ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPSubway 500Martinsville, Va.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 1 p.m.)Track: Martinsville Speedway (oval, 0.526 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 263 miles, 500 lapsLast year: Jeff Gordon completed the season sweep at Martinsville Speedway by winning the Subway 500.Fast facts: On Monday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his appeal of a 25-point penalty and $10,000 for using a vulgarity during a postrace TV interview. ... Kurt Busch won the 2002 race from the 36th starting position, the farthest back in the field to win in track history.
BUSCH SERIESSam's Town 250Memphis, Tenn.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 3:30 p.m.)Track: Memphis Motorsports Park (oval, .75 miles, 11 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 lapsLast year: Bobby Hamilton Jr. picked up his third win of 2003 when he nudged past Johnny Sauter with three laps to go and held on to win the Sam's Town 250.Fast facts: Martin Truex Jr. maintained his 144-point lead over Kyle Busch in the standings, but they were nearly involved in a postrace confrontation after a pit road mishap during the event. ... Six drivers are still eligible for the championship with five races remaining.
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKSKroger 200Martinsville, Va.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; Saturday, race (Speed Channel, 1 p.m.)Track: Martinsville SpeedwayRace distance: 105.20 miles, 200 lapsLast year: Jon Wood held off teammate Carl Edwards to win the Advance Auto Parts 200.Fast facts: Bobby Hamilton recorded his 11th top-five finish of the season at Fort Worth and increased his lead in the standings to 79 ahead over Dennis Setzer. ... Bodine has finished in the top four in four of his five truck races this season.Next race: Chevy Silverado 150, Nov. 5, Avondale, Ariz.
CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIESLexmark Indy 300Surfer's Paradise, Australia
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 11:45 p.m.; Sunday, race, 12:30 a.m. (SPIKE, 4 p.m., tape)Track: Australian Street Circuit (temporary road course, 2.795 miles, 12 turns)Race distance: 159.315 miles, 57 lapsLast year: Paul Tracy won his first CART championship when closest rival Junqueira crashed with 10 laps left in the Gold Coast Indy at Australia. Ryan Hunter-Reay was the winner in a race cut short by thunderstorms and hail.Fast facts: Bourdais can win the title if he records at least eight points more than Junqueira. .... There have been no repeat winners over the first 13 races at Australia. ... The 2002 race featured by a 10-car wreck on the opening lap that put Adrian Fernandez and Tora Takagi in the hospital.Next race: Nov. 7, Mexico City
FORMULA ONEBrazilian Grand PrixSao Paulo
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, Noon (Speed Channel, 3:30 p.m., tape); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 12:30 p.m.)Track: Interlagos, Jose Carlos Pace (road course, 2.671 miles)Race distance: 189.641 miles, 71 lapsLast year: Giancarlo Fisichella was declared the winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix five days after Kimi Raikkonen took the checkered flag. Circuit officials ruled that Fisichella was leading before the race was stopped due to numerous crashes and spinouts on the rain-soaked track.Fast facts: This is the final race of the season. ... Michael Schumacher finished in the top three in 10 of the last 12 Brazilian races, and won four.
Associated Press