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'It Was Just Starting to Get Cool'

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12 months ago

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'It Was Just Starting to Get Cool'

“My favorite era of race cars is probably going to be the late ‘70s. I really enjoyed the ‘80s, lived it. The ‘80s were great. The cars were fun – old (Buick) Grand Nationals and (Chevrolet) Monte Carlo SS and all that was really amazing.”

In 2020, Dale Jr. was appointed by the NASCAR Hall of Fame to create a collection for the Glory Road exhibit’s fourth iteration, aimed at underlining the champions and important moments of the sport. He handpicked a lineup of 18 premier series championship cars, each resonating with fans due to their status in NASCAR’s history.

1981 Champion: Darrell Waltrip’s Buick Regal.
1983 Champion: Bobby Allison’s Buick Regal.
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1973 Champion: Benny Parsons’s Chevrolet Chevelle.
Born on 10th October 1974, Junior would have witnessed a lot of these race cars growing up. Although, he wouldn’t have been able to physically compete in the sport for some of the earlier makes, he sure would have loved to have existed during that time frame.
In a 2020 interview with Hall of Fame Curatorial Affairs Manager Tom Jensen, Earnhardt opened up about his preferred era of race cars. He reminisced,

When Dale Jr. proved his penchant for the golden era of NASCAR

“It was still a bit of a niche thing … It was just starting to really get cool to like NASCAR and go to a NASCAR race or pull for a NASCAR driver. And they were starting to get into mainstream and pop culture.”
1989 Champion: Rusty Wallace’s Pontiac Grand Prix.
“So that had to have been a really interesting time for the sport. I would have loved to have been at the race track and walking around in the garage back in the late ‘70s and seeing what everyone was doing.”
1978 Champion: Cale Yarborough’s Oldsmobile Cutlass 442.
However, Dale Jr.’s selection heavily favored the ’70s and ’80s, proving his affection for that era’s automotive style and racing culture. Among the 18, eight hailed from these two decades:
1979 Champion: Richard Petty’s Oldsmobile Cutlass 442.
1988 Champion: Bill Elliott’s Ford Thunderbird.
1980 Champion: Dale Earnhardt’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
“But the late ‘70s for me, the Chevy Laguna, the 442 – there’s a couple of Oldsmobile 442s in the exhibit – I just love the character and body styles.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., widely recognized not just for his racing prowess but also as a team owner and a vocal commentator on various NASCAR issues through his podcast, has been associated with the sport since 1998. He stepped back from full-time NASCAR racing in 2017 after several concussions. However, interestingly, the era in which he raced isn’t his favorite period in the sports’ storied history.
In addition to his affinity for the cars of yesteryear, Dale Jr. expressed a deep appreciation for the fashion and the larger-than-life personalities that colored the NASCAR scene during its formative years. He remarked on the burgeoning popularity of the sport, noting,

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Leilani Robinson Shines at Wagner Seahawk Shootout

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December 14, 2025

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QUEENS, N.Y.  – The St. John’s track and field team sent a small squad of student-athletes to the Seahawk Shootout on Friday.  Friday’s competition marked the second trip to Ocean Breeze in the last seven days for the Red Storm. 

Leilani Robinson shined for the Red Storm, winning the 600-meter run with a time of 1:33.48, good enough for a lifetime best and a top-three time in program history. This is second consecutive weekend that a Johnnie won the 600m at Ocean Breeze. 

Karese Clisheva Kezia Lloyd recorded her first top-five finish of the indoor season, equalizing her lifetime best of 7.70 in the 60-meter dash. 

On the distance side, Attoya Harvey completed the mile run in a personal best time of 5:16.30. The time was good enough for an eighth place finish, as she raced in the fastest heat of the day.

Brenin Mahon and Cristina Stanescu completed the 3,000 meters finishing in 11:22.12 and 11:33:77 respectively, both of which are season bests. 

In the field, Desiree Pagan secured her first top-10 finish of the season in the weight throw, placing seventh. Her second round toss of 14.97-meters (49-feet 1-inch) is a season’s best. 

St. John’s will break for the holidays and return to competition in late January. Director of Track and Field Aliann Pompey and her squad are set to race at the Dr. Sander Scorcher on January 23-24, 2026, at The Nike Track and Field Center at The Armory.

 



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Trees post strong showing in season-opening John Gartland Invitational

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December 14, 2025

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State’s 2025-26 track and field season got off to a strong start Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores recorded multiple high-ranking marks at the John Gartland Invitational.
 
Indiana State claimed the top spot in 14 events over the course of the weekend, with meet and facility records being set by the Sycamores in both the men’s and women’s 60m. The Trees also had four program top-10 marks set over the course of the weekend, with a plethora of top-50 national rankings also being posted by the Blue and White.

 Event Winners

  • Casey Hood Jr. – 60m (6.63, meet and facility record), 200m (21.87)

  • Reneisha Andrews – 60m (7.40, meet and facility record, fourth in program history)

  • Ivan Weaver – 400m (49.08, meet record)

  • Collin Forrest – 60m hurdles (7.97, ninth in program history)

  • Rachel Mehringer – 60m hurdles (8.52)

  • Deangelo Hughey, Will Riley, Graham West, Ivan Weaver – 4x400m relay (3:27.95)

  • Janiya Bowman, Jahnel Bowman, Lilly Gilbertson, Nevaeh Wren – 4x400m relay (3:58.58)

  • Lincoln Hulsey – pole vault (4.95m/16-2.75)

  • Kilan Macklin – long jump (7.15m/23-5.5)

  • Janiya Bowman – long jump (5.80m/19-0.5)

  • Justice Boston – triple jump (11.77m/38-7.5)

  • Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (15.48m/50-9.5), weight throw (18.77m/61-7)

 
Top-Three Finishes

  • Will Riley – 60m (third, 6.90)

  • Michelle McDonald – 60m (second, 7.65)

  • Kyarra DeGroote – 400m (second, 59.46)

  • Noelle Dilosa – 800m (third, 2:30.07)

  • Nick Burns – mile (third, 4:18.95)

  • Ada Sabo – mile (third, 5:33.62)

  • Parker Mimbela – 3000m (third, 9:03.16)

  • Parker Doyle – 60m hurdles (second, 8.13)

  • David Carnell – 60m hurdles (third, 8.15)

  • Taylor Jackson – 60m hurdles (third, 9.13)

  • Xavier Wills, Nick Burns, Caden Emmert, Will Larrison – 4x400m relay (second, 3:29.01)

  • Noah Gilmore – high jump (second, 2.04m/6-8.25)

  • Ethan Widenhoefer – high jump (third, 1.98m/6-6)

  • Kayla Douglas – high jump (third, 1.60m/5-3)

  • Essence Johnson – high jump (third, 1.60m/5-3)

  • Landon Dobbs – pole vault (second, 4.95m/16-2.75)

  • Campbell Roberts – pole vault (second, 3.86m/12-8, 10th in program history)

  • Amy Luttrell – pole vault (third, 3.76m/12-4)

  • Piere Hill – long jump (second, 7.07m/23-2.5)

  • Jahnel Bowman – long jump (second, 5.68m/18-7.75)

  • Aaron Massiah – triple jump (third, 14.23m/46-8.25)

  • Taylor Smith – triple jump (second, 11.05m/36-3)

  • Sloan Cox – shot put (second, 18.00m/59-0.75)

  • Olivia Marshall – shot put (second, 14.46m/47-5.25)

  • Cora Williams – weight throw (second, 18.67m/61-3)

  • Emma Yoder – weight throw (third, 18.10m/59-4.75)

  • Jake Ottersbach – heptathlon (third, 4936)

  • Ellie Irwin – pentathlon (second, 3471, 10th in program history)

  • Emma Martin – pentathlon (third, 3297)

 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State’s sprinters made an early statement on their home track, with Casey Hood Jr. and Reneisha Andrews posting top-10 national times in the 60m to pace the Blue and White. Hood Jr. clocked a 6.63 on the men’s side, the third-fastest time in the nation this season, while Andrews’ time of 7.40 on the women’s side was the ninth-fastest time in the nation this season. Andrews also moved into the top five in program history in her Sycamore debut. Will Riley placed third on the men’s side in his collegiate debut with a time of 6.90, while Michelle McDonald finished second on the women’s side with a time of 7.65.
 
Hood Jr. also posted a high-ranking time in the 200m, with his 21.87 placing first at the meet and ranking in the top 15 nationally after track conversion. Nevaeh Wren had the top 200m time for the Sycamores on the women’s side, clocking a 26.02 in her collegiate debut. Ivan Weaver added a first-place finish for the Blue and White in the 400m with a time of 49.04, a top-30 national mark after track conversion, while Kyarra DeGroote finished second on the women’s side at 59.46.
 
Indiana State’s strong tradition of excellence in the 60m hurdles was on full display, with Collin Forrest running a career-best 7.97 to crack the program top-10 charts. Kieran Barnewall clocked a time of 8.06 in prelims in his first collegiate meet, while Parker Doyle (8.13) and David Carnell (8.15) earned podium finishes in finals. Forrest and Barnewall both cracked the top 50 times in the nation. On the women’s side, MVC record holder Rachel Mehringer cruised to a season-opening win with a time of 8.52, a top-40 time nationally. Taylor Jackson also earned a podium finish with a time of 9.13.
 
The Trees also tallied first-place finishes on both side in the 4x400m relay. Deangelo Hughey, Riley, Graham West and Weaver clocked a time of 3:27.95 on the men’s side to edge the quartet of Xavier Wills, Nick Burns, Caden Emmert and Will Larrison (3:29.01). Weaver overcame a deficit down the stretch, passing Larrison inside the final 100 meters to secure the win. Janiya Bowman, Jahnel Bowman, Lilly Gilbertson and Wren teamed up to run a time of 3:58.58 to earn the first-place finish on the women’s side.
 
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State fielded few entries in the distance and mid-distance events, with the Sycamores’ cross country season ending just one month ago. Nick Burns earned a podium finish in the mile with his time of 4:18.95, while Noelle Dilosa placed third in the 800m with her time of 2:30.07.
 
The two distance athletes who competed for the Blue and White both earned top-three finishes in their respective events. Ada Sabo placed third in the mile with a time of 5:33.62, while Parker Mimbela clocked a 3000m time of 9:03.16 to finish third in the event.
 
Jumps
Indiana State started its season in the right direction in the jumps events, with multiple career-best and high-ranking marks for the Blue and White. Lincoln Hulsey and Landon Dobbs both cleared 4.95m (16-2.75) in the pole vault, with the Sycamore duo occupying the top two spots in the event. Campbell Roberts cleared a career-best 3.86m (12-8) to finish second on the women’s side, with all three ranking in the top 50 nationally after the season opener.
 
In a meet named after legendary Sycamore coach John Gartland, who works with the high jumpers, Indiana State’s high jump crew put together a strong start to the season. Noah Gilmore cleared a career-best 2.04m (6-8.25), a top-50 mark in the nation this season, to place second, while Ethan Widenhoefer cleared 1.98m (6-6) to finish right behind in third. Kilan Macklin cleared both of his attempts, his last one coming at 1.95m (6-4.75). On the women’s side, the trio of Kayla Douglas, Essence Johnson and Emily Ritenour all cleared 1.60m (5-3), with Douglas and Johnson tying for third on misses. The major women’s high jump result for the Blue and White came during the pentathlon, as Ellie Irwin cleared 1.72m (5-7.75) to crack the top 30 in the nation this season.
 
Macklin also added a first-place finish in the long jump with a season-opening mark of 7.15m (23-5.5), a top-50 mark in the nation this season. Piere Hill was right behind in second with a top attempt of 7.07m (23-2.5), while Aaron Massiah rounded out a sweep of the podium for the Trees with a mark of 6.92m (22-8.5).The Sycamores also occupied the top two spots in the women’s long jump, as Janiya Bowman placed first with a top mark of 5.80m (19-0.5) and Jahnel Bowman followed in second at 5.68m (18-7.75).
 
Indiana State also added an event win in the women’s triple jump, courtesy of Justice Boston with a top mark of 11.77m (38-7.5). Taylor Smith finished second for the Trees with a mark of 11.05m (36-3), while Massiah also claimed a third-place finish on the men’s side with a mark of 14.23m (46-8.25).
 
Throws
Aliseonna Garnett led a strong opening weekend for the Sycamore throwers with wins in both the shot put and weight throw. Garnett’s shot put mark of 15.48m (50-9.5) ranked in the top 15 nationally, while her weight throw mark of 18.77m (61-7) also sits in the top 25 nationally. Cora Williams added a top-25 national mark in the weight throw in her collegiate debut at 18.67m (61-3), while Olivia Marshall tacked on a top-50 national mark in the shot put at 14.46m (47-5.25). Also recording a top-50 national mark in the early stages of the season was Emma Yoder, who registered a weight throw mark of 18.10m (59-4.75) as the Sycamores swept the podium in the event.
 
On the men’s side, Sloan Cox opened his season with a second place finish in the shot put, with his mark of 18.00m (59-0.75) ranking in the top 25 nationally. Ben Brown added a top-five finish in the event in his collegiate debut with a throw of 16.67m (54-8.25), while fellow freshman Theo Thurman had the top throw for the Trees in the weight throw at 17.30m (56-9.25).
 
Multis
Each of Indiana State’s seven athletes competing in the pentathlon or heptathlon earned top-five overall finishes over the weekend, with four of those seven currently ranking in the top 50. Ellie Irwin finished with a career-high 3471 points in the pentathlon, a top-50 score nationally, with her high jump mark (1.72m/5-7.75) ranking in the top 30 nationally and her hurdles time of 8.98 being a career best. Irwin also added career-best efforts in the long jump (5.24m/17-2.25) and 800m (2:39.19) to aid her score.
 
Emma Martin earned a third-place finish in the pentathlon in her collegiate debut with 3297 points, with top-three finishes in the 800m (2:26.16) and high jump (1.60m/5-3). Kathryn Ison placed fourth with 3265 points, with the second-best long jump mark (5.30m/17-4.75) in the field and a strong 60m hurdles time of 9.01. Sophie Hale finished fifth at 3256 points, with her 60m hurdles time of 8.77 and long jump mark of 5.30m (17-4.5) among the best in the field.
 
Jake Ottersbach led the Sycamore heptathletes with a third-place finish on 4936 points, bolstered by the top 60m hurdles time in the field at 8.34 and top-three marks in the 1000m (2:57.32) and high jump (1.86m/6-1.25). Ty Newsom finished fourth with 4739 points, aided by high marks in the 1000m (2:56.48) and shot put (11.64m/38-2.25). Zenon Rule placed fifth at 4707 points, finishing with the highest clearance in the pole vault (4.40m/14-5.25), with all three Sycamores currently in the top 50 in the national rankings.
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns to action after the calendar turns to 2026, as the Sycamores play host to longtime rival Illinois State for the Coughlan-Malloy Cup January 17 inside the Indoor Track and Field Facility.
 
Follow the Sycamores

For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
 

– #MarchOn –





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Beach Volleyball Releases 2026 Schedule

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December 14, 2025

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women’s beach volleyball released a competitive spring 2026 schedule on Saturday, featuring nine tournaments and three home matches.
 
The Broncos open the 2026 season at San Jose State on Feb. 20, playing matches against USF and the hosting Spartans. Santa Clara plays their first two home matches of the season on Sat., Feb. 21 against USF at 9 a.m., and Pacific at 3 p.m.
 
Next, Santa Clara travels to Stanford and San Jose State for the Battle of the Bay on Feb. 27-28, before heading to Long Beach State on Mar. 6-7 for matches against CSUB, UAB, Stetson, and LBSU.
 
On Mar. 13-14, Santa Clara travels to Cal Poly for matches against Grand Canyon, Oregon, Arizona, and the hosting Mustangs. Their lone true road match of the season comes on Mar. 20 at San Jose State. The Broncos close out the month of March at the West Coast Challenge on Mar. 27-28 at Santa Cruz Main Beach.
 
On Apr. 3-4, Santa Clara goes to Boise State for matches against UTEP, CSUN, Oregon, and the hosting Broncos, before returning home for their final home match of the season on Tuesday, April 7 at 4 p.m. against San Jose State. The Broncos then travel to Hawaii on Apr. 9-11 for matches against Oregon, University of Hawai’i, and Chaminade Hawaii.
 
The Broncos close out the season at UC Davis against the Aggies and Sacramento State on Apr. 17-18, before competing in the WCC Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament at Ocean Park in Santa Monica, Calif. from Apr. 23-24.
 
The Broncos will look to build on a very successful 2025 spring season. They won 18 games, which is tied for the most in program history, and reached the West Coast Conference Tournament final for the first time in program history, finishing in second place. The Broncos defeated No. 17 Washington on March 16 for their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2015, and had a historic six players claim All-WCC honors.
 



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Feeling Elite: Badgers battle in Regional Finals for eighth-straight season

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48 minutes ago

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December 14, 2025

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AUSTIN, Texas – For the eighth consecutive season, the No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team will compete in the Regional Final, this time against No. 1 Texas from the Lone Star State on Sunday, Dec. 14. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Gregory Gymnasium and the match will be televised on ESPN. 

The Badgers (27-4) are fresh off of one of their most complete performances of the season—turning in a four-set victory over No. 2 Stanford (25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22) in the Regional Semifinals on Friday afternoon to earn their first top-10 win of the year. 

Offensively, UW put together their top showing in program history in a Regional Semifinal match, swinging .420 against the Cardinal. Outside hitter Mimi Colyer led the way with 27 kills, eclipsing the 2,000-kill mark in her career. The senior also broke the school record for most kills in a season —surpassing Badger great Sarah Franklin’s 535 from last season. Colyer enters Sunday’s match with 543 kills on the year. 

Setter Charlie Fuerbringer distributed the wealth at a high rate once again, recording a career-best 61 assists on Friday. The Hermosa Beach, California, native averaged 15.25 assists per set against Stanford, as the Badgers improved their record to 10-0 since she made her return from injury. 

From the front row, middle blockers Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew continued to excel, each finishing errorless versus the Cardinal. Booth impressed by tying a career-best 14 kills, as she last did so in the Regional Semifinal last season versus Texas A&M. The senior did so while hitting .700. Andrew was more of the same, going 7-of-9 for UW. 

Outside hitter Una Vajagic rounded out the numerous standouts from Friday’s battle, racking up her 10th double-double of the season behind a 13-kill, 11-dig performance—hitting .444 (13 – 1 – 27). 

The Badgers will take on Texas for the second time this season, as the Longhorns (26-3) earned a sweep of UW at the Opening Spike Classic at the Kohl Center on Aug. 31. Right side Grace Egan led the way with 16 kills for Wisconsin, as the redshirt sophomore notched the final kill in both the third and the fourth set against Stanford on Friday. The Longhorns hold a 6-4 record all-time over the Badgers.

Sunday’s match will also mark the first time Wisconsin and Texas have battled in the postseason since the 2023 season in Tampa, Florida, in the NCAA National Championship Semifinal match. 

“We are certainly looking forward to the challenge,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “I think our team has grown, and as the season has gone on, I think we’re playing with confidence and you need that confidence to be able to go in and do what we’re hoping to be able to do.” 

UW will look to punch their ticket to the NCAA Championship for the sixth time in program history and for the second time in the past three seasons.



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Purdue vs Pittsburgh NCAA volleyball tournament live score updates, TV channel

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December 14, 2025

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7:38 pm ET

Purdue vs Pitt volleyball score tonight

The Boilers got out to a 3-1 start but a couple of errors led to Pitt evening the game at 5.

7:29 pm ET

Purdue volleyball vs Pitt start time

Fortunately, the match before this one ended early (on time?) with Kentucky and former Boiler Eva Hudson punching their ticket to the Final Four with a sweep of Creighton. We should be ready to go momentarily. We’re about four minutes away.

7:20 pm ET

Who did Purdue volleyball beat in NCAA volleyball tournament Sweet 16?

The Boilermakers looked awful in the first set against SMU, trailing 18-5 at one point, and fought their way to a four-set win.

7:10 pm ET

Who did Purdue volleyball beat in NCAA volleyball tournament second round?

Here’s how the Boilers punched their tickets against Baylor in the second round.



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Elite Eight scores and highlights

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December 14, 2025

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Updated Dec. 13, 2025, 7:14 p.m. ET



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