ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCARWINSTON CUPSouthern 500
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel 3 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 1 p.m.)Track: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.366 miles, 25 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 23 degrees in turns 3-4).Race distance: 501.3 miles, 367 laps.Last race: Kurt Busch sped away from Kevin Harvick to win the Sharpie 500, his fourth win of the season and third in the last four races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch, who was punched in the face by Jimmy Spencer after last week's race in Michigan, didn't stay completely out of trouble by spinning-out Sterling Marlin midway through the race as he tried to pass Marlin for second place, drawing thundering boos from the crowd.Last year: Jeff Gordon recorded his second straight victory by bursting in front of the pack with 45 laps to go and holding off Ryan Newman to take the Southern 500.Fast facts: Jeff Burton was the last to win both Darlington races in 1999. In 46 years of racing at Darlington, there has been a sweep of the spring-fall events nine times. ... Jeff Gordon has six career wins at Darlington, including three straight from 1995-96. ... Johnny Mantz won the inaugural race in 1950 despite starting 43rd.
BUSCH SERIESSouth Carolina 200
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (NBC, 2 p.m.)Track: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.366 miles, 25 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 23 degrees in turns 3-4).Race distance: 200.8 miles, 147 laps.Last race: Winston Cup regular Michael Waltrip used a slight bump-and-run to knock Ron Hornaday out of his way and won the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Waltrip's only other Busch Series Bristol win was in April 1993, two days after Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki was killed in a plane crash.Last year: Jeff Burton won the rain-shortened Gatorade 200 at Darlington Raceway. After nearly an hour of trying to get ahead of rain that began falling during the race's fourth caution at lap 68, NASCAR decided to end the race after 74 laps.Fast facts: Steve Park suffered a brain injury following a crash during the 2001 event. Park was sidelined the rest of the season and returned to racing the following March with the Winston Cup circuit. ... Kevin Harvick and Chad Little were fined and placed on probation for fighting in the garage following the 2001 race. Rich Bickle was also fined and placed on probation that year for intentionally hitting another car during a caution. ...Next race: Funai 250, Sept. 5, Richmond, Va.
CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMSGrand Prix of Denver
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 9:30 p.m., tape)Track: Streets of Denver (temporary road course, 1.65 miles, 9 turns).Race distance: Two hours.Last race: Michel Jourdain won the Montreal Molson Indy after using a later pit stop to beat Alex Tagliani, who had dominated most of the race, leading 52 of the 75 laps. His only problem was stopping two laps earlier than the other leaders on the first two of his three pit stops.Last year: Bruno Junqueira held off Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon and won the inaugural Grand Prix of Denver. Junqueira led the entire 100-lap event for his second win of the 2002 season.Fast facts: Jourdain has two CART victories, both this season. ... Paul Tracy has a 28 point lead over Junqueira in the point standings.Next race: Grand Prix Americas, Sept. 28, Miami.
NHRAMac Tools U.S. Nationals
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 12:45 p.m. (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m., tape; Sunday, eliminations, 1 p.m. (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m., tape); Monday, final eliminations (ESPN, 2 p.m.)Track: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind.Last event: Doug Kalitta beat Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel finals of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn. Kalitta and Schumacher ran identical times of 4.698, but Kalitta's .044 reaction time, compared with Schumacher's .057, was enough for the victory. Greg Anderson beat Kurt Johnson in the Pro Stock final while Gary Densham took the Funny Car category by beating Tim Wilkerson.Last year: Schumacher, John Force and Jeg Coughlin recorded victories during the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Force defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. for his 104th career win while Coughlin bested Jim Yates in Pro Stock. Schumacher beat Larry Dixon in the Top Fuel category.Fast facts: The 2001 event was the 500th event in NHRA history. ... The event began in 1961.Next event: Lucas Oil Nationals, Sept. 14, Reading, Pa.