This week’s races

Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000 | 5:29 a.m.

All time Pacific.

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

Pepsi 400

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 7:45 a.m.; Sunday, race (ESPN, 10 a.m.)

Track: Michigan Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 18 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 400 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Bobby Labonte earned his third career victory at Michigan Speedway, beating Jeff Gordon by .865 seconds.

Last race: Steve Park, who started 18th, drove to a five-length victory over Mark Martin at the Global Crossing in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Gordon finished 23rd, ending his record run of six straight victories on road courses.

Fast facts: Labonte has the most recent victory from the pole at Michigan Speedway (1995). ... Harry Gant started 24th and took the 1992 race, the worst starting position for any winner. ... Rusty Wallace and Labonte lead active drivers with four wins at Michigan Speedway. ... Dale Jarrett has four consecutive top-five finishes in the event.

Next race: goracing.com 500, Aug. 26, Bristol, Tenn.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

NAPAOnline.com 250

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

Schedule: Thursday, first-round qualifying, 12:15 p.m.; Friday, second-round qualifying, 7:15 a.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN, 9 a.m.).

Track: Michigan Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 18 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 250 miles, 125 laps.

Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulled away from Jeff Gordon for a decisive victory. Earnhardt led 68 of the 100 laps.

Last race: Ron Hornaday kept Jeff Purvis at bay and won the Kroger 200 in Clermont, Ind. Hornaday, who won for the second time this season, is a two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion.

Fast facts: Mark Martin, the Busch series career leader in wins, is the only driver to repeat as winner in eight previous events at Michigan. ... Jeff Burton is the only driver to win the race from the pole (1998). ... Chevrolets have won five of the eight races at Michigan.

Next race: Food City 250, Aug. 25, Bristol, Tenn.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Texaco Havoline 200

Site: Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, noon; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 11 a.m. (ESPN2, 2 p.m., tape); Sunday, race (ABC, 1 p.m.)

Track: Road America (permanent road course, 4.048 miles, 14 turns).

Race distance: 202.4 miles, 50 laps.

Last year: A broken gearbox ended Juan Montoya's run and helped Christian Fittipaldi to his first series victory.

Last race: Penske Racing teammates Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran finished 1-2 in the Miller Lite 200 in Lexington, Ohio. They ran in the first two spots for 79 of the race's 83 laps, losing ground only on pit stops.

Fast facts: Michael Andretti set the race record of 127.719 mph in 1991. ... Andretti also holds the qualifying mark of 145.745 mph, set in 1998. ... There have been 11 different winners in the 18 races at Elkhart Lake.

Next race: Molson Indy, Sept. 3, Vancouver, British Columbia.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Colonel's Truck Nationals

Site: Brainerd, Minn.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 10:45 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 8:15 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations, 7 a.m. (TNN, 1:30-3 p.m., tape).

Track: Brainerd International Raceway.

Last year: John Force won for the eighth time, defeating Whit Bazemore in the Funny Car finals. Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Craig Treble also were winners in their respective categories.

Last event: Force earned his seventh victory of the season and moved back into the Funny Car points lead at the FRAM Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, Calif. Doug Kalitta won the Top Fuel division for the third straight year, and Kurt Johnson took the Pro Stock category.

Fast facts: This is the 19th year of the event. ... Elimination speed records were set in five of the six pro categories last year. ... Gary Scelzi leads the Top Fuel division by 97 points over Dixon.

Next race: U.S. Nationals, Sept. 4, Clermont, Ind.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Randy Tolsma ended a 73-race victory drought, beating Dennis Setzer by 1.402 seconds to win the Federated Auto Parts 250 in Nashville, Tenn.

Next race: Chicago 175, Aug. 27.

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Greg Ray dominated the Midas 500 Classic in Hampton, Ga., reaching victory lane for the first time this season. Ray led the second-most laps - 182 of 208 - for a winning IRL driver.

Next race: Belterra Resort Indy 300, Aug. 27, Sparta, Ky.

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Mika Hakkinen won the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, with a bold passing move at the start. Hakkinen took the lead from Michael Schumacher in the Formula One driver standings.

Next race: Belgian Grand Prix, Aug. 27, Spa Francorchamps.