9:27 PM ET Jeremy WillisESPN.com On Sunday, Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men’s player at the US Open, was defaulted from his fourth-round match after hitting a ball that struck a line judge. The match’s umpire and officials conferred and ruled to default Djokovic, essentially ejecting him from the tournament. The United States Tennis Association said

5:04 PM ET Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Ben Rhodes moved to the front when he stayed out instead of pitting during overtime and held on for his first Truck Series win in two years on Sunday. Sheldon Creed, who came in after winning two of the past three races, was cruising in front with

4:15 PM ET Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Ryan Blaney was penalized 10 points and sent to the back of the field before NASCAR’s first playoff race on Sunday. Blaney’s car was found to have improperly mounted ballast. Blaney’s crew chief, Todd Gordon, was also suspended for the Southern 500 at Darlington. Blaney’s owner, Team

4:29 PM ET Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Brandon Jones played it out in his mind over and over as he drove behind leaders Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain. When the moment arrived, Jones was ready to pounce. Jones swept past leaders Chastain and Hamlin two laps from the end to win the Xfinity Series

8:41 PM ET Associated Press Clint Bowyer was as puzzled as anyone last May returning to Darlington Raceway about whether NASCAR could handle a pandemic. He remembers seeing scores of people camping out at a dragstrip not far from the South Carolina racetrack — “Packed to the gills with people in the pit area,” he

10:00 AM ET ESPN Betting Insiders After William Byron picked up his first career Cup Series win in the final race of the regular season last weekend, the NASCAR playoffs begin with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday (6 p.m. ET). Who will take the checkered flag? Editor Scott Symmes and

4:32 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR has decided it will not grant COVID-19 relief during the playoffs, meaning a positive coronavirus test will end a driver’s championship bid. The playoffs begin Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina without a safety net for the 16 participants during the pandemic. It’s up to

3:46 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — William Byron, fresh off his first career Cup Series victory, now has a contract extension through 2022 at Hendrick Motorsports. The extension was finalized in early August and announced Tuesday, just days after Byron’s win at Daytona International Speedway earned him a berth in NASCAR’s playoffs. “I’m

4:21 PM ET Associated Press MADISON, Ill. — Sheldon Creed beat Sam Mayer on a restart with 13 laps to go Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway to win his third Truck Series race of the season and a $100,000 bonus. Creed’s victory pushed his bonus earnings to $150,000 this year in the Triple Truck

1:42 PM ET Associated Press DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Long after a fireworks extravaganza lit up Daytona International Speedway and well after William Byron and his Hendrick Motorsports team ended their celebration in victory lane, Jimmie Johnson found a moment to reflect. On his night. On his emotions. On his legacy. He pretty much covered