Sports
Caymus Vineyards Named Official Wine of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA
Daytona Beach, Fla. – Daytona International Speedway announced today that Caymus Vineyards, known for its renowned Cabernet Sauvignon, is the Official Wine of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, bringing the excellence and character of Napa Valley and the state of California to the shores of Daytona Beach.
Fans and guests can enjoy sipping on a glass of famed Caymus Cabernet while watching the twice-around-the-clock race to kick off the start of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech Championship.
“Both Caymus Vineyards and Daytona International Speedway have generations of history with family values at their core, and we couldn’t think of a more fitting partnership for the Rolex 24,” said President of Daytona International Speedway Frank Kelleher. “Bringing people together as they travel from different corners of the world is what we do best at The World Center of Racing and it’s what Caymus does each and every day for those who come together to share a bottle of their wine.”
Caymus Vineyards sits in Napa Valley, Calif. and was started by Chuck Wagner and his late parents in 1972. Its signature Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the region’s most celebrated wines. Recently, the family introduced Caymus Cabernet from California, which will be featured at Daytona International Speedway. Sourced from sites throughout the state that are ideally suited to Cabernet, this wine stems from excitement over the state’s diverse vineyard land and limitless potential. It is supple, dark and rich, bearing the signature hallmarks of Caymus.
This isn’t the first time Caymus has joined forces with the racing regions of Florida. Just last year, Caymus and Homestead-Miami Speedway announced that Sea Sun Wines, made by Chuck’s son Charlie Wagner, was named the Official Wine of Homestead-Miami Speedway. Now racing fans across the entire state, from north to south, can taste the flavors of California while enjoying action-packed racing up-close.
“There’s incredible excitement to racing, and we feel equally excited to share all that we pour into every glass of wine that we produce,” said Chuck Wagner, owner and winemaker of Caymus Vineyards. “Both of these pursuits require a vision, tireless energy, and a commitment to excellence. We’re honored to be part of the Daytona experience and thrilled for fans to enjoy a wine inspired by the greatness of California.”
Guests can experience Caymus at the historic Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, beginning Jan. 19-21 with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 – the nail-biting test session that gets drivers, teams and fans ready for the races less than one week later.
Then, it’s 24 hours of intense on-track battles in the famed Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, with competition starting on Thursday, Jan. 25 and continuing through the wave of the checkered flag on Sunday, Jan. 28.
The Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class looks to continue its charging success after an impressive debut in 2023, with more cars competing in the newest field, increasing an already high level of competition.
Drivers from all over the world, who compete across a multitude of motorsports events, will come together to fight for the title of Rolex 24 At DAYTONA Champion.
Fans can purchase their tickets to the 2024 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Purchase of tickets to the Rolex 24 also includes admission to the ROAR Before the Rolex 24 as well.
NEW 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.
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
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
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