Courtesy of The Associated Press
All times Central (U.S.)
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Pep Boys Auto 500
Site: Hampton, Ga., Atlanta Motor Speedway (oval, 1.54 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, practice (10 a.m., Speed), qualifying (3:30 p.m., Speed); Sunday, race (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
Race distance: 500.5 miles/325 laps
2008 winner: Carl Edwards
Fast facts: The race is the first night Sprint Cup event at the track. ... Points leader Tony Stewart, second-place Jimmie Johnson and third-place Jeff Gordon have clinched spots in the 12-man Chase with two regular-season events left. Denny Hamlin (fourth at 3,141), Carl Edwards (3,110) and Kurt Busch (3,103) are in position to wrap up spots, while Ryan Newman (2,995), Greg Biffle (2,986), Juan Pablo Montoya (2,975), Mark Martin (2,971), Kasey Kahne (2,963) and Matt Kenseth (2,945) are tying to hold off No. 13 Kyle Busch (2,911), Brian Vickers (2,906) and Clint Bowyer (2,833). ... Kurt Busch won the March race at the track for his lone victory of the year.
www.nascar.com
NASCAR Nationwide
Degree V12 300
Site: Hampton, Ga., Atlanta Motor Speedway (oval, 1.54 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (1:30 p.m., Speed), race (6 p.m., ESPN2)
Race distance: 300.3 miles/195 laps
2008 winner: Matt Kenseth
Fast facts: Carl Edwards has cut Kyle Busch’s series lead to 192 points with 10 races left, gaining 147 points in the last two races. ... Brad Keselowski signed a deal Tuesday with Penske Racing to replace David Stremme next year in the Sprint Cup series. ... Edwards won in 2005, and Jeff Burton swept the 2006-07 races.
www.nascar.com
NASCAR Camping World Trucks
Lucas Oil 200
Site: Newton, Iowa, Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles)
TV schedule: Saturday, race (9 p.m., Speed)
Race distance: 175 miles/200 laps
2008 winner: Inaugural race
Fast facts: Ron Hornaday Jr. leads the points races and has a series-high six victories, including a series-record five in a row. The 51-year-old Hornaday has a series-record 44 wins and a record three season titles. ... Hornaday was 2,593 points. Matt Crafton is second with 2,373, followed by Mike Skinner (2,277) and Todd Bodine (2,169). There are nine races left. ... Austin Dillon is making his series debut in Richard Childress Racing’s first truck entry since 1999. Dillon is Childress’ grandson.
www.nascar.com
NHRA
Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Site: Clermont, Ind., O’Reilly Raceway Park
TV schedule: Sunday, qualifying (10:30 a.m., 4 p.m., taped, ESPN2).; Monday, final eliminations (noon, ESPN2)
2008 winners: Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock), Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Fast facts: The event ends the points races for the 10 spots in each division in the six-race Countdown to 1. Tony Pedregon tops the Funny Car standings with 1,292 points, followed by Ron Capps (1,219), Ashley Force (1,128) and Bob Tasca (1,008). Cruz Pedregon is 10th with 801 — giving him a 31-point advantage over Matt Hagan and 38-point edge for the final spot. Antron Brown leads the Top Fuel standings with 1,435 points, followed by Larry Dixon (1,248) and Tony Schumacher (1,194). Clay Millican is 10th with 682, three points head of Joe Hartley for the final spot. ... Schumacher has three victories this year to increase his Top Fuel record to 55.
www.nhra.com
Here’s a refreshing contest! If you have been dying to tell the world your favorite moment of Hendrick Motorsports 25 years of triumphs… then Pepsi has something for you! Record yourself congratulating Hendrick Motorsports on what stood out to you the most in 25 years of racing and it could be shown to the world during the premier of , “Together: The Hendrick Motorsports story.” http://www.refresheverything.com/pepsi500 is the home of the movie trailer. Also be sure to watch the movie OCT 11 only on ABC. Start your digital cameras!
Posted by: Bob Marsen | 09/04/2009 at 03:17 PM