NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Lenox Industrial Tools 301
Site:Loudon, N.H.
TV: TNT, 10:30 a.m.
Track: New Hampshire International Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 318 miles, 301 laps.
Last race: Kyle Busch snapped a two-week slump by racing to his first Cup win on a road course. Busch, who had a poor qualifying run and started 30th at Infineon Raceway, steadily moved through the field and grabbed the lead away from defending race winner Juan Pablo Montoya on an early restart before hanging on for his series-best fifth victory of the season.
Last year: A two-tire gamble for Denny Hamlin paid off with his first Cup victory of 2007 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Hamlin edged Jeff Gordon by 0.068 seconds.
Fast facts: Busch has 11 wins overall this season spanning all three of NASCAR’s top series. It also was his second road course victory of 2008; he won the Nationwide Series race at Mexico City in April. He has one win and three top-five finishes in six starts at New Hampshire. . . . Gordon, who is winless in 2008, leads all active drivers with three wins, 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 efforts in 26 career starts at Loudon, N.H.
Next race: Sprint Cup 400, July 5, Daytona Beach, Fla.
On the Net:
NHRA
Summit Racing Equipment Nationals
Site:Norwalk, Ohio
TV: ESPN2, 5 p.m. tape.
Track: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
Last event: A day after Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed in an accident, five-time world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first Top Fuel win in 12 tries at the Lucas Oil SuperNationals. The event was overshadowed by the death of Kalitta, who died from multiple injuries after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying. Tim Wilkerson, Greg Anderson and Chip Ellis also won.
Last year: Mike Ashley won the Funny Car competition during the inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio, after getting disqualified in both of the previous two events. Schumacher took Top Fuel, Dave Connolly claimed his second Pro Stock win of the season Andrew Hines picked up his second Pro Stock Motorcycle victory in his last three outings.
Fast facts: The Kalitta Motorsports team will compete this weekend. . . . Since starting in 1955, there have been nine deaths at NHRA national events, four in Top Fuel, three in Funny Car and two in Pro Stock. . . . Schumacher has five wins in 11 starts this season.
Next event: Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 13, Denver
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