The Compression Channel was used on many models, but Nike’s VR (Victory Red) Tour driver, released in 2010, could have been the best. Proof of that showed up just three weeks ago, when Jhonattan Vegas used the six-year-old driver in his victory at the RBC Canadian Open. Mark Martin, one of the top legendary NASCAR drivers. Driver Wins on different tracks Participations on different tracks; Richard Petty 54 60+ David Pearson 38 60+ Bobby Allison 28 60+ Jeff Gordon 25 26 Kyle Busch 23 25 Kevin Harvick 22 26 Tony Stewart 21 24 Mark Martin 20 + 1: 27 Jimmie Johnson 20 26 Matt Kenseth 19 26 Kurt Busch 18 26 Cale Yarborough 18 50+ Denny Hamlin 17 + 1: 25 Brad Keselowski 17. Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for Ryan Blaney on ESPN.com.
Bubba Wallace felt a little bit out of place. On Sunday afternoon, with a bunch of current and former NFL stars along with Snoop Dogg, the NASCAR driver found himself in a chat getting ready to play Madden as part of the virtual Pro Bowl Sunday.
Like so many other things in the 2020 NFL season, the game had to be modified because of the coronavirus pandemic. So instead of a real Pro Bowl, it went online with current and former NFL players -- along with Snoop Dogg -- each playing a quarter of the game.
Then there was Wallace.
'I was just taking it all in and enjoying it and then hearing some of the stories and conversations, it was just, it was almost like, 'Man, am I really sitting here talking to these guys,' Wallace said. 'I'm just a race car driver that has no business being in the room with these people but, hey, here we are, being here playing with Snoop Dogg, that was cool.
'Between him and [former running back] Marshawn [Lynch], those were the two biggest trash talkers for sure.'
By the end, Wallace, who occasionally plays Madden but is more into Call of Duty, became the standout for the NFC with a dominant, three-touchdown second quarter versus Keyshawn Johnson in a 32-12 win over the AFC.
Pro Bowl MVP Kyler Murray, Wallace, Jamal Adams and Lynch comprised the NFC team. Deshaun Watson, Johnson, Derrick Henry and Snoop Dogg were the AFC.
'Playing like that, I thought going into it, I thought I was going to be the weakest link,' Wallace said. 'But I think we were able to see that I wasn't. I was kind of the exact opposite. So it was good. It was good.'
Before the game, the eight players were talking about how bad they were. Then they played and realized the levels of 'not very good' varied.
Johnson struggled throughout his five-minute quarter. He gave up three touchdowns, threw an interception and dropped a kick return, earning criticism from his fellow players and hosts Michael Strahan and Charissa Thompson.
After Wallace's third touchdown, Johnson just held the side of his head. When the quarter was mercifully over, Wallace flexed his arms while Johnson jokingly (maybe?) accused Wallace of downplaying his skills.
'That's pool shark hustling,' Johnson said on the stream. 'What he did.'
Wallace had help. Murray, the NFC captain, told him before they started what defense to play and told him to rotate between a certain amount of offensive plays and look for the open man.
'I'm usually just an Ask Madden guy,' Wallace said. 'Like I just pick a play. I'm like, 'Ooh, this looks like a good play, let's capitalize and try to get something there.' He was like, pick this defense, run that the whole time and then go with a couple of these options for offense.
'Definitely could hear his voice in the crowd, like hey, pick this. Pick that. Helped out a lot. That's why he's the MVP.'
In one of the game's few substitutions, Jamal Adams inserted his virtual self -- because why wouldn't you -- in place of Budda Baker. Virtual Adams then intercepted a pass and forced a fumble in the second half. Adams also ran four straight passes to tight end T.J. Hockenson, leading to a touchdown.
The highlight of the game, though, had nothing to do with anything actually happening in Madden.
It was what was happening off on the side, where Snoop Dogg and Lynch had a running commentary. And when the two played each other in the fourth quarter -- Lynch held on to a 20-point lead -- it was rapid fire. Including when Lynch intercepted a Snoop Dogg pass and promptly fell to the ground.
Why?
The chair he was sitting on broke. 'That was great comedy there,' Wallace said. 'On top, all of us were laughing the whole night. It was a great time, great conversation, just being able to let loose and have fun.'
Wallace said he laughed more the entire night than he had in a long time.
Wallace, a Saints fan after meeting Alvin Kamara last year and knowing he played for his favorite college team, Tennessee, said it 'was pretty damn cool' being able to play and interact with guys he used to and still does watch play on Sundays.
He had met Lynch once before -- the only person he knew coming in -- and at the end exchanged information with Murray, who said he'd like to come check out a race. And if Madden were to do this again, Wallace said he had enough fun that he'd make a return appearance.
'If it was structured the same way, I wouldn't change a thing,' Wallace said. 'It was fun, didn't take up too much time, went right through and it was really cool.'
Three new TaylorMade drivers were added to the USGA and R&A’s Conforming Clubs lists on Monday. The yet-to-be-released SIM2, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D drivers are all now legal for play in PGA Tour events, European Tour events and any rounds played under the Rules of Golf.
While TaylorMade has not released any details about the new drives, there are some things that we can presume based on images of the clubs on the USGA’s website.
The SIM2 appears to have a similar shape to the original SIM driver that was released in January 2020. It looks like there is a weight in the back of the sole and an asymmetrically-shaped panel that holds it in place. Last season’s driver had a similar piece designed to lower the center of gravity and pull it further back, away from the hitting area, while being more aerodynamic.
We can also see a large slot in the sole, behind the leading edge, labeled Speed Pocket. TaylorMade has been adding slots like this to the bottom of drivers for years to allow the lower portion of the face to flex more efficiently at the moment of impact on low-struck shots.
There is an adjustable hosel mechanism and a weight labeled “High MOI, Low Spin” in the sole’s front. And, while it might be cosmetic, a significant portion of the sole appears to be made from carbon fiber. TaylorMade has used carbon fiber in the crown and panels on the sole for the last few seasons.
In the toe area, we can see a few words, with one being “injected.” TaylorMade has injected material inside its drivers’ heads for two seasons to ensure they are as fast as the game’s governing bodies allow without exceeding characteristic time (CT) limits.
The SIM2 Max appears to be very similarly shaped to the SIM2, but the sole’s weight is slightly more to the heel side, which could encourage a draw bias. Max drivers have been clubs that featured a higher moment of inertia (MOI) and extra stability compared with standard-model drivers in previous seasons.
The weight in the SIM2 Max D is positioned much farther into the heel. Previously, drivers labeled with a D have been significantly draw biased and designed to help golfers who have a slice.
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As more details about the SIM2, SIM2 Max and SIM2 Max D drivers become available, Golfweek will report on them.