Courtesy of The Associated Press
All times Central (U.S.)
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500
Site: Avondale, Ariz., Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1.0 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, practice (1 p.m., ESPN2), qualifying (4:30 p.m., ESPN2); Saturday, practice (12:30 p.m., Speed; 2 p.m., ESPN2); Sunday, race (1:30 p.m., ABC)
Race distance: 312 miles/312 laps
2008 winner: Jimmie Johnson
Fast facts: Jimmie Johnson finished 38th at Texas after wrecking on the third lap, cutting his points lead to 73 over Hendrick teammate Mark Martin. Jeff Gordon is third in the points, 112 points behind Johnson. Kurt Busch (-171) is fourth, followed by Tony Stewart (-178). ... Martin won in April at Phoenix to snap a 97-race winless streak. He started from the pole and led 157 of 312 laps. ... In 12 Phoenix starts, Johnson has three victories, seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10s. ... Kyle Busch also is racing in the Nationwide and Trucks races, the second of three straight tripleheaders. He won the Nationwide and Trucks races in Texas and has 19 victories this year in the three series — four in Cup, eight in Nationwide and seven in Trucks. He also leads the Nationwide standings.
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NASCAR Nationwide
Able Body Labor 200
Site: Avondale, Ariz., Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1.0 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, practice (11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Speed); Saturday, qualifying (11 a.m., Speed), race (3 p.m., ESPN2)
Race distance: 200 miles/200 laps
2008 winner: Carl Edwards
Fast facts: Points leader Kyle Busch will clinch the title if he finishes the race with at least a 195-point lead. ... Greg Biffle won the April race at Phoenix.
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NASCAR Camping World Trucks
Lucas Oil 150
Site: Avondale, Ariz., Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1.0 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (3:30 p.m., Speed), race (6:30 p.m., Speed)
Race distance: 150 miles/150 laps
2008 winner: Kevin Harvick
Fast facts: Ron Hornaday Jr. has a 197-point lead over Matt Crafton with two events left and will clinch the title if he finishes the race with at least a 195-point lead. The 51-year-old Hornaday is winless since Aug. 1 in Nashville, the last of his series-record five straight victories. He has 45 career wins and three season titles, both series records. ... In the owners’ standings, Kevin Harvick Inc.’s Hornaday-driven No. 33 has a 75-point lead over Billy Ballew’s No. 51.
www.nascar.com
NHRA
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
Site: Pomona, Calif., Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (9:30 p.m., taped, ESPN2); Sunday, final eliminations (6 p.m., taped, ESPN2)
2008 winners: Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Fast facts: Funny Car driver Robert Hight enters the season finale with a 105-point lead over teammate Ashley Force Hood. ... Tony Schumacher, seeking his sixth consecutive Top Fuel title and seventh overall, has a one-point lead over Larry Dixon. Cory McClenathan, Schumacher’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate, is third — 48 points behind the leader. Antron Brown is fourth, 80 points back. ... In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards has a 139-point lead over Greg Anderson. ... Hector Arana leads the Pro Stock Motorcycles standings, 54 points ahead of Ed Krawiec. ... Ron Capps (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) won in February at Pomona in the season-opening event.
www.nhra.com
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