ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCAR
NEXTEL CUP
Auto Club 500
Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 6:10 p.m.); Sunday, race (FOX, 3 p.m.).
Track: California Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 500 miles, 250 laps.
Last race: Jeff Gordon took the lead with six laps remaining and was barely ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. when the last caution flag came out, giving him the win at the Aaron's 499 at Talladega. A rule change from last year freezes the field when the yellow comes out rather than letting drivers race to the flagstand. Fans littered the track with trash after NASCAR ruled Gordon was ahead.
Last year: Kurt Busch became the first two-time winner of the 2003 season, passing Jamie McMurray 12 laps from the end of the Auto Club 500.
Fast facts: There have been seven different winners in nine races this season, including the last five. Only Earnhardt and Matt Kenseth have multiple victories. ... Earnhardt has a series-leading six top-five finishes this season and has been among the top 10 in the standings for 41 straight weeks, dating to last season. ... California native Kevin Harvick has not finished better than 25th in any of his three starts at Fontana. ... Gordon has four top-five finishes in the six races at Fontana, including wins in the inaugural 1997 event and 1999.
BUSCH SERIES
Stater Bros. 300
Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4 p.m.); Saturday, race (FOX, 4 p.m.).
Track: California Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 300 miles, 150 laps.
Last race: Martin Truex Jr. won for the second time this season by outlasting mentor and defending winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the Aaron's 312 in Talladega. The last 31 laps featured four cautions, including one that followed a 10-car crash.
Last year: Matt Kenseth held off a challenge by Michael Waltrip on a restart with seven laps to go and won the Californiaspeedway.com 300 in Fontana.
Fast facts: Kenseth has three wins and two third-place finishes in six Busch starts at Fontana. ... Truex jumped to third in the standings, 27 points behind leader Michael Waltrip. ... Earnhardt has a first and second place finish in two Busch starts this season.
Next race: Charter 250, May 8, St. Louis
NHRA
O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol, Tenn.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, Noon (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, Noon (ESPN2, 7 p.m., tape).
Track: Bristol Dragway.
Last event: Karen Stoffer became the seventh woman in series history to win a professional race after taking Pro Stock Bike at the O'Reilly Spring Nationals in Baytown, Texas, on April 18. Brandon Bernstein earned his fifth career Top Fuel win, Greg Anderson beat teammate Jason Line in the Pro Stock final while Tim Wilkserson took Funny Car.
Last year: Brandon Bernstein earned his third victory of 2003 and moved into the Top Fuel points lead at the Mac Tools Thunder Valley Nationals. Del Worsham defeated Whit Bazemore in the Funny Car final and Kurt Johnson took Pro Stock.
Fast facts: John Force Jr. has never won a national event at Bristol. He won at the Dragway during the special eliminator event in 1999. ... The dragway's first 300-mph run came in 1997 by Doug Herbert at the Spring Nationals. In the same qualifying round, Shirley Muldowney set the record of 302 mph. ... The track hosted the special Top Fuel-Funny Car eliminator event in 1999 and 2000. The 2001 event marked the first time an NHRA national points event was held at Bristol in more than three decades.
Next event: Southern Nationals, May 16, Atlanta
-- Associated Press
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