NASCAR Veterans Day Race

NASCAR Veterans Day Race

June 19, 2026

NASCAR, Ford announce Veterans Day Classic exhibition race
NASCAR and Ford Motor Company have announced a collaboration to host the inaugural "Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic," a special exhibition race scheduled for November 11 to honor all six branches of the military. This independent, non-points event will showcase Ford’s track-only Mustang Dark Horse Rs at a location that has yet to be determined. The race significantly elevates NASCAR's traditional military tributes by extending the season past its November 8 conclusion, while also serving as a platform to promote Ford's limited-edition Super Duty package benefiting Blue Star Families.
^Jayski

Caitlin Clark announces first signature Nike sneaker
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has officially announced the upcoming release of her first signature Nike sneaker, the Caitlin 1, which will be available to purchase in October for $140 in North America. Clark was actively involved in designing the shoe, which utilizes a new "Nike Opticast" technology built around her specific on-court traits of speed, range, and unpredictability while including personal Easter eggs throughout the design. With this milestone, Clark joins Sabrina Ionescu, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Angel Reese as one of only five active WNBA players to currently have their own signature shoe with a major brand.
^ESPN

U.S. Open Matches Masters As Richest Golf Major With $22.5M Purse
The 2026 U.S. Open purse has received a $1 million increase to $22.5 million, officially matching the Masters as the richest major championship in golf. This bump will reward this year's champion with a $4.5 million winner's check, mirroring the payout Rory McIlroy received for his victory at Augusta National in April. The financial increase reflects a broader surge in golf prize money across the sport, fueled by ongoing competitive pressure from LIV Golf's massive purses and the PGA Tour's elevated signature events.
^{Front Office Sports}

FOX Boasting Huge TV Ratings For 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup
FOX Sports is celebrating historic viewership numbers during the first week of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, averaging 6.016 million viewers across its FOX and FS1 channels over the first 16 telecasts. This impressive figure represents a massive 128 percent increase compared to the entire group stage broadcast window from the 2022 tournament. The ratings spike has been fueled by highly-watched, drama-filled matches and major early upsets, including unexpected draws from underdog nations like Cape Verde, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand.
^{The Spun}

Chicago Cubs permitted to add more advertising signs outside Wrigley Field
The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards has approved a zoning change allowing the Chicago Cubs to erect three new advertising signs on team-owned buildings outside of Wrigley Field. The plan includes two static signs along West Waveland and one along North Sheffield, which are required to remain dark except during Cubs’ night games and will not feature video technology. While an exact timeline for installation hasn't been set, the new signage is expected to replace existing banners that currently advertise the Wrigley Field rooftops.
^{NBC Chicago}

Media & Tech Vet Jay Prasad Named CEO Of Owl AI, An Emerging Firm Adding “Live Intelligence” To Sports Broadcasts
Media and tech veteran Jay Prasad has been appointed as the new CEO of Owl AI, an emerging startup that provides an AI-powered "live intelligence layer" for sports broadcasts and programming. He succeeds Josh Gwyther, who will transition into an advisory role, while founder and executive chairman Jeremy Bloom continues to lead the company's board. Backed by a recent $11 million seed round following its debut at the 2025 X Games, Owl AI plans to leverage Prasad's experience to scale its technology globally across officiating, AI commentary, and real-time fan experiences. 
^Deadline

Major League Baseball Names Shimon Hoizumi Managing Director of Japan
Major League Baseball has officially appointed Shimon Hoizumi as its new Managing Director of Japan, a role effective immediately and based out of the league's Tokyo office. Hoizumi joins the organization with over two decades of sports media and commercial experience, having previously held senior leadership roles at prominent entities including DAZN Japan, Warner Bros. Discovery, and WWE Japan. In this new position, he will oversee local business operations and spearhead efforts to deepen fan engagement, secure media partnerships, and grow grassroots baseball initiatives across one of MLB's most critical international markets.
^MLB

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Already an international NBA pipeline, Eurocamp could become college basketball's next recruiting frontier
The 19th annual Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, has solidified its status as a premier global scouting showcase, attracting attention not just from the NBA but increasingly from American college basketball programs. This year's event featured standout performances from rising international stars like MVP Stefan Joksimovic and Duke-bound Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, alongside elite U.S. high school prospects sent to compete against older global talent. As more international players transition to the NCAA, tournament organizers are navigating mixed opinions from overseas clubs and agents regarding whether to officially open the camp's doors to college coaches as scouts.
^{CBS Sports}

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