ON THE TRACKS | This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPChevy American Revolution 400Richmond, Va.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3:10 p.m.); Saturday, race (FX, 7 p.m.)Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 300 miles, 400 lapsLast race: Jeff Gordon won his second straight race by taking the Auto Club 500 in Fontana, Calif., on May 2, finishing 12.871 seconds ahead of teammate Jimmie Johnson. It was Gordon's 66th career victory.Last year: Joe Nemechek overcame a pit-road blunder that cost him 24 spots by gambling on tires and getting help from late-race cautions and rain to win the Pontiac Excitement 400. Nemechek missed the turn for pit road and was shuffled from first to 25th place but rebounded and was in the lead when rain ended the race with 61/2 laps to go.Fast facts: There have been 10 different winners in the last 12 races at Richmond. Tony Stewart is the only repeat winner since 1998, winning in the fall of 1999 and the spring events in 2001 and 2002. ... Rookie Kasey Kahne has not finished better than 13th in any of his last three races. In his previous seven starts, he had three runner-up finishes and a third-place showing. ... Lee Petty came from 42nd place in 1953 to win the inaugural race in Richmond. Lee's son, Richard, has 13 victories at the track, including seven straight from 1970-73.
BUSCH SERIESFunai 250Richmond, Va.
Schedule: Today, race (FX, 7:30 p.m.)Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 lapsLast race: Martin Truex Jr. recorded his second victory in three weeks and third of the season after taking the Charter 250 in Madison Ill. Truex, the new standings leader, is the first driver to win from the pole in eight Busch events at Gateway International Raceway.Last year: Kevin Harvick took the lead with 51 laps to go and needed a late caution to hold off Scott Riggs to win the crash-filled Hardee's 250 at Richmond. There was an event-record 14 cautions that slowed the pace for 93 laps, including a crash by Mike Bliss that brought out the 13th yellow flag after 241 laps.Fast facts: Kyle Busch has six top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes after placing fifth at Gateway last weekend. Busch, David Green and Michael Waltrip are the only drivers to have at least seven top-10 finishes this season. ... Jason Keller won this race in 2002. ... Harvick has completed 1,496 of a possible 1,500 laps in six Busch starts at Richmond.Next race: Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200, May 23, Nazareth, Pa.
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKSOhio 250Mansfield
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 4 p.m.; Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 2 p.m.)Track: Mansfield Motorsports Speedway (oval, .41 miles; turns: compound banking 12-14-16 degrees)
Race distance: 125 miles, 250 lapsLast race: Rick Crawford outlasted defending champion Dennis Setzer in a two-lap sprint to the finish line and won the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on April 17. Crawford gambled by making his last stop for tires and fuel with 104 laps remaining.Last year: inaugural eventFast facts: This will be the first truck race held in Ohio and the first NASCAR series race there for the first time in 50 years. ... Carl Edwards has three top-10 finishes in as many races this season and holds a 22-point lead over defending champion Travis Kvapil in the standings. ... Andy Houston is expected to make his 100th career truck start this weekend.Next race: Infineon 250, May 21, Concord, N.C.
NHRASouthern NationalsAtlanta
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 11 a.m. (ESPN, 8 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 11 a.m. (ESPN2, 7 p.m., tape)Track: Atlanta DragwayLast event: John Force finally recorded his first victory at Bristol Dragway by winning in the Funny Car division at the rain-delayed Thunder Valley Nationals on May 3. Tony Schumacher recorded his fourth Top Fuel win of the season while Greg Anderson took Pro Stock for the second straight week.Last year: Larry Dixon reclaimed the Top Fuel points lead with his win at the Southern Nationals. Tony Pedregon took Funny Car while Warren Johnson earned his 90th career Pro Stock victory.Fast facts: There have been five different winners in the first six Funny Car events this season. Del Worsham is the only repeat winner. ... Anderson has been the top Pro Stock qualifier for 11 straight weeks.Next event: Route 66 Nationals, May 23, Joliet, Ill.
Source: Associated Press