The BulleTin • Thursday, May 6, 2021 A7
MOTOR SPORTS | NASCAR
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: My daughter
received her tax refund re-
cently. It amounted to $8,700.
Approximately $5,000 is for
overpaying on taxes. Approx-
imately $3,000 is the child tax
credit she receives for her two
children. Her boyfriend, the
father of the two boys, thinks
he’s entitled to some of her
money.
Now, I understand the
child tax credit is given for fi-
nancial help for the children.
My daughter and I agree
that the $5,000 is hers exclu-
sively as she is the one who
paid those taxes. As far as the
child tax credit is concerned,
her boyfriend thinks that he
should be entitled to at least
half of that because he’s the
father. We think because
she is the one paying for the
year’s health insurance, doc-
tor copays, prescriptions and
most of the diapers, wipes,
pullups and other incidentals,
it should all be hers.
Don’t get me wrong. Her
boyfriend does contribute to
the household and is a great
guy. They split most of the
bills. After five years, this is
their first big disagreement.
He chooses to get money
during the year, so of course
he gets a lower tax refund at
the end of the year. FYI, she
pays less for the baby supplies
because she works at a well-
known warehouse. He con-
tributes when they are low by
picking some up at the gro-
cery store. What advice do
you have?
— Money Woes in the East
Dear Money Woes: Watch
your daughter’s “great” boy-
friend closely because his
stance is troubling. Because
he is the father (!) doesn’t
mean he has a right to any
portion of the child tax credit.
If he needs reimbursement
for the items he picks up for
his children at the grocery
store, your daughter should
repay him out of her salary,
not by forking over half of
her tax credit. That money
is intended for the kids, not
for any one parent. If things
aren’t clear enough, consider
putting the tax credit money
in a separate account.
Dear Abby: My brother
“Frank” passed away last
month. He didn’t have any
underlying medical condi-
tions, so it was a shock. My
problem is, when I was 9 and
he was 14, he used to molest
me while my mother was
working.
For years, I never told any-
one, but when I was 40, I told
my mom and big brother.
Both of them believed me.
For the past five years, I had
been there for Frank and his
daughter, but I was always
waiting for an apology from
him that never came. Now
it’s all I dwell on. How can I
move past this and try to re-
member the good times?
— Perplexed in California
Dear Perplexed: Your reli-
gious adviser may be able to
help you with that. However,
if you are not religious, it may
take some sessions with a
licensed mental health pro-
fessional. Your niece, Frank’s
daughter, should be asked if
her father ever did anything
that made her uncomfortable
because, if he did, she may
need professional help.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Georgia Nicols
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
THE FUTURE IS HERE:
NEXT GEN CAR ARRIVES
NASCAR’s first new
car in seven years
has finally arrived
BY JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NA-
SCAR’s next generation race
car is finally here after two
years of hype and hope that it
will revolutionize the stock car
series.
How can a spec car radically
change a sport?
Competition. Cost contain-
ment. Manufacturer relevance.
The Next Gen car, first pro-
posed in 2018 and originally
slated to debut this season until
the pandemic delayed it until
2022, is a first-of-its-kind col-
laboration between NASCAR
and its partners with everyone
focused on the future. All par-
ties had to work toward creat-
ing a car that served the entire
industry.
“I think the world is just
going to look a lot different
at NASCAR once you get to
the Next Gen car,” NASCAR
President Steve Phelps said.
“The dynamics are going to
change so significantly. There
are many things that Next Gen
will do for us as a sport when it
rolls out.”
The unveiling was sched-
uled for Wednesday afternoon,
when Chevrolet, Ford and Toy-
ota at long last got to uncover
their designs. It’s the most sig-
nificant change to the stock
car since the present “Car of
Tomorrow” model was intro-
duced in 2007.
For the first time in NA-
SCAR’s 73-year history, sin-
gle-source manufacturers will
build the chassis, provide parts
and supply the carbon com-
posite body. But each indi-
Mike McCarn/AP
Driver Chase Elliott and Eric Warren, director of NASCAR Programs with
General Motors, talk about the Next Gen Camaro that will be used in the
2022 season during an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wednesday.
vidual manufacturer has the
flexibility to design the shell to
at last resemble the Camaros,
Mustangs and Camrys sold on
the showroom floors.
That critical manufacturer
relevance stretches far beyond,
say, a Chevy on the race track
actually looking like a Chevy
that catches your eye at a stop-
light.
The Next Gen also led NA-
SCAR to modern upgrades
found on today’s street cars
— rack-and-pinion steering,
independent rear suspension,
bigger wheels and upgraded
connectivity to allow for an
in-car camera in every vehi-
cle. The Next Gen also is built
with an eye on relevancy in the
future and the ability for adap-
tation as technology continues
to change.
NASCAR has had only three
manufacturers since Dodge left
the sport after the 2012 sea-
son, and Phelps has said new
OEM’s would not be interested
in joining until a new car was
introduced.
The Next Gen should make
NASCAR appealing to other
manufacturers, particularly as
hybrid technology is explored.
The new car, for now, will
continue to use internal com-
bustion, pushrod V8 engines
produced by each of the three
manufacturers.
“We are future-proofing
the car to enable hybrid,” said
Mark Rushbrook, global di-
rector at Ford Performance
Motorsports. “We think that is
important as our road car cy-
cles changes to be able to race
hybrid in this car as well.”
The Next Gen has sparked
interest in ownership, and
three new teams entered the
top Cup Series this year. Mi-
chael Jordan is now an owner
alongside three-time Daytona
500 winner Denny Hamlin,
Pitbull joined entered in part-
nership with former driver Jus-
tin Marks, and former driver
Matt Tifft has a team with cur-
rent driver B.J. McLeod.
The car is expected to dra-
matically contain costs in large
part because of its single sup-
plier chains, and teams will be
limited to seven cars at a given
time instead of an unlimited
fleet, making ownership ap-
pealing for the first time in sev-
eral years. It sparked a bidding
war last summer on the char-
ters that guarantee entry for 36
cars into the 40-car NASCAR
Cup field each week.
The biggest test of the Next
Gen will come on the track.
NASCAR has said the car
will improve competition and
that will be where the car will
ultimately be judged. Although
the Cup Series has 10 winners
through 11 races so far this
season, it has been an anomaly
of a year so far in that a hand-
ful of teams and drivers typi-
cally dominate.
Kevin Harvick and Hamlin
combined to win 16 of 36 races
last year before Chase Elliott
snatched the title for Hendrick
Motorsports; Joe Gibbs Racing
won 19 races and the champi-
onship in 2019.
The Next Gen, though, is
designed to give drivers greater
control while putting an em-
phasis back on race strategy,
team personnel and vehicle
setup. The symmetric body
shape significantly reduces
side-force, which in theory
should make the cars harder to
drive through the corners —
NASCAR’s current car is offset,
not symmetric.
The composite body is de-
signed to minimize in-race
damage that would otherwise
affect the car’s handling and
lead to further incidents that
could alter a race. And the new,
wider tires are designed to al-
low Goodyear to bring a softer
compound to improve passing
and strategy options.
MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important deci-
sions today. The Moon is in Pisces.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021: You are
warm, charming and sociable. You are also eloquent and persuasive! As your
new year begins, you’re entering a year of learning and teaching. This is why
you will expand your world through reading, studying and travel. However,
you also might train or teach others as well. Whatever you learn now will
boost your success for the coming year!
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Today you have strong feelings about your finances and your belong-
ings. You might want to explore new uses for something you own. You will
certainly feel attached to what you own. (“My precious!”) You also might be
excited about a moneymaking idea. If shopping, you’ll want to buy pretty
things.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Your relationships with others are intense today. In fact, you might
be surprised at how emotionally intense they are! Possibly, you will attract
someone to you who is also emotionally intense, and this leads to a new ro-
mance. This will be a memorable day for you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Some of you will be involved in a passionate, secret love affair today.
Many of you will be involved in something that is secretive. Whatever is hap-
pening, it’s as if this situation, or another person, has a magical hold over you.
(Pretty heady stuff.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Your relations with a friend or a member of a group will be powerful
today. In fact, for some of you, a friend will become a lover. Whatever the
case, your involvement with others might be life-changing or transformative
in some way. It will be a learning experience.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
Some of you might develop a deep crush on a boss or a member of au-
thority today. No matter how hard you try to shake it, you can’t. You admire
this person because of his or her power, knowledge or influence. Meanwhile,
others will be asked for their creative advice on something.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
You might fall in love with someone who is “different” today. Others
will passionately want to travel somewhere, especially someplace beautiful.
Or perhaps you will delight in seeing art exhibits because your appreciation
of beauty is heightened.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Your physical passions are strong today. (It’s a memorable day for
some couples.) However, you will feel just as passionate about financial
matters, especially regarding shared property or the wealth of someone else
— perhaps even envy.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today you will attract someone strong and powerful to you. (“Hi
Darth.”) You might want to express your feelings to this person. You also
might have deep, profound insights into the relationship. Or a new relation-
ship might flourish that is almost magical.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today you might have strong ideas about how to improve your health
or possibly how to introduce reforms and improvements to your job. Either
way, these ideas are important to you. You intend to follow through on them
because you want to do things in a better way.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a passionate day for romance, definitely. Actually, it’s a pas-
sionate day for all aspects of your world. You have strong feelings about chil-
dren, the arts and sports, as well as strong feelings about demanding your
own freedom and independence. (Wow.)
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Family discussions will be intense today. In all likelihood, you will come
up with improvements on how to make your home more beautiful. You
might even come up with ways to improve family relationships. People are
more ready to express their affection for each other today.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is a powerful day because something will happen that makes
you truly appreciate your surroundings. You appreciate who you are and
where you are. You also appreciate the people in your life. It’s so easy to get
lost in what you want in the future and fail to appreciate what you have right
now.
Golf
Continued from A5
“People can see it for what
it is, which is a money grab,
which is fine if that’s what
you’re playing golf for is to
make as much money as pos-
sible,” McIlroy said. “Totally
fine. Then go and do that if
that’s what makes you happy.
But I think the top players in
the game — I’m just speaking
my own personal beliefs — I’m
playing this game to try to ce-
ment my place in history and
my legacy and to win major
championships and to win the
biggest tournaments in the
world.
“I’m very much against it. I
don’t see why anyone would be
for it.”
The topic became the fo-
cus of chatter at Quail Hollow
Club, where the Wells Fargo
Championship begins on
Thursday with another strong
field. The players had a pre-
viously scheduled mandatory
meeting on Tuesday night with
Commissioner Jay Monahan.
According to several play-
ers who attended the meeting,
Monahan reiterated what he
told players more than a year
ago when the proposed super
league — then known as the
Premier Golf League — made
its first pitch: Players who
join will be suspended from
the PGA Tour and could be
banned permanently.
Still unclear is how this
would affect the world rank-
ing or invitation to the majors,
even a spot in the Ryder Cup,
because it is not known if any
player has agreed to the money.
Thomas said he was un-
aware if the league invited him
to join — if so, his manager
hasn’t told him.
“I don’t know where it’s go-
ing to go because everybody
feels differently and every-
body’s in different places in
their career,” Thomas said. “For
me, I personally am about be-
ing No. 1 in the world and win-
ning as many majors as I can
and winning as many tourna-
ments as I can and doing his-
torical things on the PGA Tour.
“I feel like the next 10 years
of my career could really be my
prime and I want to take ad-
vantage of it here.”
5/31/2021