Five Flags Speedway to Host 2027 Race for the Million Season Opener April 3

Five Flags Speedway has been selected to kick off the 2027 Race for the Million (RFTM) 410 Winged Pavement Sprint Car Series on Saturday, April 3, marking the second consecutive year the Pensacola half-mile oval will launch the event. The series is billed as the richest pavement sprint car tour in history, with over $1 million in combined purse and championship awards across the season.

The announcement comes after a successful inaugural RFTM event at Five Flags last year. Five Flags Speedway General Manager Tim Bryant said the track's selection underscores its reputation as a premier destination venue. "Five Flags Speedway is one of the most historic and exciting tracks in the South, and we are thrilled that the Race for the Million will start right here in Pensacola for a second year," Bryant said in a statement.

The April 3 race will feature top-tier 410-winged sprint car drivers competing at speeds typical of short-track open-wheel racing. The event will receive global broadcast coverage through Racing America and RacingAmerica.TV, expanding the visibility of both the series and the local venue. Fans interested in tickets and additional event details can visit FiveFlagsSpeedway.com or follow the track on Facebook.

Navarre Beach Bridge to close lanes Tuesday for routine FDOT inspection

The Navarre Beach Bridge will undergo temporary lane closures Tuesday, October 20, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. as the Florida Department of Transportation conducts routine inspections, according to Santa Rosa County Communications.

Drivers heading through the work zone should use caution, follow all signage and flagger instructions, and obey posted speed limits. The closures are expected to last throughout the business day.

Santa Rosa County residents can monitor the status of road and bridge closures on the county website at www.santarosa.fl.gov/293/Current-Road-Bridge-Closures.

Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson Receives Governor's Medal of Freedom

Governor Ron DeSantis presented the Governor's Medal of Freedom to Baseball Hall of Famer Andre "The Hawk" Dawson on Monday, recognizing the Miami-born sports legend's distinguished 21-year major league career, his ongoing support of Florida A&M University, and his impact on the state.

Dawson, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins during his career. He earned eight All-Star selections, eight Gold Glove Awards, and four Silver Slugger Awards. His 1987 season with the Cubs was particularly memorable—he hit 49 home runs and drove in 137 runs to win the National League MVP award. He finished his career with 438 home runs, 2,774 hits, 1,591 RBIs, and 314 stolen bases.

A standout at Southwest Miami Senior High School, Dawson walked on to the Florida A&M baseball team after being unrecruited out of high school. His performance at the Tallahassee historically Black university caught the attention of MLB scouts, leading to his selection by the Montreal Expos in the 1975 draft and his 1976 debut. He earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1977.

Beyond his playing career, Dawson has remained committed to advancing opportunities for student-athletes at historically Black colleges and universities. In 2018, Major League Baseball renamed its annual HBCU baseball event the Andre Dawson Classic in recognition of his contributions. The Governor's Medal of Freedom is the highest honor the Governor can bestow upon a Floridian.