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SEARS POINT, Calif. -- Ryan Hunter-Reay left the last Verizon IndyCar Series race at Watkins Glen International on Sept. 4 having just learned that his title sponsor DHL was on the brink of signing a contract extension through the 2020 season with Andretti Autosport. It was great news.Since then:? He and his wife Beccy welcomed a third child to their Florida home, a healthy baby boy named Rhodes, on Wednesday.? Later the same day, Beccys father, Bob Gordon, and his wife perished in what Orange County (Calif.) police are calling a murder-suicide.? Friday was Beccys birthday. Thats the same day Ryan went back to work, stepping into his No. 28 DHL Honda Indy car across the country at Sonoma Raceway to practice for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.? Sunday afternoon, Hunter-Reay and the Andretti Autosport team signed the contract extension and made the news public.Few people have experienced the wide spectrum of emotions that have affected Hunter-Reay over the past few days, yet once strapped into his bright yellow race car at Sonoma, he was at his level-headed best.In a season when most Honda cars have struggled for qualifying speed on road courses, Hunter-Reay advanced to the Firestone Fast Six for only the third time this year.While he understandably misses his wife and family, being in the company of his extended work family has brought the driver comfort at a difficult time.Absolutely, Hunter-Reay said Sunday, speaking to a small group of reporters after the media conference to announce his contract extension.Especially to be surrounded by a group of people I work so well with. They feel like family; theyre my friends. I know this is not about me, but being here is what everyone wanted and it has been a great bit of relief.Nothing can really prepare you for any of it, but on the professional side, things are going in the right direction and todays announcement is great news, he added. Im very happy about this and obviously its been a lot of highs and some lows. Its just been a wild ride for the past week and a half.Hunter-Reay has been though his share of professional stress and strife. After winning an Indy car race as a rookie in 2003 in the Champ Car World Series, he struggled to maintain a foothold in the sport over the next few years.He caught a break when Rahal Letterman Racing signed him in mid-2007, but even though he won a race, that ride fell through when the sponsor pulled out of racing and he faced several winters of uncertainty.Michael Andretti scraped together enough backing to sign Hunter-Reay to a three-race deal at the start of 2011, and once again, RHR came through by posting a win at Long Beach in his third start. The Andretti/Hunter-Reay combination has been together ever since, with DHL signing on as title sponsor in 2012.Now the most experienced American driver in the IndyCar Series is contracted for three years as opposed to three races.I was on the brink there in 2006-07, Hunter-Reay admitted. I was maybe a month or two away from going and doing something else with my life when Bobby Rahal gave me the chance at Rahal Letterman. Every time I got in the car I knew I had to prove myself immediately because it wasnt going to be a two-year deal where I could just take my time to develop.That fighting mentality was instilled at that time, when I was given opportunities and not a lot of time to prove myself.Beccy was a big part of Ryans support network in those tough times, and now the couple are established in the fabric of the IndyCar Series. Having grown up in a racing family (Bob Gordon was a well-known off-road racer, and brother Robby is a former Indy car and NASCAR star), she understands why it was so important for Ryan to get back into his work environment this weekend.That didnt make it any easier for Ryan.Beccy is doing amazing, Ryan said. Shes strong, and focusing on a newborn baby has been a blessing at this time. Its amazing how strong she is, how strong Robby has been, and her sisters Robyn and Hailey. Its blown me away because this is nothing you can prepare for. This isnt as simple as a life passing.Team owner Michael Andretti had no doubt that Hunter-Reay would be in the car this weekend. As a former driver, Michael knows that being in the car is the best sanctuary during emotional times for a racer.Michael famously continued competing in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 after his father Mario and brother Jeff were both hospitalized with significant leg injuries from crashes.Hes a professional, Andretti said. He even made the comment that hes so happy to be here at the racetrack and getting back in the car because hes able to just focus on that. Thats the best medicine. I know how he feels; Ive been there where I had to focus when there were outside things. It was always good to get in and just do your job and I know thats the way it is with him.I truly believe hes one of the best and its very important to have a talent like him on your team, Andretti added. Now hes got stability as well and thats huge. Its big for him, its big for us, its big for the team itself.Now in the most secure position of his career, its likely that the best is yet to come for Hunter-Reay. Hes won 16 races and the 2012 championship, making him the most successful American driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series, and at age 35, hes just hitting his prime.Hes the lead driver for Hondas flagship Indy car team, putting him in prime position to capitalize if the manufacturer can gain the upper hand over its competition from Chevrolet.And even though he has been put through a world of worry in the last week, the next four years look pretty much care-free.To not stress about a contract, I cant tell you how beneficial it is to the racing side, Hunter-Reay said. You dont have to think about the pressure involved in that. You can just go out there and put everything on the line and you know that if you over step the edge or if you try to make that pass and it doesnt work out, its not going to blow back on you.I know when we get this program sorted, were going to contend for championships. Ish Smith Jersey . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Mike Riordan Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/649k-harvey-grant-jersey-wizards.html . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Isaiah Thomas Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Wes Unseld Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. TROON, Scotland -- A hole-by-hole look of Royal Troon, site of the 145th British Open on July 14-17:No. 1, 367 yards, par 4: A gentle opening hole, especially with the prevailing wind at the players back. There is out-of-bounds to the right and two bunkers on either side of the landing zone, assuming players hit iron off the tee. Some might try to drive the green in dry, favorable conditions. The green is slightly elevated with a narrow opening and surrounded by five bunkers.Stroke average and rank in 2004, the last time the British Open was held at Royal Troon: 4.10 (11).No. 2, 390 yards, par 4: Players will have a decision off the tee. There are three bunkers 40 yards short of the green. Players can try to hit driver beyond the bunkers and stay short of the next series of bunkers, leaving a short approach to a green guarded in front by two bunkers on the left and two on the right.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 4.06 (14).No. 3, 377 yards, par 4: The Gyaws burn crosses the fairway at about 280 yards; it might be too much for even the long hitters to consider driver. The green features three pot bunkers and slopes from front to back.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 4.14 (10).No. 4, 555 yards, par 5: With the prevailing wind, this par 5 is easily reachable in two shots. Thats all Gary Evans needed in 2004 when he made an albatross. A driver that goes too far could find a pot bunker on the left. The hole bends to the right. Even a long iron off the tee should leave players a shot to go for the green in firm conditions. Anyone making par will feel as though he gave a shot to the field.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 4.75 (17).No. 5, 209 yards, par 3: The green drops off severely to the right, and deep bunkers protect the front and left side of the green. One bunker is at the front right of the green. The highest point of the course makes wind a big factor in club selection.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 3.16 (8).No. 6, 601 yards, par 5: Royal Troon used to have the longest and shortest holes on the Open rotation until the 14th at St. Andrews was extended to 618 yards. Accurate tee shots that carry bunkers about 280 yards out still make it reachable with firm fairways and the prevailing wind. The long, narrow green has one bunker to the left.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 5.00 (15).No. 7, 401 yards, par 4: This leaves the coastline with an elevated tee shot from the top of dunes. Bunkers to the left and right make the fairway tight. Two more bunkers about 300 yards off the tee probably will make a long iron the popular tee shot. The well-bunkered green climbs steeply into the surrounding dunes.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 3.97 (16).No. 8, 123 yards, par 3: Willie Park Jr. once wrote of the pitching surface skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp, and the name stuck. The Postage Stamp is arguably the most famous par 3 on the Open rota. The green is set in the side of a large dune and is surrounded by five bunkers. German amateur Herman Tissies took 15 in 1950. More notable was Gene Sarazen making a hole-in-one at age 71 in 1973.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 3.09 (13).No. 9, 422 yards, par 4: The final outward hole is the toughest on the front nine.dddddddddddd A bunker is cut into the left side of the fairway at about 275 yards, and the approach must be perfect to a small, well-contoured green. Gorse bushes line both sides of the fairway.Stroke average and rank in 2004: 4.23 (5).No. 10, 451 yards, par 4: The links turns back into the wind, and this is a challenging start. There are no bunkers on the hole, but the tee shot is over a hill to a narrow fairway, and the elevated green drops away sharply to the right.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.30 (3).No. 11, 482 yards, par 4: Arnold Palmer once called this the most dangerous hole I have ever seen. Jack Nicklaus made a 10 in his Open debut in 1962. A 4-foot high stone wall runs down the right side and is out-of-bounds with the railway on the other side. Gorse bushes are on the left. One bunker is to the left of the green.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.41 (1).No. 12, 430 yards, par 4: The prevailing wind is straight into this dogleg right with a small green on a plateau. No bunkers threaten the tee shot, only gorse. There are bunkers on both sides of the two-tiered green.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.31 (2).No. 13, 473 yards, par 4: This is where Royal Troons tough finish begins. It is the second hole without a bunker, but with the wind in the players face, it requires two long and accurate shots to reach the elevated green.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.15 (9).No. 14, 173 yards, par 3: Trajectory will be critical because of the wind. The green is protected in the front by deep bunkers. The safe target is a wide section at the back of the green.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 3.10 (12).No. 15, 499 yards, par 4: The tee has been extended 16 yards, making this the longest par 4 on the course. The drive is slightly blind to a plateau fairway, which opens up the second shot to a green nestling in a hollow. Three bunkers are short of the green, but none around it.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.28 (4).No. 16, 554 yards, par 5: This hole can play longer into the wind because of the Gyaws burn crossing the fairway at about 280 yards. Tiger Woods hit the green in two in 1997 with a 3-iron off the tee and a driver off the deck. Laying up to the left allows for a better angle into a green surrounded by five bunkers.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.74 (18).No. 17, 220 yards, par 3: The prevailing wind comes in from the left, which might make it difficult to hold a green that drops away on both sides. Four bunkers guard the green. Justin Leonard made a 35-foot birdie putt that clinched the claret jug in 1997.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 3.22 (6).No. 18, 458 yards, par 4: Three bunkers on the left and one on the right make the fairway look tiny. All of them are in range off the tee. Five more bunkers guard the green, and the out-of-bounds path in front of the clubhouse is very close to the back of the green.Stroke average and ranking in 2004: 4.20 (7). ' ' '