ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPChecker Auto Parts 500Avondale, Ariz.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 3:30 p.m.)Track: Phoenix International Raceway (tri-oval, 1 mile, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees banking in turns 3-4)Race distance: 312 miles (500 kilometers), 312 lapsLast year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. kept his slim championship hopes alive by winning the Checker Auto Parts 500, his second victory of 2003.Fast facts: Busch, who had a 232-point lead in August, has had engine failure in three straight races. ... Jeff Gordon won four straight races in 1998. ... NASCAR fined Rusty Wallace $10,000 on Tuesday for intentionally hitting Ryan Newman's car as the field returned to pit lane following the Oct. 24 race at Martinsville.
BUSCH SERIESBashas' Supermarkets 200Avondale, Ariz.
Schedule: Saturday, race (NBC, 3:30 p.m.)Track: Phoenix International RacewayRace distance: 200 miles, 200 lapsLast race: Matt Kenseth held off Kyle Busch in a two-lap sprint to win the Aaron's 312 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.Last year: Bobby Hamilton Jr. won the rain-shortened Bashas' Supermarkets 200 and Scott Riggs took the lead in the tight five-man points chase at Phoenix International Raceway.Fast facts: Series leader Martin Truex Jr. finished ninth at Atlanta, but still has a 176-point lead over Busch with three races left. ... Kenseth, the 2003 Nextel Cup champion, has three Busch victories this season.Next race: South Carolina 200, Nov. 13, Darlington, S.C.
Craftsman TrucksChevy Silverado 150Avondale, Ariz.
Schedule: Today, race (Speed Channel, 5 p.m.)Track: Phoenix International RacewayRace distance: 150 miles, 150 lapsLast race: Jamie McMurray became the eighth driver in NASCAR history to win in the Cup series, the Busch series and in a truck after taking the Kroger 200 in Martinsville, Va., on Oct. 23.Last year: Kevin Harvick held off Ted Musgrave and won the Silverado 150 for his second victory in 81 career Busch starts.Fast facts: Dennis Setzer erased a 79-point deficit in the standings by finishing second at Atlanta and now leads Bobby Hamilton by one point with three races remaining. Hamilton finished 26th.
Next race: Darlington 200, Nov. 12, Darlington, S.C.
CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIESGran Premio Telmex TecateMexico City
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 3:20 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 3:05 p.m.; Sunday, race (SPIKE, 4 p.m.)Track: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (road course, 2.786 miles, 17 turns)Race distance: 178.304 miles, 64 lapsLast race: Bruno Junqueira spoiled his teammate's bid to clinch the championship by winning the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia on Oct. 24. Sebastien Bourdais finished second and will take a 22-point lead over Junqueira into the season-ending race in Mexico City.Last year: Paul Tracy dominated the Mexican Grand Prix from the pole before a circuit-record crowd of 221,011 and moved closer to his first championship.Fast facts: Bourdais has to finish 12th or better to clinch the title. If Bourdais finishes last, Junqueira needs to finish no worse than third to become the champion.
Associated Press