Sports Benches presents this week’s sports news headlined by another NASCAR trip to Vegas at an important time of the year with the ongoing Chase Playoffs. What’s also happening was the biggest day of NRL history every year via the Grand Final with new contenders: Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights.
Plus, there’s more Jack Doohan news as great to see his dad Mick wave the checkered flag during yesterday’s rescheduled Bahrain GP but in Sepang, Malaysia.
There’s five sports news weekly editions left on the Sports Benches calendar of 2026 in-line with the NASCAR Cup points season. If that’s not enough, check out our General Hospital posts every Saturday.
NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas II
Chase Briscoe simply responds from disappointment last weekend to winning races the next.
Despite some technical difficulties affecting other Toyota Camry race cars, his own No.19 Gibbs machinery wasn’t where he was simply dominant all afternoon.
He’s the guy who knows how to unpack the best of green flag racing and this time he was cool, calm and collected courtesy of Chase being the most laps leader today.
Now Kyle Larson in the No.5 Chevy Camaro for Hendrick was not far within Briscoe that late — also despite some early troubles mainly his short run setup that added time on pit road.
However, he made a big recovery thanks to yellows and long greens having never gave up fighting until he checkered flag.
Although he pushed a bit too hard into the wall in the last turn at the white flag spinning out 3rd-placed finisher Tyler Reddick, what Kyle’s still got is the Chase Drivers’ Championship lead.
Finally, Team Penske’s Austin Cindric had another great race second at the right time of Chase Playoffs finishing 4th. He had great long-speed off his No.2 Ford Mustang by stretching his legs uninterrupted for the rest of Stage 2.
Now that may not be enough to stop Briscoe as he would’ve liked had he gone into Stage 3 with the mini-win but still had a Top 5 nonetheless to execute a solid result.
NRL Grand Final: Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters
Are you not entertained? Because this year’s NRL Grand Final was separated by a point, 19-18, between the two teams and only one became the next Premiership winner.
That’s the Roosters whose possession-based style of Footy exposed the Knights safety-first approach hands down by coach Trent Robinson. Who would’ve thought the ring of changes with Trent’s man-management and a big 2nd half tactical shift was a massive risk?
Turns out it paid off ugly despite experiencing late regular-season losses at the expense of resting very important players till the best for last.
There’s James Tedesco putting his body on the line although Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga deserved that moment as if it’s an individual players’ race.
The way Chooks used real estate on short sides every time sets ran out allowed players like Mark Nawaqanitawase to steal those Steedens off the air before sprinting away on foot towards tries.
If that’s not enough, a decisive field goal from Daly Cherry-Evans was the perfect send-off to his NRL career at age 37.
Over in God’s Country, Newcastle were on the right track applying counter-attacking shots from ball one. They unfortunately just couldn’t resist a resurgent Roosters where things began to crumble under pressure. It could’ve been a fairytale story from wooden spooners last year to winning a Premiership but there’s always next year.
Jack Doohan: What if he does get the 2027 Haas seat?
That would be amazing with Jack properly supported in the hope of improving his crucial Sundays & be someone Haas can rely on over the next few years.
He’s not bad mainly practice and qualifying; unfortunately, Alpine didn’t even wanted him in the first place which it’s insulting: doubt kills more dreams than failure ever would.
With Haas, they’ve been nothing but supportive to him as their reserve driver from Day 1 where Jack’s TPC Test last month in Jerez on the VF-25 was surprisingly good than expected. Even so, that isn’t guaranteed towards securing a race seat.
Hopefully, a new body of work at senior level past F2 and F3 (likely WEC Hypercars) would put himself in a stronger position to other F1 teams like Audi & Aston Martin someday — whether it be 2028, 2029 or beyond.
Since I’m allowed to have views, is he up for an unexpected second crack and at least full season of F1? Yes, because his is about Jack’s four-wheel career whose abrupt short-run shouldn’t define who he is today.
If you don’t like him, fine; just don’t leave negative comments just to make yourself feel better. And I’m also allowed to say that if there’s anyone like Andrew Forrest who would be willing to support Jack financially, then that would be great.
