The Sportsletter - Speed Week Trifecta 🏁

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 24, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Speed weekend has arrived. Sunday’s trifecta brings heaven for race fans with 1,300 miles over three races from sun-up to sun-down. Plus, the NBA/NHL Conference Finals continue each night. The next tennis major (French Open) and big changes with the NCAA will headline next week's content. For now, we race...

Readers, Start Your Engines!

Race Weekend (Sunday) 🏁

F1: Monaco Grand Prix (9:00 am ET, ESPN)

IndyCar: Indianapolis 500 (12:30 pm ET, NBC)

NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600 (6:00 pm ET, FOX)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

The Sportsletter will not be sent on Monday (Memorial Day). We’ll return to your inbox on Tuesday (May 28). Thank you to all our Veterans and Military Service readers, and to all who sacrificed for our freedoms. Enjoy the weekend. 🇺🇸

RACING

Larson's 1100-Mile Quest 🏁

Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Kyle Larson Will Attempt to Become the 2nd Driver to Complete the Indy-Charlotte Double on Sunday

Four have been brave enough to try. Only one succeeded. It’s the ultimate driver’s endurance test. Two of the longest and most iconic races in IndyCar and NASCAR, on the same day, four states apart? Kyle Larson will attempt the Memorial Day Weekend double this Sunday, racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, beginning in Indy and ending in Charlotte. For the mathletes, that’s 1100 miles of driving — on top of 400 miles in the air. It’s roughly the same distance as a road trip from New York to Miami, but logistical challenges still stand in the way.

Weather, Flights & Pit-Stops: There’s a lot that has to go right for Larson to complete the historic feat. The Indy 500 weather forecast shows rain could impact the race. Any major delays or cautions could throw a wrench in the plan. Larson will rely on a helicopter ride to the Indy airport to catch a charter jet straight to Charlotte. Former President Trump’s attendance at the Coca-Cola 600 could make security checks a nightmare, too. Presuming Larson’s team members and pit crews don’t encounter emergencies, we could witness something special.

4 Attempts, 1 Completion

Only four drivers have ever attempted the Sunday Double. Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles through to the finish, and that was his second attempt in 2001. He finished 6th in Indy and 3rd in Charlotte. It was also attempted by John Andretti, Robby Gordon, and Kurt Busch, but none of those four completed both races. Busch was the last driver to attempt it in 2014.

Larson has won 25 NASCAR Cup Series races over the past eight seasons. He’s widely respected as one of the best drivers, but he’s never driven in an IndyCar or open-wheel race. He earned the No. 5 spot in Indy 500 qualifiers last week and will start on the second row. Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin is the Indy 500 pole-sitter.

Gear up for race weekend!

NBC Sports: Larson’s Choice: Pulled Early From Indy 500? Or Miss the Start of Coke 600?

ESPN: What Kyle Larson Can Learn From Past 500-600 Double Attempts

NBA PLAYOFFS

C's Breeze Behind Brown's 40 💨

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

ECF Game 2: Jaylen Brown (40 Points), Celtics Out-Pace Indiana in 2nd Half (126-110) as Tyrese Haliburton Suffers Hamstring Injury

The Celtics are cruising towards their second NBA Finals appearance in three seasons after a brutal Game 2 for the Pacers in more ways than one. Indiana scratched and clawed to keep the game close until a third-quarter pull-away by Boston. Then, Tyrese Haliburton exited with a left hamstring injury. It’s hard to believe Indy can make a comeback in the series if Haliburton misses more games. Jaylen Brown (40 points) caught the hot hand in Game 2. Brown, the Game 1 hero, shot 14-for-27 with four 3s. Game 2 was never in doubt after a third-quarter Boston run. The Pacers will regret letting Game 1 slip through their fingers, but it’s 2-0 heading back to Indy during Indy 500 race weekend. BOS Leads Series (2-0)

⚠️ Indy’s Caution Flag: The Pacers’ turnovers (16) were a big storyline again in Game 2. Indiana had 21 TOs in Game 1.

Top Scorers

J. Brown (BOS): 40 pts, 5 rebs (Four 3s)

P. Siakam (IND): 28 pts, 5 rebs

J. Tatum (BOS): 23 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts

D. White (BOS): 23 pts, 6 asts (Four 3s)

Watch: Jaylen Brown Drops 40 as Celtics Breeze Past Pacers in Game 2 (126-110)

ESPN: Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Exits Game 2 Due to Left Hamstring Injury

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Late Skate: The McDouble (OT) 🍔

Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images

WCF Game 1: Connor McDavid Lifts Oilers Past Stars With Double-OT Winner (3-2, 2OT)

That's two for the road warriors in the NHL Conference Finals. Connor McDavid hadn’t scored a goal in six postseason games, but he found the perfect time to break the skid last night in Dallas — sometime well beyond Midnight ET. The Oilers held a 2-0 lead halfway through the second period of Game 1, but the Stars rallied to force overtime (2-2) with two goals from Tyler Seguin, the latter coming late in the third period. Edmonton regained their composure before McDavid lamented a great goal-scoring opportunity in the first OT that was shut down by Jake Oettinger. He wasted little time sealing it with a tap-in winner just 32 seconds into 2OT. Heartbreak in Texas, but they're hyped in Canada. McDavid in double OT… The McDouble! EDM Leads Series (1-0)

💫 Falling Stars: The Stars have now dropped seven consecutive Game 1s in postseason series.

Top Skaters

T. Seguin (DAL): 2 Goals

C. McDavid (EDM): 1 Goal, 1 Assist

Z. Hyman (EDM): 1 Goal, 1 Assist

L. Draisaitl (EDM): 1 Goal

Watch: Connor McDavid Nets 2OT Winner to Lift Oilers in Game 1 (3-2, 2OT)

SportsNet: McDavid Caps Event OTs, Shows Up When Oilers Needed Him Most

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚾️ MLB

Padres def. Reds (6-4, 10 Innings)

Luis Arraez Tallies 8th Straight Multi-Hit Game

Yankees def. Mariners (5-0)

Aaron Judge Blasts 15th HR in Shutout

Phillies def. Rangers (5-2)

PHI’s Best 35-Game Stretch (29-6) Since 1892

🏀 WNBA

Sun def. Lynx (83-82, OT)

DeWanna Bonner Hits 2 FTs With 7 Seconds Left

Sky def. Liberty (90-81)

Angel Reese (13 pts, 9 rebs), CHI Hands NYL 1st 'L'

Mercury def. Mystics (83-80)

Kahleah Copper & Diana Taurasi Score 20 Each

⛳️ Golf

Charley Hoffman (-5) Leads Schwab Challenge

Scottie Scheffler (+2) Over Par for Just 2nd Round This Year

STORYLINES

🏈 End of the Chain Gang?

The NFL will begin testing an optical tracking system for line-to-gain rulings this preseason. If all goes well, the league will implement the technology for the regular season. Could this be the end of the chain crew? (NBC Sports)

⚾️ Next MLB Prospects to Watch

In a year of rather slow starts for some of MLB’s top young talents, Paul Skenes’ arrival has brought life to the 2024 class. Who else might inject some excitement into a big-league roster before the end of the year? (FOX Sports)

🎾 No Love in Nadal’s Swan Song

Rafael Nadal is in the French Open field after all, but the 14-time champion at Roland-Garros wasn’t gifted with a favorable draw in what’s expected to be his last appearance. He’ll face Alexander Zverev in the first round. (ESPN)

NEWS 📰

🏀 Toronto WNBA Franchise Officially Confirmed With Expansion Team to Begin in 2026 (AP)

🏀 Cavaliers Fire Coach J.B. Bickerstaff After 5 Seasons (ESPN)

🏈 Eagles Sign Former 1st-Round WR John Ross to 1-Year Deal (CBS Sports)

⛳️ Louisville Police Discipline Officer Whose Body Cam Wasn’t Active for Scottie Scheffler Arrest (Yahoo! Sports)

📺 TNT Will Televise College Football Playoff Games Through 5-Year ESPN Agreement (B/R)

🏈 Longtime Cowboys Reporter Ed Werder is Leaving ESPN (SI)

🏅 Gymnastics Icon Oksana Chusovitina to Miss First Olympics in Over 30 Years (SI)

🏈 Ex-NFL Receiver Antonio Brown Files for Bankruptcy Despite $80 Million in NFL Career Earnings (Yahoo! Sports)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

🏁 Race Weekend Trifecta