ON THE TRACKS This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPBass Pro Shops MBNA 500Hampton, Ga.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 7 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 12:30 p.m.).
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (quad-oval, 1.54 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns).
Race distance: 500 miles, 325 laps.
Last year: Jeff Gordon held off a strong challenge from Tony Stewart and won the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. The event was suspended one day because of rain.
Fast facts: Kurt Busch finished fifth at Martinsville and built his lead in the championship standings to 96 points over Jeff Gordon. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Golden Corral 500 at Hampton on March 14. No driver has swept both races in Atlanta since Bill Elliott in 1992. ... Ryan Newman won his series-high seventh pole at Martinsville. ... None of the remaining championship contenders has an average finish better than 10th at Atlanta.
BUSCH SERIESAaron's 312Hampton, Ga.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 1 p.m.).
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race distance: 312.62 miles, 203 laps.
Last race: Martin Truex Jr. extended his points lead by holding off Greg Biffle in a green-white-checker and winning the Sam's Town 250 at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Truex, who has six wins this season, is now 208 points ahead of Kyle Busch.
Last year: Greg Biffle passed Michael Waltrip for the lead with 10 laps left to win the Aaron's 312.
Fast facts: Busch has not won since posting consecutive victories at Indianapolis and Michigan in August, a span of seven races. ... Mark Martin is expected to make his fourth Busch start of the season this weekend. He has three wins and six top-10 finishes in nine career appearances with the series at Atlanta.
Next race: Bashas' Supermarkets 200, Nov. 6, Avondale, Ariz.
NHRAACDelco NationalsLas Vegas
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2, 5 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 1 p.m. (ESPN2, 7 p.m., tape).
Track: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Last event: Tony Schumacher clinched his second Top Fuel championship, then tied the record for victories in a season with his ninth at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Reading, Pa. on Oct. 10. Gary Scelzi (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike) also won.
Last year: Tony Pedregon clinched his first Funny Car championship after defeating Whit Bazemore, the No. 2 driver in the standings, in the final round of the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. Kenny Bernstein (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Bike) also won.
Fast facts: Force only needs to qualify this weekend to clinch his 13th Funny Car championship. ... Force and Anderson share the NHRA record with 13 wins this season. Force also had 13 in 1996. ... Anderson is 702 points ahead of second-place Jason Line in the standings. The largest margin of victory in a season for any category is 636 by Force in 1996.
Next event: Automobile Club Finals, Nov. 14, Pomona, Calif.
Associated Press