NASCAR NEXTEL CUP
UAW-Ford 500
Site: Talladega, Ala.
Schedule: Sunday (NBC, noon MDT).
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (tri-oval, 2.66 miles, 33 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 500 miles, 188 laps.
Last race: Jimmie Johnson barely hung on to beat teammate Kyle Busch in the MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway, a victory that vaulted Johnson into the lead in the Chase for the championship. It was the third victory of the year for Johnson, who now leads Rusty Wallace by seven points after two of 10 races in the Chase.
Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. temporarily held the lead in the standings after winning the EA Sports 500 at Talladega, but dropped to second after being docked 25 points and fined $10,000 by NASCAR for using a vulgarity during a televised post-race interview.
Fast facts: Tony Stewart, the Nextel Cup points leader for the last seven races, had his streak of consecutive top-10 finishes end at 13 after his ill-handling car finished 18th at Dover. … Jeff Gordon won the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega on May 1.
Next race: Banquet 400, Oct. 9, Kansas City, Kan.
On the Net: www.nascar.com
NHRA
Ameriquest Nationals
Site: Joliet, Ill.
Schedule: Sunday (ESPN2, 6 p.m. tape).
Track: Route 66 Raceway.
Last event: Tony Schumacher won the Toyo Tires Nationals at Mohnton, Pa., for a third straight season on Sept. 18 to extend his lead in the Top Fuel standings to 100 points. Tony Pedregon ended an almost two-year winless streak with his victory over John Force in the Funny Car final, Greg Anderson took Pro Stock and Angelle Sampey won Pro Stock Bike.
Fast facts: Last week’s event at Ennis, Texas, was postponed until Oct. 6-9 because of Hurricane Rita. … Gary Scelzi upped his lead in the Funny Car standings from one point to 26 over Robert Hight after advancing to the semifinals at Mohnton. … John Force recorded his 86th career Funny Car victory at the 2000 event to become the winningest driver in NHRA history.
Next event: O’Reilly Fall Nationals, Oct. 9, Ennis, Texas.
On the Net: www.nhra.com
NASCAR BUSCH
Last race: Ryan Newman tied the series record by winning in his fourth consecutive start this season, a dominant performance in a wreck-filled Dover 200 in Delaware. Newman won in Watkins Glen, Bristol and Michigan, but had not competed in the previous two events. He tied the record set by Sam Ard, who won four races in a row in 1983.
Next race: United Way 300, Oct. 8, Kansas City, Kan.
On the Net: www.nascar.com
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS
Last race: Todd Bodine passed Ted Musgrave on the final lap in a green-white-checker finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his second truck victory of the season. Musgrave, who trailed series points leader Dennis Setzer by 59 points going into the race, cut the difference to five points when Setzer finished 14th.
Next race: Kroger 200, Oct. 22, Martinsville, Va.
On the Net: www.nascar.com
CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES
Last race: Sebastien Bourdais survived a crash with Paul Tracy and a brush with his own teammate to win the Hurricane Relief 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Oriol Servia and Bourdais touched wheels on the 141st of 166 laps, but both continued and despite front-end damage from his collision with Tracy, Bourdais edged his teammate by 0.312 seconds – about three car lengths.
Next race: Grand Prix of Ansan, Oct. 16, Seoul, South Korea.
On the Net: www.cart.com
FORMULA ONE
Last race: Fernando Alonso became F1’s youngest champion by finishing third in the Brazilian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Spaniard needed only a top-three finish in the race, which was won by Juan Pablo Montoya.
Next race: Japanese Grand Prix, Oct. 9, Suzuka.
On the Net: www.formula1.com
INDY RACING LEAGUE
Last race: Dan Wheldon celebrated his first IRL title and Scott Dixon won the inaugural Indy Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Wheldon, a 27-year-old Englishman, secured the title when the race became official at the halfway point, the start of lap 31.
Next race: Toyota Indy 400, Oct. 16, Fontana, Calif.
On the Net:
www.indyracingleague.com
