Tuesday, 17 February 2026
20-YEAR NASCAR CUP SERIES STREAK COMES TO A SCREECHING HALT AT DAYTONA
For the first time since 2005, the NASCAR Cup Series has a full-time No. 97 car.
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| Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, NASCAR | Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages |
There weren't many changes to the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup from the 2025 to the 2026 season, but the changes that were made were signifcant.
Connor Zilisch has replaced Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing after spending the year with JR Motorsports' Xfinity Series team, and Suarez has moved to Spire Motorsports to replace Justin Haley.
Haley is the only full-time Cup driver from 2025 who is no longer competing full-time in the Cup Series in 2026, as he has dropped down to the Truck Series with Kaulig Racing, reuniting him with the team he drove for in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series from 2019 to 2023.
But Zilisch isn't driving Suarez's No. 99 Chevrolet in 2026.
Instead, the rookie is using the No. 88 Chevrolet that was used by Shane van Gisbergen in 2025. The No. 88 hadn't been used full-time since Alex Bowman drove it at Hendrick Motorsports in 2020.
The No. 99 shifted back over to RFK Racing, where it hadn't been used since 2016, for their Daytona 500 one-off entry for Corey LaJoie, although he failed to qualify. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, has reverted to the number he used in Australian Supercars (and during the 2024 Xfinity Series season): No. 97.
As a result, the 2026 season is the first season since 2005 to see a No. 97 in the full-time Cup Series lineup.
The No. 97 is also a former Roush Racing number. Kurt Busch took over behind the wheel of the No. 97 Ford late in the 2000 season, and he drove the car until the antepenultimate race of the 2005 season.
For the final two races of the year, after Busch was cited for reckless driving and became "belligerent with Maricopa County (Arizona) sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop", Kenny Wallace filled in for him at Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Prior to 2026, the No. 97 hadn't been used in the Cup Series in any capacity since the 2018 season, when Obaika Racing entered the No. 97 Toyota for Tanner Berrhill at Phoenix and Homestead. David Starr also drove the car at Texas Motor Speedway after failing to qualify at Talladega Superspeedway.
Between 2005 and 2018, appearances for the No. 97 entry were few and far between. Jeff Fuller, who failed to qualify the No. 97 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports for the 2010 Daytona 500, drove the same car later in the year at Talladega.
Kevin Conway drove the same car for the same team twice at Daytona and twice at Talladega in 2011, though his qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500 was unsuccessful.
Bill Elliott got behind the wheel at Talladega and Daytona the following year after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500, before Timmy Hill made a start at Talladega.
- Asher Fair
MOGUL ATTACKED: MILLIONAIRE FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB OWNER STABBED IN HIS OWN HOME AFTER CONFRONTING MASKED ROBBERS
MILLIONAIRE football mogul Fawaz Al-Hasawi was stabbed when he confronted masked robbers in his home.
The former Nottingham Forest owner was injured as they tried to ransack his £10million house.
The Kuwaiti entrepreneur, 57, is thought to have been sleeping when thugs burst into his room, leaving him with stab wounds on his hand and neck injuries.
They fled and it is not clear if anything was taken in Mayfair, central London, earlier this month.
Images online show Mr Al-Hasawi in a bloodied hospital bed and with his hands bandaged.
His lawyers urged cops to give more details of the attack, claiming that other visitors from the Arabian Gulf “fear facing similar incidents”.
Al-Hasawi is a collector of watches, flashing them on social media.
The Met said the injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing and inquiries were continuing.
The businessman bought Forest from the estate of Nigel Doughty in 2012 and sold the Midlands club to Evangelos Marinakis in May 2017 after going through nine different managers in five years.
It comes just weeks after Manchester City star Ruben Dias and his girlfriend Maya Jama were left devastated after an “away day” gang ransacked their home.
Raiders are believed to have stolen more than £1million of designer watches, jewellery, handbags and clothes at their £4 million mansion in Cheshire.
Ruben and Maya had moved into the four-bedroom property before Christmas.
Prem stars fear that someone they know is tipping off burglars with several spooked by last month’s raid.
In December, The Sun revealed the shocking moment thieves fled Tottenham star Yves Bissouma’s mansion after stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of designer gear.
The Premier League ace, 29, has since opened up on several “traumatic” raids on his home, which saw luxury watches, bags and jewellery nicked.
Bissouma, who earns £50,000-a-week at Spurs, has been targeted by thieves three times – losing £1million worth of precious items.
While the month before, Raheem Sterling confronted the masked burglar gang who broke into his home with a knife, it is understood.
The brave dad reportedly got hold of the weapon to protect his young family after the group of robbers smashed into his house.
- Thomas Godfrey
Monday, 16 February 2026
COLLIN MORIKAWA DROPPED SOME MASSIVE NEWS FOLLOWING HIS VICTORY AT PEBBLE BEACH
Collin Morikawa ended the drought and started a new chapter in life and his career at Pebble Beach.
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| Collin Morikawa poses with the trophy following his win at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images |
It was a monumental weekend for Collin Morikawa. Immediately after sinking his winning putt at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he announced that he and his wife, Katherine Zhu, are expecting their first child. Could this be a harbinger of what’s to come?
An emotional message to the fans, and his future baby, from Collin ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6uqTqLWSUQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 15, 2026
When at his best, Morikawa is arguably the best ball-striker in the world. He has put that on display on the biggest stages before, winning both the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship.
Now, Morikawa has eight professional wins, but make no mistake: his most recent victory at Pebble Beach was his most triumphant. Before Sunday, Morikawa hadn’t won on the PGA Tour in over two years. For someone who burst onto the scene with multiple major championships early in his career, the absence from the winner’s circle caused some to question if he would ever return to elite form.
While the world No. 5 eventually showed he can still beat the best the PGA Tour has to offer, the tournament didn’t begin the way he had hoped. Morikawa had a relatively quiet start, playing alongside Sepp Straka and amateur Geoff Yang. On Thursday, he played it safe and carded a modest 69, leaving him tied for 39th.
His amateur partner helped the team score on Friday, but Morikawa himself didn’t move the needle much, shooting a 68 and climbing only eight spots to 31st place.
On Saturday, something shifted. With the amateur portion concluded and his coach, Rick Sessinghaus, urging him to be more aggressive, Morikawa exploded with a 10-under 62. He hit all 18 greens in regulation, and he didn't just hit them. He was tucking shots so close to the pin that many of his birdies were tap-ins. This historic round vaulted him into second place.
On Sunday, Morikawa remained poised under pressure, battling Scottie Scheffler and Sepp Straka all afternoon. On the 15th hole, he drained a clutch 30-foot birdie putt, a massive moment for a player whose putting has long been considered his Achilles' heel.
He capped off the day by flushing a 235-yard 4-iron on the 18th, despite waiting nearly 30 minutes due to a rules issue in the group ahead. He tapped in to seal a one-shot victory at 22-under par.
Worth the wait 🏆
For the first time in 847 days, @Collin_Morikawa is a champion @ATTProAm. pic.twitter.com/suhXNQ4Nkz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 15, 2026
It was a special weekend for the Southern California native in more ways than one. If Morikawa can maintain this blend of aggressive iron play and newfound putting confidence, there is literally and figuratively, new life in his career.
- Joe Dombro
RADUCANU BEATEN BY LUCKY LOSER
British number one Emma Raducanu has been knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships in the first round.
She recovered from a set and a break down against Antonia Ruzic to force a decider but the Croatian prevailed, winning 6-1 5-7 6-2.
Ruzic is ranked 67th in the world and was one of seven lucky losers from qualifying to fill the main draw after several players pulled out through injury, illness or a schedule change.
Raducanu's initial opponent Elisabetta Cocciaretto was ruled out with a thigh problem and Ruzic won the first set in 30 minutes having twice broken Raducanu.
The world number 25 then sought medical attention, just as she did last week at the Qatar Open when she had to retire from her first-round match.
Despite falling 5-3 down after being broken again in the second set, Raducanu fought back to claim two breaks and make it a set apiece.
The Briton won six consecutive games at the end of the second set and start of the third to go 2-0 up in the decider, but Ruzic won the next six to clinch victory.
- Ben Collins
BARCELONA CIRCUIT TO REMAIN ON FORMULA 1 CALENDAR UNTILL 2032
Formula 1 has confirmed an extension of its race contract with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which will see the Spanish venue remain on the calendar on a rotational basis with Spa-Francorchamps until 2032.
The new deal will see F1 race at the Spanish circuit in 2028, 2030 and 2032, with the same slot being occupied by the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in 2027, 2029 and 2031.
Both the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Spa-Francorchamps are also on this year’s calendar.
The news follows Madrid’s arrival on F1’s schedule under the title of the Spanish Grand Prix in September this year as part of an annual deal that runs until 2035.
The new race in Madrid raised questions over the F1 future of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which had hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991, but under the terms of the new deal the race will be called the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
It means F1 will have two rounds in Spain in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
“Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said.
“The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience, both for attendees at the race and for the city as a whole.”
The news follows the recent announcement of the return of the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao in 2027 and 2028.
- Laurence Edmondson
EFE AJAGBA STOPS FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CHARLES MARTIN IN FOURTH-ROUND IN STATEMENT VICTORY IN LAS VEGAS
Efe Ajagba beats fomer IBF heavyweight title holder Charles Martin in a fourth-round knockout win; Ajagba continues to consolidate his top 15 world heavyweight ranking; Martin suffers a fourth defeat in eight fights
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| Efe Ajagba cemented his status as a top contender in the heavyweight division |
Efe Ajagba overpowered former world champion Charles Martin in a ruthless fourth-round stoppage win in Las Vegas.
The Nigerian (21-1-1, 15 KOs), who put on 15 pounds of muscle in his training camp, followed two early knockdowns with three vicious right hands, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to wave off the fight as Martin sagged against the ropes.
After a fairly evenly contested first round edged by Ajagba's hard hitting rights, it was former IBF title holder Martin who looked sharper in the second, landing multiple lefts as he displayed more speed than his bulked up opponent.
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| Former heavyweight champion Charles Martin suffered his fifth professional defeat |
The third round, though, saw Ajagba start to take control when a vicious right hook sent Martin to the ground, following the knockdown with a flurry of punches which left Martin on the ropes.
A second knockdown in the fourth teed up Ajagba to finish Martin off and secure a statement victory that cements his status as a real contender for the world title.
Martin meanwhile, is dropping further and further out of the picture as he suffers a fourth loss in his last eight fights.
"I'm ready to fight anyone in the division," Ajagba said after the fight. "I'm ranked in the top 10, but no one is saying my name.
"I'm putting the heavyweight division on notice."
- Noah Langford
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