Deegan jumps to Ford to fast-tack her racing career
CHARLOTTE, N.C. >> Hailie Deegan, a rising 18-yearold star in motorsports, was named a development driver with Ford Performance on Tuesday in a deal that could fast-track her progression into a NASCAR national series.
Deegan spent the last two years as part of Toyota’s crowded development field before the switch. The partnership with Ford will give her numerous opportunities to race this season, including the full ARCA schedule as well select sports car events in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Deegan in ARCA will race for DGR-Crosley, which last week became a Ford Performance team. She will drive a Mustang GT4 with Multimatic Motorsports in IMSA.
Deegan made NASCAR history in 2018 when she became the first female driver to win a race in what was then called the K&N Pro Series West. The California native has three wins in that series, now known as ARCA Menards Series West, in two full seasons and she finished third in this year’s standings.
Brignone rallies, Shiffrin 17th
COURCHEVEL, FRANCE >> Federica Brignone won her first women’s World Cup giant slalom in more than a year on Tuesday, while Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin struggled to find pace and finished 17th.
Brignone trailed leader Mina Fuerst Holtmann of Norway by 0.13 seconds in third place after the opening run but the Italian posted the fifth-fastest time in the second to win by fourhundredths.
It was Brignone’s 11th career World Cup win and sixth in GS, but first since triumphing in Killington in November 2018.
The race took place in mild temperatures in contrast to the weekend when up to a meter of snow fell.
Shiffrin was already 1.33 off the lead after the opening run and failed to match the pace of the leading racers in the second run, set by her coach Mike Day.
The American finished 1.65 behind in 17th, missing the podium for the first time in seven GS races.
Player accepts team employee’s apology
A Nigerian-born hockey player has accepted the apology of a minor league equipment manager who wore blackface to the team’s Halloween party in 2011.
Akim Aliu also requested that the manager, Tony Deynzer, not lose his job over the incident, one of multiple examples of racism in the sport that Aliu has brought to light in recent weeks.
In a joint statement, Aliu and the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles said the two sides have had “candid discussions” over what happened and have agreed to work collaboratively to promote diversity and inclusiveness.
Aliu first made headlines late last month when he went public in alleging former Calgary coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs at him while the two were in the minors 10 years ago.
Last week, Aliu revealed to The Wall Street Journal that Deynzer dressed up in blackface while wearing an Afro-style wig and a custom-made Eagles jersey with Aliu’s number and nickname “DREAMER” printed on the back. Aliu also provided photographs of him posing with Deynzer.