Automobile racing
FILE - In this April 25, 1997, file photo, John Andretti, left, grins as his wife Nancy hugs his father Aldo after the younger Andretti won the pole for the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. Mario Andretti feels the same pain as so many others these days. His wife died two years ago, long before the pandemic. And his beloved nephew John lost a brutal battle with colon cancer. But then COVID-19 claimed his twin brother Aldo and one of the greatest racers of all time is not immune from the loneliness and depression sweeping the world. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
Andretti navigates personal loss, loneliness of pandemic

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 19, 2021 07:13 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leads Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco during the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola racetrack, Italy, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton's ability to cope with adversity key to title fight

By Daniella Matar Apr. 19, 2021 08:52 AM EDT

Enders gets 30th career win with Pro Stock victory in Vegas

Apr. 18, 2021 09:38 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Erica Enders went from nearly not qualifying to winning the Pro Stock finale in the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas...

Denny Hamlin waves to the crowd during driver introductions prior to the state of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Sunday, April 18, 2021. A #fedexstrong hashtag was added to the car after the shootings at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bowman denies Hamlin with swift late move at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 18, 2021 06:50 PM EDT

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou, from left, Team Penske driver Will Power and Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin hoist tastes of champaign after they finished first/second/third in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama auto race at Barber Motorsports Parkway, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alex Palou scores 1st career IndyCar win in Ganassi debut

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 18, 2021 06:10 PM EDT

Williams driver George Russell of Britain attends a press conference ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Friday, April 16, 2021. (Xpbimages/Pool via AP)
Wolff: Russell has lots to learn after crash with Bottas

By Daniella Matar Apr. 18, 2021 04:17 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands follows the safety car during the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola racetrack, Italy, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Verstappen beats Hamilton in dramatic Emilia-Romagna GP

By Daniella Matar Apr. 18, 2021 11:18 AM EDT

Brittany Force in top spot in Top Fuel qualifying in Vegas

Apr. 17, 2021 11:02 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brittany Force took the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel qualifying in the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on...

Martin Truex Jr. (19) does a burnout as he celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Elliott would love to find a way to be different at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 17, 2021 05:29 PM EDT

Kyle Busch (51) leads Grant Enfinger (98) during a restart in the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Nemechek outruns boss to win NASCAR truck race at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 17, 2021 05:03 PM EDT

FILE - Haas driver Romain Grosjean, of France, poses for a photo at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, in this Thursday, March 12, 2020, file photo. The IndyCar season begins with three new drivers for the season-opener at Barber Motorsports Park. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will be a 45-year-old rookie in a class that includes Romain Grosjean from Formula One and V8 Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
O'Ward sets track record at Barber, Johnson ready for debut

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 17, 2021 12:46 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, top, and Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, steer their car during qualifying practice for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton takes pole for Emilia-Romagna GP ahead of Red Bulls

By Daniella Matar Apr. 17, 2021 06:28 AM EDT

Hight races to provisional top spot in NHRA Funny Car

Apr. 16, 2021 11:12 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Robert Hight raced to the provisional No. 1 spot with a standout performance in Funny Car qualifying Friday night, the first NHRA four-wide...

FILE - Driver Scott Dixon, left, and team owner Chip Ganassi celebrate after winning the NTT IndyCar Series Championship following an IndyCar auto race in St. Petersburg, Fla., in this Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, file photo. The upcoming IndyCar season will be headlined by the six-time IndyCar champion. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
Scott Dixon seeks motorsports milestone 7th championship

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 16, 2021 07:29 PM EDT

FILE - Hooters 500 winner Bill Elliott, left, and NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki celebrate in Victory Lane following the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Nov. 15, 1992, file photo. Chase Elliott will honor the late Alan Kulwicki by racing the same Hooters paint scheme that was on Kulwicki’s car in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Kulwicki beat Bill Elliott for the Winston Cup title. Chase Elliott will run the paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NASCAR, motorsports approach to virus vaccine varies greatly

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 16, 2021 05:05 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the second free practice session for Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Friday, April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes one-two in practice at Imola, problems for Red Bull

By Daniella Matar Apr. 16, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, March 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Canadian Grand Prix remains on F1 schedule for time being

Apr. 15, 2021 04:48 PM EDT

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, of Finland, inspects the racetrack ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track, Italy, Thursday, April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Hamilton set to resume battle with Verstappen at Imola

By Daniella Matar Apr. 15, 2021 01:28 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Apr. 15, 2021 11:17 AM EDT
April 20 1912 — Fenway Park opens in Boston with the Red Sox beating the New York Yankees 7-6 in 11 innings. Tiger Stadium in Detroit also...

New York bars, restaurants can soon stay open 'til midnight

Apr. 14, 2021 07:01 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York will push back its curfew for bars and restaurants an hour to midnight, starting Monday, as the state continues to relax...