Sport & Leisure

London – September 19, 2026 -- Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen passed all 100 rival karts in Red Bull's Max vs 100, the largest go-kart race ever staged, finishing the job on lap 14 of 30 at Silverstone.

Verstappen started 101st on a grid built specifically for the event and cleared the entire field in 35 minutes. The race streamed live on Disney+ and the ESPN App.

A single overtaking rule decided every elimination

A driver was eliminated the instant the rear of Verstappen's kart drew level with the front of theirs. The 100-strong field included Red Bull athletes, content creators, streamers, journalists and fans selected from around the world, racing on a temporary circuit at Silverstone designed by Race Director David Terrien.

Irvine, Calif. – – September 19, 2026 -- Irvine Spectrum Center opens its new Spectrum SunWheel to the public on Saturday, September 19, with a 9:45 a.m. ribbon cutting followed by a full day of festivities starting at 10 a.m.

The new wheel stands 132 feet tall, 24 feet taller than the original attraction it replaces

The Spectrum SunWheel takes the place of the center's Giant Wheel, which first opened in 2002. Manufactured by Italy-based Fabbri Group, the new structure features 27 gondolas that each seat up to six passengers.

Riders get upgraded audio and programmable LED lighting

Each gondola includes an enhanced in-gondola audio system. The wheel itself is outfitted with programmable LED technology across its rim and spokes, and operators redesigned ride operations to cut down on wait times.

Chicago – September 19, 2026 -- United Airlines passengers can now watch live football games on seatback screens during flights, thanks to a new partnership with DISH announced this week. The service launches on more than 220 Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft, covering roughly 700 flights per day, and will run through the Super Bowl in February.

Live broadcasts span nine networks including ABC, CBS, NBC and ESPN.

Travelers in every class of service can stream ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video directly from their seat. United expects to expand Starlink to nearly 700 mainline aircraft by early next year, with full installation completed before the end of 2027. The service is free for MileagePlus members.

Beijing – September 19, 2026 -- Chinese outdoor footwear brand CGX has launched two dedicated obstacle racing shoes, the R1020 and R1010, debuting them at the UIPM 2026 Obstacle World Championships held in Beijing from September 2 to 6. The shoes went on sale in China on September 7 at RMB 1,099 per pair.

Two models target different race distances

The R1020 is built for the explosive 100-metre sprint format, while the R1010 is designed for 400-metre and 3-kilometre obstacle races. Both use a Vibram outsole with Megagrip compound, Traction Lug technology and Litebase construction, paired with a dual-zone midsole, heel-lock structure and performance-woven upper to handle running, climbing, jumping and rapid direction changes.

Irvine, Calif. – September 19, 2026 -- Mazda has launched a national program to reward youth sports coaches, giving families a chance to nominate a coach for a free Mazda CX-90 through October 18.

The automaker partnered with youth sports platform TeamSnap on the initiative, which aims to support coaches who go beyond their basic duties to help kids stay engaged in organized sports. Five coaches selected through a partnership with Good Morning America will each receive a new CX-90 in recognition of their local impact.

Families can nominate a coach starting today

Starting today through October 18, parents and youth athletes can submit nominations for a coach via Mazda's nomination page, highlighting one who has made an extraordinary difference for their team.

New York – September 19, 2026 -- Courtyard has launched Courtyard Sneakers, a mystery-box style shopping format that lets buyers pay $275 for a randomly revealed pair of authenticated deadstock sneakers pulled from a curated vault.

Buyers get a surprise pair, then three choices

Once the reveal happens, shoppers can ship the sneakers home, keep them in Courtyard's secure vault, or sell them back instantly at fair market value. Sneakers can also be relisted on the Courtyard Marketplace.

McKinney, Texas – September 19, 2026 -- Alex and Naomi Calle are opening Pilates Addiction, a boutique fitness studio, in the Craig Ranch neighborhood of McKinney, Texas, where the couple has lived for nearly 20 years.

The studio targets both Pilates veterans and total beginners

"We wanted to create a Pilates experience for people who have outgrown the basics, but also for people who have never thought Pilates was for them," said Naomi Calle, the franchise owner. Classes run 50 minutes and blend traditional Pilates with strength training, conditioning, mobility work and athletic intensity.

Houston – September 18, 2026 -- Electrolit, the hydration beverage brand, has signed street football performer Jack Downer, known online as Street Panna, as its newest athlete partner.

Downer specializes in panna, a one-on-one street football format where a successful nutmeg can instantly end a match. He built a global following by turning quick, high-skill moves into viral content.

Downer switched from traditional football to street play after an injury

Downer originally played traditional 11-a-side football before an injury pushed him toward street football, a format built on creativity, control, and instinct. He has since become a proven competitor, earning two top finishes at the Superball Panna World Championships and building a reputation as one of the most respected players in the discipline.

Austin – September 18, 2026 -- Bruce Bolt, the brand known for reshaping the baseball batting glove market, is launching its first football gear on October 12, with a skill glove and arm sleeve priced from $60 to $85.

The BOLTGRIP SYSTEM pairs a skill glove with the first SFIA-approved tackified arm sleeve.

The two products are designed to work together, extending tackified material from the palm up through the forearm and bicep to create three connected grip points for catching, carrying and protecting the ball.

Bear Mayer says the expansion fulfills a longtime personal goal.

"Although I grew up playing baseball, football has always been a deep passion of mine, and expanding into the sport is something I've wanted to do for a long time," said Bear Mayer, Founder and CEO of Bruce Bolt. The company previously moved into golf gloves last summer, nearly a decade after entering baseball.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – September 18, 2026 -- Dodge and Hemmings are bringing their 750-horsepower Charger Scat Pack drift cars to the GRIDLIFE Laguna Seca Festival, running Sept. 18-20, 2026, marking the vehicles' first appearance in California after debuting at Roadkill Nights.

Fans attending the festival at Laguna Seca raceway can watch professional drivers Corey Hosford and Micah Diaz pilot the two custom builds through full-course drift exhibitions.

Two custom Chargers pack 750 horsepower apiece for competition drifting

The drift cars started as production Charger Scat Pack vehicles powered by the 550-horsepower, twin-turbocharged SIXPACK H.O. engine, then were reengineered into dedicated drift machines. The two-door version, called the Dodge Charger BOOST Coupe, is built for all-out performance, while the four-door Dodge Charger RPM (Rapid People Mover) is designed to thrill passengers during drift demonstrations.