ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPMountain Dew 500Darlington, S.C.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 1:30 p.m.)Track: Darlington Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.366 miles, 25 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 23 degrees in turns 3-4)Race distance: 500 miles, 367 lapsLast year: Terry Labonte ended a 156-race winless streak with a victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington.Fast facts: Jimmie Johnson won the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington on March 21. No driver has swept both races at the track since Jeff Burton in 1999. ... Jeff Gordon has six career wins at Darlington, including three straight from 1995-96. But he has finished 32nd or worse in the last three events at the track, including two DNFs.
BUSCH SERIESBI-LO 200Darlington, S.C.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 1 p.m.)Track: Darlington RacewayRace distance: 200 miles, 147 lapsLast year: Teenage teammates Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch finished 1-2 in the Winn-Dixie 200 at Darlington Raceway. Vickers crossed the line 1.977-seconds -- about 10 car-lengths -- ahead of Busch.Fast facts: Busch, second in each of the last two races, is within 161 points of leader Martin Truex Jr. with two races remaining. ... Truex needs to add 30 points to his lead to clinch the championship.Next race: Ford 300, Nov. 20, Homestead, Fla.
Craftsman TrucksDarlington 200Darlington, S.C.
Schedule: Today, race (Speed Channel, 8 p.m.)Track: Darlington RacewayRace distance: 200 miles, 147 lapsLast year: Bobby Hamilton outlasted Ted Musgrave to win the Craftsman 200 at Darlington, giving him both victories in the event's two-year history.Fast facts: Dennis Setzer is seven points ahead of Hamilton in the standings, making it the closest race with two races remaining in series history. The previous closest was in 1999, when eventual champion Jack Sprague led Greg Biffle by 24 points.Next race: Ford 200, Nov. 19, Homestead, Fla.
NHRAAutomobile Club FinalsPomona, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 5 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 2 p.m. (ESPN2, 10 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 2 p.m. (ESPN2, 6 p.m., tape)Track: Pomona RacewayLast year: Three-time Top Fuel champion Shirley Muldowney ended her 30-year racing career with a second-round loss at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals. Kenny Bernstein earned his 69th career Top Fuel victory while Del Worsham (Funny Car), Anderson and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Bike) also won.Fast facts: This is the final event of the season. ... Pro Stock Bike racer Andrew Hines, 21, only needs to qualify to become the youngest champion in series history. His brother, Matt, was 25 when he claimed the bike championship in 1997. ... John Force clinched his 10th consecutive Funny Car title and 12th overall at the 2002 event.
Associated Press