Page 15 - aruba-today-20220517

A15
sports Tuesday 17 May 2022
Vision of Hamlin, Jordan comes into focus with win at Kansas

By DAVE SKRETTA said. "We're trying to make
AP Sports Writer a very diverse team. Cer-
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — tainly it's important to give
Michael Jordan and Den- opportunities to those that
ny Hamlin founded 23XI never thought racing was
Racing with a vision that a job, a place that they
extended far beyond the could have a job opportu-
race track. nity.
The Hall of Fame basketball "I think you have seen di-
player and the three-time versity on pit road; a lot of
Daytona 500 champion these college guys are col-
looked around the sport a lege D-1 athletes," Hamlin
couple of years ago and added. "But what about
realized that it needed to marketing? What about
get younger and much mechanics? I'm on the
more inclusive. It needed NASCAR Diversity Council,
to expand its talent pool in and we talk all the time
the race shop along with about how can we change
the fanbase in the stands this sport. It starts from the
if it wanted to resume its ground roots."
once-rapid growth. It was a vision that Jor-
All of which is a whole lot dan and Hamlin shared
easier to accomplish after Kurt Busch celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas with Busch when they pur-
Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 15, 2022.
days like Sunday. Associated Press chased StarCom Racing's
With the No. 45 car from charter, expanded their ef-
their two-car stable understand his brand. He head. I'm pretty certain it market, which once more fort to a two-car team and
decked out in Jordan thought this was a good will be." underscored the deep ra- tried to get the former Cup
Brand-themed graphics, way to branch out the Jor- Busch's victory at Kansas cial divisions that still exist in Series champion to drive
Kurt Busch squeezed past dan Brand," said Hamlin, was timely on two very dif- the country today. for them.
Kyle Larson with eight laps who finished fourth behind ferent fronts. "It's sad," Hamlin said Sun- "There's things that an own-
to go to win a thriller at Kan- Larson and Kyle Busch in The first was within the world day. "You just kind of think er has to go through that
sas Speedway. Busch give Sunday's race. of NASCAR, where the 23XI of the families and friends. are really heavy, and Den-
23XI a second Cup Series "Obviously, they sat on the teams had been scuffling You just pray for them." ny has chosen this owner-
triumph after Bubba Wal- sidelines for the first year lately. Busch had two top- Then, you do what Jordan ship role, and he has done
lace won last year at Talla- of this team," Hamlin said, five finishes early in the sea- and Hamlin have done: it with integrity and class
dega, when the team was "and I mentioned that in son, and Wallace was sec- You try to change things and ambition and motiva-
still a single-car endeavor, the media. They said, 'We ond at the season-opening for the better. In their case, tion," Busch said. "He called
and it came in a ride with just want to see how it goes Daytona 500. But neither building out a diverse and me a year and-a-half ago,
the Jumpman logo on the and see how the NASCAR had finished in the top 15 inclusive racing program. two years, and said, 'Hey,
hood and about as much fans welcome us.'" in the last four races, which Wallace remains the only I've got a plan.' I was like,
cross-over appeal as Jor- It's been pretty good so meant a rather unexpect- fulltime Black drivrer at the 'If it all works out, I'll be part
dan could hope for. far. Hamlin even acknowl- ed trip to victory lane just in top level of NASCAR. of it.' But wow, just learning
"Yeah, that's a lot of the edged that if the No. 45 car time to rep Jordan Brand. "I'm looking at potential some of the things, being
reason we started this race in the Jordan Brand livery The second was that 23XI's hires right now that we've close to him as a friend, but
team is Michael felt like isn't the top-selling diecast triumph came just a day got on the board — there's also as a racer, and now he
NASCAR was a platform collectible when it comes after a racially motivated England, Brazil and Israel, is my boss, there's a lot that
that didn't maybe always out, "I'll be scratching my shooting in a Buffalo super- the next three hires," Hamlin goes into ownership. q
Finland tops U.S., Canada defeats

Slovakia at hockey worlds

TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — five-minute power play to twice to spark defending
Sakari Manninen scored increase the lead to 3-0 champion Canada to 5-1
and added two assists for and Mikko Lehtonen add- over Slovakia for a third
host Finland to beat the ed the fourth later in the straight victory.
United States 4-1 and keep frame. After the teams entered
a perfect record at the ice Alex Galchenyuk scored the middle period at 1-1,
hockey world champion- the consolation goal for Dubois scored the eventu-
ship on Monday. the Americans in the third al winner on a power play Morgan Geekie of Canada scores his side's 5th goal during
After Mikael Granlund period. and added one more to the group A Hockey World Championship match between Slo-
gave Finland a 1-0 lead on Finland goaltender Jussi double the advantage for vakia and Canada in Helsinki, Finland, Monday May 16, 2022.
a power play in the open- Olkinuora stopped 29 his fourth goal of the tour- Associated Press
ing period, Austin Watson shots, 15 of them in the fi- nament.
was given a major penalty nal period. Adam Lowry, Morgan three games. Slovakia has In another Group A game,
early in the middle period Finland leads Group B in Geekie and Cole Sillinger, three points. Germany defeated
for a high hit on Teemu Tampere with nine points celebrating his 19th birth- Canada goaltender Lo- France 3-2 for a second
Hartikainen. from three games. The U.S. day, also netted for Cana- gan Thompson made 34 win, while Latvia beat Nor-
Valtteri Filppula and Man- has five points in third. da to top Group A in Hel- saves as they outshot Slo- way 3-2 to record its first
ninen used the following Pierre-Luc Dubois scored sinki with nine points from vakia 44-35. win in Group B.q