Sports

Acura’s Van der Zande to Start Rolex 24 at Daytona From Pole

Published

9 months ago

January 22, 2026

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Renger van der Zande will lead the field to the green flag for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona after a post-qualifying penalty reshuffled the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) grid, promoting the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 to the pole position.

The Dutch driver originally qualified second, just 0.102 seconds behind Jack Aitken, during the 15-minute GTP qualifying session that set the grid for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.

Post-Qualifying Penalty Reshapes GTP Grid

Following technical inspection, the No. 31 GTP entry was moved to the rear of the GTP class after officials determined the friction area of the car’s rear skid block exceeded the permitted tolerance. The infraction elevated van der Zande and Acura to the top starting position.

Van der Zande will share the No. 93 Acura with full-season co-driver Nick Yelloly, four-time and reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, and sophomore standout Kaku Ohta.

Strong Acura Momentum Continues

The No. 93 Acura was a frequent Motul Pole Award contender in 2025, earning three consecutive poles from Detroit in May through Road America in August. Yelloly claimed two of those poles, with van der Zande securing the most recent at Watkins Glen in June.

Van der Zande’s fastest qualifying lap of 1 minute, 34.041 seconds (136.281 mph) was just 0.028 seconds quicker than the next-closest competitor, underscoring the tight competition at the front of the field.

With the updated grid, three of the five manufacturers competing in GTP now occupy the top three starting positions.

Cadillac, Porsche Move Up as Field Sets

The No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R advances to second on the grid. The car was qualified by Louis Deletraz and will be co-driven by former Rolex 24 winners Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta.

Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 7 Porsche 963, driven by Felipe Nasr, will start third as Nasr and teammates Julien Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich aim for a third consecutive Rolex 24 victory together.

The sister No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing entry — featuring past Rolex 24 winners Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Scott Dixon, and AJ Allmendinger — will start fourth, followed by the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 with a new full-season pairing of Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, joined by reigning GTP champion Matt Campbell.

Further down the order, both BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 entries outqualified the Aston Martin Valkyrie, with the WRT team overcoming a hybrid issue on its No. 25 chassis encountered earlier in practice.

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Central Florida News

USF Comes Up Short at UTSA as Late Touchdown Seals 31-24 Loss

Published

5 days ago

October 9, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) crosses the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring against UTSA Thursday night at the Alamodome. Photo by Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics.

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

(more…)

Basketball

UPSHOT Announces Professional Women’s Basketball Franchise for Tampa Bay

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Jacksonville Waves battle at the rim against the Charlotte Crown during UPSHOT League action in Jacksonville. Photo by Nisey Spruill/FNN Sports.

New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.

UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.

FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.

UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.

INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.

The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Central Florida News

Orlando Magic Announce $20 Tickets, $2–$7 Concessions for Home Games

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

FNN SPORTS

New affordability options include ticket offers, merchandise deals and select concessions at Kia Center.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic announced new affordability options Wednesday, including $20 ticket offers, select concessions priced from $2 to $7 and merchandise starting at $15, aimed at making home games more accessible to fans.

The initiative includes monthly ticket promotions, community ticket programs, designated concession value menus and retail deals at Kia Center.

“Making Magic games accessible to every fan has always been a priority for our organization, and this season we worked closely with the DeVos family to build on that commitment,” said Charlie Freeman, the Magic’s president of business operations.

$20 Ticket Offers and Community Programs

The Magic’s Monthly Steals Program will offer $20 ticket options for every home game, with offers released on the first of each month.

The team also will offer group ticket options, including complimentary tickets through the Jr. Magic and Honor Roll programs. Discounted tickets will be available to Orange County Public Schools staff and through OneBlood donations.

Fans can find more information at OrlandoMagic.com/MonthlySteals or by calling 407-89-MAGIC.

Concession Value Menu Features Items From $2 to $7

The Fan Favorites Value Menu will be available at Slam Dunk in Section 115 and Flavors of Orlando in Section 218.

Select food and beverage items will cost between $2 and $7. Options include hot dogs, pretzel bites, popcorn, nachos, cookies, chips, bottled water, soda and beer.

“From affordable ticket and concession options to retail merchandise deals, we want to make sure a Magic game remains within reach for families across our community,” Freeman said.

Merchandise Deals Start at $15

The Magic will offer an item of the game at every home game, with merchandise starting at $15.

Weekly deals at the Magic Authentics team shop at Kia Center also will feature a $15 hat or T-shirt. The team’s Eighty9 Collection, an affordable private-label merchandise line, will be available in the shop at each game.

SunRail Partnership Supports Game-Day Transportation

The Magic said they will continue working with SunRail to ensure trains operate after weeknight home games, allowing fans to ride free with a game ticket.

According to the announcement, SunRail serves 17 stations across Central Florida, including locations in DeLand and DeBary, and provides access near Kia Center.

Keeping Games Within Reach for Fans

Freeman said the affordability initiative reflects the ownership group’s commitment to maintaining access as the team grows.

“The DeVos family ownership has been clear that growth on the court should go hand-in-hand with keeping this experience affordable for the fans who support us every night,” he said.