This week's top auto races
Associated Press
All Times EDT
NASCAR
SPRINT CUP
Pennsylvania 500
Site: Long Pond, Pa.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, noon-1:30 p.m.), qualifying (ESPN2, 3:30-6 p.m.); Saturday, practice (ESPN2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.); Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (ESPN, 1-6:30 p.m.).
Track: Pocono Raceway (triangle, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Carl Edwards raced to the fourth of his series-high nine 2008 victories, beating Tony Stewart. Jimmie Johnson was third.
Last week: Johnson cashed in on the most expensive speeding ticket in NASCAR history, grabbing an improbable third victory in four years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when a penalty to Juan Pablo Montoya blew the race wide open.
Fast facts: Stewart, the June winner at Pocono, has a series-high 3,054 points with six races to go before the 12-driver Chase for the championship. Jeff Gordon (2,847) is second, Kurt Busch (2,608) fourth and Edwards (2,556) fifth. Matt Kenseth (2,429) is 12th, followed by David Reutimann (2,361) and Kyle Busch (2,347). ... Mark Martin, the series victory leader with four, is winless in 44 starts at Pocono.
Next race: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At The Glen, Aug. 9, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
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NATIONWIDE
U.S. Cellular 250
Site: Newton, Iowa.
Schedule: Friday, practice; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 1-3 p.m.), race, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, 4-7:30 p.m.).
Track: Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles).
Race distance: 218.75 miles, 250 laps.
Last year: Inaugural race.
Last week: Carl Edwards raced to his second victory of the year, beating series leader Kyle Busch at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.
Fast facts: Former NASCAR star Rusty Wallace designed the track. ... Busch, a six-time winner this year, leads the season standings with 3,296 points, followed by Edwards (3,104), Brad Keselowski (2,904), Jason Leffler (2,790) and Joey Logano (2,395). ... Busch, Edwards and Kevin Harvick will commute from the Sprint Cup event in Pennsylvania. ... Germain Racing's Michael Annett is from Des Moines.
Next race: Zippo 200, Aug. 8, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
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CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS
Toyota Tundra 200
Site: Gladeville, Tenn.
Schedule: Friday, practice; Saturday, qualifying, race, 8 p.m. (Speed, 7:30-10:30 p.m.).
Track: Nashville Superspeedway (oval, 1.333 miles).
Race distance: 200 miles, 150 laps.
Last year: Johnny Benson won his third straight race, passing Erik Darnell with three laps left. Benson, also the 2006 Nashville winner, finished the year with five victories en route to the season title.
Last week: Ron Hornaday Jr. raced to his series-record fourth straight victory, holding off Mike Skinner in Clermont, Ind. The 51-year-old Hornaday has five wins this year to push his series-record total to 43. He also has a record three season titles.
Fast facts: Hornaday, winless at Nashville Superspeedway, tops the season standings with 2,098 points, followed by Skinner (1,924), Matt Crafton (1,922), Todd Bodine (1,803) and David Starr (1,758). ... Benson lost his ride when Red Horse Racing failed to find sponsorship, then was injured June 13 in a Supermodified event in Michigan.
Next race: O'Reilly 200, Aug. 19, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
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INDYCAR
Meijer Indy 300
Site: Sparta, Ky.
Schedule: Friday, practice, qualifying (Versus, 6-7 p.m.); Saturday, race, 8:45 p.m. (Versus, 8-11 p.m.).
Track: Kentucky Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).
Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Scott Dixon won the last of his six 2008 victories en route to the season title, passing Helio Castroneves coming off the final turn.
Last week: Australia's Will Power raced to his first IndyCar victory in his first race for Penske Racing, beating teammate Castroneves in Edmonton, Alberta. The race was marred by a pit fire that burned driver Tony Kanaan's hands and face.
Fast facts: Dixon, a three-time winner this year, tops the season standings with 380 points. Dario Franchitti is second with 377, followed by Ryan Briscoe (366), Castroneves (309) and Danica Patrick (285). ... Kanaan has been cleared to race this weekend. ... Dixon won the last oval race, in Richmond, Va., on June 27.
Next race: Honda Indy 200, Sunday, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio.
On the Net: http://www.indycar.com
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FORMULA ONE
Hungarian Grand Prix
Next race: Grand Prix of Europe, Aug. 23, Streets of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Last week: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix, the defending series champion's first victory of the year. Ferrari's Felipe Massa was seriously injured in qualifying when he was hit in the helmet by debris and crashed into a tire barrier at 120 mph. He's recuperating from surgery for multiple skull fractures, and doctors say he could be released as early as next week.
On the Net: http://www.formula1.com
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NHRA FULL THROTTLE
Next race: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 13-16, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.
Last week: Antron Brown swept the NHRA's Western swing, beating Cory McClenathan in the Top Fuel final at Infineon Raceway. Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won.
On the Net: http://www.nhra.com
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OTHER RACES
ARCA RE/MAX SERIES: Pennsylvania ARCA 200, Saturday (Speed, 1-3 p.m.), Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa. On the Net: http://www.arcaracing.com
FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS: Kentucky 100, Saturday (Versus, Monday, 4-5 p.m.), Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky. On the Net: http://www.indycar.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Sprint Car: Saturday, K-C Raceway, Chilicothe. On the Net: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com
U.S. AUTO RACING CLUB: Silver Crown and Sprint Car: Saturday, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa. On the Net: http://www.usacracing.com
