the end of last year, we did really well at the intermediates, and was one of the strongest contenders, and then the last couple of weeks, week-in and week-out, we just haven't been there yet,' Bell said. 'Hopefully, we make gains on it. I feel like Kansas was a little bit better than what we had at Texas and Darlington, so if we can make another step like that going into Charlotte, maybe we will be contending for the win, but we are definitely lacking a little bit at this point in time.' Watch highlights from the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Kyle Larson traveled from the Indianapolis 500 in an attempt to complete "The Double."
NBC Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
AfterAll-Star Race victory, Christopher Bell focuses on a second Coca-Cola 600 win in a row
Christopher Bell walked into Victory Lane a year ago, arriving before his car when the Coca-Cola 600 was called due to rain. So began an up-and-down 12 months that sees Bell return to Charlotte Motor Speedway after his first All-Star Race win last weekend and looking to defend his Coke 600 title this weekend. Only Kyle Larson has won more Cup races than Bell since last year's 600. Larson has seven victories. Bell has five points wins and the All-Star triumph. But Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team also went winless in the final 18 races of last year and missed making the Championship 4 after he had made the race in 2022 and 2023. He said last year that he felt 'cheated' by Chevrolet teams that he said 'fixed and manipulated' the finish of the Martinsville playoff race, preventing him from making the Championship 4 a third consecutive year. He's rebounded to win three of the first 12 points races this season. Dustin Long, The past year also has seen growth from Bell and his No. 20 team. 'In the last 12 months, I do feel like I've done a great job at maturing as a driver and finishing races off, where throughout the early part of my career and really not even just NASCAR, like even going back to dirt track races, my achilles heel was I would beat myself at certain times,' Bell said after his All-Star Race win. 'Really the last 12 months, (crew chief) Adam (Stevens) has been on me hard about just making sure that I beat that tendency. And I don't think you'll completely beat it, but I have been able to see myself mature in that stage of just taking what's coming to us and getting to the checkered flag, and that really shows this last two months or so.' That maturation, Bell said, wasn't as much of a factor in his late-race duel with Joey Logano to win the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro but in other situations this season. 'If I have pace in my car, I have done well at finishing races off,' Bell said. 'It's whenever I'm the one that's falling back or I have the slower car, I would get myself in trouble, I would spin out, I would hit the wall, I would wreck trying to overextend myself whenever it wasn't my day. 'Certainly the last couple at Texas and Kansas and Darlington, those races are the ones that come to my head.' Bell finished second at Kansas, third at Darlington and ninth at Texas. He was strong early in the season, winning at Atlanta, Circuit of the Americas and Phoenix in consecutive weekends. Nate Ryan, The key was taking advantage of particular situations in those races. 'Last year we just weren't able to capitalize the second half, maybe last two-thirds of the season,' Stevens said. 'There were a tremendous number of races where we had race-winning speed, and for whatever reason, a lot of them didn't work out. 'You have to go through the calendar individually to pick them all apart, and that's frustrating when you're in the middle of it. You want to win, and Bell wants to win immensely. So it's frustrating for myself. It's frustrating for the team. Our conversion rate was low. And this year our conversion rate has been extremely high on top of being competitive. Building on his success this weekend at Charlotte also will have challenges. 'I've definitely been surprised about just lacking pace on the intermediate tracks, like at the end of last year, we did really well at the intermediates, and was one of the strongest contenders, and then the last couple of weeks, week-in and week-out, we just haven't been there yet,' Bell said. 'Hopefully, we make gains on it. I feel like Kansas was a little bit better than what we had at Texas and Darlington, so if we can make another step like that going into Charlotte, maybe we will be contending for the win, but we are definitely lacking a little bit at this point in time.' Watch highlights from the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Kyle Larson traveled from the Indianapolis 500 in an attempt to complete "The Double."
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Christopher Bell wins the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race, full results
Christopher Bell wins the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race, full results The NASCAR Cup Series arrived at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but it wasn't a typical weekend. The sport took a short drive for the All-Star Race, which awards the winner $1 million. Joey Logano won in 2024 and had a great shot in 2025, but a Joe Gibbs Racing driver stole the show at the end of the event. Christopher Bell and the No. 20 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won the 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, earning his first All-Star victory in his Cup Series career. Bell came down pit road during the promoter's caution, and while he was catching Logano before the yellow, the fresher tires put his No. 20 car in a great position to seize the day. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has three points wins and one exhibition victory during the 2025 Cup Series season, establishing himself as one of the championship favorites. Bell may not have earned any points toward the playoffs; however, he and the No. 20 team are $1 million richer after Sunday night. NASCAR results: 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kate Martin's Pregame Outfit For Valkyries-Sparks is Turning Heads
After a 1-1 preseason, Kate Martin and the Golden State Valkyries are set to play their inaugural game, facing Rickea Jackson and the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night. Martin was able to play in the preseason opener against, an 83-82 loss to the Sparks. The former Iowa guard finished with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting, three rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes of action. Advertisement But Martin was sidelined for the finale, dealing with a right hand injury. In fact, she was listed as available just hours before the game began. Ahead of the Sparks battle, Martin was seen walking into Chase Center rocking her first pregame outfit with Golden State. She went with a black Valkyries-themed hoodie with her No. 20 on the sleeve and black sweatpants. WNBA fans appreciated Martin supporting the Valkyries before the first game in franchise history, taking to social media to leave their thoughts. "Okay wait this hoodie," one fan said. "This hoodie is 🔥🔥🔥," added another. "Want that hoodie on Kate!" wrote a third on Instagram (IG). Advertisement "sell that hoodie please," commented a fourth. "Let's Go KATE!!" added a fifth. "need that sweatshirt 👀👀👀," posted a sixth. Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images In her rookie WNBA season with the Las Vegas Aces, Martin averaged 11.5 minutes, tallying 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. She could get a chance to earn a bigger role with the Valkyries this season after being selected in the expansion draft back in December. Following the Sparks matchup, Golden State will have a few days off before taking on the Washington Mystics on Wednesday. Related: Computer Model Predicts Exact Score of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Game
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Why are Real Madrid looking to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold before Liverpool contract expires?
Alexander-Arnold announced on Monday morning, just over a week after helping the Reds secure a 20th English title, that he would be leaving his boyhood club on a free transfer in the summer. Madrid have long been touted as his likeliest destination and it is understood contact has been made to hasten his arrival at the Bernabeu. The 26-year-old right-back's Anfield deal expires officially on June 30, but the Spanish club would like to have him in the squad for the summer tournament in the United States. They have group games on June 18, 22 and 26. It is likely a fee would need to be agreed to persuade Liverpool to do business, but there is no indication yet as to whether they are prepared to push things forward. Alexander-Arnold broke the news, which has been anticipated ever since Real were strongly linked with the England international in January, in an emotional post on social media. "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season," he wrote on X. "This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life. I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven't spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team's best interests, which was securing No.20. "This club has been my whole life - my whole world - for 20 years. I will forever be in debt to you all. My love for this club will never die." Alexander-Arnold would have become the highest-paid full-back in the Premier League had he accepted Liverpool's improved terms. Conversations with the player's agent began before Arne Slot arrived as head coach last summer, but while Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk did recently agree new deals, talks with Alexander-Arnold's camp were less fruitful. Jamie Carragher, who spent his entire career at Liverpool, articulated the views of many fans when he suggested Alexander-Arnold running down his contract would lower his standing with the club's supporters. "With Monday's statement, the unconditional support Alexander-Arnold enjoyed from the Kop when he was fully committed to Liverpool has gone," he wrote in the Telegraph. "Players are loved even more when they genuinely mean it when they say they do not want to play for anyone else. If that image of the home-grown talent living the dream is an illusion, people feel let down."
