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Norman, Formal Bounce Back with Dominant Win in COTA Race 2

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Race 2 Provisional Results

 

AUSTIN, Texas – After seeing a win slip away on the final lap the day before, Ryan Norman and Danny Formal weren’t about to let it happen again in Sunday’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America race at Circuit of The Americas.

Norman put in a stellar opening stint in the No. 1 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 and Formal put the hammer down in the second stint to close the triumph by a margin of 10.056 seconds in the 50-minute race. The win elevates Norman, Formal and the No. 1 Huracán to second place in the Pro class standings, just six points from the lead with four races remaining.

On Saturday, Norman was passed for the lead in Turn 1 on the last lap, then contact with another car dropped the No. 1 to fourth at the finish. Norman credited the support of his team for keeping him in the right frame of mind to attack on Sunday.

“You’ve just got to put that stuff behind you and focus on the task at hand today,” Norman said. “The way things finished today, the points worked out really well. I was just trying to give Danny a really good car today and he just pulled away, a beautiful drive.”

Formal, attempting to win the Pro class championship for a third straight year but for the first time with Norman, credited his co-driver’s resolve.

“Ryan had a tough one yesterday,” Formal said. “He’s such a mature driver, he came back today and put on a clinic in his stint. He gave me the car with the best rear tires possible and (I) just went out and give it all for the first five or six laps, we got a nice lead and then we took care of the car.”

Bryson Morris and Loris Cabirou finished second in the No. 30 Ansa Motorsports, Lamborghini Broward Huracán. Ernie Francis Jr. and Giano Taurino, who won Saturday in the No. 88 TR3 Racing, Lamborghini Miami Huracán, finished fourth on Sunday and lead the Pro standings by six points over Norman and Formal.

It proved to be a spectacular day for WTRAndretti, which took wins in three of the four classes. Nate Stacy and Nick Persing (No. 8 WTRAndretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán) completed a weekend sweep of wins in the ProAm class, as did Glenn McGee and Anthony McIntosh (No. 69 WTRAndretti, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán) in Am. In doing so, both driver pairs moved to the top of their class standings.

Persing, in the No. 8 Huracán, was among the last drivers to make the mandatory pit stop. The overcut allowed Stacy to take the class lead when the pit cycle completed and he rolled on win by more than 18 seconds over Patrick Liddy and Blake McDonald in the No. 72 Forte Racing, Lamborghini San Diego Huracán.

“The car was fantastic!” Stacy commented. “It was set up for the end of the race and it was just on rails. We were (running) in the middle of the Pro pack – I think we were P4 overall – and we were just clicking off laps. The car was so dialed. I can’t thank the guys enough.”

Persing and Stacy unofficially moved three points ahead of AJ Muss and Joel Miller (No. 66 Forty7 Motorsports, Lamborghini Philadelphia Huracán) atop the ProAm standings, with Muss and Miller placing third on Sunday.

“It’s been a great weekend,” Persing said. “A sweep is something we’ve been looking for since we started this season. … It feels good to be back in the lead of the championship.”

McGee started from the Am pole in the No. 69 WTRAndretti Huracán but fell back after contact with Francis in the No. 88 TR3 Racing Huracán on Lap 2. He then went off track to avoid a spinning car in Turn 4 but recovered quickly to regain the class lead before handing the car over to McIntosh, who eased away to win by 14.594 seconds over Cole Kleck and Al Morey in the No. 17 Topp Racing, Lamborghini Austin Huracán.

“I settled in (after losing the class lead), ran down first place for Am and then I chucked it into the pits as quick as I can and Tony took over,” McGee said. “He must have had a massive out lap and then he just drove away from everybody. He did an awesome job.”

Added McIntosh, “Once I got in the car, it was pretty simple. The car was well balanced. We had a lot of grip in the corners. I expected it to go away from us but it kept coming toward us. The car was set up to really go the distance and it went the distance.”

The double-win weekend was enough to put McIntosh and McGee – the reigning Am class champions – into first place in the standings, three points ahead of Dominic Starkweather, who finished fifth Sunday in the No. 47 Precision Performance Motorsports, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán.

LB Cup witnessed a weekend winner’s sweep as well. Rodrigo Vales crossed the finish line second in class in the No. 34 TR3 Racing, Lamborghini Miami Huracán, but Rocky Bolduc was penalized 2.631 seconds for his pit stop not meeting the minimum required time in the No. 99 Topp Racing, Lamborghini Boston Huracán. The result gave Vales his second win in as many days, with Bolduc scored second.

“Great weekend, yes,” Vales said. “We tried to do our best. We did a good pit, we stopped correctly and everything went fine, so we won.”

“I didn’t know (that I could win twice). It was a great surprise.”

Nick Groat (No. 57 One Motorsports, Lamborghini Newport Beach Huracán) finished third in LB Cup to extend his class lead to 27 points.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America’s next event takes place Sept. 20-22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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LeJuan James Shines at Orlando Magic Media Day, Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Talks Championship Hopes

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Social Media star LeJuan James connects with NBA star Paolo Bancherol at Orlando Magic Media Day 2024: Credit: LeJuan James, Facebook Page

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Latino social media star LeJuan James, one of the top influencers with 17.9 million likes on TikTok, 3 million Instagram followers, and 3.3 million Facebook followers, made a splash at the Orlando Magic’s Media Day for the 2024-2025 season. Known for his relatable comedic skits that highlight Hispanic culture, James engaged with NBA players and the team’s beloved mascot, Stuff, adding his unique flair to the event.

LeJuan James arrived at Orlando Magic Media Day wearing a shirt featuring Puerto Rican Carlos Arroyo, a former Orlando Magic player. His outfit paid homage to Arroyo’s legacy, showcasing pride in his Puerto Rican roots while also celebrating Hispanic representation in the NBA.

LeJuan James at Orlando Magic Media Day 2024: Credit: LeJuan James, Facebook Page

During an exclusive interview with FNN, James shared his thoughts on the Magic’s potential to bring home a championship, while also reflecting on the significance of his Hispanic roots.

James’ impact on social media continues to inspire millions, particularly within the Latino community, where his content bridges cultural gaps, fostering connection and representation on a global scale.

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J Willie David, III and Mike Brodsky contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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Seven-Time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady Slams QB Baker Mayfield Over ‘Stress’ Comments

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Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield pregame embrace Week 4
Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield shared a pregame faceoff and chat ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles matchup on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Tampa. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)

 

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The tension between NFL legend Tom Brady and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield surfaced following Mayfield’s remarks about Brady’s impact during his tenure with the team.

Mayfield had commented that the seven-time Super Bowl champion “stressed out” his teammates, and Brady did not take kindly to the critique, delivering a sharp response.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht shared images on his phone with new sports analyst and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady during the pregame warm-up in Tampa on Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)

Brady’s Response:

  • “I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings.” Brady made it clear that he had no regrets about his leadership style, further adding, “This wasn’t day care. If I was going to have fun, I was going to Disneyland with my kids.”
  • He emphasized the seriousness of his approach to the game, stating, “There’s a way to approach this game, and it’s with the right mindset to push teammates.”

Fired Up by Mayfield’s Comments:

  • Brady admitted that Mayfield’s words fueled his competitive fire: “It’s still in there. There’s no apologies!”
  • Despite the perceived criticism, Brady offered a nod to Mayfield’s recent success, praising his leadership following the Buccaneers’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Tom Brady Super Bowl 55 Champion

Brady’s return to Tampa was celebrated with a spotlight on him in the booth, displayed on the jumbotron, as the crowd erupted in a standing ovation just two minutes before halftime. Smiling and waving, Brady soaked in the moment, Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)


Brady’s Impact on Tampa and Legacy
:

  • Brady’s leadership, while intense, led the Buccaneers from a mediocre 7-9 team in 2019 to Super Bowl champions in 2020, highlighting the effectiveness of his demanding style.
  • Comparisons were drawn between Brady and NBA legend Michael Jordan, both known for pushing their teammates to achieve championship success, despite potentially creating stressful environments.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield pregame warms up ahead of the Buccaneers’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News)

Key Takeaways:

  • Tom Brady doubled down on his no-nonsense leadership approach, emphasizing that his methods were about achieving results, not coddling teammates.
  • Baker Mayfield, who succeeded Brady in 2023, admitted his comments may have been taken out of context but insisted there were no hard feelings.
  • Brady, now an NFL analyst, still watches closely and offered Mayfield praise after the Bucs’ recent win, saying, “Great leadership by you today. Keep putting some pressure on those guys to be even better.”

The Buccaneers improved to 3-1 with the win over the Eagles and are in first place in the NFC South.

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J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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Baker Mayfield Leads Buccaneers to Victory Over Eagles, 33-16, as Tom Brady Watches On

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Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield postgame press conference Week 4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield speaks to the media on defeating the Eagles 33-16 during postgame press conference Week 4. Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a decisive 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in a heated matchup, with quarterback Baker Mayfield leading the charge. The Florida heat served as a weather advantage for the Bucs, despite the large turnout of Eagles fans.

Key highlights from the game:

  • Mayfield on the Heat Advantage: “Besides all the Eagles fans that you saw out there, yeah, it was home field advantage weather-wise.”
  • Pre-game Exchange with Tom Brady: Mayfield clarified his comments from a recent podcast interview, stating, “None of it was personal… That’s what [Brady] did to bring a championship here.”
  • On Brady’s ‘This Isn’t a Daycare’ Comment: “He did it his own way and that’s why he has seven rings. Not much else needs to be said.”
  • Mike Evans’ Milestone: Wide receiver Mike Evans became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, with Mayfield praising him as a “Hall of Famer, no doubt.”
  • Injury Response: The Buccaneers adopted a “next man up” mentality, with several players stepping up offensively and defensively.

Mayfield also addressed the toll of Hurricane Helene on his preparation, sharing how the team managed the disruption while staying focused on the game.

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J Willie David, III contributed to this report.
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

 

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