Caught red-handed! NASCAR busts Gragson for sticking hand out window during Daytona 500 qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson was caught red-handed by NASCAR.

NASCAR Daytona 500 Media Day Auto Race

Gragson was the first driver busted during Daytona 500 qualifying for violating the new rule that specifies drivers are banned for sticking their hands out the opening of the window during the qualifying run.

Gragson's time in the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports was thrown out Wednesday because he used his left hand in an attempt to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track.

"I completely forgot about that rule so that one's on me," Gragson said. "Yeah, I feel like an idiot for that."

The 27-year-old Gragson did not advance to the second round of qualifying and lost his chance to race for the pole. The starting order for Sunday's Daytona 500 will be determined by a pair of Thursday night qualifying races.

"I feel like the Daytona 500 is such a long race, you can kind of start wherever," Gragson said. "It is what it is. I feel like an idiot for that. I'm dumb for that."

On the other hand, most in NASCAR found it hilarious.

"This is the most Noah thing ever," NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote on social media. "Don't touch that stove, it's hot. Touches stove. Gets burnt. Says yes, it is hot."

Kyle Busch won the pole for the Daytona 500. Chase Briscoe, last year's pole-sitter, qualified second and got a good chuckle out of Gragson getting busted.

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"He's my buddy, but I'm not surprised it was the guy that had it happen to him," Briscoe said. "I told my guys as soon as it happened, of all the people, I bet he didn't even remember it was a rule."

Teams believed that drivers could earn an aerodynamic advantage on superspeedways with the gesture before NASCAR made the call in the offseason to ban it.

"Sometimes you have a car that drives very easily, and you can do it easily and other times you have got your hands full and you can't do it," Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman said. "You always have an engineer telling you that you need to do it, exactly what position to put your hand in and all that. But I am glad that I can just keep two hands on the steering wheel for this one."

NASCAR suspended Gragson in 2023 and he parted ways with Legacy Motor Club liking an insensitive meme with a photo of George Floyd's face.

Gragson is winless in 111 career Cup races and will make his fifth Daytona 500 start.

"I don't care if I start last for this race," Gragson said. "I know that's probably not what people want to hear, but my best finish in Cup is third at Talladega and we qualified second-to-last. It's kind of crazy, but it is what it is here."

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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February 12, 2026

Caught red-handed! NASCAR busts Gragson for sticking hand out window during Daytona 500 qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson was caught red-handed by NASCAR. NASCAR Daytona 500 Media Day Auto R...

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Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament: Burton blanks Williams, shocking fans

Unrivaled's 1-on-1 tournamentwith its playground feel were on full display during the first round of action.

On Wednesday, 22 players went head-to-head in single-elimination games to see who would advance to the second round for a chance at the$300,000 prize pool. While there were several first-round upsets as the matchups unfolded, the most shocking game of the night was Mist guard Veronica Burton beating Breeze guard Courtney Williams, 11-0.

In just one minute and 23 seconds, Burton advanced, never giving Williams a chance to get the ball during the matchup's make-it-take-it style. A stunned Williams seemingly couldn't believe what happened.

"Wow Chat,"Williams said postame on X, "Not even getting the ball is crazyyyy."

Outside of the thrilling Williams-Burton matchup, threeNo.1 seeds, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckersand Kelsey Mitchell, all moved on. Top players like Rose's Chelsea Gray and Mist's Arike Ogunbowale also punched their tickets to the next round.

Ahead of the second round, No.1 seed Allisha Gray and her matchup partner Vinyl's Saniya Rivers have advanced after Rose's Kahleah Copper and Breeze's Rickea Jackson opted not to participate in the tournament. Lunar Owls guard Skylar Diggins, Laces guard Jordin Canada and forward Alyssa Thomas also declined.

Digggins and Canada's decisions not to play advanced Phantom guard Kelsey Plum to face Hive guard Natisha Hiedeman in the second round. Phantom center Aliyah Boston also moves on after Thomas' replacement, Laeticia Amihere, dropped out of the tournament on Wednesday.

Here's an updated look at the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament bracket:

Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament first round results

Individual matchup winners are bolded.Results also include seed numbers in parentheses and the final score.

• (5) Veronica Burton vs (4) Courtney Williams; Final Score: 11-0

• (8) Rachel Banham vs (1) Kelsey Mitchell; Final Score: 12-3

• (5) Brittney Sykes vs (4) Arike Ogunbowale; Final Score:11-2

• (7) Natasha Cloud vs (2) Chelsea Gray; Final Score: 10-11

• (6) Aziaha James vs (3) Jackie Young; Final Score: 12-4

• (8) Kate Martin vs (1) Paige Bueckers; Final Score: 12-5

• (6) Sonia Citron vs (3) Marina Mabrey; Final Score: 12-10

• (7) Rae Burrell vs (2) Rhyne Howard; Final Score: 12-9

• (6) Shakira Austin vs (3) Dearica Hamby; Final Score: 12-10

• (7) Dominique Malonga vs (2) Aaliyah Edwards; Final Score: 11-8

• (8) Li Yueru vs (1) Breanna Stewart; Final Score: 11-6

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Unrivaled 1-on-1 bracket 2026: Burton blanks Williams, shocks fans

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February 12, 2026

Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament: Burton blanks Williams, shocking fans

Unrivaled's 1-on-1 tournamentwith its playground feel were on full display during the first round of action. ...

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No. 4 Duke, No. 20 Clemson to fight for first place in ACC

First place will be at stake in the Atlantic Coast Conference when No. 20 Clemson visits No. 4 Duke on Saturday afternoon at Durham, N.C.

Duke (22-2, 11-1 ACC) recovered from its last-second loss to rival North Carolina last weekend by winning 70-54 at Pitt on Tuesday night.

Clemson (20-5, 10-2) came back from last week's West Coast trip and lost 76-66 to visiting Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. That stopped the Tigers' four-game winning streak.

"A tall task," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said of the matchup with Duke. "We're one of those teams that we need most of our guys to play well."

"We had a lot of guys, for the first time in a long time, not play well," Brownell continued about the Virginia Tech game. "... We've got to shake it off and get our attitude back in a good place and be ready to compete. We've got to make sure we're all on point and confident."

Clemson is 6-0 in ACC road games. Last season, the Tigers handed Duke its only ACC loss with a 77-71 decision at home.

Duke sputtered at times on offense in the Pitt game, but Isaiah Evans hit five 3-point shots on his way to 21 points. Cameron Boozer's 17 points and 10 rebounds gave him his 13th double-double.

The Blue Devils played without center Patrick Ngongba II, who was out with a wrist injury. With Ngongba not on the court, it puts more responsibility on Boozer in the lane, Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.

Guard Caleb Foster picked up some of the rebounding slack, grabbing a career-high eight rebounds.

"Whatever I could do to get boards and help the team out, helping the team win," Foster said.

The status of Ngongba could be crucial going into the matchup with Clemson. It was a game-day decision when it was determined he wouldn't play against Pitt.

"He got hurt in the Carolina game. He fell on his wrist," Scheyer said. "We were holding on hope on whether he could play (Tuesday). I think that was incredibly unrealistic. He wasn't close to being ready. ... It's hard to say (about Saturday)."

Scheyer mixed lineup combinations Tuesday, with Cayden Boozer and Darren Harris among those on the court to begin the second half.

"We were playing lineups anyway that we've never played before," Scheyer said. "It was about finding a lineup that we could have a spark and have that defense and competitiveness."

Clemson can be sturdy on the interior, so that could lead to problems for Duke if the Blue Devils aren't at full strength.

Yet Brownell said he doesn't mind going with a three-guard set-up, especially when Ace Buckner (16 points off the bench Wednesday) is rolling.

The Tigers will look for more offense from Dillon Hunter after he has managed a total of three points in the last three games combined. He's 1 of 10 from the field in those games.

"He's getting the ball in some decent spots," said Brownell, who praised the guard's impact on defense.

--Field Level Media

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February 12, 2026

No. 4 Duke, No. 20 Clemson to fight for first place in ACC

First place will be at stake in the Atlantic Coast Conference when No. 20 Clemson visits No. 4 Duke on Saturday afte...

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Bijou Phillips Is Still Searching for a Kidney Donor After Receiving 1,000 Applications

Kristy Sparow/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Bijou Phillips is still looking for a kidney donor after receiving more than 1,000 applications

• So far, no one is a match, and she remains hospitalized and on dialysis at UCLA

• Her half-sisters, Chynna and Mackenzie Phillips, visited her in the hospital, as did daughter Fianna

Bijou Phillipsis still in need of a kidney.

The actress received more than a thousand replies to her plea for akidney donor— but so far, no one is a match, according toTMZ.

The actress' blood type is B negative, and doctors have yet to find a match, per the outlet. She needs donors with B negative, B positive, O negative or O positive blood.

TMZ also reports that she is struggling with the toll of dialysis and will likely remain hospitalized until she receives a new kidney.

View this post on Instagram

Phillips is searching for a new kidney after struggling with complications from her first kidney transplant, which she received in 2017. As she shared in a Feb. 11Instagrampost: "I was born with underdeveloped kidneys and spent the first three months of life in the NICU on dialysis."

"In 2017, I received the incredible gift of a kidney from a dear friend. Thattransplantgave me 8 precious years to be a mother to my daughter—but I have had many complications since, including the BK virus which led to both a cellular and antibody rejection."

Phillips said she was "asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt, and most important, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter" — a reference to her daughterFianna, 11,whom she shares with ex-husband,That 70s Showstar,Danny Masterson.

In a post to Phillips' Instagram stories, Fianna was on hand to visit her mother in the hospital — along with half-sisters Chynna Phillips and Mackenzie Phillips  — visiting her bedside at UCLA, where she's under the care of Dr. Anjay Rastogi.

Bijou Phillips/Instagram

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Well wishes poured in under her original post from friends and fans.Paris Hiltonwrote, "Love you so much sis🥰 Sending you so much love, light, and strength✨✨✨✨✨." AndPretty Little LiarsalumAshley Bensonwrote, "Love you love you. We are all supporting you and you are not alone."

Anyone interested in kidney donation can apply through alink in her bio."I am so grateful for your support," she wrote, and concluded her plea for help by saying, "Time is of the essence."

PEOPLE has reached out to Phillips' rep for more information.

Read the original article onPeople

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February 12, 2026

Bijou Phillips Is Still Searching for a Kidney Donor After Receiving 1,000 Applications

Kristy Sparow/Getty NEED TO KNOW Bijou Phillips is still looking for a kidney donor after receiving more than 1,000 applications So far,...

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Erin Andrews Details How She Picks Out Her Sideline Fashion, Including Viral Fur Jacket: 'A Whole Coat Thing' (Exclusive)

Erin Andrews caught up with PEOPLE at Che Fico in San Francisco on Feb. 5 to celebrate the origin of her WEAR line

NEED TO KNOW

• She credited her stylist for helping her choose the bold coats she sported during NFL playoff season

• Two of Andrews' three jackets were from the outerwear line Auter, designed by Rob Zangardi

Erin Andrewsis stepping up her coat game.

The FOX Sports broadcaster tells PEOPLEat an event for her brand WEAR by Erin Andrewsin San Francisco on Feb. 5 during 2026 Super Bowl week that she can't take all the credit for her much-discussed recent sideline fashion choices — though she did have a role in at least one of the selections.

"I have a lot of help. If you saw me away from being in the public eye or mingling, I mean — " Andrews quips of her ability to pull together an outfit on her own. "I have a fantastic stylist. She really, really hit it out of the park. The coats!"

On Jan. 11, during the playoff matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, Andrews sported a massive fur coat (The Fox Jacket in Sand Noir) by Rob Zangardi, who is the designer behind outwear line Auter.

"Thank you so much to Rob. He freaking killed it too," she tells PEOPLE.

WEAR by Erin Andrews/Mahelly Ferreira

In a previous interview withGlamour, Andrews said that she had "zero clue" about the social media convo about her attire until the game was over.

"I knew when my stylist, Daniela Romero, suggested I wear it that it was outside the box and super fun — and I thought Philly was the best place to do it," Andrews told the outlet of the Jan. 11 look. "I forgot I was even wearing it when I did my first hit with the NFL on FOX Pregame Show because I was so locked in."

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Then, on Jan. 17, during the playoff matchup between the 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, Andrews donned yet another Auter piece — this time a trench coat (theItalian Leather Trench).

"We kind of really screwed ourselves because we did the big fur first. Then we did the second one from Auter — the all-leather trench — and then it was NFC Championship and we were like, 'Oh no, what are we going to do?' " she recalls to PEOPLE.

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty

"I really don't trust myself in terms of shopping or anything like that, but I found this one [for the NFC championship]. I sent it to Daniela [Romero] and she's like, 'Let's get it,' " Andrews says. "And we got it, and it was amazing. And she told me it sold out on all the places online. It was sick."

Kevin Sabitus/Getty

"Next year should be a whole coat thing," she jokes. "It'll be fun."

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During Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, actressElizabeth Banks even decided to get in on the fur coat action, saying she simply "had to" pay tribute to Andrews' bold style.

With a photo shared to her Instagram Stories, Banks revealed that the commentator and WEAR by Erin Andrews founder was her style inspiration for the day. The split image showed her in the same $950 Auter faux fur Fox Jacket by Zangardi.

Read the original article onPeople

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February 12, 2026

Erin Andrews Details How She Picks Out Her Sideline Fashion, Including Viral Fur Jacket: 'A Whole Coat Thing' (Exclusive)

Erin Andrews caught up with PEOPLE at Che Fico in San Francisco on Feb. 5 to celebrate the origin of her WEAR line ...

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