This week’s races

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 7:59 a.m.

WINSTON CUP

Dura Lube 500

Site: Phoenix.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 2:15 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 9:45 a.m.; Sunday, race (TNN, 11 a.m.)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1 mile, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees banking in turns 3-4).

Race distance: 312 miles, 312 laps.

Last year: Rusty Wallace ended a 59-race winless streak in the rain-shortened event. The former Winston Cup champion was declared the winner after rain washed out the final 55 laps.

Last race: Jeff Burton, who took the lead when he barely beat older brother Ward out of the pits on their final stop, led the final 68 laps to win the Pop Secret 400 in Rockingham, N.C.

Fast facts: Dale Jarrett can earn a $120,000 bonus if he wins the race. The bonus is awarded if the winner is also the points leader. ... No driver has won from the pole. ... Rick Mast is the only driver to start every race and remain running at the end.

Next race: Pennzoil 400, Nov. 14, Homestead, Fla.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Outback Steakhouse 200

Site: Phoenix.

Schedule: Thursday, first-round qualifying, 2 p.m.; Friday, second-round qualifying, 8:30 a.m.; Saturday, race (TNN, 11 a.m.)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1 mile, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees banking in turns 3-4).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Inaugural race.

Last race: Jeff Green won the inaugural Sam's Town 250 in Memphis, Tenn., his third Busch Series victory of the year. Green, third in the points race, led 104 laps of 250 laps.

Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads Matt Kenseth by 156 points with two races remaining. Green is in third, 210 points behind Earnhardt. ... Kenseth passed the $2 million mark in career earnings last week. ... This is the first visit to Phoenix for the Busch series.

Next race: Miami 300, Nov. 13, Homestead, Fla.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Jack Sprague passed two cars for the lead with one lap remaining and won the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Fontana, Calif. The victory carried him to his second series championship in three years. Sprague entered the race trailing Greg Biffle by 21 points and just four ahead of Dennis Setzer. But Setzer was knocked out of the 100-lap race in an early wreck. Biffle got behind a lapped truck and lost position, slipping to ninth.

Next race: End of season.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Greg Moore, one of the budding stars of the CART Series, was killed when he lost control of his car at 220 mph and slammed into a wall in the season-ending Marlboro 500 in Fontana, Calif. The race went on, with Adrian Fernandez winning with a fuel gamble and rookie Juan Montoya coming from behind to win the points championship. Fernandez gambled on running to the end on a waning fuel load and made it, beating runner-up Max Papis to the finish line by 7.634 seconds.

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Mika Hakkinen won the drivers' title for the second straight year by taking the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Eddie Irvine needed to finish ahead of Hakkinen to win the title, but came in third in the season-ending race. Hakkinen is only the seventh driver to win consecutive season titles. He finished with 76 points to 74 for Irvine. Ferrari hasn't won a drivers' championship in 20 years, but did win its first constructors' title since 1983.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: John Force won his 11th Funny Car title of the year at the Matco Tools Supernationals in Baytown, Texas. Larry Dixon, Rickie Smith and Tony Mullen also were winners in their categories.

Next race: Winston Finals, Nov. 11-14, Pomona, Calif.