Sports
Captain America Star Anthony Mackie Named Grand Marshal for 67th DAYTONA 500
Published
2 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTSDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Daytona International Speedway has announced that actor Anthony Mackie will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 67th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 16. Mackie, known for his role as Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World, will give the famous command, “Drivers, start your engines!” just days before his new Marvel Studios film hits theaters on February 14.
“It’s a privilege to welcome Anthony Mackie as the Grand Marshal for the 67th running of the DAYTONA 500,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “Anthony’s energy and presence will add to the excitement, especially with Captain America: Brave New World set to release the same weekend. Having him deliver the most famous words in motorsports before the green flag waves will make for a truly unforgettable moment.”
Mackie has appeared as Sam Wilson in multiple Marvel films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. His portrayal of Captain America continues in Brave New World, the 35th film from Marvel Studios. Beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mackie is known for his performances in The Hurt Locker, Pain & Gain, The Banker, and Netflix’s Black Mirror. He also stars in and executive produces Peacock’s action series Twisted Metal.
The excitement at Daytona kicks off on Wednesday, February 12, with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light. The Duel at DAYTONA follows on Thursday, February 13, where drivers compete for starting positions in The Great American Race. The weekend includes a full slate of racing, starting with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday, February 14, and a Saturday double-header featuring the ARCA Menards Series Ride the ‘Dente 200 Presented by Chili’s and the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300.
On race day, fans will enjoy a pre-race concert by GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Pitbull before the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the speedway, setting the stage for the green flag to drop on the DAYTONA 500.
You may like
Sports
LIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent
Published
4 days agoon
November 7, 2026By
FNN SPORTSNEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
Basketball
USF Women’s Basketball Opens Season With 80–54 Victory Over Furman
Published
5 days agoon
November 5, 2026By
NISEY LOU S.TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
![]()
A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
![]()
The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– 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
USF Defeats UAB 30–10, Secures Fourth Consecutive Bowl-Eligible Season
Published
1 week agoon
November 3, 2026By
NISEY LOU S.Bulls overcome early deficit behind defensive touchdowns and a record-tying performance from C.J. Hicks.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida (USF) secured its sixth victory of the season Saturday, October 31, defeating the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 30–10 at Raymond James Stadium. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 6–2 overall and 2–2 in American Conference play, making the program bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
Defense Turns the Game Around
UAB opened the game with a 10–0 first-quarter lead, but South Florida responded with 30 unanswered points, highlighted by two defensive touchdowns.
Defensive end C.J. Hicks delivered one of the game’s most significant performances, recording four sacks to tie the USF single-game record. Two of those sacks forced fumbles that resulted in touchdowns.
Late in the second quarter, Hicks forced a fumble by UAB quarterback Ryder Burton, allowing USF defender Asani Redwood to recover the football and return it six yards for a touchdown. The play gave South Florida a 17–10 halftime lead.
Asani Redwood and UAB #71 UAB defensive lineman #71 attempts to tackle USF’s Asani Redwood during the October 31, 2026, matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Hicks created another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, forcing a second fumble that linebacker Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown, extending USF’s lead to 27–10.
South Florida’s defense finished with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, limiting UAB to just 177 total offensive yards, including 17 rushing yards.
Offensive Adjustments Provide Momentum
Following an injury to starting quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered the game and helped shift momentum in South Florida’s favor.
Luke Kromenhoek (#17) USF quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (#17) carries the football while facing pressure from a UAB defender during the Bulls’ 30–10 victory at Raymond James Stadium on October 31, 2026. Photo by Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
Kromenhoek finished with a career-high 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard run that helped establish the Bulls’ offensive rhythm.
Running back Jason Collins Jr. added a six-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10–10.
Kicker Nico Gramatica contributed three field goals, connecting from 31, 30 and 33 yards to help secure the victory.
Bowl Eligibility Marks Another Program Milestone
With its sixth win, South Florida secured bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season, matching the second-longest such streak in program history.
The accomplishment allows USF to qualify for postseason bowl consideration, although an official bowl invitation and destination have yet to be determined.
The victory also kept the Bulls competitive in the American Conference standings, with four regular-season games remaining following the UAB matchup.
Looking Ahead
USF will return to conference competition Friday, November 6, traveling to face East Carolina as the Bulls continue their pursuit of a stronger conference finish and a postseason bowl invitation.
Final Score: USF 30, UAB 10
– 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
Trending
Central Florida News4 days agoFlorida Puerto Rican Lawmakers’ First-Term Impact: FNN Audit Reviews Bills Becoming Law, 1999–2026
Sports4 days agoLIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent
Business1 day agoGetty Images files for Chapter 11. What comes next for Florida photographers and videographers?
Central Florida News8 hours agoDarren Soto defeats Gov. Ron DeSantis’ gerrymandered map, narrowly wins reelection