Thursday, March 12, 1998 | 12:03 p.m.
All times EST
CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS
Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami
Site: Homestead, Fla.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 1:15 p.m. (ESPN2, tape 3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race, 1:30 p.m. (ABC).
Track: Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex (oval, 1.517 miles, 8 degrees banking in turns, 3 degrees in straightaways).
Race distance: 223 miles, 147 laps.
Last year: Michael Andretti won in the Swift chassis debut - the first series victory by an American-built chassis in 14 years. Andretti beat Paul Tracy by 3.401 seconds.
Fast fact: Bobby Rahal is beginning his final season as a driver. Rahal, 45, the 1986 Indy 500 winner and three-time series champion, is winless since 1992. He has 24 career victories.
Next race: Budweiser 500, March 28, Motegi, Japan.
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NASCAR
BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL
BellSouth-Opryland 320
Site: Nashville, Tenn.
Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 1 p.m.; Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (TNN).
Track: Nashville Speedway USA (oval, 0.596 miles, 18 degrees banking in turns, 3 degrees in front straight, 4 degrees in back straight).
Race distance: 190.72 miles, 320 laps.
Last year: Steve Park won the first of three 1997 victories, leading the final 71 laps of the caution-filled race.
Last week: The Stihl 300 was rained out at Hampton, Ga.
Fast fact: Park was injured Friday in a crash during practice for Winston Cup's Primestar 500. He broke his right thigh, left shoulder blade, collarbone and two teeth.
Next race: Diamond Hill Plywood 200, March 21, Darlington, S.C.
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WINSTON CUP
Next race: TranSouth Financial 400, March 22, Darlington, S.C.
Last week: Bobby Labonte won the rain-delayed Primestar 500, his third victory in the last four races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Pontiac's first triumph of the year. Dale Jarrett finished second.
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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS
Next race: Florida Dodge Dealers 400, April 4, Homestead, Fla.
Last race: Ron Hornaday won the season-opening Chevy Trucks Challenge on Jan. 18 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He has a series-record 18 victories.
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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
Mac Tools Gatornationals
Site: Gainesville, Fla.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying; Saturday, final eliminations.
Track: Gainesville Raceway.
Last year: Funny Car winner Al Hofmann broke his right arm and injured his left hand in a crash immediately after the final round. Joe Amato won the Top Fuel competition, and Jim Yates took the Pro Stock title.
Last event: Cory McClenathan won the Top Fuel title in the ATSCO Nationals on Feb. 22 in Phoenix, beating Jim Head in the final with a run of 4.627 seconds at 319.71 mph. Chuck Etchells took the Funny Car division, and Warren Johnson won the Pro Stock title.
Fast facts: Qualifying and final eliminations were pushed back a week because of rain Saturday. ... Hofmann rebounded from last year's crash to win the Revell Nationals in October in Ennis, Texas.
Next event: Southwest Nationals, March 19-22, Houston.
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INDY RACING LEAGUE
Next race: Phoenix 200, March 22.
Last race: Tony Stewart won the Indy 200 on Jan. 24, avoiding the perils that caused nine crashes and 10 caution flags in the season-opening race in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
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FORMULA ONE
Next race: Brazilian Grand Prix, March 29, Sao Paulo.
Last week: Mika Hakkinen won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after McLaren teammate David Coulthard allowed the Finnish driver to pass with two laps remaining.
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