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Peoria Times
SPORTS
November 25, 2021
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NASCAR ready to debut ‘Next Gen’ car BY NICK ZELLER-SINGH Cronkite News
After Kyle Larson stole the show at Phoenix Raceway with his NASCAR Cup Series championship, another storyline quickly emerged. The race in Phoenix marked the last time that NASCAR will field the Generation 6 car, which made its debut clear back in 2013. It didn’t go unnoticed by many in the racing community, which will see NASCAR’s “Next Gen” car make its debut next season. “The last race hit home for me, and I think it did for a lot of folks,” said Cliff Daniels, crew chief for Hendricks Motorsports. “To see those guys on the shop
Uncertainty looms after NASCAR retired the Gen-6 car at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo courtesy Amanda Valle)
floor, sending their best wishes to their final true piece of art, it’s a big deal.” However, Jim Campbell, who is vice president of performance and motorsports at General Motors and Chevrolet’s NASCAR manufacturer, believes
it’s important to move forward. “In the automobile business, you do two things,” Campbell said. “You sell what you have in the showroom today while you prepare the next model for the showroom tomorrow.”
The Next Gen car is designed to reduce operating costs, potentially allowing more existing teams to compete and possibly attracting new teams. It also will more accurately depict the production cars that the race cars are based upon. The Gen-6 cars were constructed of sheet metal, and typically required significant repairs when a car hit the wall or made hard contact with another car. The more adaptable Next Gen cars will be constructed with plastic and carbon-fiber panels designed to be safer and more easily replaced, making them more affordable by limiting the conseSEE NASCAR PAGE 20
Kyler Murray among the SI Award nominees BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been nominated for Gamer of the Year at the annual Sports Illustrated Awards set for the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on Tuesday, Dec. 7. He’s up against Gordon Hayward of the Charlotte Hornets; the Pittsburgh Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster; and Brazilian footballer Neymar. The awards show will be highlighted by a live reveal of the 2021 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in addition to recognizing notable athletes, teams and sports moments that made the year memorable. The awards will stream live at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 on official Sports Illustrated social channels, via LiveXLive and on SportsIllustratedAwards.com. The Sports Illustrated Awards Program includes: • Sportsperson of the Year (Presented
by FTX) • The Muhammad Ali Legacy Award • Sportskid of The Year • Female/Male Athlete of the Year (Presented by U.S. Polo Assn.) • Breakthrough Athlete of the Year (Presented by Emsculpt Neo) Nominees: Ja’Marr Chase, Wander Franco, Emma Raducanu and LaMelo Ball • Hometown Hero (Presented by Pepsi Stronger Together) • Team of the Year (Presented by Vitacost). Nominees: Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Lightning • Play of the Year (Presented by Alkaline88). Nominees: Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs’ Final Four buzzer-beater vs. UCLA; Marshall’s Jamil Roberts’ OT goal to win school’s first men’s soccer title; Jordan Spieth’s incredible blind Ryder Cup flop shot; and South Dakota’s tip-drill “Hail Mary” on the final play to beat rival SD State • Best Dressed (Presented by JCPen-
ney). Nominees: Travis Kelce, Ashlyn Harris, Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Herro Alkaline88 is based in the Scottsdale Airpark. “The Alkaline Water Company is pleased to be the exclusive bottled water sponsor of The Sports Illustrated Awards and the ‘Smooth Play of the Year’ presented by Shaquille O’Neal,” said Ricky Wright, president and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company. “We’re excited to sup- Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is nominated for port ABG Entertainment Gamer of the Year. (Photo courtesy of Arizona Cardinals) and our Brand Ambassador Shaquille for this special event. On enjoy their Deliciously Smooth Alkabehalf of the Alkaline Water Company line88 provided for the evening.” and all our employees, I wish the best Sports media’s most prestigious honof luck to the athletes and hope that all the VIPs and influencers in attendance SEE NOMINEES PAGE 20
