Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stands on the field before kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the December 24, 2023 matchup against the Detroit Lions capturing a quiet pregame moment as Minnesota prepared for a pivotal late-season divisional contest in front of a packed home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings will embark on free agency in five weeks and the NFL draft in April without Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was shockingly fired on Friday after four years with the club. For the time being — perhaps as the full-time option — vice president of operations Rob Brzezinski will take on the interim title of general manager, with Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores expected to take over personnel decision-making, at least to an extent.
Minnesota’s choice to move on from Adofo-Mensah has sparked competing reasons: here’s the list.
So, why did Adofo-Mensah get the axe? Here’s what we know from the grapevine so far.
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Want to Know Why the Vikings Fired the GM? We Have Answers.
It’s a significant and sudden change for the Vikings.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks with reporters at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, with March 26, 2025 marking an offseason briefing that focused on free agency decisions and early draft positioning as Minnesota prepared for the upcoming NFL Draft following roster-shaping moves during a pivotal spring reset for the franchise and its leadership group. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
An Aloof Persona
Adofo-Mensah reportedly didn’t work the traditional hours of an NFL general manager, balancing a home life and young children. Some have whispered that he took a two-month-long paternity leave, which is fantastic, but uncommon and perhaps frowned upon in NFL circles.
The guy hired as the “Moneyball GM” four years ago indeed effectuated his version of Moneyball in the Twin Cities, leading him to work behind the scenes when brokering in-person relationships might’ve been the wiser priority. Think of it as a manager at your job who largely stays in his or her office when he or she could be out boosting morale and showing a team-player attitude.
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In short, the “spreadsheet guy” appears to have preferred the solace of spreadsheets to that of human contact.
A String of Terrible Trades
In one year alone, Adofo-Mensah confusingly traded strong roster pieces like Harrison Phillips (DT) to the New York Jets and Mekhi Blackmon (CB) to the Indianapolis Colts for somewhat worthless 6th-Round picks. Sixth-rounders are akin to purchasing $2 scratch-off tickets and expecting to win $100,000. It usually doesn’t work that way.
In fact, glancing at the current depth chart in 2026, Minnesota could use Phillips and Blackmon on the depth chart right now. Both men played meaningful roles with their respective teams in 2025.
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Moreover, Adofo-Mensah onboarded Adam Thielen, a 35-year-old, for a deal involving a 4th-Round pick to Carolina late last summer. That transaction would’ve been great if a) Thielen was used as a WR3 b) he hadn’t reached an age-related decline. Minnesota never used Thielen as a WR3, and within a few weeks, he seemed “washed.”
Thielen requested his roster release three months later and retired after that. The Vikings won’t have a 4th-Rounder in 2027 because of the weird gaffe. The Carolina Panthers fleeced Adofo-Mensah. Thielen barely played, didn’t have a retirement ceremony in the Twin Cities, and is now gone forever.
Robert Kraft
You will read on the internet this week that Adofo-Mensah had a deal lined up with the New England Patriots to trade for the third overall pick in 2024, netting the Vikings Super Bowl-bound quarterback Drake Maye. That part is true.
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The false part? Some are insinuating that Adofo-Mensah backed out of the deal at the last second. That is false. Robert Kraft, the Patriots’ owner, vetoed the trade in the 11th hour.
New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft watches warmups at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on November 8, 2023, as the longtime executive observes preparations from the sidelines before a matchup against the Philadelphia Union. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports.
Had Kraft not intervened — for the Patriots’ sake, thank God he did — Minnesota would’ve drafted Maye, and the rest would be history. However, Kraft acted wisely, getting the best version of cold feet for his organization.
Kraft singlehandedly might’ve sealed Adofo-Mensah’s fate with the reversal.
J.J. McCarthy Not Game-Ready
With Adofo-Mensah gone, many have now suggested everything that has gone right for the Vikings is attributable to Kevin O’Connell, with all the nasty malarkey to the fault of Adofo-Mensah. Pretty convenient, eh?
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No matter what, the buck stopped with Adofo-Mensah on the J.J. McCarthy draft pick. The Vikings can preach a “culture of collaboration,” and that’s peachy, but at the end of the day, the general manager makes the draft picks.
Adofo-Mensah picked McCarthy as the face of his competitive rebuild. Three and a half months later, McCarthy succumbed to a torn meniscus in August 2024, and when he healed, he very vividly wasn’t ready for the bright lights of the QB1 job in 2025. McCarthy flashed at times and in clutch moments, but it wasn’t enough to propel Minnesota to the 2025 postseason. He also suffered more injuries.
Like the would-be Maye trade, had McCarthy stayed healthy, Adofo-Mensah might still be employed. But let’s face it: the guy drafted by Adofo-Mensah to define his legacy has not panned out over two seasons, missing 70% of games due to injury.
The Sam Darnold Decision
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Why was Adofo-Mensah canned three and a half weeks after the Week 18? Probably because Sam Darnold’s visit to the Super Bowl served as a smoking gun and the straw that broke the camel’s back. Think about it: the two guys in the Vikings’ orbit to possibly lead the purple team in 2024 and 2025 — Darnold and Maye — will play in the Super Bowl next weekend, while Vikings fans wonder if McCarthy is even durable enough to develop into a long-time starter.
The Vikings’ owners, Mark and Zygi Wilf, probably watched Darnold advance to the Super Bowl and thought, “Oh my dear God.”
Adofo-Mensah again is the victim of after-the-fact theories that claim “O’Connell wanted Darnold and Adofo-Mensah did not,” but the fact remains that the Vikings general manager did not re-sign Darnold or franchise tag him. That guy is now in line to win Super Bowl MVP.
Poor Drafts
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Every NFL team starts with seven picks in a draft. For Adofo-Mensah, that means he had 28 swings at the plate since taking over in 2022.
His 28 picks have resulted in these success stories: Jordan Addison (WR), Jalen Nailor (WR), Will Reichard (K), Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT), and Dallas Turner (OLB). Five dudes.
Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine prepares on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, on August 20, 2022, showing pregame warmups before a preseason meeting with the San Francisco 49ers, as the rookie gained early experience adjusting to the NFL environment during his first professional season. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
That’s five good players in four years. Some teams have quadruple that.
One can deduce that Adofo-Mensah connected on 17%-20% of draft picks. That’s not sustainable — at all — and will murder any franchise if no remedy is sought. Minnesota’s fix will be finding somebody who can draft.
It is not normal to have just five contributors from the draft in four years. It’s downright cancerous for team-building. The draft is the only place in sports to get “free” players. In the last few years, Vikings fans have basically conceded, “Well, we won’t hit on hardly any picks, so let’s hope free agency goes well.”
Mikaël Kingsbury has always credited those around him for his success. Now as his career winds down, it’s his turn to receive some praise for his impact on freestyle skiing.
Before the Canadian championships, the 33-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que., paid tribute to many people while reflecting on his career. Near the top of that list was Alexandre Bilodeau.
At a time when he was just a rookie on the World Cup circuit, the “King of Moguls” tried to absorb everything he could by studying the sport’s elite athletes. Already well established, Bilodeau was among them.
“I had a similar mindset,” said Bilodeau, who won Olympic moguls gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. “You learn from the best by being around the best. I watched Jeremy Bloom and Janne Lahtela, and then you take bits from each of them that stand out to you, and that helps you find your own path.”
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Years later, it’s clear the student has surpassed the teacher. Kingsbury, 33, will retire Saturday night with a resume that includes 100 World Cup wins, 29 Crystal Globes, nine world titles and five Olympic medals, including two gold.
“The question answers itself,” said Bilodeau, a 19-time World Cup winner on the World Cup circuit, when asked what Kingsbury represents to freestyle skiing.
“Mikaël is a legend of our sport. He’s broken every record. The person I got to know when he was younger and the human he’s become, he’s an amazing person that I have a lot of respect for.”
Bilodeau knows Kingsbury well, since their families owned cottages near each other in Saint-Sauveur, Que. Bilodeau’s sister, Béatrice, is the same age as Kingsbury, and they skied together.
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“I saw him grow up,” Bilodeau said. “I’ve known for a long time that he’d make it to World Cup competition and break through. Did I think he’d win this much? Maybe not, but he always had great talent, and he’s probably one of the most passionate people about our sport.
“He’s truly passionate, and when you’re passionate, that makes a big difference,” he added. “I think everyone on the World Cup circuit is passionate, but Mikaël still lives and breathes it. He still watches videos of Jean-Luc (Brassard) and Lahtela, and he’s 33.”
While Kingsbury holds virtually every record in the discipline, he’s not the only Canadian with an impressive resume. Before him, Brassard, Bilodeau, Jennifer Heil and Justine Dufour-Lapointe all won Olympic gold and piled up World Cup wins.
No one wants to take anything away from the talent of rising skier Julien Viel and his teammates, or place too much pressure on them. But one thing is clear: Kingsbury cannot be replaced on the national team.
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A dip in results is therefore expected, not that it’s concerning.
“It’s like any sport,” Bilodeau said. “You have to expect a bit of a lull, but young athletes develop quickly over a five or six-year cycle. Would anyone have thought that little Mikaël skiing in Saint-Sauveur would go on to win 100 World Cup gold medals? Probably not.”
The next wave of success could come sooner than expected thanks to the legacy of Kingsbury, who never shied away from a leadership role or from setting the standard.
“He started out as an idol,” Viel said. “When I was young, I wanted to be like him. Then he became my mentor, he gave me a lot of advice. And finally, he became my rival. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have him. I wish him all the best in retirement.”
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Kingsbury’s impact extends well beyond moguls. News of his retirement resonated in Mont-Sainte-Anne, where a snowboard cross World Cup event is taking place this weekend.
“What he’s done for sport in Quebec, it helps other disciplines get more recognition,” said Éliot Grondin, a two-time Crystal Globe winner. “We’ve never had an athlete as dominant as him in Quebec.”
“He’s really a great source of inspiration for Quebec sport,” added Audrey McManiman. “I don’t know him personally, but I had the chance to meet him at the (Milan Cortina Games) opening ceremony. He carried our flag with pride. It was special to walk behind him. He brings great energy and a calm presence. There’s a lot other athletes can learn from that.”
Will that legacy be enough for a Canadian to one day surpass Kingsbury’s records? Nothing is impossible, Bilodeau said. But it won’t be easy.
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“Ten years ago, would we have thought Wayne Gretzky’s records could be broken? No,” Bilodeau said. “And they were last year. There are so many factors that come into play that can change the picture, whether it’s rule changes, career longevity, injuries. There are tons of variables.”
Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover car crash in Florida on Friday afternoon and has subsequently been released on bail, following his arrest and charge for driving under the influence.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident took place on Jupiter Island, in the same town where 50-year-old Woods lives, just after 2pm local time.
Tiger Woods has been released on bail after his arrest for a car crash in Florida (AP)
Authorities say it was a two-car collision, with Woods’ Land Rover clipping a pressure-washer vehicle at speed and flipping over, before skidding down the road on the driver’s side.
The golf icon was kept in jail for eight hours before being released on bond, with the Sheriff’s Office confirming he had been released in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed Woods has been charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test – offences which are not felonies. Budensiek also stated that there were no injuries from the crash and admitted “this could have been a lot worse”.
Budensiek revealed that Woods refused to give a urine sample after passing a breathalyser test, leading authorities to suspect he was under the influence of a “medication or drug” as he tried “not to incriminate himself”. There were no medications in Woods’ car.
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“ Our DUI investigators came to the scene here and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment,” said Budensiek.
Tiger Woods’ Land Rover rolled over in the crash (Martin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.
“And when it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail. At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.
“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused and so he has been charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.”
Speaking about any injuries sustained by Woods, who was the only person in his vehicle, he added: “He was not injured. Again, he was lethargic on scene, but that we believe was because of what he was intoxicated on.”
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The local sheriff said there were no injuries from the crash and admitted ‘this could have been a lot worse’ (AP)
Budensiek said the driver of the pressure-washer trucker “thankfully” emerged uninjured and expressed his relief that no passers-by were hurt in the incident.
He said: “This is a small two-lane road. Had somebody been moving in the opposite direction, we would not be having a conversation saying there were no injuries.”
“He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident and that’s all I know. He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man. Some difficulty, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Woods was previously involved in a high-profile rollover crash in California in 2021, which left him with serious injuries. Authorities said he was driving at least twice the 45mph speed limit when he SUV struck a tree, causing the vehicle to fly through the air and land on its side.
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At the 2021 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said: “I’m lucky to be alive and also have a limb,” revealing it was 50-50 as to whether part of his right leg would require amputation.
The American was also arrested for driving under the influence in Florida in 2017, after which he checked himself into a clinic for prescription medication.
Woods has been involved in three high-profile car accidents (REUTERS)
Woods was was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail (Getty Images)
In 2009, he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home in an incident that led to a spectacular unravelling of his private life.
Woods had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery last September and his status for next month’s Masters remains unclear.
He admitted he got his “a*** kicked” after returning to golf in the TGL Finals (an indoor, virtual league) this week with his team Jupiter Links, who lost the Finals.
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Woods has only just returned to competitive action for the first time in over a year (AP)
His last official tournament was The Open in 2024, before rupturing his Achilles tendon in March 2025 which that kept him off the course all season prior to back surgery.
And while the 15-time major champion has lifetime eligibility to play at the Masters, as a previous five-time winner of the green jacket, US president Trump suggested a decision had already been made.
“I love Tiger, but he won’t be there,” Trump said while appearing on “The Five” on FOX News. “He’ll be there, but he won’t be playing in it.”
She broke her maiden at Caulfield Heath in November, then fifth in Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield, prior to 11th placing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on February 21 to winner Streisand.
Almost An Angel had been set for Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington March 7, but wide draw and eye infection caused withdrawal.
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According to Griffiths, he favored trialing Almost An Angel on Flemington’s straight Saturday but recognized Morphettville as superior for her ‘Black Type’ quest.
“We’re keen to get ‘Black Type’ because she’s got the talent and deserves to have it,” Griffiths said.
“She ran fifth in the (Blue Diamond) Prelude and if she runs fourth, she gets the big black writing next to her name.
“Damian Lane was pretty happy with her that day and said we should have a throw at the stumps in the big one and she drew poorly and got into a bad spot, so it was a forgive run.
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“She was in the Sires’ but she drew wide and had a bit of an eye infection, so we decided to miss that and switch our attention to one these races.
“We sent her down the beach, she’s done some steady work, and here we are.”
There are benefits and downsides to both Saturday fixtures, Griffiths pointed out.
“She’s never been down the straight, so that was a negative, but the 1200 metres would suit,” Griffiths said.
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“But in saying that she’s won at 1000 (metres) at Caulfield Heath and she was terrific at 1100 (metres) at Caulfield, so you would think 1050 metres on a big track at Morphettville would be good.
“There is the travel over to Adelaide, but Morphettville is the better option, so we’ll head over and give it a shot.”
RCB’s Phil Salt celebrates after taking the catch of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s captain Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo)
Phil Salt produced a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss Ishan Kishan, bringing an end to a commanding knock in the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Kishan was batting fluently on 80 off just 38 balls and looked set for a century when he attempted to guide a full toss outside off towards the boundary. The ball seemed destined for the ropes, but Salt had other ideas. Running hard to his right from point, he stretched out fully and completed a one-handed catch at full reach, pulling off a stunning dismissal that could be among the catches of the season.It was not the only moment Salt made an impact in the field. Earlier, he was involved in another crucial catch near the boundary. Positioned at midwicket, he settled under a high ball but went down while completing the take, raising doubts over whether he had touched the cushions. The decision was sent upstairs, and after a close review, the third umpire ruled it clean, confirming the dismissal despite visible uncertainty. Heinrich Klaasen, who was dismissed, appeared unhappy with the verdict as he walked off.Kishan’s innings had been the backbone of Hyderabad’s total. Leading the side, he smashed 80 off 38 balls with eight fours and five sixes, adding 97 runs with Klaasen for the fourth wicket after early setbacks. His aggressive approach kept SRH in the contest despite a strong spell from Jacob Duffy.However, Salt’s stunning effort shifted the momentum back towards Bengaluru at a key moment. With Kishan gone, SRH lost some momentum in the death overs and eventually finished on 201 for nine, a total that looked slightly below par given the platform they had built.In a match that marked the return of IPL action to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Salt’s fielding stood out as one of the defining moments of the innings.
Gary Woodland is lighter now. Better golf has followed, and it’s showing itself this week in Houston.
Two weeks ago at the Players Championship, Woodland unburdened himself in an emotional interview with Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, where the 2019 U.S. Open champion revealed he has been diagnosed with PTSD following a brain procedure to remove a tumor in 2023. Woodland said that doctors told him that “in an ideal world,” he wouldn’t be competing on the PGA Tour.
“My response was, in an ideal world, I don’t have this. This is my dream and this is what I’m going to do, and no matter how hard it is, I’m going to play,” Woodland told Hoggard. “I want to live my dreams and I want to be successful out here, but I want to help people, too, but I realize now I got to help myself first.”
Woodland missed four of his first six cuts in 2026, but he posted a T14 at last week’s Valspar Championship and arrived at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, a place where he finished T2 last year, feeling better about the daily battle he faces and his dream of competing and winning again on the PGA Tour.
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On Thursday, Woodland’s improved play continued when he opened with a 64 to put himself in contention early at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
“I literally feel like I got a thousand pounds off my back that day,” Woodland said Thursday about revealing his PTSD diagnosis. “It was hard to do. I was crying going into the interview, and I left feeling a thousand pounds lighter. I have a battle that I’m fighting, but it’s nice to not do that alone, I can tell you that. We’ll take it one day at a time and continue to get better. But the Tour out here is a family and they’ve been amazing. The golf world’s been amazing and I’m very thankful.”
Woodland’s PTSD reveal is a big key to his recent on-course turnaround. He feels free, like he doesn’t have to hide what he’s going through. But while that decision to open up is the clear catalyst for Gary Woodland’s change, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Just the one that helped bring it all together.
A year-and-a-half ago, Woodland went back to his coach, Randy Smith, and made some adjustments to his swing that have him leading the PGA Tour in driving distance.
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“He pretty much called me soft, told me I was guiding it, and that’s not ever how I played in my whole life,” Woodland said of Smith. “He wanted me to get back to swinging hard and aggressive, playing to my strengths. It’s been a process to get there, but we’re starting to swing at it again like I used to.”
While Woodland has been outdriving everyone on the PGA Tour, his iron play hasn’t matched up for him to take advantage of his length off the tee. But Woodland made a shaft change at last week’s Valspar, switching to shafts he used from 2015-2019, and they are already paying dividends.
“It’s a shaft that I played all through ’18, ’19, I think ’15, ’16, ’17. I played it for a long time,” Woodland said. “Switched out of it last year just because my speed had dropped and I was trying to find something that was a little more forgiving. My speed’s back and I put those babies back in and it was nice.”
Woodland followed up his first-round 64 with a 7-under 63 to enter the weekend at 13-under, holding a three-shot lead over Nicolai Hojgaard and Jackson Suber.
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Woodland knows that a lot can happen over 36 holes. But on a golf course that allows him to be aggressive in front of a crowd that hopes to will him to a win, everything is in front of a freed-up Gary Woodland this weekend in Houston.
“There’s no doubt, and I feed off that,” Woodland said of the Houston crowd. “This, as much as any week, I feel like I’ve had a lot of support. Kind of feel like I’m playing at home. The fans have been amazing. I kind of need that energy to help me through the day, that definitely helps. That’s something hopefully I can ride on this weekend as well.”
As for what it would mean if he were the one lifting the trophy on Sunday, Woodland wouldn’t let himself drift that far into the future. Like every day, he’s just taking it one step at a time.
“I’m proud of myself for the way I played,” Woodland said. “Like I said, 36 holes, continue to do what I’ve been doing and then we’ll see where we’re at at the end.”
Reflect back two years when Mark Twain’s connections rejoiced over a ballot exemption secured for the Melbourne Cup.
Six months after dominating the Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, those plans fell apart from a tendon setback Mark Twain encountered preparing for 2024 spring racing.
Advance to Saturday, where Mark Twain graces the identical Flemington program he won on two years ago.
His current goal shifts from Cup exemption to Group 1 glory via the Australian Cup (2000m).
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This will be his second appearance for Phillip Stokes’ stable on Saturday, building on a notable third in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington March 24.
A subsequent easy jump-out at Flemington has followed, as Stokes prefers him fresh for assignments.
“Four weeks between runs with a jump-out in between, I feel that’s the best way to have him, fresh with three weeks being the minimum,” Stokes said.
“It’s a hard race, but the favourite (Birdman) was the one that beat us (last time), and we can only improve and I think the Flemington 2000 (metres) is ideal.
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“He ticks a lot of boxes, but we need to see it again, and I’m sure we will because we’ve been very happy with his work.
“He’s very relaxed and happy, so we go their quietly confident.”
Mark Twain, once handled by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, snared the Roy Higgins on a flying visit two years past.
After recovering from injury, one New Zealand start preceded close-spaced Melbourne runs with lacklustre outcomes.
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“After his issues, he may not have come up last prep, and they were racing him every two weeks,” Stokes said.
“The prep previous to that, he was going a lot better, and I noticed they were spacing his runs a lot more and he was racing well.
“He was working well leading into his first-up run and I tipped him to a lot of people, saying to have something each-way on him.
“We know he’s a good horse when he’s right, so let’s hope he’s somewhere near his best.”
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Stokes will gauge Mark Twain’s efforts this Saturday before charting the stayer’s future path.
Punters should check online bookmakers for Australian Cup betting options.
The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season heads to Martinsville Speedway to kick off NFPA 250, the seventh event of the season.
NFPA 250 is expected to be exciting, as all 38 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers taking the grid will be racing to win the seventh race of the season on Saturday (March 28) at the 0.526-mile-short oval track.
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NFPA 250 can be enjoyed live on CW, and radio coverage will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. It will be telecast on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET.
Along with the win, there will be monetary incentives for the NFPA 250 winner. In 2026, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville boasts a prize pool of $1,651,939.
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On X (formerly Twitter), FOX Sports’ motorsports journalist Bob Pockrass announced the prize money that is up for grabs at the Martinsville O’Reilly Auto Parts race.
“Purses for Martinsville weekend including all payouts for all positions, charter payouts, contingency awards, etc.: Cup: : $11,233,037 O’Reilly: $1,651,939”
Purses for Martinsville weekend including all payouts for all positions, charter payouts, contingency awards, etc.: Cup: : $11,233,037 O’Reilly: $1,651,939
On Friday, March 27, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series action at Martinsville started with a practice session at 4:20 pm ET, followed by a qualifying session at 5:25 pm ET. It will be followed by the 131.5-mile main event. The practice and qualifying sessions will go live on CW.
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List of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series NFPA 250 at Martinsville winners
Sam Ard and Jimmy Hensley are the most successful drivers at the NFPA 250 at Martinsville, with two wins each.
1982 – Sam Ard
1983 – Sam Ard
1984 – Jack Ingram
1985 – Brett Bodine
1986 – Morgan Shepherd
1987 – Brad Teague
1988 – Jimmy Hensley
1989 – Tommy Ellis
1990 – Tommy Houston
1991 – Jimmy Hensley
1992 – Kenny Wallace
1993 – Ward Burton
1994 – Terry Labonte
2021 – Josh Berry
2022 – Brandon Jones
2023 – John Hunter Nemechek
2024 – Aric Almirola
2025 – Austin Hill
Who is in the top 5 in the Xfinity Series points table ahead of NFPA 250?
After winning last week’s race at Darlington, Justin Allgaier moved to the top spot in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points table with 306 points.
Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill stands second with 254 points, followed by Carson Kvapil with 222 points, Sheldon Creed with 218 points, and Austin Hill with 210 points to complete the top five.
Manchester United talisman Casemiro has made a big statement by calling on his manager to reverse his decision and recall a household name
Casemiro has risked the wrath of Carlo Ancelotti after campaigning for Neymar to be reinstated in the Brazil squad. Ancelotti drew ire from many fans for omitting Neymar from his latest selection, with Manchester United’s Casemiro among those to disagree with the decision.
Neymar, 34, has been on a downward slope since re-joining boyhood club Santos in 2025. The attacker continues to shine in brief individual moments but the club has nevertheless become embroiled in a battle against relegation from the Brasileiro Serie A.
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Ancelotti has not been convinced enough to retain the veteran’s talents ahead of what is likely to be his last chance to feature in a World Cup. However, this does not sit well with Casemiro, who was part of the team that lost 2-1 to France in a friendly on Thursday.
“We know how good Neymar is,” he said following defeat to Les Bleus. “He is indispensable to any national team, and especially when he is in form, he is one of the best in the world. For my generation, he is one of the top three: Cristiano, Messi and Neymar.”
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The former Real Madrid star acknowledged he won’t be responsible for whether Neymar is at World Cup 2026. That decision rests solely with Ancelotti as Casemiro continued: “It’s not up to me to decide who they’re going to call up.”
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The 34-year-old, who has enjoyed a recent resurgence at United, was not the only one to address Neymar’s omission. The team were 2-0 down when Brazilian fans in the Gillette Stadium began chanting, “Ole, ole, ole, Neymar, Neymar,” in the 65th minute.
Brazil failed to record a statement victory over France on US soil. France took the lead through Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike, with Bremer’s late goal unable to inspire a Brazilian comeback.
While fan sentiment was clear, Ancelotti brushed off questions about Neymar. The veteran manager preferred to discuss those he had picked, having started the game with a quartet of forwards in Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Junior and Gabriel Martinelli.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
“We should be talking about those who were here, who played, who gave their all, who stepped up, and who worked hard,” Ancelotti said. “I am satisfied.”
On Brazil’s overall performance, he added: “I think today’s game makes it very clear to me that we can compete with the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about that.
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“We played against a very strong team with a lot of quality, and we competed until the very last moment, while the opponent was wasting time to secure the victory. I am convinced that we will fight for the World Cup with all our energy.”
United midfielder Casemiro played 84 minutes, earning his 83rd cap for Brazil and captaining his country. Meanwhile, Cunha featured for 71 minutes before being replaced by Brentford striker Igor Thiago. Brazil are now preparing to face Croatia in Orlando, Florida next week.
There was one thing Brooks Koepka wanted to accomplish this week in Houston. After three straight top 20s and with his iron play leading the PGA Tour, the five-time major champion wanted to put himself in the weekend cauldron at Memorial Park to see if his game is ready for what’s on the horizon.
“I do feel like it is ready. The only thing is, I really haven’t put myself in contention with nine holes to go. That’s really the last missing piece that I feel like I need to accomplish here before Augusta. But the game feels good. Everything’s trending in a nice direction.”
All signs pointed to Koepka’s declaration being true. His iron play has been phenomenal, a diagnosed driver issue should have cleared up his biggest issue at last week’s Valspar and a recent change to the TaylorMade Spider putter had finally seemed to fix a putting issue that has plagued him for two years.
That last one was the key.
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Koepka returned to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open and lost over seven shots on the greens. Koepka made the switch to a mallet putter in Phoenix and missed the cut. But he seemed to find something on the greens at the Cognizant Classic, where he gained 2.7 strokes putting. That dipped at TPC Sawgrass, but Koepka still finished T13. The putter was working again at last week’s Valspar, where Koepka picked up over two strokes on the greens again en route to a T18 finish.
All of that had him arriving at the Texas Children’s Houston Open believing that relentless, exacting type of golf that won him five majors was back.
“Now I can sit back and kind of play golf how I used to play in ’17, ’19, kind of in that run when I was playing very good where I can be very patient and just kind of wait my time,” Koepka said. “I said it was like conservatively aggressive. I picked the right line, the right spot to make sure that I was never going to make double. I made a few doubles over the last few weeks, which has been kind of irritating. My game is rounding into form. I can see it. I don’t know if maybe results-wise, it probably hasn’t looked that way, but I can see it as a whole, it’s really all starting to come together.”
But things are never linear or simple in golf.
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Koepka started his week in Houston 2-under through six, but finished his opening nine with two double bogeys. After coming home in 38, Koepka signed for an opening-round 5-over 75. He shot 1 under on Friday, but the damage was done. In two rounds, Koepka lost over three shots putting and lost over a shot on approach, which gave him an early trip home from Houston and some work to do to prove that Brooks Koepka before the Masters in two weeks.
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While Koepka arrived in Houston looking for final proof that he was back ahead of major season, one of golf’s most consistent performers was still looking to punch his ticket to Augusta National.
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Rickie Fowler entered the week ranked 61st in the Official World Golf Rankings. Fowler opened the year with three straight top-20 finishes and then posted a T9 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The arrow has been trending up for Rickie Fowler for some time. Fowler played good golf during the summer last year and finished inside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, securing his spot in all of the 2026 Signature Events. That security allowed him to take time off during the fall to rest a shoulder injury that he battled through in 2025. His body is healthy in 2026 but he credits his consistency to open the season to something else.
“I think a lot of it is on the mental side, not trying to do too much or anything special,” Fowler said on Thursday in Houston. “Trying to kind of let the rounds come to me and piece things together and kind of plot my way around.
“I’ve definitely become a better golfer as a whole. I would say this year and going into where I’m at now, I feel like some of the best I’ve swung it as far as controlling the golf ball and what I’ve been able to do. I think there’s a combination of a lot of things. If you’re not getting better mentally over the years and kind of learning and figuring out better ways to get around and score and play golf, it’s never necessarily that easy, but you would think — this is my 17th year on Tour, I better know my way around a bit.”
But despite his consistent play, Fowler still is not in the field at Augusta National. With this being the final week before the top-50 cut-off for the 2026 Masters, Fowler likely needed a top-five finish to jump inside the number and secure a trip to Magnolia Lane.
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Needing a good week in Houston, Fowler fired an opening-round 67 to put himself in the mix.
But the wheels quickly came off on Friday at Memorial Park.
Fowler made a sloppy double-bogey at the par-3 second to drop onto the cutline. Birdies at No. 3 and 8 got him back to even on the day, but a double-bogey at the ninth wiped those away. Fowler got one shot back at the 10th, but bogeys at 15 and 17 pushed him down to even par and ended his quest for a Masters spot on Friday evening.
For Fowler, who has only played in one of the last five Masters, now there’s only one way to get to Augusta National this year: Win next week at the Valero Texas Open.
Kirsty Muir has become the first British woman to win World Cup titles in both freeski slopestyle and overall park and pipe.
The 21-year-old Scot finished second on Saturday, behind home skier Sarah Hofflin, in the final slopestyle event of the 2025-26 season in Silvaplana, Switzerland.
Muir’s score of 75.54, behind 35-year-old Olympic bronze medallist Hofflin (80.07), was enough for her to claim a third consecutive podium, following wins in Aspen and Tignes.
It pushed her season score to 280 points to clinch the first slopestyle Crystal Globe of her career, by 69 points from Canada’s Elena Gaskell.
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Muir also finished third in the big air season standings, on 219 points, giving her a combined total of 470 in the overall competition – which includes slopestyle, big air and halfpipe – to beat nearest challenger, Canada’s Naomi Urness, by 78 points.
After coming so close to a medal, the X Games champion told BBC Sport after the Olympics that it just motivated her to go on and achieve more in the sport.
“I am really excited to go and try and learn some new tricks. I am excited to see where I can push myself and where I can push the sport,” she said.
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“For the next two years I will go and do everything that I would like to do and forget about the Olympics, and then when it comes round to qualification again I will get stuck in.”
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