Kyle Larson
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Heisman Trophy at an award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP, Pool)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

Denny Hamlin competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
NASCAR hiatus: Drivers would like to make it a regular thing

By The Associated Press Jul. 27, 2021 01:29 PM EDT

Tony Stewart waves to fans before the debut race of Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) at Stafford Motor Speedway, Saturday, June 12, 2021, in Stafford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Column: Stewart realistic about SHR's current struggles

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 21, 2021 06:21 PM EDT

Aric Almirola (10) and Matt DiBenedetto (21) head down the front stretch during the NASCAR All-Star Open Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
Larson wins 2nd NASCAR All-Star race, this one in Texas

By Stephen Hawkins Jun. 13, 2021 10:26 PM EDT

Kyle Larson celebrates his victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race, Sunday, June 6, 2021, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Larson wins again as Hendrick continues month of dominance

Jun. 06, 2021 07:52 PM EDT

Driver Chase Elliott, left, talks to car owner Rick Hendrick before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Hendrick train rolls into Sonoma seeking 4th straight win

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 05, 2021 03:51 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands jumps out of his car after winning the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR heads west for Sonoma race

By The Associated Press Jun. 02, 2021 06:24 PM EDT

The pit crew works on Ty Gibbs' car during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)
Charlotte brings normal to NASCAR Cup Series going forward

By Pete Iacobelli May. 31, 2021 12:30 PM EDT

Fans look on from the stands as some are still wearing mask and others are not during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover International Speedway, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Bowman parks 48 in familiar spot in victory lane at Dover

By Dan Gelston May. 16, 2021 05:53 PM EDT

Driver Denny Hamlin talks about Toyota Camry Next Gen Cup car that will be used in the 2022 season during the NASCAR media event in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Harvick looks to jumpstart winless year again at Darlington

By Pete Iacobelli May. 08, 2021 12:06 PM EDT

Martin Truex Jr. gives a thumbs-up as he celebrates with a fan after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR's short track swing wraps up at Richmond

By The Associated Press Apr. 14, 2021 10:57 AM EDT

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott reacts after ending his race during a NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Blaney wins at Atlanta after Larson fades on old tires

By Paul Newberry Mar. 21, 2021 08:18 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick makes a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
NASCAR returns to its roots with 1st of 2 visits to Atlanta

By Paul Newberry Mar. 20, 2021 02:14 PM EDT

Bubba Wallace, left, congratulates Kyle Larson after Larson won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
One year later, NASCAR reflects on a COVID-changed sport

By David Brandt Mar. 13, 2021 04:32 PM EST

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kyle Larson celebrates return with 1st win since suspension

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 07, 2021 07:07 PM EST

Bubba Wallace removes his helmet in his garage after a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race practice session at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Wallace turned the fastest time for the practice session. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Denny Hamlin seeks historic 3rd straight Daytona 500 victory

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 12, 2021 05:26 PM EST

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500

By The Associated Press Feb. 12, 2021 01:38 PM EST

FILE - Workers begin turning Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., into a dirt track in this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, file photo. NASCAR is being heavily promoted by a broadcast partner as about to embark on “The Best Season Ever” and on paper that could be true. NASCAR this year will race on dirt for the first time since 1970, the schedule includes a whopping seven road courses and five venues new to the Cup Series. Michael Jordan and Pitbull are among new team owners entering the sport in 2021 and Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, is the reigning champion. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP, File)
NASCAR revs ahead with new teams, new tracks, new energy

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 03, 2021 04:27 PM EST

FILE - NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Tony Stewart poses for pictures prior to the induction ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., in this Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, file photo. Tony Stewart wants to set the record straight about two misconstrued recent business decisions. Fans have been critical of Stewart since the Truck Series was dropped from Eldora Speedway and because he didn't sign Kyle Larson to his NASCAR team. Stewart is adamant that he tried to sign Larson but couldn't get partner approval on the driver suspended for using a racial slur. And he insists he dropped NASCAR after he felt slighted that Bristol Motor Speedway was given a Cup race on dirt. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Column: Stewart balances personal bliss, professional angst

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 18, 2021 03:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson sits in his car before the final practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Kyle Larson was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing, a day after nearly every one of his sponsors dropped the star driver for using a racial slur during a live stream of a virtual race. Of course, in a sport with an extremely checkered racial history, he's already lined up a new gig for 2021 at Hendrick Motorsports. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
Column: 2020 is perfect for socially distanced Newby Awards

By Paul Newberry Dec. 25, 2020 12:18 PM EST