This week’s races

Friday, Sept. 10, 1999 | 7:47 a.m.

WINSTON CUP

Exide NASCAR 400

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.); Saturday, second-round qualifying, 11 a.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN, 4:30 p.m.)

Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps.

Last year: Jeff Burton held off Jeff Gordon by a few feet for the victory. Burton led eight times for 203 laps, including the last 40.

Last race: Burton won the rain-shortened Southern 500, giving him a sweep of the Winston Cup events at Darlington Raceway this year. Burton's brother, Ward, was second in the first 1-2 finish by brothers in the Labor Day weekend classic.

Fast facts: Eight drivers have won the race from the pole in the 38-year history of the event. ... Richard Petty leads all drivers with seven victories in fall races in Richmond. ... Rick Mast is the only driver to complete all 24 races this season. ... Dale Jarrett, who had a 314-point lead in the series standings, is now 168 ahead of Mark Martin after bad performances in Bristol, Tenn., and Darlington, S.C.

Next race: Dura Lube 300, Sept. 19, Loudon, N.H.

---

BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Autolite Platinum 250

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Thursday, first-round qualifying, 3 p.m.; Friday, second-round qualifying, 9:30 a.m.; Friday, race (ESPN, 4:40 p.m.)

Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps.

Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his series-high sixth victory. He led 236 of 250 laps en route to a 3.453-second margin over Winston Cup regular Jeff Burton.

Last race: Mark Martin used a new car to win the Dura Lube 200 in Darlington, S.C. Martin has dominated Darlington Raceway with six victories and six poles since 1987.

Fast facts: 131 different drivers have started races this season. ... Phil Parsons passed the $2 million mark, and is seventh in Busch career earnings. ... Ford leads all manufacturers with five victories in fall races in Richmond. ... Matt Kenseth trails series leader Earnhardt by 26 points.

Next race: MBNA Gold 200, Sept. 25, Dover, Del.

---

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Virginia Is For Lovers 200

Site: Richmond, Va.

Winner:Greg Biffle.

Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 150 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Jack Sprague won, passing Ernie Irvan on the 179th lap and holding on by .299 seconds.

Last race: Mike Bliss, winless for almost a year, squeezed his Ford around Jay Sauter and Boris Said with about six laps left and held on to win the O'Reilly Auto Parts 275 in Topeka, Kan.

Fast facts: Every Labor Day weekend points leader has won the series championship. Greg Biffle has a 105-point lead over Jack Sprague. ... Sailors from the USS Eisenhower and San Jacinto will be honorary pit crew members in Richmond. ... Bliss and Ron Hornaday are the only drivers to win at least one race in each of the series' five seasons.

Next race: Orleans 250, Las Vegas, Sept. 24.

---

CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Texaco-Havoline 300

Site: Monterey, Calif.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 1:45 p.m.; Sunday, race, (ESPN, Noon)

Track: Laguna Seca Raceway (permanent road course, 2.238 miles, (11 turns).

Race distance: 185.754 miles, 83 laps.

Last year: Bryan Herta raced to his first CART victory, beating series champion Alex Zanardi by .343 seconds. Tony Kanaan finished third.

Last race: Juan Montoya won the Vancouver Molson Indy. The event, scheduled for 90 laps, began under caution in a heavy downpour. Before it ended, 16 laps short because of a two-hour time limit, more than half the cars had spun or slid into tire walls or concrete barriers, causing six caution flags for a total of 34 laps.

Fast facts: Last week Montoya won for the third straight time and got his seventh victory of the season. ... Montoya leads Dario Franchitti 194-171 in the points race. ... Montoya has won six poles this season, one shy of the rookie record.

Next race: Texaco Grand Prix, Sept. 26, Houston.

---

FORMULA ONE

Italian Grand Prix

Site: Monza, Italy.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speedvision, 4 a.m.); Sunday, race, (Speedvision, 4:30 a.m.)

Track: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (road course, 3.585 miles, seven turns).

Race distance: 190.005 miles, 53 laps.

Last year: Michael Schumacher won to pull into a tie with Mika Hakkinen for the series lead. It was the Ferrari driver's sixth victory of the year and 33rd of his F1 career.

Last race: David Coulthard won the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. McLaren-Mercedes teammate Hakkinen finished second and went back on top of the points standings.

Fast facts: Schumacher, still recovering from a broken leg, will not race until the Malaysian Grand Prix on Oct. 17. ... Hakkinen leads Eddie Irvine 60-59 in the standings.

Next race: European Grand Prix, Sept. 26, Nuerburgring, Germany.

---

NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: Cory McClenathan won the Top Fuel division at the U.S. Nationals in Clermont, Ind. Frank Pedregon, Warren Johnson, Matt Hines and Mike Coughlin won their divisions.

Next race: Keystone Nationals, Sept. 16-19, Reading, Pa.

---

INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Greg Ray won for the third time in four races, beating back challenges from Davey Hamilton and Mark Dismore down the stretch at the Colorado 200 in Fountain.

Next race: Vegas.com 500., Sept. 26, Las Vegas.