Florida Sports Wire

Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images/NASCAR Chandler Smith rocketed from sixth place to a victory in the final mile after getting a push from fellow Ford driver Ty Majeski in Friday night's Fresh From Florida 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA BEACH –  Friday night’s  Fresh  From  Florida 250 season opener for the Craftsman Truck Series  was an extravaganz a like no other.   In addition to  T ruck  S eries regulars, it had three-time Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart,  three Cup Series regulars, former “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, YouTube influe ncer  Cleetus  McFarland  and daredevil Travis Pastrana in the field.   But  in  the end,  it  came down to brand loyalty and an enormous  amount  of luck that catapulted Chandler Smit h to Victory Lane.   The  T ruck  S eries regular with Front Row  Motorsports,  Smith’s Fo...

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images/NASCAR Joey Logano won under caution with Penske Racing teammate Ryan Blaney following in second in the first of two  America 250 Florida Duels  Thursday night at the Daytona International Speedway. Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images/NASCAR Chase Elliott celebrates in Victory Lane at the Daytona International Speedway Thursday night after winning the second America 250 Florida Duel that helped determine half of the starting lineup for Sunday's Daytona 500. Starting lineup for Sunday's Daytona 500 set DAYTONA BEACH – If Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duels taught NASCAR fans anything, it’s superspeedway racing continues to be a team sport. Joey Logano won the first 150-mile qualifying race with Penske Racing teammate Ryan Blaney ran as his wingman in second place, while Chase Elliott won the second Duel with Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar in second, fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in third and Spire’s Michael ...

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images/NASCAR Kyle Busch has accomplished just about everything in NASCAR - except winning the Daytona 500. He will try to change that on Sunday after winning the pole position in the No. 8 Richard Childress Chevrolet on Wednesday night. DAYTONA BEACH – Of all the accomplishments Kyle Busch has achieved, and what he’s done behind the wheel is unparalleled in NASCAR, there remains one glaring hole in his racing resume – the Daytona 500. The fiery driver from Las Vegas took a baby step toward erasing that late Wednesday by winning his first pole position for the Great American Race with a fast lap of 183.651 mph in a Richard Childress-prepared Chevrolet. All that’s left is 500 miles at the Daytona International Speedway on Sunday (2:30 p.m., FOX) to fulfill the only missing link in his storied career. “It’s a box we got to check. Here we are,” the younger brother of newly installed Hall of Fame driver Kurt Busch said. “This is an opportunity to be a...

  CORAL GABLES – A strong second-half defensive performance propelled the University of Miami men’s basketball past No. 11 North Carolina, 75-66, Tuesday inside the Watsco Center.  Miami (19-5, 8-3 ACC) held the Tar Heels to just 26.5% shooting in the final 20 minutes and 1-of-14 from the beyond the arc to secure the program’s first win over a ranked team since Jan. 3, 2024.   The Hurricanes stormed out to a 10-point lead, 22-12, as Malik Reneau scored 10 of Miami’s first 22 points. North Carolina (19-5, 7-4 ACC) responded with an 11-2 run to trim the lead down to one before the Hurricanes answered and took a three-point lead into the half 43-40.  The two teams battled in the second half as the Canes pushed their lead to five, 51-46, with just under 15 minutes remaining. The Tar Heels cut the lead to one before the Hurricanes held their biggest lead of the half, 61-55, following a thunderous Shelton Henderson dunk.  With Miami leading 63-60, Ernest Udeh Jr...

The ECHL will be represented by 34 former players in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games which begin this week in Milan and Cortina, Italy. Eleven of the 12 teams in the tournament feature at least one former ECHL player, with Italy and Latvia leading the way with seven former players while France has five former ECHL players. In addition to the 34 former ECHL players in the Olympics, ECHL linesman Jake Davis has been selected to work during the tournament. Former ECHL officials Nick Briganti, Sean MacFarlane, Kirsten Welsh and Tarrington Wyonzek have also been selected to work games during the Olympics. John Wroblewski, who played for Fresno from 2003-06; was assistant coach for Wheeling in 2010-11 and head coach for Gwinnett from 2011-13, is the head coach for the United States women's team in the Olympics. Former ECHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics Canada – Jordan Binnington (Kalamazoo, 2013-14), Darcy Kuemper (Ontario, 2011-12 and Orlando, 2012-13) and Logan Thompson (Adirondack...

  ORLANDO — Orlando City SC today unveiled the Sunken Treasure Kit, presented by Orlando Health, the Club’s new community kit through the 2027-28 Major League Soccer season. The Sunken Treasure Kit draws inspiration from the legend, mystery and enduring allure of Florida’s Treasure Coast, a region known for stories of lost gold and shipwrecked riches. Stretching along Florida’s east coast, the area takes its name from the legendary 1715 Treasure Fleet, a convoy carrying New World wealth back to Spain before a hurricane sank 11 of its 12 ships. Millions of dollars in gold, silver and jewels have been recovered from the wrecks since the 1960s, and coins still occasionally wash ashore today. That sense of history, discovery and lingering mystery anchors the Sunken Treasure Kit’s identity. “We’re incredibly excited to unveil the first kit in Club history to be predominantly Florida Gold, an iconic color inspired by a truly unique and authentic Florida story that reflects the rich histo...

  PONTE VEDRA BEACH  — PGA TOUR University announced The Huntington National Bank as an official sponsor, extending the bank’s sports marketing efforts and reinforcing its commitment to collegiate athletics. As an official sponsor of PGA TOUR University, Huntington Bank will support the program’s mission to identify the top players in collegiate golf and provide membership opportunities on PGA TOUR-affiliated tours. The partnership aligns with Huntington’s focus on investing in people and long-term potential. “Our partnership with PGA TOUR University reflects our belief in investing in potential and supporting people at defining moments in their journey,” said Brant Standridge, president of consumer and regional banking at Huntington Bank. “These collegiate athletes have demonstrated discipline, resilience and performance. We are proud to support them as they take the next step in their careers.” As part of the agreement, Huntington will activate a tour-focused media and conte...