This week's top auto races
Associated Press
Eastern Times
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Kobalt Tools 500
Site: Hampton, Ga.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, 2:30-4 p.m.), qualifying (Speed, 6-8 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Speed, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); Sunday, race, 1 p.m. (FOX, noon-5 p.m.).
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (oval, 1.54 miles).
Race distance: 500.5 miles, 325 laps.
Last year: Kurt Busch raced to the first of his two 2009 victories, leading 234 of 330 laps and beating Jeff Gordon by 0.332 seconds.
Last week: Jimmie Johnson won for the second straight week, reeling in Hendrick Motorsports teammate Gordon and holding off Kevin Harvick.
Fast facts: Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, has won six of the last 12 Sprint Cup races to push his career total to 49. He swept the 2007 races at the track and also won the October 2004 event. ... Harvick, second in the last two races, leads the season standings with 506 points, 47 more than Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer. ... Dale Earnhardt won a record nine Cup races at the track. ... Kasey Kahne won the September race at Atlanta.
Next race: Food City 500, March 21, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS
Atlanta 200
Site: Hampton, Ga.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, 1-2:30 p.m., 4-5 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 9:30-11 a.m.), race, 2 p.m. (Speed, 1:30-4:30 p.m.).
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (oval, 1.54 miles).
Race distance: 200.2 miles, 130 laps.
Last year: Kyle Busch raced to the second of his seven 2009 series victories, holding off Kevin Harvick on the final lap.
Last race: Timothy Peters won the season opener at Daytona on Feb. 12, passing two-time defending champion Todd Bodine on the final lap.
Fast facts: Busch has four career series victories at the track, winning three of the last four races. The Sprint Cup driver has 16 wins in 70 career Trucks starts. ... Geoff Bodine, driving the No. 95 Team Gill Racing Dodge, is making his first Trucks start since 2004. The 1986 Daytona 500 winner is 60. ... Nationwide regular Steve Wallace is making his series debut in Billy Ballew's No. 15 Toyota.
Next race: Kroger 250, March 27, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
NATIONWIDE SERIES
Next race: Scotts Turf Builder 300, March 20, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
Last week: Kevin Harvick raced to his 35th career Nationwide victory, overcoming a pair of horrendous pit stops to win at Las Vegas.
On the Net: http://www.nascar.com
NHRA FULL THROTTLE
Next event: NHRA Gatornationals, March 11-14, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.
Last event: Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Jack Beckman (Funny Car) won the rain-delayed NHRA Arizona Nationals on Feb. 22, an event marred by the death of a fan struck by a tire off a crashing car. The Pro Stock class completed only one round of eliminations, forcing officials to rescheduled the final three rounds for Gainesville.
On the Net: http://www.nhra.com
OTHER RACES
GRAND-AM ROLEX SPORTS CAR SERIES: Grand Prix of Miami, Saturday (Speed, 5-8 p.m.), Homestead Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla. On the Net: http://www.grand-am.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Sprint Car, Friday-Saturday, Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare, Calif. On the Net: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com
