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Jeff Hawkins

Sports Editor

About

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Articles by Jeff Hawkins (381)

NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Connor Zilisch Learns From Kyle Larson; Justin Allgaier Earns Top Drivers’ Title Odds

Injured and unable to compete in last Saturday’s circuit event, rookie Connor Zilisch probably felt like he was a student, learning from the teacher. The 2021 Cup champion executed a patient race to earn the trip to Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway. Zilisch injured his back in a last-lap crash at Talladega Superspeedway. The 18-year-old […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  06 May 2025
NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400: Kyle Larson’s Top Odds, Predictions & Best Bets At Kansas Speedway

What are the odds of the AdventHealth 400 again ending with NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson winning by a margin of 0.001 seconds?   Moments after his run around the top to earn last year’s spring title at Kansas Speedway, Larson reviewed the circuit’s closest all-time finish.   It can’t be topped this weekend, […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  06 May 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Heart of America 200 Entry List: Dates, Event Times At Kansas Speedway

Corey Heim, the NASCAR  Craftsman Truck Series points leaders, remains poised to return to the Cup Series this weekend at Kansas Speedway. He will pilot 23XI Racing’s No. 67 Toyota on Sunday as part of the 38-machine field.  Heim, who captured the Truck circuit’s checkered flag last Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, survived constant chaos through the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  05 May 2025
NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 Entry List: Dates, Event Times At Kansas Speedway

Joey Logano endured a start to the defense of his third NASCAR Cup Series championship that he would like to drive away from.  During the opening 10 races, Logano failed to log a top-five finish, developing into the first reigning champ to go about three months with only finishes outside the top six. The skid […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  05 May 2025
NHL
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Fans Respond To Adam Lowry’s 2OT Winner, Lifting Jets To Game 7 Win Over Blues

During the opening six games of the Winnipeg Jets’ NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, forward Adam Lowry struggled. He showed up on time. With Mark Scheifele out of the lineup for Sunday’s Game 7 at Canada Life Centre, Lowry, who generally lined up on the third line, moved to the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  05 May 2025
NASCAR Cup Series Fans Respond To Joey Logano Snapping Skid, Earning Würth 400 Title At Texas Motor Speedway

So much for the season-long slump by the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion.  While surviving the attrition at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Joey Logano earned his first win and top-five finish in 11 events. Logano, who led just seven of 271 laps, won in overtime after claiming the lead for good after ing Michael […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  04 May 2025
NHL
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Fans Respond To Stars’ Mikko Rantanen Netting Hat Trick In Game 7 Win Over Avalanche

The “Moose” was on the loose against his former teammates.  Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen recorded a natural hat trick Friday night, leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 vicory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series.   An ex-Avalanche star, Rantanen helped the Stars rally […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  04 May 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Kyle Larson Claiming Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 At Texas Motor Speedway

Learning midweek he would replace injured NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch, Kyle Larson overcame a Stage 1 penalty for an uncontrolled tire, two overtime restarts and 11 caution periods to claim Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Twenty-four of the 38 machines in the race were involved in an incident, establishing […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025
NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400: Qualifying, Cowboy Carson Hocevar’s Pole Position, Lineup At Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar cowboyed up Saturday, earning his first career pole position for Sunday’s Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Dressed in a cowboy-inspired firesuit while donning a block cowboy hat, Hocevar celebrated with teammates. Hocevar turned a hot qualifying lap of 191.659 mph, edging runner-up William Byron by 0.014 seconds.  At […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fans Respond To Corey Heim Claiming SpeedyCash.com 250 In OT At Texas

For a moment, on the final overtime lap Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway, Daniel Hemric flanked NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim on the inside and Ben Rhodes on the outside.  As successful as his season has been, Heim, the circuit points leader, resents that he should have at least five wins this […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025