Kenseth returning to NASCAR
Former Cup champ ends retirement, replaces Larson
Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will again come out of retirement to compete for Chip Ganassi Racing as the replacement for fired driver Kyle Larson.
Larson lost his job two weeks ago for using a racial slur while competing in a virtual race. Although Ganassi developement driver Ross Chastain was assumed to be the top contender to replace Larson in the No. 42 Chevrolet, the team instead announced Monday it will go with the two-time Daytona 500 winner.
“I think Matt gives us the best chance to win, run up front and compete for wins,” Ganassi told The AP. “I’ve always gone with the mantra of trying to take the best driver available, and he’s the best driver available right now. And he brings something to our sponsors that they need right now. Stability. No baggage. Family man. Daytona 500 winner. Championship winner.”
Kenseth, 48, is in a class of drivers that includes Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and David Pearson as the only competitors to win a Cup Series championship, rookie of the year award and the Daytona 500.
“This was an unexpected opportunity for sure. I can’t say racing was even on my radar two weeks ago,” Kenseth said. “After spending some time thinking about it and all the unique circumstances surrounding all of us right now, it just seemed the timing and the opportunity was perfect to come back.”
Ganassi said the team will petition NASCAR for a waiver to make Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, eligible to race for the title this season. NASCAR completed just four of its 36 races before the season was suspended.
Baseball: Longtime Reds scout and former Mariners executive George Zurow died Friday in Florida. He was 89. The cause of death wasn’t released. Zurow started his scouting career with the Pirates and worked for the Reds from 1968 to 1988 during the glory years of the Big Red Machine.
NBA: The Bulls hired 76ers executive Marc Eversley to replace the fired Gar Forman as GM and work under new top basketball executive Arturas Karnisovas, according to reports. Eversley, a Canadian, becomes the Bulls’ first black GM.
NHL: The Blackhawks fired team president John McDonough, ending a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup championships. Danny Wirtz, the 43-year-old son of owner Rocky Wirtz and already a VP with the team, replaces McDonough on an interim basis. McDonough, 66, was president of MLB’s Cubs before he was hired by Rocky Wirtz in 2007 to take over the Blackhawks, who went on to win the Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. ... The AP reported that it’s “quite likely” the AHL will cancel the remainder of its season. The 31-team AHL joined the NHL in suspending its season on March 12.
Soccer: U.S. national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen was injured again after returning to training with Bundesliga club Fortuna Dusseldorf. The German team said Steffen was diagnosed with knee ligament damage. Steffen started Fortuna’s first 17 Bundesliga games this season on loan from Manchester City. But he hasn’t played since December because of a problem with a tendon connected to his kneecap.
Swimming: USA Swimming unveiled a tentative schedule that begins with a series of regional events in August before a national lineup of meets kicks off in early November — all leading up to next summer’s Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska and the Tokyo Games. USA Swimming canceled all national events in July and early August, most notably the Speedo Summer Championships. The regional events would be held in mid to late August, with an eye toward limiting the need for travel and promoting a safer environment for athletes, coaches, officials and families. The organization is talking with pools to assess potential availability, but also recognizes that any plans would be subject to health guidelines and the approval of local officials. USA Swimming is considering anywhere from 12 to 16 meets, divided equally between four geographic regions that are already set up for lower-level meets.