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Kyle Busch's slow start in 2024 more worrying than originally thought
After Kyle Busch's first five NASCAR Cup Series races of the season only brought forth one top-10 result, some fans were worried, but not too concerned about the two-time champion's slow start. Three races later and following consecutive poor performances on short tracks, Busch's slow start is no longer a worrying trend, but a concerning reality.
Busch finished 20th at Richmond on Easter Sunday and followed that up with a disappointing 16th-place run at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. With such a lack of speed, one has to wonder if there is anything going on behind the scenes at Richard Childress Racing.
Sunday's 16th-place finish marks the fourth race this season in which the No. 8 team has shown mid-pack speed, with consecutive races earlier in the season at both Phoenix and Bristol also proving that Busch and the No. 8 team have fallen off from their solid performance in 2023. Busch won thrice in the first 15 races of 2023, but the closest he has come to victory in 2024 was in a thrilling three-wide finish at Atlanta. Aside from being the third wheel in NASCAR's viral moment, not much has gone right for the Las Vegas native in 2024.
Going to Texas next week – and more importantly Talladega the week after – Busch needs to string together solid finishes to reinvigorate his usually rowdy fanbase. Whether it's a win or a string of top fives, the No. 8 team needs a shot in the arm to get back to their usual place atop the Cup Series field.
Maybe it's just Father Time finally playing it's hand or maybe it's just slow cars, but it's clear that something needs to change if Busch wants to be anywhere near the championship stage come November.
More must-reads:
- Four things we learned after William Byron's storybook win at Martinsville
- NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports just might be better than ever
- The 'Daytona 500 winners' quiz
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Shaquille O'Neal Is 'Still Worried' About the Lakers Despite Having LeBron James, Luka Doncic
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal believes the Los Angeles Lakers have made major moves this offseason. But despite adding big names like Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton alongside LeBron James, O’Neal says there’s still one big problem: shooting. In an exclusive interview with Casino Beats, O’Neal praised the Lakers’ revamped core but didn’t hold back on what he thinks they still lack. “They have a legitimate big now, got two premier players,” O’Neal said. “I’m still worried about the shooting. It’s a three-point league now.” The Lakers shook up the NBA back in February when they acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old All-Star joined James, now 40, to form one of the league’s most talented duos. The front office followed that move by signing center Deandre Ayton and adding veteran guard Marcus Smart in free agency. But even with those additions, O’Neal says the Lakers need more than just average shooters. “Not guys that can shoot, (I’m talking about) bonafide shooters,” he explained. “Guys that are guaranteed, like JJ Redick. He was a bonafide shooter.” Last season, the Lakers finished middle of the pack in three-point shooting, ranking 15th in total makes and 14th in percentage. Their lack of consistent outside threats was exposed during a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. O’Neal, who won three straight NBA titles with the Lakers, said the team has addressed its size and star power but warned that shooting could make or break their playoff run. Still, he expects the team to perform better in the upcoming season and make a push for homecourt advantage. “You got two premier players. You got a big guy that can do certain things,” O’Neal said. “Those three players should be able to get you to one through four. If they don’t have home court advantage, I’ll be very disappointed.” For O’Neal, the path forward is clear. The Lakers have the pieces, but to win in today’s NBA, “bonafide shooters” aren’t optional. They’re essential.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Charlotte Hornets Reportedly Release 24-Year-Old Guard
Damion Baugh spent his rookie season in the NBA playing for the Charlotte Hornets. The 24-year-old had averages of 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 32.3% from the field in 15 games. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hornets will now waive Baugh. Via Scotto: "The Charlotte Hornets are waiving two-way player Damion Baugh, league sources told @hoopshype . Charlotte is waiving Baugh to clear a spot for the addition of Antonio Reeves on a two-way contract." ESPN's Shams Charania had first reported that the Hornets were signing Reeves. Via Charania: "The Charlotte Hornets are signing guard Antonio Reeves to a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. The 2024 Pelicans second-round pick averaged 6.9 points and 40% 3-point shooting in 44 games as a rookie last season."
Hurricanes take care of business, sign star winger to lucrative eight-year extension
The Hurricanes announced Thursday night that they’ve signed winger Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45M extension that will kick in for the 2026-27. While that would normally mean an average annual value and cap hit of $5.625M, the actual cap hit of the contract will fall in the $5.1M range due to deferred compensation, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. The contract buys out the extent of Blake’s RFA eligibility and will make him a UFA following the 2033-34 season. Blake’s stock has been on the rise since immediately after Carolina selected him in the fourth round in 2021. He was a USHL All-Star in his post-draft season with the Chicago Steel before making the jump to NCAA hockey with North Dakota, where he totaled 102 points in 79 games in two seasons — earning a Hobey Baker finalist nod in his sophomore year. He signed his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in April 2024 and joined them for the brief remainder of the regular season. In his first full pro season, Blake hit the ground running. He made the Canes out of camp and had five points through his first nine games despite seeing less than 12 minutes of ice time per night. That offense didn’t quite hold up the rest of the way, though. While he ended up seeing significant deployment alongside Sebastian Aho at even strength, he ended up finishing the year with a 17-17–34 scoring line in 80 games, finishing ninth on the team in scoring and ninth in Calder Trophy voting as the league’s Rookie of the Year. That’s fine production, especially considering he averaged under 14 minutes per game on the year. He’ll need to build on it to justify that cap hit, though, especially with so much risk attached to a max-term deal. The good news is that Blake has another year left on his entry-level contract to continue his development before he’ll need to start justifying that cap hit. The son of former NHLer Jason Blake turns 22 next month, yet with this deal, he’s guaranteed to surpass his dad’s career earnings. The Hurricanes have historically opted to sign their young players for as long and as early as possible, a trend that continues here. Sometimes, it’s paid off — their eight-year, $59.4M commitment to Seth Jarvis last offseason looks like a steal after he put up a repeat 67-point performance in 2024-25. There’s also the glaring example of where that strategy has failed regarding center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, whose $4.82M cap hit looks more stomachable now with a rising ceiling but is still well above his market value four years into the deal. The jury is still out on newly acquired Logan Stankoven, who they inked to an eight-year, $48M extension at the beginning of the month. Blake’s deal will be one of the last of its kind. It contains two elements — deferred compensation and an eight-year term — that will be outlawed when the new CBA Memorandum of Understanding takes effect on Sep. 15, 2026. If he waited until reaching RFA status next summer to sign, a lengthy negotiation could have lost him that eighth year if the two sides didn’t come to terms until the beginning of training camp. With the salary cap’s upper limit projected to reach $104M in 2026-27, the Hurricanes have around $16M in projected space with Blake’s and Stankoven’s deals taken care of. While they’re projected to be Carolina’s 11th- and 12th-highest-paid forwards on their opening night roster this season, they’ll be their fifth- and sixth-highest-paid forwards in 2026-27.
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