ON THE TRACKS | This weekend's events
NASCARNEXTEL CUPAuto Club 500Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 6:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (FOX, 3:30 p.m.)Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 500 miles, 250 lapsLast year: Greg Biffle took the lead on lap 228 and held off a hard-charging Jimmie Johnson to win the Auto Club 500. Biffle twice came back from as far back as 30th position.Fast facts: NASCAR suspended Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, for three more races and fined him $25,000 Monday. ... In addition to his win in last year's race, Biffle finished second in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway on Sept. 4. ... Johnson has one win and two runner-up finishes in six career starts at California.
BUSCH SERIESStater Bros. 300Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4 p.m.), race (FX, 6 p.m.)Track: California SpeedwayRace distance: 300 miles, 150 lapsLast year: Mark Martin extended his Busch series record for wins to 47 with his victory at the Stater Bros. 300. It was Martin's first win in the series since 2000.Fast facts: No polesitter has won in 11 Busch races at California. ... Michael Waltrip is expected to make his 250th career Busch start this weekend. Jason Keller is scheduled to make his 393rd start in the series, moving him past Elton Sawyer and into sole possession of second place on the all-time list. ... Ford cars have won the last six California races.Next race: Telcel-Motorola 200, March 5, Mexico City
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKSracetickets.com 200Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1 p.m.), race (Speed Channel, 9 p.m.)Track: California SpeedwayRace distance: 200 miles, 100 lapsLast year: Steve Park earned his first truck series win by taking the American Racing Wheels 200 at Fontana. Park's previous victory came with the Nextel Cup series in February, 2001, seven months before he sustained a serious head injury following a crash at Darlington.Fast facts: Mark Martin is the 15th different winner in the last 26 truck races since the start of last season. ... Defending champion Ted Musgrave has top-five finishes in all five of his races at Fontana. He placed third at Daytona.Next race: March 17, Hampton, Ga.
NHRAChecker Schuck's Kragen NationalsChandler, Ariz.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 2 p.m. (ESPN2, 8 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 1 p.m. (ESPN2, 7 p.m., tape)Track: Firebird International RacewayLast year: Defending NHRA champions Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and John Force (Funny Car) raced to victories in the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals. Allen Johnson won the Pro Stock division.Next event: NHRA Gatornationals, March 19, Gainesville, Fla.
Associated Press
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