ILLINOIS-DUKE SERIES
Illinois adds Duke series to 2025, ’26 football schedules
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois and Duke have agreed to play a home-and-home series in the 2025 and 2026 football seasons.
Illinois said Friday that the teams will play in Durham, North Carolina, on Sept. 6, 2025, and in Champaign on Sept. 12, 2026.
The Illini and Blue Devils have only played each other twice and haven’t met since 1965. The series is 1-1.
Illinois has now set up series against a number of East Coast schools. They include North Carolina this fall and in 2016, South Florida in 2017 and ’18, Connecticut in 2019 and ’20 and Virginia in 2021 and ’22. The Illini will also play Kansas in 2023 and ’24.
NASCAR-POCONO-QUALIFYING
Kurt Busch wins pole in abbreviated Pocono qualifying
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Kurt Busch turned a lap at 177.599 mph Friday and won the pole at Pocono Raceway in a bizarre qualifying session that saw five cars fail to complete a lap in the final round.
Denny Hamlin bobbled and lost control of the No. 11 as the qualifying clock ticked down to bring out the red flag. NASCAR scrubbed the rest of qualifying. Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne all failed to record a lap time.
Kurt Busch won his third pole of the season in the No. 41 Chevrolet and 19th of his career.
Carl Edwards joins Kurt Busch on the front row. Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick complete the top five.
Kurt Busch has one win this season with five top 10s, a nice rebound from a three-race suspension that opened the season because of his offseason legal woes.
NASCAR-HARVICK-CREW CHIEF EXTENSION
Harvick crew chief Childers signs extension with SHR
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Stewart-Haas Racing has signed the crew chief for reigning NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick to a multi-year contract extension.
Rodney Childers helped lead Harvick to five wins and eight poles during the 2014 championship season. He was rewarded Friday with a deal that will maintain the successful pairing for a few more seasons. Exact terms were not disclosed.
Harvick and Childers lead the points standings this season, with two wins and 12 top-10 finishes. They’ve led 1,123 laps this season heading into Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway.
SHR co-owner Tony Stewart says keeping Harvick and Childers together was a “high priority” because of the high standard of excellence they have set in the No. 4 Chevrolet.
BELMONT STAKES-AMERICAN PHAROAH
American Pharoah gallops for final time before Belmont
NEW YORK (AP) — American Pharoah has taken a final gallop around Belmont Park before he attempts to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner looked fresh and ready to run Friday morning but was held to an easy lap around the 1 1/2-mile oval by exercise rider Jorge Alvarez.
Trainer Bob Baffert watched from well past the finish line. He said when his horse went by “he looked like he was just still floating over the race track like he normally does.”
Since arriving Tuesday, the 3-year-colt has had a jog and two gallops. American Pharoah faces seven rivals in his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978.
