Jan 31, 00:00


on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:58 PM
     India's Adani Enterprises climbed 2% in early trade on Tuesday, the last day for its $2.5 billion secondary share sale, with all eyes on whether the company can secure enough backing for the offering after a U.S. short-seller's scathing attack. Billionaire Gautam Adani's group firms have lost $65 billion in stock market value since Hindenburg Research's Jan. 24 report flagged concerns about the group's high debt levels and its suspected improper use of tax havens. Adani has called the report baseless.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:56 PM
     Texas Tech erased a 23-point deficit after halftime for its first Big 12 win of the season, with De'Vion Harmon scoring all 16 of his points after the break in an 80-77 overtime victory against No. 13 Iowa State on Monday night. The Red Raiders trailed 59-36 with 12:36 remaining after one of Caleb Grill's career-best eight 3-pointers, but a 20-3 run started not long after to make it close down the stretch. Kevin Obanor had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Red Raiders (12-10, 1-8 Big 12), who won their second consecutive game including a victory over LSU in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:56 PM
     Washington has been tightening its rules on exports of US technology to China for several years.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:56 PM
     At least three businesses in Long Beach were targeted in a string of break-ins, one of which was caught on camera. Now, owners are on high alert.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:55 PM
     Jan. 30—A poultry slaughterhouse in Exeter Township allowed chickens to die in ways that violated federal animal handling rules, according to a report stemming from a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection. Birdsboro Kosher Farms Corp. left more than 1,200 chickens to die of apparent heat stress on trailers over two days in July at the Lincoln Road facility, the report said. Despite ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:55 PM
     Jan. 30—A Wyomissing man with a recent history of retail theft convictions in Berks County is accused by investigators of four municipalities of employing a ruse to get hundreds of dollars in cash refunds at Home Depot and Lowe's stores. Brian Potteiger, 35, was wanted on arrest warrants from police departments in Exeter, Muhlenberg and Spring townships and Wyomissing when he was taken into ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:55 PM
     Jan. 30—The Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation recently received a generous and unexpected bequest from a man with no known connection to the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit. Eugene Griepentrog, a decorated World War II veteran who died in October 2021, left $600,000 to the end-of-life care provider, executor Mindy Underwood said. Griepentrog, who retired as a chief master sergeant after 30 years ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:55 PM
     Jan. 30—Remember the early days of the internet, when tech companies told us how their inventions would bring freedom of speech to the entire planet? Facebook and Twitter and Google promised a big interconnected World Wide Web that would forever guarantee the free flow of information, bringing light to the world's dark crevices. Now, Colorado U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, in a new book called "Crushed," ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Parris Island, South Carolina, one of the oldest posts in the Marine Corps, was designated for recruit training in 1915.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Europe has weathered the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine so far, but businesses and households are already thinking about how to get through the next winter.After Russia's invasion, European energy prices hit record levels -- surpassing 300 euros per megawatt hour in August before a falloff after governments rushed to boost storage.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Jan. 30—Fox News anchor and political commentator Dana Perino will deliver the spring commencement address at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Graduation is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 13 at the ThunderBowl. Perino graduated from the university, then called the University of Southern Colorado, in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in mass communications and dual minors in Spanish and ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Jan. 30—Colorado and five other Colorado River states have reached a consensus on how they plan to reduce their water usage, the states announced Monday. The proposal, which the states will submit to the federal Bureau of Reclamation, suggests changes to the criteria for Colorado River usage reductions including operating guidelines for Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell and Hoover Dam at Lake ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Jan. 30—Sunday night's cold chill continues to linger into Monday night as temperatures reach -2 degrees in the Colorado Springs area, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday for El Paso County as 'very cold' wind chills are expected to be as low as 20 below zero, the weather service said. With the low temperatures and cold ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:54 PM
     Jan. 30—The first arctic cloud of the season descended on Colorado Springs on the first day of winter in December and proved to be a solid testing ground for whether the city would have enough beds at Springs Rescue Mission, now the only emergency shelter for homeless single adults. The answer: yes, it does. Capacity at Springs Rescue Mission, a nonprofit supported by local churches and other ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:53 PM
     Chinese factory activity rebounded in January from three months of contraction, adding to signs the world's second-largest economy might be recovering from a painful slump, an official survey showed Tuesday. A monthly purchasing managers' index issued by the Chinese statistics agency and an industry group rose to 50.1 on a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 show activity growing. China's economic growth sank to 2.9% over a year earlier in the final three months of 2022, but economists point to increased investment and improved consumer spending as signs activity is recovering.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:53 PM
     Jan. 30—A standoff involving an armed man in a Security-Widefield neighborhood early Monday morning has been resolved, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Around 5:20 a.m., the sheriff's office alerted residents in the area of the 100 block of Fordham Street that deputies were assisting Fountain Police for an armed barricaded suspect incident. Residents were asked to secure their ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:52 PM
     Doncic had another huge night and managed to rile up the Pistons bench in the process.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:52 PM
     The Cook County State's Attorney's office alleged Liddell launched an embezzlement scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $1.5 million in taxpayer money, all by billing a vendor for chicken wings that were never used at the school.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:52 PM
     Jan. 30—The trial for Demar Rayel Ravenell, who is accused of killing a Colorado Springs taxi driver over a year ago, is slated to begin next week. In a brief hearing on Monday morning, the prosecution and defense said they were ready for Ravenell's jury trial, which prosecuting attorney Sharon Flaherty said would last two weeks. Ravenell, 22, is accused of fatally shooting Brian MacDonald, ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:50 PM
     The Indian rupee eased on Tuesday against a stronger dollar, with investors keeping a close eye on equity markets while they awaited the domestic Union budget and the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting. However, traders reckon the rupee has held up better than expected through the massive selloff in Indian equities after a U.S. short-seller report on Adani Group last week flagged concerns about their debt levels and the use of tax havens. "The rupee has been resilient in spite of the about $2.5 billion foreign portfolio outflow in January, the highest since June of last year," said Anindya Banerjee, head research - fx and interest rates at Kotak Securities.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:50 PM
     A Chicago Girls Scouts troop was robbed of eight cases of Thin Mints over the weekend.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     Video captured on a neighbor's Nest camera shown to WCPO 9 News shows officers give multiple commands before Joe Frasure gets in his car. You can hear the car accelerate before officers fire.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     InPost S.A. ( AMS:INPST ), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a significant share price rise of over 20...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     The Kansas City Roos entered Monday riding their longest winning streak of the season ... only to fall to Lawrence-native Zeke Mayo and South Dakota State.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     Jan. 30—The first Starbucks coffee shop in San Benito should be open in about a month. Renovation work on the old Popeye's restaurant at U.S. 77/Expressway 83 and Sam Houston Boulevard has been progressing but delays in the $200,000 project have pushed back the original start date. "I noticed last week that they just put up the sign outside so I said, 'Well, that means it's coming,'" Cathy ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     Jan. 30—Michael Malone didn't name names, but the Nuggets coach did name areas of improvement ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline. When asked Monday where his team could get better, Malone cited consistency, 3-point defense and closing quarters. The Nuggets allowed the 76ers to make 18 of their 35 3-pointers in Saturday's loss in Philadelphia. Denver also gave up a 12-0 run to close the third ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     Jan. 30—Jacob Snow is back home. No, he hasn't transferred from Mentor. And no, we're not referring to his college commitment to Slippery Rock University. A senior at Mentor, Snow is headed is excited to join The Rock — and he'll do so as a linebacker, the position at which Snow cut his teeth as a youth football player in Chardon. After starting his high school career as a quarterback for the ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:49 PM
     Jan. 30—John Adams, who for nearly 50 years faithfully pounded his bass drum in the bleachers of two stadiums to rally the Indians and their fans, has died. The Guardians made the announcement on Twitter the morning of Jan. 30. By late afternoon, the message and accompanying video had been viewed more than 1.7 million times. "It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of John Adams," ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:48 PM
     A planned biopic about Michael Jackson will star his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the title role of a film directed by Antoine Fuqua.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:48 PM
     Jan. 30—The Avalanche entered the All-Star break with a surge of momentum. Colorado won seven of its last eight games to get back into the playoff picture as currently the second Wild Card team out of the West — at 57 points (27-18-3). A trio of players — Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen — will represent the Avs in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday for the NHL All-Star Game. Here are ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:48 PM
     After a conversation with the DuPage County Board and State's Attorney, Sheriff James Mendrick now says he is "committed to enforcing state and local laws, including the Protect Illinois Communities Act."

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:47 PM
     Death toll is expected to rise as several remain critically injured and search for bodies continues

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:47 PM
     Boys and girls basketball teams were in action.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:47 PM
     Jan. 30—DENVER — Despite possibly not landing their top candidates, the Broncos didn't request any new interviews on Monday as they continue their search for a head coach. Denver's search for its next coach has been a long one, starting with eight candidates. Many expected the Broncos to add to that list this week, with two of their targets — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and 49ers defensive ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:47 PM
     Jan. 30—Twin Valley grad A.J. Alexy, a right-handed pitcher, moved to his fourth major league organization of the offseason when he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Alexy was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins on Jan. 23, but the 24-year-old again quickly found a new home. He will provide depth for the White Sox and has a minor option remaining, so he ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:47 PM
     Jan. 30—With economic development and business retention a priority, Wickliffe has recently formed the City Development Team. The newly formed group is made up of nine people. Among the local government officials that make up the team is Mayor Joe Sakacs, Fire Chief Jim Powers, Building Commissioner Ray Sack and Arielle Hilliard from the Lake County Health Department. Currently meeting twice a ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:46 PM
     A lawsuit accusing musician Marilyn Manson of "childhood and adult sexual abuse, sexual battery, assault and molestation" was filed in New York on Monday.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:46 PM
     NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in Japan as part of his East Asia tour, said "our security is closely interconnected" and called for stronger ties with Japan as Russia's war on Ukraine raises global dangers and shows that democracies need stronger partnerships. Japan has been quick to join the U.S.-led economic sanctions against Russia's war on Ukraine and provided humanitarian aid and non-combative defense equipment for the Ukrainians. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has sounded alarm that Russia's aggression in Europe could happen in Asia, where concerns are growing over already assertive China and its escalating tension near Taiwan.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:46 PM
     Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its "Baron Health Care Fund" fourth quarter 2022 investor letter. A copy of the same can be downloaded here. In the fourth quarter, the fund increased by 9.08% (Institutional Shares) compared to an 11.54% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index and a 7.56% gain for the S&P […]

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:46 PM
     Jan. 30—Girls basketball CVCA 53, NDCL 31 NDCL (3-15): Baeslach 13, Znidarsic 5, Brownlee 3, Popik 2, Rowan 8 CVCA (14-2): Harabedian 3, Casalinova 15, Williams 11, Schroefer 1, Bettinger 18, Eikenes 2, Guinn 1, Haydu 2 CVCA 14 16 9 14 — 53 NDCL 8 10 4 9 — 31 Free throws: NDCL 5 of 7, CVCA 4 of 7; 3-pointers: NDCL 4 (Baeslach 2), CVCA 9 (Bettinger 6); Trinity 52, Berkshire 42 Berkshie: Hering ...

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:45 PM
     Officer pulled Nichols 'violently' from his car while hitting him on ground with taser

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:44 PM
     Family of fighters put in work at Veterans Memorial

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:44 PM
     French warplanes must not be used to 'touch Russian soil', says Macron

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:44 PM
     New South Wales is set to finalise an order by mid-February that will require all mining firms in Australia's biggest coal exporting state to reserve as much as 10% of their output for domestic supply. A Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the government would issue final directions after talks with miners. "The draft revised directions allow suppliers the option to provide coal from their own production or to strike an agreement from another supplier to meet their obligations under the directions," the spokesperson said.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:43 PM
     When energy prices blew up last year in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine, Belgian glassblower Christophe Genard had no other option but to close for three months.The Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB) warned this month of spiralling costs for businesses because of higher energy prices and inflation-related wage hikes.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:43 PM
     The Florida A&M University women's basketball team dropped a SWAC game to Alabama State 77-68, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023 inside the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:43 PM
     NBC5 Play of the Week

on Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games Monday, January 30, 2023 11:42 PM
     The Sacramento Kings have been monitoring the availability of Matisse Thybulle to acquire him from the Philadelphia 76ers.

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 8:10 PM
     Week 2 USTFCCA Rankings Princeton, N.J. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) unveiled its' second edition of the NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index, with the Princeton Men's Track and ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 8:02 PM
     The schedule allows for each team to face all 13 conference opponents home and away at least once over the four-year period. The new model eliminates divisions with the top two teams based on winning percentage playing in the ACC Football Championship Game ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 7:54 PM
     No. 18 Stanford men's tennis held strong on its home court, beating Texas A&M, 4-1, on Monday afternoon. The Cardinal advances to the ITA Indoor National Championship with the result, which will be held Feb. 17-20 in Chicago.

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 6:55 PM
     The award is given annually to the best college basketball player in the country. Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9 Kentucky forward, ran away with the Wooden Award on the men's side last season, ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 6:30 PM
     State's Terquavion Smith, Gonzaga's Drew Timme, Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe, Arizona's Azuolas Tubelis, Kansas' Jalen Wilson and Miami's Isaiah Wong. Both Johnson and Nowell were recently named to Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List by the U.S. ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 6:12 PM
     BOULDER — The University of Colorado women's lacrosse team was rated No. 25 in the IWLCA Division I preseason poll. The Buffs received a total of 40 points, and is one of two teams selected from the Pac-12 conference.

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 6:02 PM
     Both squads garnered U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team recognition last week. The Bluejay men owned a cumulative 3.77 GPA, trailing only Vanderbilt's 3.772 GPA that led the nation. Last fall the Bluejay men topped ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 5:52 PM
     BLACKSBURG – After finding its hot hand at home last week, Virginia Tech hits the road on a two-game win streak to face No.23 Miami on Thursday. Mike Monaco and Malcolm Huckaby will have the call on ESPNU, while Zach Mackey and Mike Burnop will provide ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 5:36 PM
     AUBURN, Ala. – Off the heels of its D100 Preseason Player Rankings, D1 Softball released its top pitchers returning for the 2023 season with Auburn softball's Maddie Penta making the cut at No. 13. Earlier this month, Penta was tabbed the No.

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 5:07 PM
     This weekend, the squad hosted the River Hawk Invitational at the TRACK at new balance, where Neilan competed in the mile run. Four total River Hawks finished within the top 10 runners in the race, with Neilan leading the pack and finishing in first place ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 4:45 PM
     -- During the 2022 fall semester, Illinois student-athletes excelled in the classroom, combining for a 3.45 average GPA, setting a record of 25-straight semesters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher. Seventeen of the 19 varsity sports posted a team GPA ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 4:39 PM
     DURHAM – Duke's incoming men's tennis recruiting class was tabbed the No. 25 class in the nation, according to rankings released by TennisRecruiting.net on Monday. Alexander Visser makes up the highly touted class after signing his National Letter of ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:52 PM
     Newport News, Va. – Fordham University graduate student forward Khalid Moore (Elmont, N.Y./Molloy/Georgia Tech) has been named the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Co-Player of the week for games played January 23-January 29 it was announced by the ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:41 PM
     KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Following a pair of road tilts, the Western Michigan men's basketball team returns to Kalamazoo for a pair of home games this week, starting on Tuesday night as it welcomes Northern Illinois to University Arena. GAME INFO.

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:21 PM
     AMESBURY, Mass. – Hockey East announced Monday that Boston College freshman Grace Campbell has been named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week, The Kensington, Md. native posted her first career shutout on Saturday afternoon, making 19 saves in BC's ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:20 PM
     ACC spring football coverage throughout April on ACCN platforms; ACCN to carry Virginia's Spring Game on April 15 as the Cavaliers make their first public appearance at Scott Stadium since November's tragedy. ACC Network (ACCN), the 24/7 national ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:13 PM
     – After a short break, the Northern Illinois University wrestling team returns to the mat this Saturday (Feb. 4) for a matchup with Buffalo at 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The match will coincide with NIU gymnastics' tri-meet with Simpson College ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:09 PM
     The win over the Tigers extended South Florida's winning streak to 10 games while also winning 12 of its last 13. A 6-foot-4 forward from Nkongsamba, Cameroon, Fankam Mendjiadeu Averaged 21.0 points per game and 14.0 rebounds per contest in the two outings ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:07 PM
     GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia Tech graduate forward Grant Basile was named Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, while Duke's Kyle Filipowski was selected as the ACC Rookie of the Week for the third straight week and ...

G-Alt sports Monday, January 30, 2023 3:05 PM
     Commesso was named Hockey East Goaltender of the Week while Hutson earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week and fourth time overall. Both players were excellent in the Terriers' weekend sweep of Boston College.

SBJ Unpacks: NASCAR heads into pivotal season