Sports

Artesia High School head football coach Jeremy Maupin knows Friday’s season opener against Carlsbad is the first step of many in a return to the postseason.“It’s another game for us,” he said.

Aug.

Demolition work started last week at the Eddy County Fairgrounds in Artesia for a new livestock barn and multi-use building, fair officials said.A long-standing cattle barn with wash basins and restrooms were in the process of being torn down making way for a new indoor multi-use facility with an estimated cost of $25 million presented earlier this year to the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.The Eddy County Fair Board estimated work on the new facility would start in September and should be complete by 2026.Eddy County 4-H Extension Agent Wayne Shockey said the new building would be a benefit for animals, parents, youths and others invested in the livestock shows.During this year’s Eddy County Fair which ran July 23 through July 27 sweltering temperatures greeted participants as preparations took place in open air livestock pens and portable air conditioners tried to keep animals and people comfortable.Shockey said the new facility would have indoor air conditioning.“I’m excited to see that coming,” he said.Shockey said enrollment in Eddy County’s 4-H programs was “pretty steady” during this years fair.

RCHMOND, Va. – It took a controversial full-contact finish but Austin Dillon claimed his first Cup Series victory in two seasons in Sunday night’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway – vaulting from 32nd place in the points standings before the race to an automatic Playoff berth with the win.

ABOUT • Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1,400 acres approximately four miles south of the village of Brooklyn, in the Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan.

Aug. 8 varsity and junior student-athletes of the Artesia High School football team gathered for team pictures at the Bulldog Bowl.

• Saturday’s CLEAN HARBORS 250, Richmond Raceway RICHMOND, Va. — Ty Majeski took the lead on a restart with eight laps remaining in the Craftsman Truck Series regular-season finale at Richmond Raceway and held on to hoist his second consecutive race trophy after winning the Clean Harbors 250.