Müller and White score goals, Whitecaps win 3-0, extend Sporting KC's winless streak to 6 games

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Thomas Müller had a goal and an assist, Brian White and Rayan Elloumi each added a goal and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat Sporting Kansas City 3-0 on Saturday night.

The Whitecaps (13-4-4) lead the Western Conference with 43 points and are tied with Eastern Conference-leading Nashville (52 points) for the best goal differential (plus-30) in all of MLS.

André Luiz, acquired from Greek club Olympiacos FC on Aug. 18, made his MLS debut for Kansas City when the 24-year-old designated player subbed on for Shapi Suleymanov in the 66th minute.

Müller converted from the penalty spot, his third goal in the past five games, to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

Sporting (4-15-3) are winless in six straight. Kansas City is last in MLS with 15 points, 20 goals scored and a minus-34 goal differential. Orlando has the next worst goal differential at minus-17.

Oliver Larraz played a first-touch cross, off a clearance attempt, from the right side of the area to White for a back-heel finish from the top of the 6-yared box in the 48th and Elloumi capped the scoring with a first-touch finish from point-blank range in the 90th.

White has 13 goals this season, tied for fourth most in MLS.

Vancouver's Yohei Takaoka, who did not record a save, has 10 shutouts this season, second most in the league (Hugo Lloris, 11).

Stefan Cleveland had three saves. The 32-year-old has allowed at least one goal in each of his 13 starts this season.

The Whitecaps beat Kansas City 3-0 at home on April 17.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Vancouver Whitecaps' Sam Adekugbe, back, battles for the ball with Sporting Kansas City's Andre Luiz during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Bruno Caicedo, center, kicks the ball under pressure from Sporting Kansas City's Capita Capemba (7) and Justin Reynolds during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Oliver Larraz (8) gets past Sporting Kansas City's Jacob Bartlett to head the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland (30) watches a shot by Vancouver Whitecaps' Tristan Blackmon, right, go over the goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas M¸ller (13) chases the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Known for two violent wrecks at Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Preece experienced a much different ride at NASCAR's hometown track Saturday night: a trip to victory lane.

Preece won the Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona in overtime to secure the final playoff spot for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

Preece, who ferociously flipped cars at Daytona in 2023 and again in 2025, moved to the front during a green-white-checkered finish when leader Zane Smith got bumped, started spinning and slammed into other cars on the last lap. Preece took the checkered flag under caution and edged Shane van Gisbergen for the 16th and final berth in the postseason finale.

“This is redemption,” said Preece, whose victory landed two RFK cars into the 16-driver Chase for the championship. Chris Buescher is the other.

“I’m just speechless right now,” Preece said. “Those guys, that 60 (car), we’re fighters. When you put our back against the wall, we swing hard. ... Last year, there were a lot of keyboard warriors saying I was nothing. Well, we just kicked their butts tonight.”

Preece expressed confidence all week, but he found himself needing a victory late to pass Shane van Gisbergen for the last playoff spot. Van Gisbergen finished 27th after pitting during the final caution and taking four tires.

“Shame we’re not in it,” said van Gisbergen, who won twice during the regular season but missed the playoffs under NASCAR's new format that puts more emphasis on season-long results that victories.

Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric locked up the other two available spots. Wallace, Cindric, van Gisbergen, Preece and Brad Keselowski started the night vying for the final three spots in the 10-race Chase.

Wallace, who was nearly a lock to make the 16-driver field when the green flag dropped, claimed his spot with a seventh-place finish in the opening stage. Cindric avoided trouble all night, finished sixth and advanced without much fanfare.

Daniel Suarez finished second in the race, followed by Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Van Gisbergen won Stage 1 and created more of a cushion on Preece, who was caught up in a three-car crash as he neared the finish line. Preece raced his way back to the front in Stage 2 and picked up much-needed points with a second-place finish behind Ryan Blaney.

But it came down to the final lap. Preece needed to win to get in — and he pulled it off in dramatic fashion.

“I’m a racer. I know what it takes to build speed,” Preece said. “So every man and woman at RFK, thank you for giving me a rocket ship so I could go to the moon tonight.”

Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel for a follow-up to “Days of Thunder.” The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday at Daytona he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle.

He said he wants to show audiences “the speed, the excitement and all that danger and stuff.”

Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.

Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will drive a familiar-looking No. 48 in his final Cup Series start. Johnson unveiled his paint scheme for his Toyota in the 2027 Daytona 500 by driving a ceremonial lap around the track before Saturday’s race. The gray-and-blue scheme melds the three main sponsors during Johnson’s record-setting racing career: Lowe’s, Ally and Carvana.

Johnson’s final start will come in the 69th running of the Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2027. Hendrick Motorsports loaned Johnson the No. 48 for his last ride.

“Seeing this car for the first time brings back a lifetime of memories,” Johnson said.

Riley Herbst was scratched from the race because of “lingering effects” from a crash last weekend. Harrison Burton replaced Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota and finished 12th.

Herbst was involved in a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday, with his car backing into the outside barrier before being struck again.

The 10-race Chase for the championship begins at Darlington Raceway next Sunday.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Ryan Preece, center, celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Chase Elliott (9) leads Ryan Preece (60) through the front stretch at the half way point of the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Actor Tom Crusie exits the building after attending a drivers meeting before a NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Shane Van Gisbergen (97) comes in for a pit stop during the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Kyle Larson (5) and Chase Briscoe (19) lead a group through the front stretch during early laps in the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)