DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The goal was obvious to William Byron: put the No. 24 Chevrolet in victory lane in the 2024 Daytona 500 to launch Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary season. Mission accomplished, even if Byron had to complete an agonizing final lap under caution around Daytona International Speedway awaiting the winner to be declared. “Did we win it? …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Lamar Cardinals (14-11, 8-4 Southland) at SE Louisiana Lions (13-13, 8-5 Southland) Hammond, Louisiana; Monday, 7 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lions -2; over/under is 144.5 BOTTOM LINE: …

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Republicans hoping to pick up an open U.S. Senate seat in deep blue Maryland have the most competitive candidate they’ve fielded for decades. But former Gov. Larry Hogan will need more than GOP support to overcome sustained outrage about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down constitutional protections for abortion. With Maryland voters set to …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton found himself playing a new role on NBA All-Star weekend — host. He served as Indianapolis’ unofficial ambassador. He became a part-time concierge, offering suggestions for restaurant choices and places to visit. He promoted the NBA’s 2K esports league, even doubled as a ticket broker. He made a video thanking local fans …

Roy Hodgson, the oldest ever manager in the English Premier League at age 76, left Crystal Palace on Monday just days after falling ill during a training session amid widespread reports he was about to be replaced. The former England coach said he made the decision to step aside so Palace could bring forward its plans to appoint a new …

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — An anarchist group on Monday claimed responsibility for last week’s attempted bomb attack against a senior judge in Greece, raising fears of a resurgence of violence by radical militants. Explosives experts defused the parcel bomb that was placed at a courthouse in the northern city of Thessaloniki and addressed to the judge. In an online post, …

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker is open to a long-term contract and says preliminary dialogue had begun. “Personally, I think we have the best team in the league,” Tucker said Monday as the Astros started full squad workouts. “That’s the vibe around the clubhouse. You have to have that mindset, but you still …

PRAGUE (AP) — Hundreds of tractors blocked a lane in downtown Prague in a farmers protest Monday over European Union agriculture policies and what they said were unfair practises. Major organizations representing Czech farmers didn’t participate and distanced themselves from the rally after it turned out some organizers were behind recent pro-Russian demonstrations. Traffic was not halted but City Hall …

BOSTON (AP) — Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy scored in the shootout and the Boston Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday. Marchand kept Boston’s bid alive in the shootout after Dallas took a 1-0 lead. McAvoy put the Stars in a position where they needed to score, but Jeremy Swayman …

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A drunken driver who sped through a red light in Wisconsin and smashed into another vehicle, killing five of her passengers including four children, was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison. Anteyona Sandifer, 21, pleaded guilty in January to five homicide charges related to the deaths in Milwaukee last May. Prosecutors dropped six other felony charges …