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Teams fight for safety, money

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Since its first race in 1949, NASCAR has controlled the top motorsports series in the United States with an iron fist. Those who dared to challenge NASCAR leadership were almost never successful. An attempt at driver unionization failed in 1961 when organizers Curtis Turner and Tim Flock were banned by NASCAR. The only drivers’ strike in NASCAR history failed when the Professional Drivers Association boycotted the inaugural race at Talladega Superspeedway and the stock car series simply brought in replacement drivers. NASCAR has always been firmly in charge, its ...

Game lands tours are scheduled

Again this October, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be offering a series of nine self-guided driving tours on selected state game lands throughout the state. The agency suspended these popular autumn tours in 2016 for financial reasons but put them back in place last fall. All tours are free and will be held regardless of the weather. Only vehicles licensed for travel on public roads are permitted on the tours. I have taken several of these tours in past years and always found them to be a special opportunity to get well into the interior of some of these large game-lands ...

Mount Aloysius’ new hall creates ‘wow’ moment

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some of the inductees into the Mount Aloysius Athletic Hall of Fame were doubly surprised to learn of their recognition. For one, they didn’t know the Mount’s new hall existed, let alone that they were selected as inaugural selections. “I ...

Japan contemplating alliance with US Tour, Europe in golf

The PGA Tour and European tour have a joint operating venture for the next 13 years. Now it appears they want the Japan Golf Tour to join them. It’s another example that while Saudi-funded LIV Golf has made a splash in the golf world, there are ripple effects. As part of their expanded alliance the PGA and European tours announced in June, the leading 10 players from the DP World Tour points list in Europe who are not already PGA Tour members will be able to join. The Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) might be next to get in line. In a memo to his players late last week, Chairman Isao ...

Safety concerns dogging NASCAR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR’s beleaguered new car somehow made it out of Talladega Superspeedway in the cleanest race yet of this year’s playoffs. It did little to quell the safety concerns surrounding the Next Gen car that debuted this season. The first four playoff races were a disastrous mess of car fires, broken parts and blown tires, and after Alex Bowman became the second driver sidelined with a concussion, the veterans snapped. Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, led the charge by calling for a ...

Defense saves PSU’s turnover-prone offense

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State took a step backward Saturday. The Nittany Lions were inept offensively, turning the ball over five times, but rode their defense to a 17-7 victory over Northwestern before 105,524 on a rainy day at Beaver Stadium. “I understand the challenges the offense can face on a rainy day,” defensive tackle and team leader P.J. Mustipher said. “That’s why we have a defense. We have their backs, and they have ours.” Penn State’s defense allowed just 31 rushing yards and drew seven punts. The Lions opened the game by forcing five straight ...