FAIRMONT, Minn. (AP) — An announcer who was fired by an Iowa racetrack after a racist rant was back behind the microphone in southern Minnesota last weekend, but he did not receive a standing ovation as promised because he was apparently uncomfortable with that plan, according to the promoter of Fairmont Raceway.

Lon Oelke is the full-time announcer at Fairmont Raceway, where he worked Friday — days after the Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, cut ties with him after he went on a racist rant this month against Black fans and athletes who kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial inequality.

The Kossuth County Speedway said in a statement that its leaders “do not condone” Oelke's comments, adding that management did not hear them during the race, but only after they gained attention on social media.

“I think perhaps the whole thing is taken a little out of context with social media these days,” Fairmont track promoter Jon McCorkell told the Star Tribune, adding that he’ll “stick by my guy.”

Through July 25

1. John H. Nemechek, 605 (5).

2. Ben Rhodes, 520 (2).

3. Austin Hill, 510 (1).

Through July 25

1. Kyle Busch, 5.

2. Austin Cindric, 4.

3. Justin Allgaier, 2.

Through July 25

1. Kyle Larson, 4.

2. Alex Bowman, 3.

2. Martin Truex Jr, 3.

Through July 18

1. John H. Nemechek, 605 (5).

2. Ben Rhodes, 520 (2).

3. Austin Hill, 510 (1).

Through July 18

1. Kyle Busch, 5.

2. Austin Cindric, 4.

3. Justin Allgaier, 2.

Through July 18

1. Kyle Larson, 4.

2. Alex Bowman, 3.

2. Martin Truex Jr, 3.

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Christopher Bell had to reward the young boy wearing his T-shirt with a fist bump and the checkered flag from his third career New Hampshire victory.

Bell laughed when he said it was a rare sight at the track to find any fan wearing his merchandise. So while the Xfinity Series wins come easy for Bell, building that fanbase still needs some work.

“I don't have a ton of shirts up here in the Northeast,” Bell said. “I haven't done a lot of racing up here. My popularity, I'm just really calm, quiet, reserved. I'm not going to win a popularity contest but hopefully I can win more races.”

Bell turned a spot start in the Xfinity Series into a trip to victory lane, winning in a romp for Joe Gibbs Racing on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

MORRISON, Colo. (AP) — Steve Torrence led Top Fuel qualifying Friday night at Bandimere Speedway in the return of the Dodge/SRT Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

Torrence, the 2019 winner at the track, had a 3.777-second run at 327.11 mph. The event was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matt Hagan led in Funny Car with a 3.966 at 319.22 in a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

“We go after it every time in qualifying,” said Hagan, who is looking for his first win in 2021. “We’re just trying to get that rhythm down and the consistency, but we put a number down here on the hill and thank goodness. This race has elluded me for almost 15 years now and it’s like, what do we have to do to win up here on the mountain?"

Tony Stewart was like everyone else in U.S. motorsports this week, frequently checking social media to see Paul Tracy's latest theatrics in a one-sided war against NASCAR golden girl Hailie Deegan.

Tracy has been furious — or could he just be playing the heel in a made-for-TV racing league? — because 19-year-old Deegan had the audacity to spin him at Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin last week in the fifth round of the Superstar Racing Experience. The NBC Sports IndyCar analyst and former bad boy driver has milked the feud ever since, using Instagram as his preferred platform.

“It's got me watching, looking every time he's posted something new,” said Stewart, who along with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham is credited with creating SRX.

The six-race series of somewhat randomly collected drivers from various forms of motorsports has entertained America by racing at grassroots short tracks across the country in a two-hour Saturday night show on CBS. The network had nothing to lose since hardly anyone is watching TV on a summer weekend night.