CHICAGO >> When it comes to NASCAR’s street course in downtown Chicago, there is Shane van Gisbergen, and then there is everyone else.

Van Gisbergen has won the pole for Sunday’s Grant Park 165. The 36-year-old New Zealander turned a lap at 88.338 mph on a tricky 2.2-mile course that was made more treacherous by temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit on Saturday.

“Practice wasn’t that great for us, but when we went out for qualifying, the car felt really good,” van Gisbergen said. “We turned in two pretty good laps.”

The Trackhouse Racing driver will be joined on the front row by Michael McDowell, who grabbed the second slot at 87.879 mph. Carson Hocevar (87.824 mph), Tyler Reddick (87.779 mph) and Chase Briscoe (87.734 mph) rounded out the top five.

McDowell is one of three drivers who finished in the top 10 in the first two races in downtown Chicago.

“Our car’s in the game,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a mixed bag with potential weather in and out. So a lot of variables to go out there and navigate.”

Van Gisbergen, a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars, also was on the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

NBA

Rockets trade Whitmore to Wizards >> Cam Whitmore is going back to his home area after being traded by the Houston Rockets to the Washington Wizards for a pair of second-round picks.

Whitmore, a Maryland native, averaged 10.8 points in his two seasons with the Rockets — who took him with the No. 20 pick in the 2023 draft.

Whitmore’s acquisition is another step in the offseason overhaul by the Wizards, who have been in the mode of acquiring young players who can play multiple positions while continuing to accumulate assets.

MLB

Yankees pitcher Schmidt to have season ending surgery >> Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt likely needs a second Tommy John surgery that would sideline him for the remainder of this season and much of next year, a huge blow to New York’s injury-riddled rotation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the announcement, acknowledging the injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in Schmidt’s right elbow.

Schmidt had an MRI on Friday and was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right forearm soreness, one day after his start in Toronto was cut short following three innings.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery 8 years ago, is 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts this season for a scuffling Yankees club that had lost five consecutive games.

Astros sign Pitcher Neris >> The Houston Astros brought back Hector Neris, signing the 36-year-old right-hander.

This is the third stint with the Astros for Neris, who was part of Houston’s 2022 World Series-winning team.

He previously pitched this season for the Los Angeles Angels, going 3-0 with a 5.14 ERA in 21 appearances. He is 46-42 with a 3.44 ERA in 631 major league appearances, all in relief, over 12 seasons.

2-time All-Star Jenks dies at 44 >> Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, has died, the team announced. He was 44.

The White Sox said Jenks died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, where he was being treated for adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.

Jenks helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series, saving four games in six appearances during the postseason. He was an All-Star in each of the next two seasons while saving 41 games in 2006 and 40 in 2007.

He retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, matching a record for a reliever.

Golf

Brown leads at BMW international open >> Daniel Brown shot a second straight 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the BMW International Open on the European tour.