This week’s races

Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999 | 4:48 a.m.

WINSTON CUP

Dura Lube 300

Site: Loudon, N.H.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 1 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 8 a.m.; Sunday, race (TNN, 9:30 a.m.)

Track: New Hampshire International Speedway (oval, 1.058 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 317.4 miles, 300 laps.

Last year: Jeff Gordon won, using a two-tire change to move from fifth to first during a caution period with 67 laps left. He held off Mark Martin by 0.644 seconds.

Last race: Tony Stewart won the Exide 400 in Richmond, Va., becoming only the second driver to gain his first career victory at Richmond International Raceway. Kyle Petty was the first, 13 years ago.

Fast facts: Ricky Rudd needs a victory to extend to 17 years his NASCAR record of winning at least one race. ... Rudd will join Dale Jarrett on the Robert Yates Racing team next season. Rudd has been an owner-driver since June 1993. ... Gordon has won both fall races in Loudon. ... Gordon is the only driver to qualify in the first round for every race this season.

Next race: MBNA Gold 400, Sept. 26, Dover, Del.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Keystone Nationals

Site: Reading, Pa.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 11:45 a.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 9 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations, 8 a.m. (Fox Sports Net, 2 p.m.)

Track: Maple Grove Raceway.

Last year: Gary Scelzi won his third straight event. He beat Mike Dunn in the final with a quarter-mile run of 4.637 seconds at 305.39 mph. Dean Skuza, Kurt Johnson and Angelle Seeling won their respective events.

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.

Fast facts: John Force is a five-time Keystone Nationals winner in the Funny Car division. ... Tony Schumacher leads Mike Dunn in the Top Fuel standings 995-983. ... Force has the biggest lead of any driver. Tony Pedregon trails him by 1,512-1,211. ... In the Pro Stock division, Warren Johnson leads son Kurt 1,339-1,130.

Next race: Parts America Nationals, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Topeka, Kan.

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Vegas.com 500

Site: Las Vegas.

Schedule: Saturday, Sept. 25, qualifying (Speedvision, Noon); Sunday, Sept. 26, race (ESPN2, 11:30 a.m.)

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (tri-oval, 1.5 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 312 miles, 208 laps.

Last year: Arie Luyendyk won for the final time in his career. He retired after the 1999 Indianapolis 500.

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.

Fast facts: Either Kenny Brack or Scott Sharp share the record for IRL career victories with four. ... If Ray wins he will tie Brack for most consecutive victories (three) and set an IRL record with four in a season. ... If Ray leads the standings by 56 points or more following the race he will clinch the championship. ... Sam Schmidt and Ray have led at least one lap in each of the last six races.

Next race: Lone Star 500, Oct. 17, Fort Worth, Texas.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Last race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed Mark Martin with seven laps to go and outdueled the Winston Cup star to win the Autolite Platinum 250 in Richmond, Va.

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

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Greg Biffle passed Dennis Setzer for the lead with 39 laps to go and overcame two late cautions to win the rain-shortened Virginia Is For Lovers 200 after 196 laps. Biffle's eighth win in 21 races matched Mike Skinner's season record set in 1995 and tied in 1996.

Next race: Las Vegas 250, Sept. 24.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Bryan Herta lead every lap on the way to his second straight victory in the Shell 300 in Monterey, Calif. Gonzalo Rodriguez, a 27-year-old driver from Uruguay, was killed in a crash during practice when his car struck a concrete wall at about 140 mph the day before the race.

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

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Mika Hakkinen lost control of his car and spun off the course, clearing the way for Heinz-Harald Frentzen to win the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Hakkinen and Eddie Irvine have 60 points each to share the lead in the championship race with three Formula One events remaining.

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