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SPORTS Thursday 25 april 2019
NCAA: Replay official can overturn close targeting calls

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The would still result in a 15-yard year. The Tigers and Aggies
NCAA Playing Rules Over- penalty and ejection of the combined to run 207 offen-
sight Panel adjusted the player who committed the sive plays.
targeting rule in college foul. Players ejected in the On average, 37 Bowl Subdi-
football, allowing video second half would still be vision games have gone to
review officials to overturn required to sit out the first overtime over the past four
calls if any element of the half of the following game. seasons. Most end after
penalty cannot be con- The goal of the rule adjust- one round of possessions.
firmed. ment is to call targeting Only six games per season
The adjustment to the more accurately and have have gone past two over-
rule announced Tuesday fewer players ejected for times, but the concern
means there will be no op- borderline calls. The op- was those rare marathons
tion for letting the call on tion to let a call on the field came with increased injury
the field “stand” during a “stand” meant that the risk for players.
targeting review. It must ei- video review official didn’t The panel also approved
ther be confirmed or over- find enough evidence to the elimination of the two-
turned. reverse the call, so the 15- man wedge formation on
The panel also approved yard penalty and player kickoffs that result in sprint-
instituting a progressive ejection remained in ef- ing players running into
penalty for targeting. Play- fect. The rule adjustment double-team blocks. Also,
ers who commit three tar- puts the onus on the replay it is now illegal to block
geting fouls in the same In this Nov. 3, 2018, file photo, referee Reggie Smith reviews official to make a definitive an opponent with forcible
season are subject to a a targeting penalty during the first half of an NCAA college call. contact on the blind side.
one-game suspension. football game in Lubbock, Texas. The overtime rule change It will be a personal foul
Overtime rules also were Associated Press was proposed after LSU with a 15-yard penalty. If
tweaked. If a game reach- another drive at the op- scrimmage and to bring and Texas A&M the block also includes el-
es a fifth overtime, teams ponent’s 25-yard line. The the game to a conclusion. matched a record by play- ements of targeting, it will
will run alternating 2-point change was made to limit Targeting, or illegal hits ing seven overtimes in their be a blind-side block with
plays instead of starting the number of plays from above the shoulders, regular-season finale last targeting.q

IndyCar hoping debris deflector helps protect drivers

By MICHAEL MAROT testing the safety device device, similar to the one
AP Sports Writer designed to reduce the risk adopted by Formula One
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Will of head injuries in the series in 2018, but shelved it be-
Power got his first real that features open cock- cause it couldn’t be fitted
glimpse at IndyCar’s new pits. “You notice it,” the on the car and there were
debris deflector Wednes- Australian driver said during concerns about impeding
day. He is still getting used a rain delay at Indianapolis drivers’ sight lines. Scott Dix-
to the small piece on the Motor Speedway. “But you on and Josef Newgarden
front of his race car. really need to be in it at also worked with a clear
The Advanced Frontal Protection device is shown directly in The defending Indianapolis top speeds, following cars. windscreen last year, but
front of IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden as climbs into his car 500 champion and 2014 se- Anything you can do to IndyCar president Jay Frye
during auto racing testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ries champion was one of protect the head is a good said series officials did not
in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 24, 2019. more than two dozen driv- thing.” IndyCar engineers get the desired results. That
Associated Press ers who spent Wednesday worked on a so-called halo project continues. q

SMI wants to become private

NASCAR track operator

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — and majority stakeholder in through, the two top track
The parent company of SMI, which operates eight operators in NASCAR will
Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks that host NASCAR become private compa-
has made an offer to ac- Cup Series races. Smith and nies. That could ease any
quire all of its outstanding his family also own Sonic. restructuring of the stag-
common stock, the second NASCAR in November of- nant stock car racing se-
move of its kind involving fered to acquire all the ries.
one of the key racetrack outstanding shares of Class In a letter Sonic sent to the
operators in NASCAR in the A and B common stock of SMI board of directors, the
past five months. International Speedway company noted “NASCAR
Sonic Financial Corp. has Corp. not already owned racing has faced several
offered to buy back all out- by the controlling share- challenges in recent years,
standing SMI stock for $18 holders of NASCAR. ISC has and the company has
per share. The stock closed 12 tracks that host 21 Cup been impacted by these
at $13.94 on Tuesday and events. SMI has 13 Cup challenges. NASCAR has Martin Truex Jr. (19) crosses the finish line in front of Joey Logano
the 52-week high for the events, and the NASCAR indicated the sport would (22) to win the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond
stock was $18.36. schedule is 38 races. benefit from structural Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, April 13, 2019.
Bruton Smith is the founder If the ISC and SMI deals go change.”q Associated Press