The Banner-Press SPORTS BANNERPRESS @290SPORTS Thursday, July 1, 2021 | Page B1 www.brenhambanner.com/sports

WEEK AT A GLANCE SPONSORED BY: Road America eagerly awaits T-N-T first Cup Series race since 1956 Car Wash By Steve Megargee The track has produced 11 different Associated Press winners in its 11 Xfinity races. AJ Allmendinger, winner of the Road America owns a reputation Xfinity race in 2013 and an open- as one of the nation's foremost road wheel race in 2006, will be competing 2111 South Market St. Brenham, Texas courses yet hasn't hosted NASCAR's both Saturday and Sunday. 979-830-1494 premier Cup Series since the 1950s. "I do think it's just such a perfect That changes on the Fourth of July race track for stock cars because WASHINGTON in a coup for a Wisconsin track that there's a lot of passing opportunities," COUNTY bills itself as "America's national park Allmendinger said. "It can be hard on LITTLE LEAGUE for speed" but until this year couldn't tires, so tire wear become an issue, land a Cup date. NASCAR drivers Intermediate baseball: vs. West Uni- and that allows for more passing." versity @ WUSA South Campus Fields, can't wait for the opportunity to race Daytona 500 champion Michael Houston, 7 p.m., Monday Sunday at Elkhart Lake. McDowell said Road America has dis- Major baseball: vs. College Station @ "If I wasn't driving that weekend, I tinctive elements that distinguish it Austin, 8 p.m., Monday would be going," said Austin Cindric, from most road courses. 11-year-old baseball: vs. Western Hills who won last year's Xfinity Series "The rhythm is different at Road @ College Stations, 8 p.m., Monday race at Road America and is compet- Minor baseball: vs. Lufkin/Northwest, America than at a Watkins Glen or a ing in both the Xfinity and Cup events 6 p.m., Tuesday Sonoma or a place like that," said Mc- this time. Dowell, who has five Xfinity starts at Road America, which opened in Road America and won there in 2016. BRAZOS VALLEY 1955, is located on 640 acres about "The layout in general has elements BOMBERS halfway between Milwaukee and that are low speed and then elements Bombers (12-12): vs. Amarillo Sod Green Bay. The course is just over 4 Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press file that are really high speed, where Wat- Squad, 7:05 p.m., Friday; 7:05 p.m., miles long, features 14 turns and is Fans watch the Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide series race at Road kins Glen is just really high speed and Saturday surrounded by about 1,600 campsites. America in Elkhart Lake, Wi., on June 19, 2010. For all its history, Road Sonoma is really low speed. This has For all its history, Road America America only hosted NASCAR’s premier series once before, when Tim Flock got a mix of both." HOUSTON only hosted NASCAR's premier series won a rainy Grand National event back in 1956. once before, when Tim Flock won a Ross Chastain has competed in five ASTROS rainy Grand National event back in demic may have helped Road Ameri- courses on its Cup Series schedule Xfinity races at Road America but Astros (48-32): @ Cleveland Indians, 1956. The track wanted the top series ca earn a Cup Series date. from 2018 to 2020, and never had more doesn't necessarily believe that gives 6:10 p.m., today; 6:10 p.m., Friday; back but could not get one of the elu- "I think last year, through COVID, than two in any year before that. him an edge. He noted that simulators 6:15 p.m., Saturday. TV: ATTSW sive 36 race dates. we opened up a lot of eyes," Kertscher This year's schedule has seven. enable drivers without experience on "They only run so many races, and said. "We ran all of our events last "I think having it on July 4th week- a particular course to discover what a good portion of those races are run year in a safe way. We actually ended end, it just felt like such a natural fit to to expect. on affiliate track that are owned by up with more events last year than us," NASCAR vice president of racing "It's about just as good as taking a SUBMIT SPORTS NASCAR," Road America president/ we'd originally scheduled." development Ben Kennedy said when hauler and a race car up there and NEWS & PHOTOS general manager Mike Kertscher Kertscher said Road America could the 2021 schedule was announced. making laps in real life," Chastain Share your news and photos said. "With us being an independent, get close to 100,000 spectators over "You think about everything that said. "Plus, it doesn't hurt as bad when with us. that's a different conversation, for NASCAR's entire four-day run, part goes around, everything that's synon- you wreck." If you see something inter- sure. So the timing had to be right." of a busy summer that saw the venue ymous with that weekend, camping, Drivers who have never raced at esting or newsworthy snap a Kertscher said Road America exec- host IndyCar two weeks ago. cooking out, really Americana." Road America will learn in a hurry photo and write a brief cap- tion and send it to sports@ utives were "pretty deep in conver- The track also benfited from NA- NASCAR officials also liked the un- just what makes this course different. brenhambanner.com. sations" with NASCAR officials the SCAR's decision to add more road predictability that Road America has Tyler Reddick said the track "intim- year before the pandemic. He believes courses and variety to the Cup Series provided since becoming a fixture on idated the daylights" out of him the its ability to operate during the pan- schedule. NASCAR had three road the Xfinity Series schedule in 2010. first time he competed there. Parker leads WNBA No. 2 Texas Baseball duo joining U.S.A. All-Star team that will Baseball Collegiate National Team face U.S. Olympians AUSTIN — No. 2 Texas tional Training Complex in outings and nine saves. a win. Baseball freshmen Aaron Cary, North Carolina, before Witt produced a 5-0 re- Nixon finished with a 2.12 By Doug Feinberg Nneka Ogwumike, who was Nixon and Tanner Witt will hitting the road again to fin- cord with a 3.16 ERA and 73 ERA and a 4-3 record with Associated Press surprisingly left off the U.S. ish its season. strikeouts in 57 innings 35 strikeouts in 34 innings Olympic team, was also in the suit up for the 2021 Collegiate Nixon and Witt pitched. Outside of pitched. He pitched twice in NEW YORK — Candace 36-player pool, but not chosen National Team this summer, served as key pieces the starting rota- the College World Series and Parker will headline a WNBA by the coaches. She's been U.S.A. Baseball announced. in the backend of tion, Witt logged four times total during the All-Star team that will face sidelined by a sprained knee This year’s Collegiate the bullpen in their the most innings NCAA Postseason without al- the U.S. Olympic squad in Las since early June. team will feature 48 players first season on to and strikeouts on lowing a run. Vegas on July 14. The game, sponsored by on two 24-man rosters, the the Forty Acres. the pitching staff. The Longhorn pitching duo Parker, who was not chosen AT&T, is another way the Stars and Stripes, who will The tandem led the Witt pitched twice will be joined by assistant for the 2016 Olympic team af- league is celebrating its 25th play 11 intrasquad games in team in appearanc- in the College World coach Troy Tulowitzki this ter helping the U.S. win gold July. season. This is the first time es and saves, as Witt Series, including toss- summer, who will be serving medals in 2008 and 2012, was Team U.S.A. will kick-off that the league has held an pitched 28 times with five ing 5 2/3 shutout innings as an assistant on the Stripes chosen for her sixth All-Star its 11-game tour on Friday in All-Star Game in an Olympic saves and Nixon totaled 27 against Tennessee to secure coaching staff. appearance. year since 2000. The WNBA Danville, Virginia, followed Joining the Chicago for- played an exhibition in New by a game in Burlington, ward are her Sky teammates York in 2004 at Radio City North Carolina, on Saturday. and Music Hall, but it wasn't con- U.S.A. Baseball will host the Kahleah Copper, who is one Fourth of July game at its Na- sidered an All-Star Game. TexSCAN Week of of eight players making their GENERATORS June 27-July 3, 2021 GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup All-Star debuts. 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