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 Tropical Storm Beryl was strengthening on Saturday while on a fast path westward toward the Caribbean.

The National Hurricane Center said Beryl, the second named storm of 2024 in the Atlantic Ocean, could become 2024′s first hurricane as soon as tonight or Sunday.

Tracking the Tropics: Tropical Storm Beryl in the Central Atlantic
ELSEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC

Beryl is expected to be approaching the Caribbean by then, and a hurricane watch is now in effect for Barbados.

The hurricane center on Saturday was also tracking two other tropical disturbances, and both of them have chances to become tropical depressions in the next few days. (The next names on the 2024 storm list are Chris and Debby.)

But Beryl is the more immediate concern. As of 7 a.m. CDT Saturday, Tropical Storm Beryl was located about 975 miles east-southeast of Barbados and was tracking quickly to the west at 21 mph.

Beryl’s winds had increased to 60 mph. Category 1 hurricane winds begin at 74 mph.

The hurricane center expects Beryl to become a hurricane tonight or early Sunday, and then continue to get stronger. The hurricane center’s forecast does not so far show Beryl becoming a major hurricane (Category 3), however, some forecast models are suggesting that is a possibility because of a very favorable environment for strengthening in Beryl’s path.

Barbados is the only island under a watch so far. The hurricane center said Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and into Monday.

The official forecast track takes what could be Hurricane Beryl by then south of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and has the center of the storm passing near or right over Jamaica on Wednesday, when the forecast period ends.

The hurricane center cautioned however, that track errors can be large when it comes to the Days 4 and 5 track guidance.

It’s too soon to say if or when Beryl could affect the U.S.

The hurricane center said Beryl could bring a 2- to 4-foot storm surge to Barbados and 3 to 6 inches of rain to the Windward Islands.

 In a season oozing with breakout potential, NaLyssa Smith is finding her stride alongside her trio of co-stars. Though she found herself outside of the starting lineup early in the season, Smith’s return to the first five has helped her reach a new gear.

The No. 2 pick in the 2022 WNBA draft is a top-16 rebounder in the league, grabbing seven rebounds per game. That trails Indiana’s team-leader Aliyah Boston by less than one rebound per game.

“I want to keep rebounding hard,” Smith said. “I know I can be one of the best rebounders in this league.”

She sits among the top-14 in the WNBA in field goal percentage, too, sinking 50.3 percent of her shots. She is the Fever’s highest ranking player by this metric, and has recorded nine games with 50 percent or greater field goal percentage.

“We just really keep talking about paint touches,” coach Christie Sides said. “You’ve got to get paint touches…If you get a paint touch, it just collapses the defense. Especially with the way [Boston] and [Smith] are playing down there. You’ve got to play through your posts, and that’s not saying you just beat it in expecting them to get every shot. They just create wide open looks.”

Smith’s offense has been a major piece in Indiana’s successes this season – she’s scored in double figures in six of Indiana’s seven victories. Her synergy with rookie guard Caitlin Clark is boosting the efficiency of Indiana’s offense, as she thrives off of Clark’s ability to draw multiple defenders to the perimeter. As a result, Smith is the beneficiary of increased post touches, hitting 72 percent of her shots at the rim and 59 percent of her shots within 10 feet of the basket.

“It’s been a focus for us as a group,” Clark said. “We want to be able to play inside-out. We want to get our posts touches, and the more we can do that the better for [NaLyssa]…That’s the highest percentage shot in basketball. That’s the shot you want to get.”

Smith’s three double-doubles this season tie Clark for second-most by a Fever player, behind Boston’s five. She’s been an efficient weapon on the offensive side of the ball, but Smith pulls her weight on the defensive end as well.

“I’ve been challenged a lot this year defensively,” Smith said. “I took it as a challenge…I started taking defense a lot more seriously.”

She averages just over a block per contest – a mark that’s seen improvement following her first two years in the league. Smith’s block total for the entire 2023 season was just 10. She’s already doubled that mark with 21 blocks through just 19 games in the 2024 season. Smith has swatted 10 shots over the Fever’s last seven games – a stark contrast from her block totals just one season ago.

As she continues to ascend, Smith looks to play her way onto the court in Phoenix with the 2024 WNBA All-Stars. If she continues her efficient play, she has a case to be included in the All-Star frontcourt.

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 Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team have been working around the clock to improve their on-track performance entering this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.

Richards and his Versatran / BlueBird team have had a busy couple of weeks doing everything they can to get their hot rod to perform at its best. After front-halving their Funny Car ahead of the last weekend’s Virginia Nationals, Richards qualified the Versatran / Bluebird entry in the No. 16 spot before having a first-round exit to Bob Tasca III. The team then stayed Monday to test at Virginia Motorsports Park.

“Coming into Norwalk this weekend, we’re feeling pretty good. We front halved the car ahead of Richmond and we took some time to get a handle on it. Qualifying was a struggle, but we left competition on a good note. We lost first round, but we made a clean pass,” Richards said. “At testing on Monday, it went really well. We’re happy with the work we’ve done. It’s got us excited for this weekend. I’m glad it was a quick turnaround. I’m excited to get back in the car

Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird team want to continue to make a habit of qualifying for national events. Now at the halfway mark of the 2024 season, Richards has qualified for seven race days picking up his first-round win at the Charlotte Four-Wide event. The Versatran team will be looking to qualify for their eighth straight race day at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. With their extra efforts, they’ll look to turn on a few win lights on race day as well.

Competition at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eliminations will be Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will begin on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET followed by the first round of eliminations at 4:00 p.m. ET. The rest of eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) at 5:00 p.m. ET.

SOURCE 

 On June 27, 2024, the racing world lost one of its brightest stars, Lizzy Musi, after a year-long courageous battle with breast cancer. 

According to a statement made by her dad, renowned engine builder Pat Musi, Lizzy was surrounded by family in her own home when she passed.

Lizzy Musi was more than just a racer; she was a trailblazer and an inspiration. From a young age, she was drawn to drag racing, following in the footsteps of her legendary father. Lizzy carved out her own legacy in the racing world, becoming a fierce competitor and a beloved figure in the community.

Her accomplishments on the track were numerous and impressive. From her early days in the ADRL and to the PDRA, Lizzy most recently found success in the Discovery show Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings. She has also been featured numerous times in Drag Illustrated for her accomplishments and was the cover star of DI #84, the Hottest issue, in February 2014. But beyond the accolades, Lizzy was known for her unwavering determination, infectious enthusiasm, and genuine love for the sport and its people. 

Lizzy was also known for her incredible strength and courage off the track. In April 2023, she was diagnosed with triple-negative stage 4 breast cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes and liver. 

Despite this challenging diagnosis, Lizzy remained open about her journey, sharing her story with honesty and bravery. She underwent various treatments in the United States and, most recently, announced that her final-round NPK appearance at Empire Dragway would be her last for at least the next few events as she traveled to Germany for a special cancer treatment.

Lizzy’s impact extended far beyond her racing achievements. Her kindness, humility, and generosity of spirit made her a cherished friend to many in the racing community and beyond.

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