ON THE TRACKS \ This weekend's events

NASCARNEXTEL CUPAuto Club 500Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 5:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (FOX, 3 p.m.)Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns)Race distance: 500 miles, 250 lapsLast race: Kevin Harvick edged Mark Martin in a wild final lap, forcing the 48-year-old driver to settle for second place in the season-opening Daytona 500. Martin, looking to end 25 years of frustration in NASCAR's premier event, led with two laps to go and looked like he would hold off Kyle Busch. But Busch started a multi-car accident in the final turn that left Martin with no one to give him a push to the finish line. Harvick and Matt Kenseth teamed up on the outside, allowing Harvick to pull alongside Martin and edge him at the line by .020 seconds.Last year: Kenseth won after the faster cars of Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart went to the garage with engine failures late in the Auto Club 500. Stewart, who had been running at the finish in 30 consecutive races, saw his race come to an end in a puff of smoke on lap 214. Biffle led 168 of the first 218 laps and built margins up to 13 seconds before he lost a cylinder in his engine on lap 225.
BUSCHStater Bros. 300Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), race (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.)Track: California SpeedwayRace distance: 300 miles, 150 lapsLast race: Kevin Harvick, who ran away with the 2006 Busch title, started the season with his 27th career victory in the series. Starting 31st in the 43-car field at Daytona, Harvick crossed the finish line about three lengths ahead of runner-up Dave Blaney, who gave Toyota a solid finish in its first Busch event.Last year: A gamble by Carl Edwards on fresh tires late in race fell short, allowing Roush Racing teammate Greg Biffle to get an easy victory. Biffle passed former teammate Jeff Burton for the lead with 10 laps to go, then drove away to a 2.256-second -- half a straightaway -- win over Ryan Newman.Next race: Mexico 200, March 4, Mexico City
CRAFTSMAN TRUCKSSan Bernardino County 200Fontana, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 4 p.m.), race (Speed Channel, 9 p.m.)Track: California SpeedwayRace distance: 200 miles, 100 lapsLast race: Jack Sprague used a dramatic pass on the final lap to win his first race at Daytona International Speedway and give Toyota its first victory at NASCAR's most famous track.Last year: Mark Martin won his second truck race in eight days after taking the racetickets.com 200 at Fontana.Next race: American Commercial Lines 200, March 16, Hampton, Ga.
NHRAChecker Schuck's Kragen NationalsChandler, Ariz.
Schedule: Today, qualifying, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 3 p.m. (Sunday, midnight, ESPN2, tape); Sunday, eliminations, 2 p.m. (ESPN2, 7 p.m., tape)Track: Firebird International RacewayLast event: Ashley Force lost in the first round of the Funny Car eliminations during the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., on Feb. 11. Gary Scelzi won Funny Car when Robert Hight, who eliminated Force, was disqualified after crossing the center line and hitting a timing cone. J.R. Todd won the Top Fuel division and Greg Anderson topped Pro Stock.Last year: Warren Johnson raced to his record 96th Pro Stock victory at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals, beating Greg Anderson with a quarter-mile run of 6.770 seconds at 206.13 mph. Rod Fuller won the Top Fuel competition, and Tommy Johnson Jr. topped the Funny Car field.Next event: ACDelco Gatornationals, March 18, Gainesville, Fla.
Associated Press
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