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SPORTS Tuesday 25 March 2025
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Hendrick Motorsports is off to a great start to the NASCAR season,

but they’re after perfection

By ALANIS THAMES Byron and Larson each
AP Sports Writer have a Cup Series win, three
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — top-five finishes apiece,
It’s been a fast start to the and four top-10 finishes
NASCAR season for pow- each this year. They’ve led
erhouse Hendrick Motors- a combined 203 laps. Bow-
ports. man has one top-five finish,
The racing team has two five top-10 finishes and has
wins in the first six Cup Se- led 62 laps.
ries races of the season, Chase Elliott, driving the
including Kyle Larson’s vic- No. 6 Chevrolet for Hen-
tory at Homestead-Miami drick Motorsports, is sixth
Speedway on Sunday. And in the point standings with
its drivers hold the top three three top-10 finishes. Those
positions in points and four four Hendrick cars are the
of the top six. only Chevrolets in the top
Still, Hendrick Motorsports 10 in points.
vice chairman Jeff Gordon “We’ve had a couple
believes his team is just in races where all four of the
the chase. cars are in the top eight
“The nice thing is, when or 10,” Gordon said, “and,
you get a start like this you know, it’s a finicky sport
and you’re up there in the because you want to get
points, it’s the fine-tuning Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami off to a good start, get in
(that comes after),” Gor- Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Sunday, March 23, 2025. a good position in points
don said. “What you’re Associated Press so that you’re not on your
chasing is victories. Perfec- about 30 laps to go while ed he got around Bowman race on Friday and finished heels and playing catch
tion is what you’re really Larson surged from behind. easier than expected on his fourth in the Xfinity Series on up. That part’s really nice,
looking at.” By Lap 261, Bowman’s No. teammate’s errant move. Saturday despite leading but we’ve been getting
William Byron who last 48 Chevrolet scraped the “Guess I choked that one 132 of 201 laps. He came beat.”
month won his second outside wall, allowing Lar- away, for sure,” Bowman back motivated on Sun- Added Larson: “Although
straight Daytona 500 Lar- son’s No. 5 Chevrolet to said. “Just kind of burnt day, winning his second we’re four of the top six, I
son and Alex Bowman sit get by him and dash off myself up. I saw the 5 (Lar- career Cup Series race at don’t think that any of us
atop the standings. And to a 1.205-second win that son) coming and moved one of his best tracks de- are like the best car cur-
the latter two Hendrick Mo- gave him his first Cup Series around a little bit. ... Just a spite leading only 19 of 267 rently.”
torsports drivers were in a trophy of the year. couple mistakes there. Felt laps. On Sunday, that car, in
battle for the win at Home- Larson said afterward he like we were OK all day.” “I didn’t think anybody Gordon’s eye, was Ryan
stead. could sense both Bowman It capped a busy week- was going to catch (Bow- Blaney’s No. 12 Team Pen-
Bowman, who started first and Wallace, who finished end for Larson, who fell one man).” Gordon said. “You ske Ford.
in the 37-car field on Sun- third for 23XI Racing, might race short of sweeping the just can’t ever count out Blaney dominated he led
day, had passed Bubba start making mistakes as he triple-header weekend. He Kyle Larson, especially at 124 laps and won Stage 1
Wallace for the lead with gained on them. He add- won the Craftsman Truck this place.” after starting sixth.q

Tiger Woods confirms his relationship with Vanessa Trump in a

social media post

By DOUG FERGUSON jamin School with Woods’ mock with her arm draped lationship. It was reminis- photos of them togeth-
AP Golf Writer two children, Sam and across his chest as he gaz- cent of 2013, when he and er to confirm they were
Tiger Woods has confirmed Charlie. She and Charlie es skyward. Lindsey Vonn both posted dating.q
his relationship with the for- competed on an invitation Woods and Vanessa
mer daughter-in-law of at a high-profile junior golf Trump had been featured
President Donald Trump, tournament this week. in gossip outlets for the last
publishing two images to “Love is in the air and life several weeks. She was
social media in a post that is better with you by my married to Donald Trump
said, “Love is in the air.” side! We look forward to Jr. for 12 years. They had
Woods and Vanessa our journey through life five children together.
Trump, who was married together,” Woods said on Woods announced March
to Donald Trump Jr., had X, where he has 6.4 million 11 that he ruptured his left
been seen at Torrey Pines followers. Achilles tendon, knock-
in San Diego along with He added: “At this time we ing him out of the Masters
her daughter, Kai, when would appreciate privacy and likely for the rest of the
Woods arrived for the fi- for all those close to our year.
nal round to hand out the hearts.” It was not clear what
trophy to the winner of the One photo shows Woods prompted Woods, who
Genesis Invitational. He is and Vanessa Trump pos- keeps his personal life Tiger Woods walks to the green on the fifth hole during final
the tournament host. ing together, another fiercely private, to publish round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf
Kai Trump goes to the Ben- with them lying in a ham- photos confirming the re- Club Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Ga.
Associated Press