Worker Dies at Age 53 While Setting Up Downtown Chicago NASCAR Track
Jul 1, 2023
Spectators watch qualifying races around the Nascar street course in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Nascar is about to hit the road in Chicago for the first-ever street race in its marquee series, but for the city, the spectacle means plenty of hassle and it is likely to produce only a limited payoff. Photographer: Jim Vondruska/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A worker has died in Chicago while preparing for the NASCAR Chicago street race.
WGN9 reported that 53-year-old Duane Tabinski died during the setup for the race. No cause of death was given, although police reports indicate that he may have been electrocuted. He worked on the lighting and stage crew.
"On Friday afternoon a contractor suffered a fatal medical emergency," a NASCAR spokesperson told local news outlets. "We are coordinating with local authorities on this tragic incident. We share our condolences to the family and their loved ones."
A witness said that the tragic incident occurred near the start/finish line, with power going out and an ambulance arriving shortly after. The starting line is west of Buckingham Fountain, right within the city's downtown 'Loop.'
The race is set to be the first-ever street race conducted in the NASCAR Cup Series and will take place in Grant Park. The event is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Tabinski founded and operated a stage lighting company, and the official Twitter account released a statement in memory of his life.
The DUANE team is shocked and saddened to inform you of Duane Tabinski’s passing earlier today. He was busy doing what he loved, providing a top-of-the-line audio experience for the enjoyment of others. A very giving and caring soul, Duane will be missed. Updates to come. pic.twitter.com/QUe9ZnIQTX
Dutch Racer Dilano van 't Hoff Dies After Crash at Age 18
Jul 1, 2023
Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali and others hold a moment of silence to honor Dilano van 't Hoff.
Dutch racing driver Dilano van 't Hoff died at age 18 following a crash in Saturday's Formula Regional European Championship race.
"We are so sad to learn of the passing of Dilano van 't Hoff today at Spa-Francorchamps," Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali said. "Dilano died in pursuit of his dream to reach the pinnacle of motorsport. Along with the entire motorsport community, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
According to Motorsport.com's Gary Watkins, Tim Tramnitz triggered a multi-car collision as the event at Spa-Francorchamps was drawing to a conclusion.
"Van 't Hoff appeared to lose control of his car in the chaos of the first accident, and was hit at high speed by a rival car while stopped in the middle of the straight," Watkins wrote.
The race was brought to a halt and red-flagged.
The FIA issued a statement following Van 't Hoff's death: "The FIA extends its condolences to the family and friends of Dilano van 't Hoff and to the MP Motorsport Team following the incident today during the Formula Regional European Championship event at Spa-Francorchamps."
Van 't Hoff was the Spanish Formula 4 champion in 2021 and sat 15th in the FRECA standings entering Saturday.
His death comes four years after Anthoine Hubert's fatal crash at Spa-Francorchamps in a Formula 2 race.
NASCAR Driver Jimmie Johnson Won't Race After Deaths of In-Laws, Nephew
Jun 28, 2023
Jimmie Johnson during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will not race this weekend in NASCAR's Grant Park 220 street race in Chicago following the deaths of his wife's parents and a nephew, per ESPN.
On Monday, the bodies of Jack Janway, 69, his wife, Terry Janway, 68, and their grandson Dalton Janway, 11, were discovered at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Muskogee police spokesperson Lynn Hamlin said investigators believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband and grandson before shooting herself.
Johnson, who is racing on a part-time schedule this season as the co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, was gearing up to participate in NASCAR's first-ever Cup Series street race.
"The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made," Legacy Motor Club said in a tweet.
Hamlin said police responded to a 911 call by a woman who reported a disturbance with a gun before hanging up. Upon arriving at the scene, police found one person dead near the front door and then heard another gunshot from further inside, where the two other bodies were found. Hamlin confirmed that the three people found dead were the parents and nephew of Johnson's wife, Chandra Janway.
"We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson's family," NASCAR said in a statement. "The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie and the entire Johnson and Janway families."
Police: NASCAR Driver Jimmie Johnson's In-Laws Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide
Jun 27, 2023
Jimmie Johnson talks to team members in his garage after a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson will not race at this weekend's event in Chicago after his wife's parents and 11-year-old nephew died in an apparent murder-suicide.
The Johnson family released a statement asking for privacy, saying it would not comment further on the matter.
The Muskogee (Oklahoma) Police Department released a statement Tuesday saying Terry Janway and Jack Janaway, Johnson's parents-in-law, were found dead at their home along with their 11-year-old grandson, Dalton.
Sean Neumann of People confirmed with police sources that the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide. It's believed Terry Janaway shot and killed her husband and Dalton on Monday night.
Further details have not been released, and police say the matter remains under investigation.
"It was traumatizing to find out that a long-standing family who had made so many contributions to our community were involved in this type of incident. It was even more bone-chilling to find out there was a child involved," Muskogee Mayor Marlon Coleman told Fox23. "I knew Dr. Janway. Dr Janway has worked on me, we've been acquaintances for a very, very long time since I've been in Muskogee. Just knowing that it was him and his family took a different toll on me."
Johnson, 47, is a seven-time NASCAR Cup champion. He retired as a full-time driver after the 2020 season but returned on a part-time basis after buying an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club, formerly known as Petty GMS Motorsports.
Johnson and his wife, Chandra, have been married since 2004.
Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan, Rob McElhenney Buy 24% Stake in Alpine F1 for $218M
Jun 26, 2023
WREXHAM, WALES - APRIL 22: Ryan Reynolds co-owner of Wrexham and Rob McElhenney co-owner of Wrexham with the Vanarama National League Trophy as Wrexham celebrate promotion back to the English Football League during the Vanarama National League match between Wrexham and Boreham Wood at Racecourse Ground on April 22, 2023 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are widening their sporting footprint after joining an investor group that purchased a 24 percent stake in Formula One team Alpine Racing.
Fellow actor Michael B. Jordan is involved in the venture as well.
Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments partnered to pay €200 million ($218M) for the ownership stake in the team
"Formula 1 and Alpine are strategic assets for Renault Group," said Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo. "Over the past two years, we have re-ignited Alpine, capitalizing on its iconic A110 sports coupé, boosting it by entering Formula 1, where it aims to become a championship contender. This partnership will accelerate Alpine F1 development by diversifying revenue drivers and increasing brand value."
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are driving under the Alpine banner for the 2023 F1 season. They sit ninth and 10th, respectively, in the driver standings.
For Reynolds and McElhenney, this comes after they've seen their investment in Wrexham A.F.C. start to pay significant dividends. The club is the subject of the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries and secured promotion into the English Football League this season.
Reynolds expressed interest in obtaining an ownership stake in the NHL's Ottawa Senators but saw his ownership group back out in May. A deal to sell the Senators to Michael Andlauer was agreed upon in June.
Canadian F1 Grand Prix 2023 Results: Max Verstappen Dominates for 4th Straight Win
Jun 18, 2023
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 18: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 18, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Max Verstappen is unstoppable.
The Red Bull Racing driver captured his sixth victory in eight starts of the 2023 Formula 1 racing season in the Pirelli Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
It marked his fourth straight win dating back to the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix on May 7. It also marked Red Bull Racing's 100th win.
Is this the most decorated F1 podium of all-time?!
Seven titles for Lewis Hamilton Two titles for Fernando Alonso Two titles for Max Verstappen 23 titles (11 Driver, 12 Constructor) for Adrian Newey
Joining Verstappen on the podium was Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who finished second and third, respectively.
With the Austrian Grand Prix right around the corner, lets first take a look back at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix with the standings, highlights and some reaction.
Verstappen, who also won the 2022 Canadian GP, now has 20 wins in his last 27 races dating back to the 2022 racing season as he continues to emerge as one of the most dominant drivers in recent memory.
The 25-year-old grabbed pole position in qualifying and never dropped back in Sunday's race as he went wire-to-wire.
Verstappen, who earned his 41st career victory on Sunday, is now tied for fifth with Ayrton Senna on the F1 all-time wins list. Hamilton still sits atop that list with 103 career victories.
F1 fans were understandably overjoyed with Verstappen's latest accomplishment, though there was a consensus that Sunday's race generated the greatest all-around podium in the sport's history:
Max Verstappen Fernando Alonso Sir Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Newey
For Logan Sargeant, Sunday's race turned into a disaster quickly as he was ordered by the Williams team to pull over on the eighth lap, ending his race. Since he came to a stop off the racing line, only a virtual safety car came out.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR (LAP 8/70)
Logan Sargeant gets an urgent message to pull over, and retires from the race 😩
George Russell's race turned into a nightmare on the 12th lap when he hit the wall and smashed his rear-right corner and front wing. A safety car came out and he was able to get back to the pits before resuming the race.
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED (LAP 12/70)
George Russell smacks the wall and smashes his rear-right corner and front wing, and the @MercedesAMG comes out
However, Russell was eventually forced to retire on the 55th lap due to excessive brake wear.
Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez started 10th, 11th and 12th respectively. However, the three drivers were able to finish fourth, fifth and sixth after staying on the track during the safety car period.
Hamilton and Alonso got into a duel on the 22nd lap, and the former was able to grab hold of second place to hold off Hamilton, who has yet to win a race this season. He hasn't won since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
LAP 22/70
ALONSO GETS HAMILTON FOR SECOND!
48 laps remaining, and these two are JUST starting to duel... sit back, and enjoy a scrap between two of the greatest to ever do it 🍿#CanadianGP#F1pic.twitter.com/pkykizzeMU
Alexander Albon, who finished ninth, gave Williams its best result since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.
Lando Norris crossed the finish line ninth, but he ultimately finished 13th in the final standings after being given a five-second penalty for driving too slow behind a safety car. Lance Stroll was awarded ninth place.
With the Canadian Grand Prix now complete, all eyes will shift toward the Austrian GP on July 2 at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.
Daniel Ricciardo, Will Arnett to Host Alternate F1 Telecast on ESPN for 3 Races
Jun 8, 2023
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 26: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Oracle Red Bull Racing arrives in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Red Bull Racing test driver Daniel Ricciardo and actor Will Arnett will team up with ESPN for three alternate broadcasts of Formula 1 races this season.
The Grandstand with Daniel Ricciardo and Will Arnett will debut June 18 for the Montreal Grand Prix.
"This is going to be a hoot!" Ricciardo said of the venture. "As you'd expect Will and I are going to have some fun with the show, but we're hoping it just feels like you're watching F1 with your mates. We will have some amazing guests, plenty of laughs and with some luck, bring fans another step closer to the sport I love so much. Buckle up America!"
This is an extension of the trend that became popular with Monday Night Football's "ManningCast" featuring Peyton and Eli Manning. In February 2022, ESPN said it was working with Peyton and his company, Omaha Productions, to branch out into other sports.
For the June 18 telecast of The Grandstand, Ricciardo will be on location in Montreal, while Arnett will work remotely. The show will include guest appearances as well.
Motorbike Rider Raul Torras Martinez Dies at Age 46 Following Crash in Race
Jun 7, 2023
MACAU, MACAU - NOVEMBER 16: Raul Torras Martinez of Denmark driving the (49) Torras Racing Team KAWASAKI ZX10-RR during Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix - 53rd Edition on day three of the 66th Macau Grand Prix on November 16, 2019 in Macau. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Spanish motorbike rider Raul Torras Martinez has died after an accident during the final lap of the first Supertwin event at the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races on Tuesday.
An official statement from the Isle of Man TT Races confirmed the news and said that the 46-year-old died after a crash between the 16th- and 17th-mile markers on the race's third (and final) lap.
Martinez, who rode for the Optimark Racing Team, competed in 21 TT events since 2017 and earned a career-best 15th-place finish in last year's Supertwin race. He also amassed 18 bronze replicas, which are trophies given to finishers who end the race within 110 percent of the winner's time.
Per the statement, Martinez earned his fastest-ever lap at the TT Mountain Course earlier Tuesday during the Superstock Race (125.470 mph average speed), getting a 20th-place finish in the process.
The statement also noted Raul's passion for racing and his gregarious nature.
"An incredibly popular member of the paddock family, Raul's smile was infectious and his love for the TT and the sport of road racing was apparent to anyone who was fortunate enough to meet him," the statement read.
The Isle of Man TT Races also called Martinez "a passionate and spirited gentleman" whose loss "will be felt deeply by the entire TT community."
Simon Patterson, a freelance MotoGP journalist, offered his remembrances and condolences as well.
Got to know Raul a little bit last year when he messaged me and informed me that I just had to come and visit him in the pits. That's the sort of guy he was -friendly, outgoing, and absolutely adored racing the TT. My deepest condolences tonight to his loved ones.
Per BBC Sport, a total of 267 fatalities have occurred at the Mountain Course since 1911, when the Isle of Man TT Races moved there and has been ever since.
Lakers' LeBron James Named Official Starter for 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours Race
Jun 5, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: LeBron James attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' "Shooting Stars" on May 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will be the official starter for June 10's Le Mans 24 Hours.
— 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 5, 2023
"There's nothing like seeing and experiencing sports at their highest level," James said in a statement. "It's an honor for me to be part of this historic moment in motorsport and help celebrate the centenary of one of the biggest sporting events in the world. I look forward to kicking off this iconic race and watching its world-class drivers compete on Le Mans' global stage."
James isn't the first high-profile star from the sporting world to take on the role, as Rafael Nadal (2018) and other athletes have served as starters in the past.
Le Mans 24 Hours is an endurance racing event that is won by a car covering the most ground across a 24-hour period. It has been contested since 1923.
Spanish F1 Grand Prix 2023 Results: Max Verstappen Tops Lewis Hamilton to Win Race
Jun 4, 2023
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 04: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 04, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Only seven races into the 2023 season, Max Verstappen is building a nearly unassailable lead atop the Formula 1 standings.
The reigning champion earned his fifth victory and third in a row Sunday in the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
With 144 points, Verstappen had a 39-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez for first place in the driver standings entering Sunday. Fernando Alonso was the only other driver with at least 70 points.
To say the 25-year-old is on another level would be an understatement.
The Spanish Grand Prix was basically over the moment Verstappen claimed the pole. He went wire to wire and had the fastest lap in Spain.
Fans couldn't help but have some fun with the degree to which he was dominating. Lewis Hamilton was 24.090 seconds back in second place when he crossed the finish line.
Whenever I see Verstappen radio pop up, I'm fully expecting GP to ask Max what he wants to eat for his post-race meal and go through all options on the menu like Ferrari goes through strategies...
— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) June 4, 2023
This is Hamilton's second runner-up finish of the season. Even though he was a distant second behind Verstappen, his fans were happy to at least see him beating out the rest of the field.
It was a good day for Mercedes as a whole with George Russell holding off Perez for third place to get onto the podium for the first time this season.
The 2022 campaign was nothing short of a disaster for Mercedes with Hamilton openly lamenting the state of his car. The team is making great strides in 2023 after spending the offseason addressing those issues.
Formula 1 is fantastic because a team like Mercedes will spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing an aerodynamic concept just to completely scrap it after 2 years and instantly become significantly quicker.
The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal is the next stop on the F1 calendar. Stop me if you've heard this one before, but Verstappen enters as the defending champ after claiming the checkered flag in 2022. It was the first race back in Montreal since 2019 with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the event in 2020 and 2021.
Sooner or later Verstappen's hot streak will come to an end. But we're already reaching a point where it may not matter much toward the battle for the driver's title.
