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Steven Wilson emerged as a victor in his home-state race, earning his fifth win of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series season on Tuesday at a virtual Iowa Speedway.
The Iowa City native won a second consecutive race for the second time this year, taking the checkered flag despite leading for just 17 laps.
Wilson, in the No. 77 Chevrolet, finished 0.324 seconds ahead of runner-up Zack Novak in the No. 2 Toyota.
Seth DeMerchant came in third in the No. 14 Toyota, with Jordy Lopez fourth in the No. 89 Chevrolet. Taylor Hurst claimed fifth place in the No. 33 Chevrolet.
Wilson said postrace, "This is awesome, 2-for-2 in my home state. I'm not in Iowa anymore, but still winning here at home, which is always cool. So (in) the Hawkeye State, still undefeated.
"It was pretty cool being able to run through the field. ... I made some three-wide moves that were pretty bold, but I knew I had to beat Novak through the traffic to win that race."
Novak said after his third runner-up result of the year, "I really don't know what to say. Just not good enough. Really, really frustrating. Car was good, strategy was obviously really good. ...
"It played out perfectly for us. We had fresh tires. Would have been nicer if we could have restarted in the lead, but of course that wasn't quite how it played out."
The series continues on June 24 at a virtual Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
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- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
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Oklahoma Sooners in pole position for priority recruit, but his commitment timeline creates a lot of doubt for him to land in Norman
Michigan State Pushing for Brother of Commit
Michigan State is always looking to bring in-state talent to its program. It starts with building from the inside out, which is something we typically see the Spartans do when it comes to recruiting. They have landed many of their top targets in the 2026 class, including four-star quarterback Kayd Coffman. One of the staff's top picks in the 2027 class is one of the better players inside the state, but even more importantly, the brother of a current commit. This has been a development that has led many to believe the Spartans are the team to beat in this recruitment. Michigan State wide receiver commit Samson Gash is the brother of a very talented in-state 2027 prospect, Gideon Gash. Samson Gash is one of the better commits in the class at the wide receiver position, with many people expecting a great final season of high school ahead of him. The wide receiver commit made his decision back in June. He committed to the Spartans over the Alabama Crimson Tide, who offered him late, the West Virginia Mountaineers and more. Gideon Gash is a cornerback, on the other hand. He holds many different offers at this time, as he is recruited by a variety of different conferences and programs. Some of his offers are from the Kansas Jayhawks, Indiana Hoosiers, the Michigan Wolverines and, of course, the Spartans. The Spartans will absolutely look to add his commitment in the 2027 class, but they will need to do more work in his commitment. It is a good sign that one brother is committed, but can they get both? This is something to pay attention to, as they have hopes of getting the best talent to Michigan State. It is also worth noting that, like his brother, Gideon Gash is an in-state prospect, which should make Michigan State an even more intriguing destination for him. The Gash brothers both play at Detroit Catholic Central. There is no commitment date that has been set at this time for Gideon Gash, and a visit to East Lansing has yet to be set. Stay up to date on all your Michigan State football news when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and feel free to share your thoughts when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Be sure to also like and share our content when you follow us on X @MSUSpartansOnSI.
Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Patriots Giving Up On Second-Round Bust, Could Seek Trade Partners
New England Patriots second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk had a rookie season to forget, and he may not have an opportunity to redeem himself in 2025. Selected with the 37th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington product joined a wide-open depth chart with the opportunity to establish an immediate rapport with short-term starter Jacoby Brissett and fellow rookie Drake Maye. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do much of anything, catching just 12 of his 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns while finishing with a 43.1 PFF grade, the worst mark out of 133 eligible receivers. A lot can change between now and the regular season, but ESPN’s Mike Reiss suggests that Ja’Lynn Polk is facing an uphill battle to earn a job. In a recent article, the beat reporter said Polk is “not on the current radar” for the organization and is not receiving reps with the first- or second-team offense. If this trend continues, first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots could cut their losses and trade the second-round pick for whatever they can get. While it probably won’t be anything more than a conditional late-round pick swap, the following four teams could roll the dice on Polk. REPORT: Patriots Likely to Seek Trade Partner For Ja’Lynn Polk Top Destinations Los Angeles Chargers As of this writing, the Los Angeles Chargers have not yet signed old friend Keenan Allen to a new contract. However, even if they reunite with the former third-round pick, this team could use more young blood at the position. Ladd McConkey has a bright future in this league, but Quentin Johnston is nothing more than a role player, and nobody knows what second-round pick Tre Harris brings to the table. Ja’Lynn Polk may have had an ugly tenure with the Patriots, but head coach Jim Harbaugh is excels at bringing out the best in his players. Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the offseason adding veteran talent in hopes of finally making a deep playoff run. While guys like D.K. Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers offer short-term stability at their respective positions, Pittsburgh must find more young talent. Mike Tomlin has an extensive history of developing wide receivers, so perhaps a change of scenery could bring out the best in Ja’Lynn Polk. New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints have one of the least talented rosters in football, but don’t have the resources to add proven commodities. With this in mind, they might as well take a low-risk, medium-reward move and see if the Patriots will part ways with Ja’Lynn Polk for a conditional pick. Chris Olave’s extensive injury history means he might not play a full season, so somebody must step up for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Baltimore Ravens Do the Baltimore Ravens need another wide receiver? Not at the moment. However, would Jim Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta turn down the opportunity to add a former top-40 pick for next to nothing? Perhaps Ja’Lynn Polk doesn’t work out, but it can’t hurt to bring him in and see what he can do. While Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are firmly entrenched atop the depth chart, DeAndre Hopkins is near the end of his career, and Polk could compete with him, DeVontez Walker, and Tylan Wallace for one of the final spots on the roster.
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