Latest news with #TaylorGray
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gray all the way! No. 54 driver goes wire-to-wire to win Stage 1
After starting on the pole, Taylor Gray dominates the opening stage at Dover Motor Speedway, nabs second stage win of 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor Zilisch Continues to Figure Out Ovals and Wins Rain-Shortened Xfinity Race at Dover
The NASCAR Xfinity race was shortened when rain hit the track with 68 laps to go in the final stage. After a 50-minute red flag on Saturday, with Connor Zilisch sitting in the catbird seat, the race was officially called with Zilisch winning his fourth race of the year and second on an oval. Taylor Gray started on pole and was dominant in the first stage, leading every lap before a 20+ second pitstop sent him tumbling down the leaderboard. Zilisch shined in the second stage, which also went caution-free for his fourth stage win of the season, all coming on oval tracks. Zilisch kept the lead for 77 laps, in the final stage, Brandon Jones found speed to put pressure on the rookie as rain started to creep onto the radar. A caution for rain came on lap 132 of the race with 68 laps to go, and three laps later, the race was red-flagged for rain. NASCAR sent out jet dryers, falling the light sprinkle, but harder rain was to follow, with the race being called after a 50-minute red flag. Zilisch and his team agreed that they would rather the race resume so he could win it the right way. While Zilisch is expected to compete on road courses even before he was full-time in the series, his oval wins prove that he's learning how to be a well-rounded threat in the Xfinity Series and beyond. However, his two oval wins now both carry little caveats, with Pocono having three turns instead of four, and his win at Dover happening in only the second rain-shortened race at the track. "We've been showing it lately," Zilisch said. "First of all, I hate that we couldn't finish the race the right way. Aric was really fast and would've given me a run for our money." Shortly before the yellow flag, Aric Almirola made it by Jones for second. Justin Allgaier, who started at the back after hitting the wall in qualifying and needing repairs, runs fourth, making it into the top five at the start of the second stage. Almirola, the 41-year-old veteran, believed that his car was on par with Zilisch's if he could just get to clean air. "He's fast, I wish I could swap places with him and have some clean air," Almirola told The CW Sports. Almirola finished second in each stage as well. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Army Sends HIMARS to Pacific to Boost Long-Range Fires
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has strengthened its long-range fire capabilities in the Pacific theater as a Hawaii-based Army unit received the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, which prioritizes long-range precision fires, the 25th Infantry Division—based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii—is set to complete the replacement of howitzers with HIMARS launchers within weeks, the Pentagon announced. Why It Matters Amid China's rapid military buildup, the U.S. military has designated the Indo-Pacific as its "priority theater," deploying its most capable units across the region—including land-based missile systems capable of targeting the Chinese navy, now the world's largest by hull count. In alignment with the Pacific Ocean's vast maritime expanse, the U.S. Army is undergoing a transformation—divesting "outdated, redundant and inefficient" weapons—to enhance its lethality. The delivery of HIMARS launchers to the 25th Infantry Division coincides with the U.S. military's simultaneous participation in two large-scale Pacific war games: Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia and the Air Force's Department-Level Exercise series. What To Know Photos released by the 25th Infantry Division show that its first batch of HIMARS launchers was delivered by a C-5 transport aircraft to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Monday. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers assigned to the United States Army 25th Infantry Division staged on the flight line after being unloaded from a C-5 transport aircraft at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in... High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers assigned to the United States Army 25th Infantry Division staged on the flight line after being unloaded from a C-5 transport aircraft at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii on July 14. More Spc. Taylor Gray/U.S. Army The Army infantry unit is scheduled to replace 14 howitzers with 16 HIMARS launchers. According to the Pentagon, this transformation in firepower will enhance the unit's long-range precision strike capability and bolster its warfighting readiness in the Indo-Pacific. The truck-mounted HIMARS—widely known for its use by Ukraine in its war against Russia—is capable of launching "versatile, accurate, precision-strike munitions" such as rockets and missiles with ranges from 9.3 to over 310 miles and can be rapidly deployed, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin. In comparison, the 105 mm and 155 mm howitzers being phased out by the 25th Infantry Division—both classified as towed artillery systems—have maximum ranges of about 8.5 miles and almost 20 miles, respectively, according to defense outlet the War Zone. U.S. Army Major General Marcus Evans, the commander of the 25th Infantry Division, said the introduction of the HIMARS would extend the division's operational reach and enhance soldier protection by allowing troops to fire munitions and quickly relocate to safer positions. A total of 73 soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division are transitioning from operating howitzers to HIMARS, according to the Pentagon. Of those, 27 have trained with the National Guard as part of their effort to learn how to operate the HIMARS on the battlefield. A HIMARS launcher firing a rocket during a joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines in Laur, Nueva Ecija province, the Philippines, on August 9, 2024. A HIMARS launcher firing a rocket during a joint military exercise between the United States and the Philippines in Laur, Nueva Ecija province, the Philippines, on August 9, People Are Saying U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote in a memo to senior Pentagon leadership in April: "To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems. Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities." U.S. Army Major General Marcus Evans, the commander of the 25th Infantry Division, said in a news release on Wednesday: "And so now soldiers, instead of working behind a cannon system and towed artillery, they will work with a weapon system that [not only] has increased survivability, but increased operational reach with the range that [HIMARS] have." What Happens Next It remains to be seen which U.S. military units based in the Pacific theater will be next to undergo a similar transformation to enhance their operational capabilities in the region.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Local firework stand rocked by ‘wild' early morning robbery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Freedom Family Fireworks' tent at the corner of Highway 291 and Highway 210 in River Bend was robbed on Friday morning, according to the Sugar Creek Police Department. Around 5 a.m., officers responded to the tent, where they say three men, two wearing masks, robbed the temporary tent the morning of July 4. The owner of Freedom Family Fireworks says that his employee was held at gunpoint and handcuffed while the robbers stole their products, although SCPD could not confirm that information to FOX4 on Saturday. Discarded fireworks damaged two homes in Lee's Summit, no injuries reported Taylor Gray, the owner, says that his employee was rattled by what happened. 'You know, he's in tears,' Gray said. 'It was. It was that gut-wrenching drive for all of 30 seconds. You're like, 'What happened?' You can't get a hold of anybody, but we're just thankful everybody came out okay,' he said. He said he was called around 4:30 in the morning and immediately knew that something was wrong. 'I've never seen anything like this, man,' Gray said. 'It's been wild. We've had employees overnight steal from us before, but we've never had anything held up like this. It was scary. It's been tough on everybody.' Photos that Gray provided to FOX4 show a white SUV entering their parking lot around the same time as the robbery. Especially since it happened on July 4, Gray said it was a massive blow to the team. 'You're celebrating America's birthday, right? It's supposed to be fun. The kids come out; that's why we do this, right? To make everybody happy. And something like this happens, especially the morning of the 4th of July, you know, really kind of put a damper on everybody.' Gray said the items they took would not have made much resale money. 'This wasn't robbing me to go sell it to pay bills,' he said. 'This was 'They just, they did it to do it'. And it's not okay. They took one of my big packs and then they just went shopping for all that small stuff they wanted.' Gray is offering a cash reward of $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the thieves. Lakeside Speedway celebrates 70 years in Kansas City metro 'I don't care about the products. I care about what they did to my teammate,' he said. 'We want to make sure we want to help get these people off the street, you know, and it's just not okay. Fireworks are replaceable where people are not. And that's all that matters.' Sugar Creek Police are continuing their investigation into the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC Sports
28-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Atlanta Xfinity results: Nick Sanchez scores first career series victory
HAMPTON, Ga. — Nick Sanchez scored his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory early Saturday morning at EchoPark Speedway, as rookies took four of the top five spots in a race that was delayed by lightning and ended at 12:26 a.m. ET. The 24-year-old Sanchez became the first driver to earn their first series victory this season. He gave Big Machine Racing its second career Xfinity victory. MORE: Xfinity results Rookie Carson Kvapil finished second to match his career-best result. Sam Mayer placed third. Rookie Connor Zilisch was fourth. Rookie Taylor Gray placed fifth. Twenty-six of the 38 cars were involved in an incident, including Sanchez. He spun to bring out the caution on Lap 68 of the 163-lap race after contact with Matt DiBenedetto as they raced for sixth place at the time. The race was delayed 1 hour, 18 minutes before the end of stage 1 due to lightning. Shortly after the restart, a 10-car crash eliminated Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Sammy Smith, Katherine Legge and Patrick Staropoli. Stage 1 winner: Taylor Gray Stage 2 winner: Brandon Jones Next: The series races at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, July 5 in the Chicago Street Race.
