ON THE TRACKS | This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPChevy Rock and Roll 400Richmond, Va.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 7 p.m.)Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, 0.75 mile, 14 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 300 miles, 400 lapsLast race: Elliott Sadler assured himself of a spot in the championship chase by winning the Pop Secret 500 in Fontana, Calif. Sadler has to start the next race to officially clinch a spot.Last year: Ryan Newman held on through three restarts, the last with four laps to go, and won the Chevrolet 400.Fast facts: This is the final event before the championship chase, where the top 10 drivers battle for the title. ... Mark Martin is 10th in the standings, 25 points ahead of Jamie McMurray.
BUSCH SERIESEmerson 250Richmond, Va.
Schedule: Today, race (TNT, 8 p.m.)Track: Richmond International RacewayRace distance: 187.5 miles, 250 lapsLast race: Greg Biffle and Casey Mears dominated the Target House 300 at Fontana, Calif., swapping the lead twice down the stretch before Biffle pulled away with two laps remaining for the win.Last year: Johnny Sauter bumped Matt Kenseth into the wall in the final turn and won the Funai 250 at Richmond for his second career Busch victory.Fast facts: Kyle Busch won the Funai 250 at Richmond on May 14 while setting a track qualifying record of 129.348 mph..Next race: Stacker 200, Sept. 25, Dover, Del.
CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIESGrand Prix of MontereyLaguna Seca, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 5 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 4:45 p.m.; Sunday, race (SPIKE, 4 p.m.)Track: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (permanent road course, 2.238 miles, 11 turns)Race distance: 179.04 miles, 80 lapsLast race: Bruno Junqueira jumped into championship contention by winning the Molson Montreal Indy on Aug. 29. It was Junqueira's first win since last August and cut Sebastien Bourdais' lead in the standings to 34 points.Last year: Patrick Carpenteir led from start to finish to hold off Junqueira. Carpentier was awarded the pole after Michel Jourdain's car was declared underweight.Fast facts: Junqueira is the first driver to win a race in each of his first four seasons since Bobby Rahal (1982-1985). ... Tracy has two wins at Monterey (1993-94).Next race: Sept. 25, Las Vegas
FORMULA ONEItalian Grand PrixMonza
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 8 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed Channel, 7:30 a.m.Track: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (road course, 3.599 miles, seven turns)Race distance: 190.747 miles, 53 lapsLast race: Michael Schumacher clinched his seventh F1 championship at the Belgian Grand Prix on Aug. 29 despite not winning for just the second time in 14 races this season. Schumacher finished second behind Kimi Raikkonen, but still earned his fifth straight drivers' title.Last year: Schumacher kept a slim lead on Juan Pablo Montoya from start to finish.
Fast facts: Montoya recorded his first career victory at the 2001 event in a race preceded by an aborted action by drivers in which a no-passing rule was proposed.Next race: Chinese Grand Prix, Sept. 26, Shanghai
INDY RACING LEAGUEDelphi Indy 300Joliet, Ill.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, Noon; Sunday, race (ABC, 1:30 p.m.)Track: Chicagoland Speedway (oval 1.5 miles, 18 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 300 miles, 200 lapsLast race: Dan Wheldon captured the Firestone Indy 225 at Nazareth Speedway on Aug. 29, extending Honda's winning streak to 12 races. Andretti Green Racing drivers swept the top three spots, a first by any team in IRL history.Last year: Sam Hornish Jr. edged Scott Dixon by just .0099 seconds, the third-closest finish in IRL history, for his second straight Delphi victory.Fast facts: Tony Kanaan has 12 straight top-five finishes and can win the championship by averaging a finish of fifth or better in each of the last three races. ... Two of the last three races at Chicagoland have produced two of the four closest finishes in IRL history.Next race: Toyota Indy 400, Oct. 3, Fontana, Calif.
Associated Press