ON THE TRACKS | This weekend's events

NASCAR WINSTON CUPBanquet 400
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 1 p.m.).Track: Kansas Speedway (tri-oval 1.5 miles, 15 degrees banking in turns), Kansas City, Kan.Race distance: 400 miles, 267 laps.Last race: Michael Waltrip broke Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s streak at Talladega Superspeedway, sweeping high off the final turn and denying his teammate a fifth straight victory at the track by winning the EA Sports 500.Last year: Jeff Gordon successfully defended his Protection One 400 championship at Kansas City by pulling away from Ryan Newman after a restart with three laps remaining. Gordon led a race-high 116 of the final 121 laps.Fast facts: Matt Kenseth finished 33rd at Talladega but still has a 354-point lead over Kevin Harvick in the championship standings. ... Elliott Sadler is expected to race this week despite being hospitalized at Talladega after his car flipped several times. ... Owner Richard Childress announced Tuesday he will not renew driver Steve Park's contract at the end of the season.
BUSCH SERIESMr. Goodcents 300
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 2:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (NBC, 2 p.m.).Track: Kansas Speedway (tri-oval 1.5 miles, 15 degrees banking in turns), Kansas City, Kan.Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.Last race: Winston Cup-bound teenager Brian Vickers took the lead in the Busch standings after winning the Stacker 200 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 20. Vickers has won two of the last three races.Last year: Jeff Burton passed Kerry Earnhardt and pulled away to win the Mr. Goodcents 300. Burton was one of 15 different leaders in the race that was interrupted nine times by cautions, all of them for accidents.Fast facts: In the last 13 races, the lead in the point standings has changed seven times, with four drivers involved. The 106-point separation between Vickers and Jason Keller is the smallest in the history of the series with seven races remaining. ... Keller has four straight top-five finishes.Next race: Little Trees 300, Oct. 10, Concord, N.H.
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKSJohn Boy & amp; Billy 250
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 1 p.m.; Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 4:30 p.m.).Track: South Boston (Va.) Speedway (oval, 0.4 miles, 7 degrees banking in turns).Race distance: 100 miles, 250 laps.Last race: Brendan Gaughan picked up his fifth victory of the season and extended his points lead to 67 over Travis Kvapil by winning the Las Vegas 350. Gaughan is the ninth driver in series history to win five or more races in a season.Last year: Mike Bliss dropped to 13th after a pit stop on the 92nd lap, but he rallied to win the Hardee's 250 at South Boston Speedway. He caught and passed Coy Gibbs on lap 199 and held a six-second lead when the 10th and final caution flag waved.Fast facts: Gaughan's win gave Dodge the 2003 series manufacturer championship -- the truck maker's second in the series. ... Kvapil has 16 consecutive top-10 finish and is within two of Ron Hornaday Jr.'s 1996 record. ... Last year's race had a series record 83 of 257 laps run under caution.Next race: Silverado 350K, Oct. 11, Fort Worth, Texas.
NHRALucas Oil Nationals
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 11 a.m.; Sunday, eliminations, 11 a.m.Track: Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.Last event: Kenny Bernstein picked up his first Top Fuel victory of the season and passed Don Garlits for second place on the career wins list with his 36th at the NHRA Nationals in Joilet, Ill. ... Tony Pedregon (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) also won.Last year: Jim Yates gained his first win of the 2002 season after winning Pro Stock at the Lucas Oil Nationals. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car) and Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike) also won during the eliminations that were delayed one day by rain.Fast facts: The event was originally scheduled for Sept. 12-14, but was postponed because of rain. One round of qualifying was completed and will count toward this weekend's event. ... Five NHRA national records were set and 52 pro racers recorded career-best elapsed times during the 2001 event.Next event: O'Reilly Fall Nationals, Oct. 12, Dallas.
-- Associated Press