Brodie Kostecki has provided details on just how sick he was on the way to taking his first Bathurst 1000 win last weekend.

Speaking on Supercars’ Drivers Only podcast, Kostecki said: “Well, I had the shits with myself, but I literally had the shits that day.

“Physically, I was feeling horrible to the point where I was on the shred. It was not good. I wasn’t feeling good on Friday.

“On the Friday, I was just minimal laps trying to stay fresh for qualifying. But yeah, I was getting a bit of double vision and all that sort of stuff going on. Bit feverish.

“I was glad to actually just put it in the Shootout, to be honest.”

Such were Kostecki’s issues that co-driver Todd Hazelwood was wary about sharing the car in the race with an unwell teammate, joking: “We did joke on Saturday, like, we’re going to have to put a garbage bag in the seat.

“Like, ‘I don’t want to be sitting in that’.”

Brodie Kostecki, Erebus Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Photo by: Edge Photographics

Under the circumstances, the flat-out 30-lap sprint to the end of the race with Triple Eight’s Broc Feeney barely a second behind him – all the while managing a tight fuel window – was even more impressive.

“Those last 30 laps there were gruelling, they were so intense,” Kostecki said.

“It was within a second for a lot of, you know, for over 50 percent of that last stint. And I’ve got a display on my dash that shows me how far Broc was behind me.

“I’d be going down the hill every lap, pretty much hanging my balls out on the line, ready to write this Chiko roll off and roll through the sand.”

The 26-year-old has two rounds remaining until the end of the season, after which he will move to Dick Johnson Racing to race a Ford Mustang in 2025.

Bangladesh have sacked men’s head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe for “misconduct” and “breach of employment terms”.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in a statement that Hathurusinghe was put on notice on Tuesday and, after receiving his response on Wednesday, it held an emergency board meeting where his contract was terminated.

Local media say, external a player claimed the Sri Lankan slapped him during the 2023 World Cup in India.

A BCB statement confirming Hathurusinghe’s termination on Thursday said: “After considering all factors, the Board deemed Hathurusinghe’s explanation unsatisfactory and unacceptable and found his action consistent with misconduct and dereliction of duty. His termination comes into immediate effect.”

AFP and India media outlet Cricbuzz cited a news conference where BCB president Faruque Ahmed said: “I really felt bad from the moment I learned about the incident from the newspapers.

“I am not defending anyone but anything might happen in the heat of the moment.

“But you cannot hit a national player. It is not on. This is the right punishment. It should have happened some time ago.”

The BBC has contacted the BCB but has been unable to verify the allegation against Hathurusinghe.

LANDO NORRIS believes he has been dealt a possible boost in his bid to beat Max Verstappen to world championship glory after Red Bull were ordered to make changes to their car.

Rival teams claimed Red Bull have gained an advantage by running a contentious device which allowed them to adjust the setup of the car between qualifying and the race – something which is not prohibited in the sport’s rules.

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A senior team representative at Red Bull said: “Yes it (the device) exists, although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run.

“In the numerous correspondence we have with the FIA, this part came up and we have agreed a plan going forward.”

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s US Grand Prix, McLaren‘s Norris was asked if the FIA’s move to intervene will hand the title advantage his way.

He replied: “If it has been helping them, and they have been utilising it in a way that people think they have, then maybe it will shift in our direction.

“But they wouldn’t have got several poles and wins because of such a device. I don’t think it will really change anything, but then when you look at the gaps in qualifying, and when the gap has been just hundredths of a second, then you might say this has helped.

“It is good that the FIA are doing such a thing. There is a difference between black and white stuff like this, and a difference between Formula One and pushing the boundaries and innovating.

“That is what we have done a very good job on, but been sure not to go any further than that.”

Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri said: “From what I heard, and I have been told, something like this is not pushing the boundaries, it is clearly breaking them.”

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Norris’ emphatic win at the last round in Singapore a month ago means he trails Verstappen by 52 points with 180 still to play for over the remaining six rounds.

Norris has taken 26 points out of Verstappen in the last four races.

🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁

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And there will be an additional eight points up for grabs in Austin with a sprint race on Saturday.

He said: “After Singapore I wanted to keep going.

“We were in a good rhythm, and we have been for quite a while, but everyone needs a break, including my team.

“It is nice to reboot and put our heads down again.

“I have been happy with how things have gone and I am confident if we keep our heads down and keep pushing we can do it, we can close the gap, but it is not going to be easy.

“I need more than me first, and Max to finish second, but I cannot change that.

“I need to focus on myself and leave the rest to everyone else.”

F1 reporter Isabelle Barker’s prediction

I EXPECT Max Verstappen to go all guns blazing over the next six-rounds. I also think his experience and aggression could give him the edge.

It seems too little too late for Norris showing consistency, despite that dominant win in Singapore last time out.

You can’t help think what could have been had he sorted out his first-lap issues sooner.

Norris needs to prove he has the mental fortitude, because we all know he’s got the speed, the team and the fastest car.

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Verstappen has endured an eight-race winless streak, but he has still managed to score points, with three second-places during that time.

So I think the Dutchman will lift his fourth world-title this season, by the skin of his teeth. 

The feel-good stories and underdogs are gone — eliminated through the first two rounds. Even Alex Bowman, who went from being the fourth driver at HMS to one of the strongest playoff drivers, has now been eliminated after an unfortunate DQ. Half of the eight remaining title contenders are former Cup champions. In fact, every champ from the last four seasons is still in the fight, and all four Championship 4 drivers from last year remain as well. There are no weak links, which should make for a thrilling and dramatic Round of 8 as four of them will see their title hopes shatter into pieces while the other four move on to Phoenix.

Sitting atop the standings is Kyle Larson, the clear championship favorite. He has more wins, more top-fives, and more laps led than anyone else this season. There’s really not more to say about him beyond the fact that he is ‘the guy’ until one of the other prove otherwise, but there’s plenty that could.

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images

For example, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver and the 2020 series champion only has one win this year, but he leads the entire pack in best average finish (11.7). He has been nothing if not consistent, ever-present in the front-half of the field and likely to make some noise in the races ahead. After a dismal 2023 where a broken leg derailed his entire year, he has carefully made his way through the mayhem and unpredictability of this year’s championship without ever truly feeling the pressure of being eliminated. He even entered the Round of 12 cut-off race on the bubble, but he was never really part of that tense storyline as he quickly scored a mountain of stage points. 

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

The only two-time Cup champion in the Round of 8 is a bit of surprise, considering the fact that he was out at the checkered flag last weekend. Bowman’s disqualification nearly three hours later paved the way for his playoff re-entry. Joey Logano, who won the title in 2018 and 2022, is one of just two drivers to win multiple titles under this volatile playoff format. Team Penske is also looking for its third straight Cup title in the Next Gen era, but despite Logano’s resume, he has actually underperformed compared to recent seasons. Despite this, he has shown the ability to step it up when the moment demands it, and that’s nothing new for Logano. Likely the most aggressive driver still in the title fight, he has won at all four tracks that end the 2024 season.

Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang

Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Then there’s his Penske teammate and reigning champion Ryan Blaney. Despite scoring just one point at Watkins Glen in the Round of 16 and crashing out heavily at Talladega to finish a season-worst of 39th, he remains in contention. Like Logano, he knows how to step it up when the pressure is on. In every other playoff race, he’s scored anywhere between 33 and 53 points per race. No driver has ever won back-to-back championships in this knockout format, but the the feisty driver of the No. 12 just might.

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Discount Tire Ford Mustang

Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

So, half of the remaining title combatants have already won championships, including the last four from 2020 – 2023. They are here for a reason, but the challengers who have yet to hoist the Bill France Cup are just as competitive.

For example, there’s Denny Hamlin, despite a somewhat rocky playoff run so far. He’s also got a lot going on right now with a contentious lawsuit against NASCAR involving the team he co-owns, but as a driver, he is the most successful to ever race that has yet to win a Cup title. Three Daytona 500 victories, 54 Cup wins, and five consecutive seasons finishing fifth or higher in the final standings. He has never missed the playoffs since this format was introduced in 2014, and he is perhaps the hungriest driver here. We’ve seen him wall his good friend Larson for wins, we’ve seen him get into physical altercations with Logano (more than once), and he thrives off of fans’ shower of boos every time he wins. This is the exact sort of driver you want going into this round, which is more a battlefield than a stock car race. He will do whatever it takes to smash through that glass ceiling and become a champion.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx One Rate Toyota Camry

Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

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And what about the third Hendrick driver to advance? William Byron started the year by winning three of the first eight races, including the Daytona 500. However, we haven’t seen him in Victory Lane since April. But the driver of the No. 24 appears to be finding his footing just in time for the final stretch. He scored three straight podium finishes in the Round of 12, scoring so many points that he didn’t even need to win in order to lock himself into this round early. It would be foolish to count him out.

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

Tyler Reddick is perhaps the most interesting driver on this list. 23XI Racing has never made it beyond the Round of 8, and neither has Reddick. Of course, there’s also that lawsuit hanging over them. Reddick drove like a champion at Roval, using fresh tires to cut through the field in closing laps, erasing the double-digit points deficit and narrowly escaping elimination. Some might be quick to disregard him but we should remember that this driver won the regular season championship. He has heavily relied on those bonus points through what has been a rough playoffs, but this is a driver who just showed the world that he can extract everything and then some out of the car when his back is against the wall. After that late charge at the Roval, he’s already proven to be championship material.

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Monster Energy Toyota Camry Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports, Mattress Warehouse Chevrolet Camaro Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang

Photo by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Images

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So that’s it for thi — wait, aren’t we missing someone? Oh right … Christopher Bell! As he himself will tell you, everyone always overlooks the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. And there is really no good reason for it. He is quiet and makes little noise on the track, but he is always a contender. Bell is the only driver to have made the Championship 4 in both years of the Next Gen era. He has also finished seventh or higher in seven of the last eight races — the only result worse than that was 14th. He is consistent, ever-present and a very legitimate title threat. Before the playoffs, this writer picked him to win it all for all the reasons we just covered. He is NASCAR’s ‘silent assassin.’ People always wonder where Bell came from when the big prize is in sight, but he’s always been right there, but nobody — including his rivals — seem to realize that until it’s too late.

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, DEWALT Toyota Camry

Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Ralph Vacchiano

NFL Reporter

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Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

With the Davante Adams trade to the New York Jets serving as a backdrop, we took a closer look at the top passing trios in the league — specifically, quarterbacks and their top two wide receivers.

Teams like the Los Angeles Rams, who have Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out, along with the Miami Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa, were not considered because of injuries.

We weighed production and talent, along with the amount of fear these groups put in opposing defenses.

That said, here’s our list of the 10 best quarterback-WR tandems in the NFL right now.  

1. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

Their offense doesn’t always operate at an elite level, but that’s not because of a lack of talent. Burrow is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL, regardless of distance or situation, and he’s got a knack for putting the ball in the perfect situation for his receivers. Not that he needs to, necessarily, for Chase and Higgins. Both of them are so tough when it comes to making contested catches and they both have the explosiveness to turn any throw into a big play.

Chase might be the most explosive receiver in the NFL. He’s averaging 16.6 yards per catch and almost half of that average (7.8) comes after the catch — second best in the NFL among receivers with at least 20 catches this season. And Higgins has become a sure-handed underneath target, with zero drops this season. At some point this season, this passing attack is going to get rolling, and when it does, more wins will likely follow. — Ralph Vacchiano

2. Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud, WRs Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs

Stroud has shown that last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign was no fluke, as he’s now an MVP candidate in his second season. One of the primary reasons for that is the playmakers that the Texans have surrounded him with on the perimeter. Collins is a problem for most NFL cornerbacks because of his size (6-4, 222 pounds) and ability to make contested catches.

Houston added another dimension to its offensive attack in the offseason by trading for Diggs. A former All-Pro who can still get vertical and make plays downfield, Diggs has been most effective in the slot for Houston, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards from that alignment. Add in explosive playmaker Tank Dell, and the Texans have an argument for boasting the best passing group in the NFL. — Eric Williams

3. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts, WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith

The Eagles have almost $200 million in guaranteed money invested in this trio, and they’re worth every penny. The addition of Brown, in particular, transformed Hurts and the Eagles’ offense when he arrived in 2022. The year before, Hurts threw almost exclusively toward the outside where Smith was being double-teamed by everyone. When Brown arrived, he opened up the middle of the field for the Eagles and their offense exploded.

Brown is a master at getting open, especially in the deep middle where he can turn on the jets and turn a 20-yard throw into a long touchdown. In the two games he’s played this year, he’s averaging 21.4 yards per catch. Smith isn’t as explosive or prolific, but he’s shockingly tough for someone with such a slight frame (6-foot, 170). He’s sure-handed too, with no drops this season and only five last year.

Hurts isn’t the most dynamic passer, and he’s not the quarterback he was in 2022. But few are better at creating outside the pocket, where he’s a dangerous runner and has a knack for finding open receivers on extended plays. The ability of Brown and Smith to get open has a lot to do with that. — Ralph Vacchiano

4. New York Jets: QB Aaron Rodgers, WRs Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson

It’s understandable why Rodgers wanted to reunite with Adams. And don’t get it twisted — even though he turns 32 in December, Adams can still play. He’s one of the best route runners in the league, and the chemistry the two had in Green Bay was special. The addition of Adams will make the Jets better in situational football, like third down and in the red zone, because of Adams’ ability to win in compact spaces and make tough, contested catches on a consistent basis.

With Adams in the fold, Wilson will be freed up to stretch the field vertically and make more explosive plays downfield, creating a dynamic duo to take pressure off Rodgers to be perfect in the passing game. While Wilson’s target share will take a hit in the short term, he should get more desirable matchups with Adams on the other side, which will lead to more big plays. Because of their unique and complimentary skill sets, Adams and Wilson will be one of the tougher WR tandems for defenses to prepare for in the second half of the season. — Eric Williams

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield, WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin

This second act for Mayfield has been something to watch. Surrounded with the kind of playmakers he never had in Cleveland, he has suddenly become a more accurate and much more prolific passer. He has always had a canon of an arm, though it came with a tendency to be a little wild. Now he’s got receivers who can handle it.

There are few who have been better or more consistent in the NFL over the past decade than Evans. He’s big (6-5, 231), strong and sure-handed (just one drop this season). And maybe nobody is better at coming down with jump balls. He’s also a reliable red-zone target too, with 18 touchdowns since the start of last season.

And the speedy Godwin is the perfect complement. He’s the YAC king — the NFL leader in yards after the catch, with 324 of his 511 receiving yards coming after the ball hits his hands. And when it hits, it stays there. He has just two drops this year and has averaged only three per season. When Mayfield throws his direction, he has a passer rating of 138.3. — Ralph Vacchiano

6. San Francisco 49ers: QB Brock Purdy, WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel

Credit begins with Purdy, who is doing more of the heavy lifting this season with Christian McCaffrey sidelined. Teams are playing more man coverage and committing more bodies to stopping the run, leading to more throws by Purdy down the field into tight coverage.

But Purdy has successfully made the switch, which is why he’s entered the MVP conversation. Samuel has assumed McCaffrey’s role as the primary movable chess piece in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, lining up all over the field. And after a slow start due to missing the offseason because of a contract dispute, Aiyuk is finally taking on a larger role in the offense. Samuel and Aiyuk remain two of the best receivers in the league in creating explosive plays, and Jauan Jennings has an argument as the best third receiver in the NFL. — Eric Williams

7. Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams

Jared Goff is the most underrated quarterback in the NFL, and he has been since his days in Los Angeles where he took the Rams to a Super Bowl. He’s always been smart and accurate with a strong-enough arm. He certainly can get himself into trouble and has had a few years with way too many interceptions. But for the most part, he’s shown he can win, as long as he doesn’t have to carry a team.

In Detroit, he doesn’t. The Lions have a terrific defense and running game for that. Goff also has a strong receiver duo in St. Brown and Williams. St. Brown is just a notch below the top-tier receivers in the NFL. He had a huge season last year, but it was more because he knows how to get open and is a high-volume player (164 targets last year, fifth most in the NFL).

Williams is the explosive one. He only has 16 catches so far this season, but they’ve gone for 365 yards. His average of 11.6 yards after the catch leads all wideouts. In fact, the next closest receiver (Xavier Worthy, Chiefs) averages 9.0. Brown is the safety net for Goff. But Williams is always one play away from being gone. — Ralph Vacchiano

8. Seattle Seahawks: QB Geno Smith, WRs D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Because of his sheer size, physicality and speed, Metcalf is one of the league’s toughest matchups for defensive backs. However, new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has yet to unlock Metcalf’s skill set in his scheme. Add to that a wily veteran like Tyler Lockett, who remains Smith’s most trusted receiver, and Seattle presents a problem for opposing defenses because of its ability to both stretch the field vertically with Metcalf and win over the middle with Lockett.

But the up-and-comer in the Seahawks’ offense is former first-round selection Smith-Njigba. While the Ohio State product is Seattle’s third receiver on paper, he’ll likely lead the team in receptions and targets by the end of the year because of his sticky hands and ability to create consistent separation in tight quarters. — Eric Williams

9. Atlanta Falcons: QB Kirk Cousins, WRs Drake London and Darnell Mooney

This inclusion goes beyond the 509-yard, four-touchdown game Cousins had two weeks ago against Tampa Bay. At 36 years old and in his first year in Atlanta, he isn’t likely to have many games like that. Cousins’ best attribute is his efficiency. He gets the ball to his playmakers. In fact, 82.7% of his passes this season have been rated as “on target” by Pro Football Reference — the best percentage in the league.

That’s why both of his receivers are off to excellent starts. London looks like he’s ready to finally break out in his third NFL season, as he’s on pace for 108 catches, 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns. At 6-foot-4, 213 pounds, he’s so big and strong, and he has just eight career drops. It never made sense that he wasn’t a better red-zone target. Cousins is the right quarterback to make him one.

Atlanta is also getting a lot from Mooney out of the slot, though he’s dropped a few too many passes this season (five). The veteran is shifty and good at adjusting his route. He and London give Cousins a nice inside-outside combination, which has surprisingly given the Falcons one of the best passing attacks in the league. — Ralph Vacchiano

10. Minnesota Vikings: QB Sam Darnold, WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison

Minnesota has the best receiver in the NFL in Jefferson, so let’s start there. His ability to win contested catches and create explosive plays is elite, giving Darnold someone to throw the ball to when the picture is muddy on any given play. Jefferson’s playmaking alone is one of the main reasons Darnold is experiencing a rebirth in Minnesota.

And while he’s been dinged up this season, Addison proved last year as a rookie that he is a stellar wingman opposite Jefferson. The USC product is a smooth route runner who also makes plays after the catch. And despite his 5-11, 175-pound frame, Addison is not afraid to go across the middle and take big hits while coming down with the football. — Eric Williams 

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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Maloney tells her story in ‘Knock Out Blonde – the authorised documentary of Kellie Maloney’, which is available to stream now on digital platforms.

She is a lifelong Millwall fan but is also a season ticket holder with Portuguese side SC Farense, who are based near her home in Portugal.

“I follow two teams,” Maloney told BBC Sport. “Millwall, because they’ve been my team since I was three years old, and Farense because I spend a lot of time at my house on the Algarve.

“Unfortunately Farense are bottom of the league at the moment, although we did get our first win of the season before the international break – the winner came with the last kick of the game and it was like winning the World Cup.

“We don’t win many games, but we do have probably the second-best goalkeeper in the Portuguese league, Ricardo Velho, who was in the latest Portugal squad. He was only on the bench because Diogo Costa of Porto is their number one, but it was the first time in the club’s 114-year history that a player at Farense had ever been called up by Portugal.

“And everyone should watch out for our former players like Mohamed Belloumi, who left to join Hull for 5.5m euros in August. It’s the highest fee Farense have ever got for a player, and he scored a couple of goals against Cardiff recently.

“Before he left, I sent a message to Mark Bright, who is an ambassador at Crystal Palace, and also to Millwall saying that they should come and have a look at this kid, because he has only just turned 22 and he is going to be worth a fortune soon.”