Friday, July 19, 2002
NASCAR
WINSTON CUP
New England 300
Schedule: Today, qualifying (TNT, 3 p.m.); Sunday, race (TNT, 2 p.m.).
Track: New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 317.40 miles, 300 laps.
Last race: Despite being low on fuel, Kevin Harvick stayed on the track during the final caution with 25 laps to go and held off Jeff Gordon to win the Tropicana 400. With 70 laps to go, Harvick lost control of his car on the apron between the first and second turns and went into oncoming traffic before regrouping.
Last year: Dale Jarrett passed teammate Ricky Rudd with 2 1/2 laps left in the New England 300, then held off Gordon.
Next race: Pennsylvania 500, July 28, Long Pond.
BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL
Carquest Auto Parts 250
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 6 p.m.; Saturday, race (TNT, 8 p.m.).
Track: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Ill. (egg-shaped oval, 1.25 miles, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees in turns 3-4).
Race distance: 250 miles, 200 laps
Last race: Johnny Sauter took the lead after the final round of pit stops and survived a late red-flag to win the Tropicana Twister 300 at Joliet for his first career Busch victory. Sauter got the victory after fellow rookie Kasey Kahne hit the wall in Turn 4, bringing the race to a halt under the red flag with four laps remaining.
Last year: Kevin Harvick held off Jason Keller to win the Carquest Auto Parts 250 for the second year in a row. Harvick edged Keller by 0.165 seconds after taking the lead for the final time with four laps left.
Next race: Pikes Peak 250, July 27, Fountain, Colo.
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS
New England 200
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN, 1 p.m.)
Track: New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 200 laps, 211.60 miles.
Last race: Mike Bliss won his second straight race and set a truck series record for margin of victory by finishing 18.197 seconds ahead of Dennis Setzer in winning the Kroger 225 at Kentucky Speedway. The previous record was 13.186 seconds, set by Jack Sprague at Phoenix in 1997.
Last year: Sprague dominated from start to finish, parlayed his pole position into a victory in the New England 200, averaging a track-record 109.244 mph to hold off Travis Kvapil. Setzer finished third and Ricky Hendrick was fourth as Chevrolets swept the top four spots. In getting his 21st career victory, Sprague led 183 of 200 laps.
Next race: Michigan 200, July 27, Brooklyn, Mich.
FORMULA ONE
French Grand Prix
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 7 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 7:30 a.m.).
Track: Magny-Cours (road course, 2.641 miles).
Race distance: 72 laps, 190.152 miles.
Last race: Michael Schumacher won the British Grand Prix for his seventh victory of the season and the 60th of his career. The victory moved Schumacher to the verge of his record-tying fifth season championship, with seven races left on the schedule.
Last year: Michael Schumacher outran his brother to win the French Grand Prix for the fifth time and move within a victory of tying Alain Prost's Formula One career record. The win was the sixth in 10 races for the Ferrari driver, who overcame brother Ralf, the race's polesitter, for his 50th victory.
Next race: German Grand Prix, July 28, Hockenheim.
On the net: www.formula1.com
INDY RACING LEAGUE
Firestone Indy 200
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.).
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, Gladeville, Tenn. (tri-oval 1.33 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 266 miles, 200 laps.
Last race: Airton Dare took advantage of a second-chance restart after Tomas Scheckter's late crash -- the only wreck of the day -- and passed Sam Hornish Jr. with less than three laps to go to win the Ameristar Casino 200 at Kansas Speedway on July 7. It was his first IRL victory and A.J. Foyt's first win as an owner in three years.
Last year: Buddy Lazier raced to his third victory in his last four starts, leading the final 23 laps to win the inaugural Harrah's Indy 200 in Gladeville.
Next race: Michigan Indy 400, July 28, Brooklyn, Mich.
On the net: www.indyracingleague.com
-- Associated Press