PRESS BOX: NASCAR announces 2018 schedule

[May 24, 2017]  The Sports Xchange

NASCAR on Tuesday announced the 2018 schedule for all three of its national series, and the lineup includes an array of changes to the tracks that make up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

NASCAR will add a second short track to the playoff slate, as the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway hosts the second playoff race for the first time. In a surprising twist, Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as the first cutoff race, but it won't be the 1.5-mile layout. For the first time, NASCAR will run on the Charlotte road course oval, marking the first time the playoffs will see a road-course layout among its 10 races.

Next season, the final regular season race in the Monster Energy Series will be contested at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Round of 16 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The season will start a week earlier, as the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional Presidents Day weekend on Sunday, February 18.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

--Alabama forward Braxton Key withdrew from the NBA draft and will return for his sophomore season, the school announced.

The 6-foot-8 Key didn't sign an agent when he entered the draft, which allowed him the option to pull out.

Key averaged 12 points and 5.7 rebounds as a freshman. He scored in double figures on 20 occasions.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

--Former Kentucky and Baylor head coach Guy Morriss revealed he is battling Alzheimer's disease, WKYT-TV in Lexington reported.

Morriss, who also played 15 NFL seasons as an offensive lineman, said he was diagnosed last fall. He said he was having trouble doing minor tasks.

Morriss, 66, said there has been progress -- "Dressing myself is a win for me. Tying my shoes is a win for me," he said.

SOCCER

--Manchester United and Manchester City extended condolences to their city after a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena killed 22 people and left 59 injured following an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.

United wrote on its Twitter account, "We are deeply shocked by last night's terrible events at the Manchester Arena. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected."

Meanwhile, City tweeted, "It's with great sadness we hear of the terrible events at the Arena. Our hearts go out to all affected and to our city's emergency services."

TENNIS

--Qualifier Nicolas Kicker of Argentina pulled off the biggest win of his career, upsetting fourth-seeded Nick Kyrgios 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a second-round match at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in Lyon, France.

A hip problem forced Kyrgios to withdraw from last week's Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and this loss to a player ranked 94th in the world will not help Kyrgios' confidence heading into the French Open.

--Second-seeded Kei Nishikori secured a spot in the quarterfinals by knocking off Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3 at the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open in Switzerland.

Nishikori is trying to rediscover his form after being plagued by a wrist injury during the clay-court portion of the schedule. But he pronounced him as well after his latest victory.

--Less than 24 hours after pulling out a three-set victory in the first round, Kristyna Pliskova knocked off ninth-seeded Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France.

Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, is ranked 48th in the world and is the twin sister of third-ranked Karolina Pliskova.

--Defending champion Kiki Bertens started off well with an easy 6-2, 6-1 victory over German wild-card Katharina Gerlach in a first-round match at the Nurnberger Versicherungs Cup in Germany.

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