This week’s races

Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999 | 4:14 a.m.

BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Memphis 250

Site: Memphis, Tenn.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 11:30 a.m.; Sunday, race (TNN, 10 a.m.)

Track: Memphis Motorsports Park (oval, 0.75 miles, 11 degrees banking in corners).

Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps.

Last year: Inaugural event.

Last race: Mark Martin continued his dominance of the Busch Series races at North Carolina Speedway, holding off Jeff Green in the final laps of the KMart 200 for his 10th win in Rockingham, N.C.

Fast facts: Matt Kenseth trails Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 81 points with three races remaining. ... Jason Keller became the ninth driver in series history to pass the $2 million mark in earnings last week. ... Ron Hornaday, who will join the Busch series next year, won the Craftsman truck event in Memphis in 1998.

Next race: Phoenix 200, Nov. 6.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

NAPA Auto Parts 200

Site: Fontana, Calif.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 12:45 p.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN, 1 p.m.)

Track: California Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 200 miles, 100 laps.

Last year: Jack Sprague overcame a rib injury and a midrace spin for the victory. He beat Winston Cup regular Ernie Irvan by 0.364 fseconds.

Last race: Jay Sauter won the O'Reilly 300 in Fort Worth, Texas, for his second straight victory. Sauter, who started from the pole, fell back early but came to the front with six laps remaining. Greg Biffle vaulted past Jack Sprague to take a 21-point lead in the standings with one race left on the schedule.

Fast facts: The 25 points separating first from third place is the closest margin entering a final event in series history. ... Thirty-one drivers have led at least one lap this season. The record of 32 was set last year.

Next race: End of season.

NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Matco Tools Supernationals

Site: Baytown, Texas.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 11:45 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 9:15 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations, Noon.

Track: Houston Raceway Park.

Last year: Gary Scelzi won the Top Fuel title in the rain-delayed event for his sixth victory of the year. Cruz Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and John Smith won their respective divisions.

Last event: John Force and Warren Johnson clinched Winston championships in their respective categories, en route to winning event titles at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas.

Fast facts: Force claimed his ninth Funny Car championship and 10th victory of the season last week. ... Johnson earned his fifth Pro Stock championship and seventh season victory. ... Next week is the final event of the season.

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

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Marlboro 500

Site: Fontana, Calif.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, Noon; Sunday, race (ESPN, Noon)

Track: California Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 500 miles, 250 laps.

Last year: Jimmy Vasser beat Greg Moore in a final-lap shootout. Moore had beaten Vasser on the final lap of the U.S. 500 in similar fashion earlier in the season.

Last race: Dario Franchitti won the Gold Coast Indy in Surfers Paradise, Australia. Franchitti led for 49 of 65 laps and won for the third time this season. Franchitti passed Juan Montoya, who did not finish, in the points race and holds a 209-200 advantage entering the final event of the season.

Fast facts: Mark Blundell won the inaugural race in 1997 when Moore's car slowed because of engine problems with 11 laps left. ... Bobby Rahal made his final career start in last year's race, finishing 11th.

Next race: End of season.

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FORMULA ONE

Japanese Grand Prix

Site: Suzuka, Japan.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, (Speedvision, 8:59 a.m.); Sunday, race, (Speedvision, 9:30 a.m.)

Track: Suzuka Circuit (road course, 3.636 miles, 21 turns).

Race distance: 192.708 miles, 53 laps.

Last year: Mika Hakkinen won the Formula One title when Michael Schumacher dropped out on the 32nd lap when the right rear tire on his Ferrari exploded. Hakkinen led all 51 laps for the victory.

Last race: Hakkinen initially was declared the winner of the inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix after Ferrari teammates Eddie Irvine and Schumacher, who crossed the finish line first and second, were disqualified for technical violations. Formula One authorities said the bodywork of the Ferraris violated rules affecting aerodynamics and the speed of the cars, but an appeal by Ferrari was upheld, returning the victory to Irvine.

Fast facts: Irvine leads Hakkinen by four points in the standings. ... Ferrari has a four-point lead on McLaren Mercedes in the constructors championship. ... Schumacher will be making his second start after returning from a broken leg.

Next race: End of season.

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WINSTON CUP

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.

Next race: Dura Lube 500, Nov. 7, Phoenix.