SPORTS Archives for 2020-06
NBC will carry the 120th US Open this season at Winged Foot.
Posted About One Year Ago
(New York-cf)-- The U.S Open will have a new home on TV this season. Fox Sports has asked to terminate it's 12 year contract of running the event. NBC will carry the 120th US Open this season at Winged Foot.
Tonight on WPXN it's NASCAR Live. Get the latest news in NASCAR from 6-7.
Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin win at Pocono
E. I. Baseball
At Buckley
Beecher def Buckley 4-0
Bloomington def Buckley 8-0
E. I. Regular season starts on July 12
(Chicago-cf)-- Chicago White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn is one of many GM's around the league looking to get his team to the postseason. Hahn's revamped roster, full of youth, could make a postseason run when the season kicks off in July. Hahn, looking at the fact that this season is vital whether shortened or not for getting his players ready for the "long haul" in hopes of lifting a commissioner's trophy.
(Cromwell, CT-cf)-- Dustin Johnson was this weekend's winner of the Travelers Championship finishing 19 under this weekend. Johnson also shot a personal record 61 on Saturday afternoon.
Farmer City Raceway
It was a beautiful night for racing at the Farmer City Raceway. Allen Weiser of Peoria won the Late Models feature, Mike McKinney of Plainfield won Modifieds, Torin Mettille of Cullom won Pro Lates, Matt Maier of Thomsaboro won in Street Stocks and Dalton Ewing of Decatur won in B-Mods. This Friday night is Fan Appreciation night where all adults get in for $5 and kids are free. It will be a full show with an autograph session with the drivers at intermission and fireworks to follow the races.
(Pocono-cf)-- Denny Hamlin was the star of race number two, under the temporary lights at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin led a majority of the race after the lengthy rain delay in race two, making it his second win of the season. Kevin Harvick came in second in the second race. Hamlin and Harvick have finished at the top of the leaderboard in a majority of the races since the restart, making them favorites for the Cup Series Championship.
Tonight on WPXN its Fast Talk. Get the latest news of NASCAR from 6pm to 7pm.
A Triple Header this weekend for NASCAR fans
(Urbana-cf)-- The University of Illinois Men's Basketball Team picked up a commit from Deerfield. 7 Foot big man Brandon Lieb, committed to Coach Brad Underwood and staff less than 48 hours after being offered by Illinois. The in-state commit averaged 13.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 2.3 Blocks per game last year. Leib chose the Illini over OK State, Oklahoma, DePaul and Utah.
(Chicago-cf)-- The MLB is set to open the 2020 season July 23rd. Both the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago White Sox are hoping to have a few fans in the stands this season. Under the Phase 4 Guidelines set to take place today, outdoor sporting venues can have 20% of the maximum capacity. Cubs President Crane Kenny also hopes to have fans on the Wrigleyville rooftops as well.
(Winged Foot-cf)-- The U.S Open had to change the plans for qualifying for the event his year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will take place Sept. 17-20 of this year at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. The top 70 golfers according to the Official World Golf Ranking as of March, 15 will be eligible to play in the 120th U.S. Open.
(Urbana-cf)-- There are a lot of benefits to the IHSA Boys State Finals moving back to Champaign Urbana for the next three years. Illinois AD Josh Whitman says one of the benefits is having some of the states top talent play at the state's flagship university…
University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman.
(Pocono-cf)-- Nascar will have a Triple Header this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Driver Brad Keslowski describes the challenges of running a Triple Header without practice…
Nascar Driver Brad Keslowski.
Watch Dirt Track racing at its best tonight at the Farmer City Raceway. See the best in Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Lates, Street Stocks and Pro Modifieds. Racing gets underway at 7:30pm. Admission is $12 for adults. Veterans $5, and kids 12 and under are free.
Saturday on WPXN will be Nascar Cup Series Racing with the Pocono Organics 325 with a 1:30 start.
Sunday on WPXN it's a Nascar Double Header starting with the Pocono Green 250 Xfinity Race at 11am after the Sunday Morning Services. Then at 2 P.M. We have the Pocono 350 Nascar Cup Series Race.
Chicago Blackhawks forward, Marian Hossa elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020
(Chicago-cf)-- Marian Hossa has been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2020. Hossa, who played forward in the NHL for 19 years won three Stanley Cups in Chicago. Hossa scored over 1,134 points in over 1,300 career games. This was Hossa's first year on the Hall of Fame Ballot.
(Connecticut-cf)--PGA golfer Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the travelers tournament scheduled to take place in Cromwell, Connecticut after his Caddy Ricky Elliot has tested positive for COVID-19. Koepka said "I'm going to pull out to protect everybody else, I think it's the right thing to do." The Travelers tournament gets underway this afternoon.
(Urbana-cf)-- The return of sports is the biggest question among sports fans. As time progresses and we learn more about the coronavirus, Illinois AD Josh Whitman and staff are increasingly confident that the lights will turn on in the fall…
(Pocono-cf)--This weekend we have a Nascar Triple Header from Pocono Raceway. Nascar Driver Kyle Busch has won Cup Series Championships in the past, but this track in particular has always been hard to master….
Nascar Driver Kyle Busch. Tune in this Saturday and Sunday on WPXN for all the live action from Pocono Raceway.
MLB is Back!!
(MLB-cf)-- Baseball is back! The MLB and the MLBPA hashed the final details of the 60 game season yesterday afternoon, meaning all players will return to training camps July 1st. Teams will go through two weeks of workouts, with the season getting underway July 23rd.
(MLB-cf)-- The Chicago Cubs signed their first round draft pick Ed Howard to a minor league deal that has over 3 million in incentives. The 18 year old Howard from Mount Carmel High School was drafted 16th overall in this year's draft.
(Urbana-cf)-- The IHSA Boys state finals has moved back to the location where it started in Champaign Urbana. Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman says that the young men playing on the State Farm Center floor will never forget the moment. Much like when he played at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette…
(Urbana-cf)-- The IHSA returning to Champaign Urbana has received a lot of positive feedback from not only Champaign Urbana but from surrounding communities as well says IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson…
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson
The FBI has determined that NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime.It was determined through photographic evidence that a pull rope fashioned like a noose had been on a garage door at Talladega Superspeedway since as early as October.
Ryan Blaney wins at Talladega
The Cup Series was at Talladega Super Speedway and rain forced a postponement until Monday. Like many races at Talladega in the past, the finish came down to the final lap…
It was Ryan Blaney's first win of the 2020 season, and 4th of his career. The Motor Racing Network will return next weekend with a Cup Series doubleheader in Pocono. The Pocono Organics 325 in partnership with Rodale Institute will begin at 1:30 PM Saturday, and they'll race again Sunday in the Pocono 350 at 2:00 PM, you can hear live coverage right here on WPXN.
Geico 500 postponed until 2pm Monday afternoon
E. I. Baseball Exhibition games
Royal def Buckley 9-0
With the NFL still planning to open training camps next month despite rising coronavirus numbers in many states, the league has developed a blueprint for limiting access to players,The new tier system, designed to fight an outbreak of COVID-19, will determine which employees have access to certain areas in the team facilities. Each staffer must wear an identification badge that spells out that staffer's access.
Although the NFL has not announced camp-opening dates, 26 teams tentatively are scheduled to begin training camp on July 28.
Farmer City Races
Dirt Track racing resumed Friday night at The Farmer City Raceway. Mike Spatola of Manhattan won the late Model Feature. Dakota Ewing from Warrensburg won Pro Lates, Mike Maier won Street Stocks, and Allen Weiser of Peoria won Modifieds. This Friday night is another regular show with Pro Modifieds.
(Undated--jc) The Nascar Cup Series race from Talladega Superspeedway will take place this afternoon. The Geico 500 was rained out on Sunday. The broadcast begins at 2 this afternoon on WPXN.
Tonight on WPXN its Fast Talk. Get the latest news in NASCAR from 6-7.
MLB Season still in limbo
After a meeting on Wednesday, it was believed that there would be an agreement on a 60 game MLB schedule. Talks resumed Thursday with the players' association asking for a 70 game season with a few changes. The players Wednesday said they viewed MLB's proposed 60-game schedule as too short. The plan was immediately rejected by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.
Dirt Track racing gets back to action tonight at the Farmer City Raceway. See the best in Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Lates, and Street Stocks. Hot laps at 6:30, qualifying at 7:00, Racing gets underway at 7:30pm. Admission is $12 for adults. Veterans $5, and kids 12 and under are free.
E.I. Baseball in Buckley on Sunday
11am-Buckley vs Royal
1pm-Buckley vs Beecher
3pm-Royal vs Beecher
Saturday on WPXN its the Live Action Auction, Bid Buy and Save at 8am on WPXN.
Saturday Afternoon its Nascar Xfinity Series racing from Talladega Motor Speedway at 2:30
Sunday afternoon Nascar will go green from Talladega at 2:30 on WPXN.
MLB 60 game season has been approved
(MLB-cf)-- The framework for the MLB 60 game season has been approved, and both the owners of each team, and players have agreed on the 60 game season as well as full prorated pay. Each team would start play on July 20th, and a Sunday opener on July 19th could be added. With this new plan, Players would receive 37% of their expected salaries for the 2020 season, with the regular season ending on Sept. 27. The playoff format would add 6 more teams than the original plan, expanding it to 16 teams, and post season play would conclude in late October.
(Urbana-cf)-- The IHSA Boys State Tournament will be returning to Champaign Urbana's State Farm Center on the U of I Campus. University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman explains how exciting it is for the IHSA, the community, and the U of I…
(Urbana-cf)-- With the IHSA Boys state finals returning to Champaign to the State Farm Center, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson describes how pleased they were with the support during their stay in Peoria…
(Talladega-cf)-- The Nascar Cup Series will go green from Talladega this Sunday. Drivers have not had a practice session so far since Nascar returned back to the track after being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Driver William Byron says "you have to look past your windshield, especially at Talladega."...
Nascar Driver William Byron. The race from Talladega has a 2:30 start time this Sunday on WPXN.
MIAMI (AP) — A Florida appeals court has granted Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson's motion to block his former marketing agent's effort to have the ex-Duke star answer questions about whether he received improper benefits before playing for the Blue Devils.
The order Wednesday shifts the focus to a separate but related case between the same litigants in federal court in North Carolina. The Florida lawsuit, filed last summer by Prime Sports Marketing and company president Gina Ford, accused Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract and seeks $100 million in damages.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the late Mike Stefanik and Red Farmer elected to the Hall of Fame
One of NASCAR's longtime fan favorites received the sport's biggest honor Tuesday, when he was selected to join his father in the series' Hall of Fame. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be inducted in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with the late Mike Stefanik and 87-year-old Red Farmer, who is planning to race on Talladega's dirt track this weekend. Ralph Seagraves was named the Landmark Award winner for his contributions to the sport.
Dirt Track racing returns to Farmer City on Friday night. The season finally gets underway after being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. See the best in Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Lates and Street Stocks. Racing starts at 7:30. Admission is $12 for adults, Veterans are $5 and kids 12 and under get in for free.
IHSA Boy's State Basketball Finals coming back to Champaign
(WPXN-cf)-- The IHSA has made the decision to bring back the Boy's State Basketball Finals to Champaign. WPXN's Cale Fleming has the details…
(New York-cf)-- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reported the words many people may have speculated. There may not be an MLB season. The cause of the delay is the breakdown in communication between the MLB and the MLBPA not being able to agree on salaries, season length, and more.
(Bristol-cf)-- NASCAR has moved the All Star Race from Charlotte Motor speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15th. NASCAR is set to allow up to 30,000 fans at the track. This is a developing story and WPXN will update as new information arises.
Denny Hamlin wins at Homestead-Miami for record tying 3rd time
(Fort Worth-cf)-- The Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth Texas concludes the first PGA event since the cancelation of sports in mid March. Daniel Berger won the Challenge in a playoff against Collin Morikawa notching his 3rd major event win.
(Urbana-cf)-- Illinois Head Football Coach Lovie Smith added much needed depth at the wide receiver position over the weekend. Florida Native Patrick Byrant on Sunday showcasing his decision on Twitter. Bryant picked the U of I over Virginia Tech. Bryant is Lovie Smith's seventh commit for the class of 2021.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Denny Hamlin found the magic at Homestead-Miami Speedway, once again. Hamlin went to the lead for the final time with 30 laps left and held off Chase Elliott for his record-tying third NASCAR Cup Series victory at Homestead. Hamlin raced to his third victory of the season and 40th overall.
The PGA Tour returned to action yesterday
(Fort Worth-cf)-- The PGA Tour returned to action yesterday for the first time this season with the Charles Schwab Challenge from Fort Worth Texas. Through the first round Justin Rose and Harold Varner are tied for first.
(NFL-cf)-- The NFL extended the virtual off season until June 26, but not any further. The NFL has already allowed key personnel such as coaches, General Managers, and players needing rehabilitation treatment to attend facilities in small groups.
(Urbana-cf)-- A majority of the U of I Men's basketball team will be returning to campus today to kick off summer workouts. The players returning will have to go through a self isolation period before being permitted to work out in small groups. However, it is unlikely Freshman Andre Curbelo, Coleman Hawkins, and Adam Miller will arrive on campus tomorrow.
(Charlotte--cf)-- The Nascar Cup series hits the track for a packed weekend in Miami-Homestead. Nascar Driver Brad Keslowski is in a contract season with Team Penske, and lays out his plans for the rest of his career…
Saturday on WPXN is Nascar Xfinity Series Racing from Miami-Homestead. The race has a 1:30 start time.
Sunday on WPXN it's a Nascar Doubleheader with the Xfinity Series following the Sunday Morning Church Services, and the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 starting at 3:30.
Martin Truex Jr. gets first win of the season at Martinsville Speedway
(Bloomington-dg)-The IHSA will vote on Monday to find out who will host the IHSA Boys and Girls Basketball State Tournament series for the next three years. Peoria has held the Boys' tournament since 1996, when it took control from the U of I after 77 years of state basketball in Champaign-Urbana.
On Wednesday afternoon, three days after the Cup Series showed a unified front against racism at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and only a few hours before Bubba Wallace's No. 43 Chevy hit the track at Martinsville Speedway adorned with an image of black and white hands embraced, NASCAR announced it was officially pulling the Confederate Flag off of its racetrack properties. It's the culmination of a one-man campaign by Wallace, who this week appeared across major news outlets and called for NASCAR to finally do what it has wanted to for years. Now it finally has.
(Martinsville-jjc) --History was made last night as the NASCAR Cup Series raced under the lights for the first time at the Martinsville Speedway. Martin Truex Junior secured his first win of the season…
The Cup series heads to Miami Homestead Speedway on Sunday afternoon at 1pm for the Dixie Vodka 400.. You can hear the race live on WPXN.
NASCAR is set to allow fans back at the track for races this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR is set to allow fans back at the track for races this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
NASCAR will allow up to 1,000 Florida service members, representing the Homestead Air Reserve Base and U.S. Southern Command in Doral, to attend the Cup Series race Sunday as honorary guests and view the race from the grandstands. Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama will allow up to 5,000 guests in the frontstretch grandstands/towers for the June 21 Cup race. There will be limited motorhome/camping spots available outside the track.
Tonight on WPXN its the NASCAR Cup Series Blu-EMU Maximum Pain Relief 500 from Martinsville Speedway. The broadcast has a 5pm start time.
Players and officials at the MLB Players Association not happy with latest proposal
Major League Baseball's latest proposal to players on a return-to-play economic package offered a higher potential salary than the last plan but less guaranteed money over a 76-game season. Players and officials at the MLB Players Association quickly scoffed at the proposal, continuing the gridlock that has prevented MLB from returning after a coronavirus-related delay to the beginning of its season.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Members of the Illinois football team began returning to campus Monday. Illinois' plan for safe return includes initial and ongoing viral and antibody testing, initial quarantining, contact tracing, and arrangements for extended quarantine and care of any student-athlete testing positive for COVID-19, as the Illini plan to start voluntary workouts soon. Per NCAA guidance, all football and basketball workouts in the month of June must be strictly voluntary.
Harvick wins at Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. -- After another dominant performance at one of his favorite tracks, Kevin Harvick relished the past and looked ahead to the future. Harvick cruised to victory Sunday over Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, leading the final 55 laps. Harvick won for the second time since NASCAR returned from the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, adding to his emotional victory at Darlington in the first race back.
The NBA will resume play July 31 in Orlando
(Orlando-cf)-- The NBA Board of Governors voted in favor to resume the NBA Season at the ESPN Complex, Disney World in Orlando. The league will return on July 31st. There will be 22 teams participating and each team will get to play 8 regular season games, which will determine seeding for this year's playoffs. There will also be a series of play in games which will consist of the 8 seed versus the 9 seed.
(Bloomington-cf)-- The IHSA has not released the return to play guidelines, many are hoping a decision will come soon. WPXN will update this story as information becomes available.
(Atlanta-cf)-- Nascar will go green this weekend from Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nascar has been racing two times a week recently, and Clint Bowyer describes how nice a break will be…
Nascar Driver Clint Bowyer. The race on Sunday has a 2pm start time on WPXN.
Saturday on WPXN it's the first live action auction of the month. Bid, Buy, and Save from 8 to 10am.
Sunday on WPXN we will have a special program dedicated to the PBL Class of 2020. The program will feature Award and Scholarship winners, recognition of each graduate, the valedictorian speech, and senior athlete highlights. The program will air at 1pm as the Parade honoring the graduates makes it's way throughout Paxton.
Sunday its Nascar Cup Series Racing from Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race has a 2:00pm start and we will join following the program for the 2020 Seniors at 1:30
Major League Baseball rejected the players 114 game proposal for this upcoming season
(New York-cf)-- Major League Baseball rejected the players 114 game proposal for this upcoming season with no additional salary cuts. The MLBPA pitched their proposal to league owners on Sunday which was rejected, would have been up from an 82 game season and consisted of the season opening June 30, and ending October 31, almost six weeks after the Sept. 27 deadline of the 82 game season proposal.
(Bloomington-cf)-- The IHSA has still delayed the return to play guidelines. We will have the latest on the decision from the IHSA on WPXN as more information becomes available.
(Atlanta-cf)-- The Nascar Cup Series is heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway this Sunday. Driver Brad Keslowsi talks about the Hendrick team, and how fast they have been all season….
This weekend on WPXN it's the first Live Action Auction of the month. Bid, Buy, and Save at 8am Saturday Morning
Sunday on WPXN we will have a special program dedicated to the PBL Class of 2020. The program will feature Award and Scholarship winners, and recognition of each graduate. The program will also mirror the Parade scheduled at 1pm throughout Paxton honoring the graduates.
NBA has a target date of July 31 to start
With the world plunged into uncertainty due to the coronavirus, there was a period of time where it was unclear if basketball would return this summer. As such, there was no sense in speculating on a possible timeframe for it to do so. But as the NBA's plan to finish the season at Disney World takes shape, some of the specifics are coming into view. The NBA has set July 31 as the target date for its return. The NBA's Board of Governors is expected to vote on Thursday, to approve Adam Silver's recommendation on a format for resuming the season. As of right now, 22 teams are expected to be invited to Orlando.
(Undated--jc) The Illinois High School Association remains in limbo over the sports process for this fall and winter. WPXN's Joel Cluver has the story…
The waiting game on summer contact days continues with officials with the Illinois High School Association
(Bloomington--jc The waiting game on summer contact days continues with officials with the Illinois High School Association. The high school sports legislation group was set to announce guidelines last week and postponed the announcement to Monday. No information was released yesterday. The new timetable for summer contact days for high school sports is now set for 3-30 this afternoon.
(Rantoul--jc) -- Rantoul Recreation officials say registration for Little League runs through Friday. Those interested may do so online at my-rantoul-dot-com. You may also call the Rantoul Recreation Department at 217-893-5700. The fee is 20 dollars per kid for all leagues.
(Bristol--jc) -- In Nascar's Xfinity race from Bristol on Monday, Noah Gragson went to victory lane. The next Xfinity race is set for Saturday afternoon from Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race has a 3pm broadcast start on WPXN.
Brad Keslowski wins the 20-20 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
(Bloomington--jc) -- What is the latest on I H S A sports for the 20-20 to 20-21 season? Officials with the state organization met on Friday to discuss the possibilities of activities ranging from football and volleyball to spring time sports. I H S A officials say more information will be made available on the future of high school sports later today. WPXN will have the latest information when it is released by the I H S A.
(Bristol--jc) Brad Keslowski was the winner of the 20-20 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in a race heard live here on WPXN.
It's more racing later today from Bristol Tennessee. The Xfinity series race, The Cheddar 300, has a 5-30 start time on WPXN this afternoon.
2022-01 | 2021-12 | 2021-11 | 2021-10 | 2021-09 | 2021-08 | 2021-07 | 2021-06 | 2021-05 | 2021-04 | 2021-03 | 2021-02 | 2021-01 | 2020-12 | 2020-11 | 2020-10 | 2020-09 | 2020-08 | 2020-07 | 2020-06 | 2020-05 | 2020-04 | 2020-03 | 2020-02 | 2020-01 | 2019-12 | 2019-11 | 2019-10 | 2019-09 | 2019-08 | 2019-07 | 2019-06 | 2019-05 | 2019-04 | 2019-03 | 2019-02 | 2019-01 | 2018-12 | 2018-11 | 2018-10 | 2018-09 | 2018-08