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Heartbreaking Michigan loss 'sucks' for William Byron after fuel mileage gamble doesn't pay off
For the third straight week, William Byron was one of the fastest cars in a NASCAR Cup Series race. And, for the third straight week, luck was not on Byron's side.
After a runner-up finish in the Coke 600 and a fifth-place finish at Nashville, Byron came into Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan red-hot. The Daytona 500 winner led the most laps — 98 — of any driver in the field on Sunday.
But when the pay window opened, Byron was unable to hold off Denny Hamlin for the race lead. And, in a race that came down to fuel mileage, Byron didn't have enough gas in the tank, as he crawled down pit road with four laps to go.
Byron ultimately finished 28th on another 'what could've been' day for the No. 24 team.
"We didn't have enough," Byron told Prime Video. "We were going to run out with a lap and a half left, we did run out with a lap and a half left. It was trying to manage both (and) manage the gap and save (gas). It sucks, it really stings. Not able to do much about that. It is what it is."
Byron has been a contender on a weekly basis, but for various reasons, he and the No. 24 team have been unable to secure win No. 2. That will be the goal as the Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the first time on June 15.
More must-reads:
- Denny Hamlin plays fuel mileage to perfection to win FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan
- Analyst blasts Cowboys over contract negotiations with Micah Parsons
- The 'Daytona 500 winners' quiz
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The Bizarre and Controversial Life of the Forgotten Mike Wallace
The Wallace family as a whole is an odd pack of characters who all have their own unique stories and qualities. Including the unrelated defending Brickyard 400 champion Bubba Wallace, who would slot in so perfectly, I’m still shocked he isn’t related to any of them! But one of the least talked about is Mike Wallace! If You Dig Into Him: You Might Find Him To Be The Oddest Of the Bunch I’m sure he’s only known by younger fans due to his recent controversies with the top brass of NASCAR. Like this year, when he was not allowed to race at the Daytona 500 because he’s a 65-year-old with no next-gen experience. Or in 2020, when NASCAR banned him for a short period for a social media post that NASCAR strangely never disclosed to the media. Which post caused the suspension and the need for sensitivity training? And to this day, nobody knows. But that’s only the tip of the Mike Wallace weirdness iceberg. From Tragedy to Malice to Victim to Suspended to Banned: It’s a Roller Coaster One sunny afternoon in 1984, Mike Wallace was backing out of his driveway like normal, only to hit a bump. A bump that turned out to be his own, almost 2-year-old son, Michael Samuel “Mikie” Wallace Jr. The hit would take the infant’s life, the brand-new father now losing the son who had changed his life so much for the better before he could even see him go to school. Only he knows how much this affected him and in what ways, but we know we used this tragedy to help others. After another tragic loss, that of Dale Sr. after the 01 500, Tony Stewart talked to Mike Wallace, who told Tony Stewart about his son, and then told him whatever’s bothering him, it isn’t that bad. Advice Tony took that to heart and even became friends with him. Now It’s Time to Go from The Good Side to the Ugly In 1994, Shawna Robinson became the first woman to earn a grand national pole at Atlanta, where she started next to Front Row Joe, and behind her was Mike Wallace. In turn 3, Wallace made it three wide, hitting Nemechek and then Robinson, wrecking both. Then, both Nemechek and Robinson accuse Mike Wallace of something I’ve never seen any other NASCAR driver accused of before. Because they both said Wallace, before the race, told everyone he would intentionally wreck Robinson. Although Wallace denies this, and I couldn’t find any record of NASCAR punishing him for it, which would be the only time in my memory that a driver has ever claimed to have intentionally wrecked someone and then received no punishment. His 1994 season was unusual in general, with almost as many wins as DNQs, having 3 wins and 2 DNQs, despite being full-time in all but 3 races with Owen Racing. The Bizarre Mess That Was His Career Starting with Owen Racing, replacing the fallen Clifford Allison, and quickly going PT in Cup a year after his Busch Series debut in 1990. Four years into his career, he had already driven for eight different teams in both series. After his breakout in 1994, he went for Donleavy in 22 Cup races. After struggling in both Cup and Busch, being fired from 2 different Cup Series rides mid-season. He began his truck series revival with frequent top tens in 2 seasons with Ken Schrader. Before an impressive 2 seasons with Ultra, winning four total races and finishing 6th and 4th in points. Full-time in the Cup Series with Ultra in 2001 Starting with a top 10 in the 500, he was inconsistent, with 4 top ten finishes, 3 of which were at plate tracks; he also had 3 finishes of 40th or worse. Midway through 2001, the greatest opportunity of his career arose when he was at Penske, where his brother Rusty also raced. Mayfield was fired, and so Rusty did Mike a solid and got him the No. 12 ride. He had 2 top tens with an 8th at Martinsville and a 2nd at Phoenix, where he was upfront all day. In 2001, he also raced for the GEICO-sponsored Biagi Brothers in the Busch Series, which is where he’d spend the majority of 2002. Multiple Cup Races in 2002 Like all the plates for APR, replacing Benson in the 10 and finishing the season for AJ Foyt‘s No. 14 and finishing 10th at Bristol. The following season, he continued racing for Biagi and began another long-term relationship in Cup with Phoenix Racing, going PT for both in 03. In 2004, Mike Wallace started his streak of random plate track wins, winning at Daytona, which gave the Biagi brothers their first-ever win after Leffler intentionally tried to take out Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip. He Played a Side Character, Too Like when he ran out of fuel on the last lap at Chicagoland in the Busch Series, handing Justin Labonte his only NASCAR win. And in 2004, he led several laps in the chase cut-off race at Richmond and battled with Jeremy Mayfield for several laps, who went on to win that race to make the first-ever Chase. By 2005, he had driven for 30 different car owners; however, from 2006 to 2011, he experienced more stability. Racing full-time for Phoenix and then Germain in the Busch Series, and even earned a top 5 in the 2007 Daytona 500. In 2010, he went full-time with JDM Motorsports in the No. 01 for four seasons, during which he achieved two top tens at road courses, the only time in his career. He even won a truck race for KHI in 2011, winning the Talladega race after leading half the laps. Another Strange Incident in 2016 In a concert, he was assaulted by three people, resulting in physical injuries, and he went to court. However, charges were eventually dropped for unknown reasons. Nowadays, despite his previous claim that he doesn’t need NASCAR, he can be seen begging Elon Musk for support to return to NASCAR. Why one of the wealthiest men in the world would sponsor a driver with no Cup wins is beyond me, but hey, props for trying.
Final Fantasy Meets Dragon Quest In Legendary Crossover
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
Yankees beef up bullpen by acquiring ex-Pirates closer
Much-needed bullpen help has arrived for the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar in exchange for three prospects, with the full trade first reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi. The Yankees entered play on July 31 with a 4.24 bullpen ERA, which ranked 21st in MLB. Therefore, David Bednar represents a significant upgrade for a unit that sorely needed one. It's been a remarkable in-season turnaround for Bednar, who is only a few months removed from posting a 5.14 ERA in nine April appearances and nearly being ousted as Pirates closer. Since then, the veteran reliever has excelled, with a 1.61 ERA from May 1 onward. Pittsburgh turns Bednar, who has one year of arbitration remaining, into three solid prospects, headlined by catcher Rafael Flores, the Yankees' No. 8 prospect. The Pirates also received 14th-ranked prospect Edgleen Perez, who receives high marks for his bat as a catcher. The third prospect heading to the Steel City is outfielder Brian Sanchez, who is unranked but currently at Single-A. The price for controllable relievers has been high, to be sure. But it was one the Yankees needed to pay with both Luke Weaver and Devin Williams struggling, while righty Fernando Cruz tends to injury. With Bednar now in the fold, New York can feel much more secure in closing out games, leaving the others to set up roles as the Yankees attempt to chase down the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. Meanwhile, this trade marks the second significant piece that the Pirates have moved leading up to the deadline, with third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
Raiders staff 'changed their mind' on Jackson Powers-Johnson
First-year head coach Pete Carroll is tinkering with the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive line early in training camp. On Tuesday, second-year offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson was moved to the second-team unit at center, with Jordan Meredith handling the first-team reps, per Tashan Reed of The Athletic. On Thursday, Powers-Johnson was moved to the first-team right guard. The Raiders initially wanted Powers-Johnson to play at center in the upcoming season, but "changed their mind" when they released veteran Andre James in March. "Powers-Johnson started games at guard last year, but the intent was for him to lock in on center after the team released Andre James this offseason," Reed wrote. "That was the case through OTAs, but the staff changed their mind once training camp got rolling. "According to coach Pete Carroll, the logic is Meredith is too small to play guard but holds up well at center. They signed Alex Cappa to start at right guard, but Powers-Johnson is a superior option there." Meredith, a six-foot-two, 300-pound athlete, is decidedly much smaller than the six-foot-three, 328-pound Powers-Johnson. Carroll believes the competition between Meredith and Powers-Johnson this summer will ultimately make the team better. "It's the heart of everything," Carroll told reporters on Thursday regarding the battle at center between Meredith and Powers-Johnson, via video from Taylor Rocha. "These guys are battling for their playing time... JPJ is working his tail off, and both those guys are battling, so it just makes us better." It's hard to see the Raiders benching Powers-Johnson if Meredith earns the starting center job. He should at least earn the starting right guard job after he made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2024. He is too talented not to start for Las Vegas.
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