NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 all off during Olympics in light, mid-summer motorsports schedule

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NASCAR CUP SERIES

NASCAR, which had last weekend off, has another free week for the Olympics before resuming at Richmond on Aug. 11.

Fast facts: 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson got to “Kiss The Bricks” at Indianapolis after winning there on July 21. ... There are four races left in NASCAR’s regular season with Michigan, Daytona and Darlington coming after the run at Richmond. ... Larson leads the NASCAR standings with 2,043 points, 15 ahead of Denny Hamlin. Christopher Bell is third and Larson's Henrick Motorsports teammate William Byron is fourth. ... It has not been a good break for Corey Lajoie, who announced he's leaving Spire Motorsports. No word yet on his replacement. ... Lajoie had signed a multi-year contract extension to stay with Spire last year.

Next race: Aug. 11, Richmond, Virginia.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

The Xfinity Series has two more weekends free before racing at Michigan on Aug. 17.

Fast facts: Stewart-Haas Racing has a lot of momentum, winning the previous two Xfinity races before the month-long break. Cole Custer won at Pocono on July 13 as the defending series champ ended his winless drought this season. Teammate Riley Herbst won at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 20. ... Custer continues to lead the series with a 55-point edge of Justin Allgaier. ... There are six more races left in the Xfinity regular season. After Michigan, comes Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Watkins Glen and Bristol. The 12-driver playoff starts at Kansas on Sept. 28.

Next race: Aug. 17, Brooklyn, Michigan.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

The Truck Series is also off until Richmond, returning to the track on Aug. 10.

Fast Facts: Richmond is the final race of the regular season with the playoffs starting at the Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 25. ... Christian Eckes leads the driver standings by 50 points over Corey Heim, even though Heim has five victories this season to Eckes' three. ... Five drivers (Eckes, Heim, Nick Sanchez, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth) have clinched playoff spots through wins. ... Two more drivers, Tyler Ankrum and Grant Enfinger, have enough points to lock up their spots.

Next race: Aug. 10, Richmond, Virginia.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA ONE

F1 is off for most of August, returning with the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 25.

Last race: Lewis Hamilton took the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday when Mercedes teammate George Russell was disqualified after crossing the line first for an underweight car. Mercedes acknowledged a “genuine error” by the team. Russell had held off Hamilton, despite the past series champion coming close to passing for the lead over the final laps. Oscar Piastri had finished third behind Russell and Hamilton, but was moved up to second. Fourth-place Charles Leclerc was declared third after the disqualification.

Fast facts: Series leader Max Verstappen missed out on the podium despite moving from fifth to fourth after Russell's DQ. Verstappen has not won since taking the last of seven victories this season in Spain on June 23. ... Verstappen’s drought has not dented his championship chances as he heads into Belgium with a 76-point lead over McLaren driver Lando Norris. Leclerc sits in third, 97 points behind Verstappen. ... Hamilton, who had earned his 200th career top-three finish in Hungary two weeks ago, followed that with his record 105th F1 win.

Next race: Aug. 25, Zandvoort, Netherlands.

Online: http://www.formula1.com

INDYCAR

IndyCar is also off for the Olympics, returning in mid-August from its last race on July 21.

Fast facts: Only five races remain in the IndyCar season. After visiting World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis in two weeks, the series runs in Portland, Oregon, and then two races at the Milwaukee Mile before finishing up at the Nashville Superspeedway on Sept. 15. ... Alex Palou has a 49-point lead over Will Power. Scott Dixon is in third, four points behind Power.

Next race: Aug. 16, Madison, Illinois.

Online: http://www.indycar.com

NHRA DRAG RACING

Drag racing's top series takes the next two weeks off before returning with the NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Last event: Antron Brown won in Top Fuel and Bob Tasca III won in Funny Car at Sonoma, California, on July 28.

Fast facts: Brown defeated Brittany Force in the semifinals before besting three-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers champion Tony Stewart in the finals. ... Force was back on the track after her father, 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, had improved after his horrific accident on June 23 in Virginia and was transferred to continue his recovery closer to home. ... Doug Kalitta has a 125-point lead over Shawn Langdon in the Top Fuel race while Austin Prock leads the Funny Car standings by 211 points over Tasca.

Next event: Aug. 15-18, Brainerd, Minnesota.

Online: http://www.nhra.com

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

Last events: David Gravel won weekend events at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Weedsport, New York, to win his 100th and 101st sprint car titles on Saturday and Sunday. Gravel missed his first chance at triple digits on Friday night in Pennsylvania, losing to T.J. Stutts before taking the checkered flag in the next two races.

Fast facts: Gravel became the eighth World of Outlaws driver to reach triple-digit victories. ... After racing in Missouri this weekend, the series heads to Knoxville, Iowa, for four events. ... Gravel has 13 wins, 31 top fives and 37 top 10s this season, all leading totals. ... Gravel tops the points standing, up 110 points over Donny Schatz. Carson Macedo is third, 142 points behind Gravel.

Next events: Friday and Saturday at Pevely, Missouri.

Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars

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

The checkered flag is waved as Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, right, crosses the finish line to take first place followed by second place Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, center, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia during the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Simon Wohlfahrt, Pool Photo via AP)

First place, Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, center, celebrates on the podium with second place Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia during the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 all off during Olympics in light, mid-summer motorsports schedule

Kyle Larson, front left, walks with Rick Hendric, front right, after Larson won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 all off during Olympics in light, mid-summer motorsports schedule

ATLANTA (AP) — Another big Atlanta crowd finally got a chance to see Lionel Messi in an MLS match.

They nearly watched United pull out a much-needed win over league-leading Inter Miami.

Alexey Miranchuk scored with a booming shot in the 84th minute and the home team pressed hard for the winning goal in stoppage time, only to settle for a 2-2 tie with Messi's Miami club before an announced crowd of 67,795 on Wednesday night.

After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old Argentine star, who is coming back from national team duties and an ankle injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.

Messi trotted on the field in the 61st to a big roar, shortly after Leo Campana scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn't find the net in his limited time on the field, drawing plenty of attention from the United defenders.

“You've gotta keep an eye on him,” Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan said with a wry smile.

In June, Messi made an Atlanta appearance for Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America. But he didn’t play a year ago when Miami visited Atlanta, disappointing a crowd of 71,635.

He made the trip this time around, thrilling the crowd simply by warming up with three teammates shortly into the second half. Fans in the lower deck whipped out their phones and began snapping pictures.

Miami moved to 19-4-6 for 63 points with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons are eight points ahead of Cincinnati and LA Galaxy in the race for the Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.

Messi showed flashes. most notably with a point-blank shot that was swatted away by Guzan. Luis Suárez, who also came off the bench, collected the rebound with an open goal in front of him, only to be blocked at the line by Atlanta defender Pedro Amador.

In stoppage time, Messi dribbled around three players in the penalty area but failed to get off a shot. Finally, he threw up his arms in frustration when a pass was intercepted by Atlanta.

“Whoever plays, we try to support each other,” Miami defender Franco Negri said through a translator. “We know what Leo means, the importance he has.”

Martino was suspended for the match due to an accumulation of staff cautions, leaving assistant coach Javier Morales to run the team.

“I think we had a good performance,” Morales said. “But of course, Atlanta is at home. They're going to push. They had a big crowd, and this was the kind of game we were expecting.”

With the home team trailing 2-1, Miranchuk unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters out that found the top left corner of the goal.

United had been waiting for a moment like this from the Russian player who joined the club during the summer transfer window for reported $13 million fee, one of the highest ever for an incoming player to MLS. It was his first goal in four league matches.

“There’s not many goalkeepers in the world that are gonna save that one,” Guzan said. “That’s a glimpse of his quality and what he can do with the ball at his feet. We're trying to encourage him to do that more often.”

Both teams pressed forward in the closing minutes, with Atlanta creating the bulk of the chances, but neither could break through.

It was a discouraging result for Atlanta, which is 11th in the Eastern Conference and one point of out a playoff berth.

“We need three points,” Guzan said. “You have as many chances as we had, we should be coming away with three points.”

Miami grabbed the lead on David Ruiz’s goal in the 29th off another deflection. Negri’s pass hit someone just outside the area, somehow got through three other players and wound up going right to Ruiz, who was all alone between two Atlanta defenders and slid the shot past Guzan.

United tied it in the 56th when Saba Lobjanidze’s header slipped between the legs of Miami keeper Drake Callender.

Campana put the Herons ahead with a free kick that was intended for the right corner of the Atlanta goal. But the ball deflected off Dax McCarty and ricocheted into the net on the left side. Guzan, diving the other way, never had a chance.

Two minutes later, Messi came on for Julian Gressel.

UP NEXT

Inter Miami: Faces New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Atlanta United: Travels to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi talks to a teammate during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami defender Serhiy Kryvtsov (27) and Atlanta United forward Daniel Ríos (19) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) chase the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen (5) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after during a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), right, and Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) battle for control of the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)