NASCAR Truck Series championship competitor Ty Majeski was fined $12,500 by NASCAR this week for passing on media obligations to vote in his home state of Wisconsin on Election Day.

Majeski is one of four drivers who can win the truck title at Phoenix Raceway on Friday night.

Majeski talked with Thorsport Racing owners and all agreed he would cast his ballot on Tuesday.

“I felt like I needed to do my duty as a U.S. citizen to vote. My team owners and I, we all made the decision to exercise that right,” he said.

Majeski called the penalty “unprecedented,” and said he’ll appeal the decision.

He said he didn’t know until last week after Martinsville, when he finished 11th to advance on points, that he would be in the championship four.

The 30-year-old Majeski will compete with Corey Heim, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger in trying for his first truck series title.

“This has never happened before. Election Day, everyone knew it was Election Day for a long time,” he said. “It’s unfortunate circumstances for everybody.”

Soccer

Quakes hire Arena to take over as coach and sporting director >> Former U.S. men’s national team coach Bruce Arena has been hired to take over as coach and sporting director of the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2025 MLS season.

Arena has won five MLS championships and is the winningest coach ever in both MLS and for the U.S. men’s team.

Arena won two MLS championships with D.C. United and three more with the LA Galaxy in 2011, 2012 and 2014. His 262 regular-season wins and 35 postseason wins are the most in MLS history.

Arena also led the national team to two World Cups, including a run to the quarterfinals in 2002 that was the first time the country made it that far since 1930.

MLB

Left-hander McFarland remains with A’s >> Left-hander T.J. McFarland is remaining with the Athletics, agreeing Thursday to a $1.8 million, one-year contract.

He can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses for games: $50,000 for 50, and $100,000 each for 60 and 70.

McFarland was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 26 and had a 3.81 ERA in 79 games, the high among big league pitchers and his career best. He allowed 22.7% of inherited runners to score.

NFL

Cowboys QB Prescott has a hamstring tear >> Dak Prescott’s injured hamstring is partially torn away from the bone and surgery for the star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is possible, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

The injury, known as a partial avulsion, is likely to lead to an absence longer than the minimum of four games that would be required by putting Prescott on injured reserve.

Potentially season-ending surgery is among the options being considered, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t disclosed details of Prescott’s injury publicly.

Panthers give RB Hubbard a 4-year contract extension >> The Carolina Panthers rewarded running back Chuba Hubbard with a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.

Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available.

A 2021 fourth-round draft pick, Hubbard is in the midst of his best season with the Panthers (2-7). He is fifth in the league in yards rushing with 665 and has five touchdowns on the ground while averaging 5 yards per carry.

NBA

76ers’ All-Star guard Maxey out with hamstring injury >> Tyrese Maxey is the latest Philadelphia 76ers star sidelined by injury, as the 24-year-old guard could miss at least two weeks with a right hamstring injury, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

Maxey was injured in Wednesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was set for additional medical evaluation on Thursday.

The 76ers have played all season without 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, both for what the team calls left knee management and a three-game suspension for shoving a member of the media. Paul George has played just two games following a knee injury suffered in the preseason.

Colleges

NCAA lifts eligibility ban for Canadian Hockey League players >> The NCAA Division I Council approved a rule allowing players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season, a landmark decision that has the potential of shaking up the NHL’s two largest sources of developmental talent.

The decision, effective Aug. 1, lifts the NCAA’s longstanding ban on CHL players who were previously deemed to be professionals because they received a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses.

The approval was expected after the council introduced a proposal to lift the ban last month. Players competing at the major junior ice hockey or on professional teams can retain NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid more than actual and necessary expenses.