SPORTS digest

Daytona NASCAR race postponed to today

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

Rain spoiled one of NASCAR’s last great traditions when Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway was postponed because of persistent poor weather.

The race will be held at 1 p.m. today, which helps NBC avoid a head-to-head conflict with the final game of the Women’s World Cup.

NASCAR has run at Daytona during the July 4th weekend since 1959 but is abandoning that tradition in a scheduling shake-up next season. Daytona will instead host the regular-season finale in August, while the holiday weekend race will move to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Weather in part made Daytona amenable to surrendering the holiday weekend — every day since the track opened Thursday has been disrupted by either lightning or rain. Cup qualifying for Saturday night’s race was canceled because lightning in the area prevented NASCAR access to inspect the cars.

The field was set by points, with Joey Logano scheduled to start on the front row alongside Kyle Busch.

Rain also delayed Friday night’s Xfinity Series race, won by Ross Chastain, for 2 hours, 35 minutes.

Ex-Clemson tailback Tyshon Dye drowns

CLEMSON, S.C.

Former Clemson and East Carolina running back Tyshon Dye drowned Friday after swimming in a lake during a family outing.

Dye was 25 years old.

Elbert County Corner Chuck Almond told several media outlets Dye was at Richard B. Russell State Park in Georgia when he tired in the water and could not make it to shore. The coroner’s office ruled Dye’s death accidental.

Dye played at Elbert County Comprehensive High School before coming to Clemson. He was a reserve on the Tigers’ 2016 national championship team then transferred to East Carolina for his final college season.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said everyone with the Tigers was heartbroken over Dye’s death. Swinney called his former player one of the “sweetest souls” he’d ever known and was praying for Dye’s family.

Zion Williamson out for summer league

LAS VEGAS

Zion Williamson’s summer league is over.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced Saturday that the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft will not play any more at the Summer League in Las Vegas because of a bruised left knee. The team stressed the move is precautionary.

“Zion will move forward from this incident without issue,” Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said. “However, in an abundance of caution, we have made the determination that he will not appear in game action for the remainder of the NBA Summer League.”

Williamson’s presence helped the Summer League sell out its opening day Friday and reach another sellout Saturday — when Williamson was scheduled to play in his second game of the summer against Washington.

Teunissen wins stage, Thomas crashes at end

BRUSSELS

Mike Teunissen claimed the first yellow jersey of this year’s Tour de France with a sprint victory in Saturday’s opening stage, which was marked by defending champion Geraint Thomas’ crash in the finale.

Another top contender, Jakob Fuglsang, also hit the tarmac about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the finish.

Teunissen edged former world champion Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan on the finish line in Brussels.

Thomas’ Ineos team said he fell in the final meters of the stage but “feels fine.”

Fuglsang, who is rated among the favorites this year, got back on his bike with blood on his face and right knee, and scratches on his jersey. The Astana team leader managed to reach the finish without losing time.

Associated Press