This week’s races

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

All Time Pacific.

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

Pennsylvania 500

Site: Long Pond, Pa.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, Noon; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday, race (TBS, 10:05 a.m.)

Track: Pocono International Raceway (triangle oval, 2.5 miles, 14 degrees banking in turn 1, 8 degrees in turn 2, 6 degrees in turn 3).

Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Bobby Labonte won, giving him the first two-race sweep on the track since 1986. Labonte also won the Pocono 500 in June 1999.

Last race: Tony Stewart won the rain-shortened New England 300, a race marred by the death of Kenny Irwin during practice two days earlier in Loudon, N.H. Irwin was killed when his car slammed into a wall at 150 mph eight weeks to the day, and at almost the same spot where Adam Petty had a fatal crash while practicing for a Busch Series event.

Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt came from 16th place to take the Pennsylvania 500 in 1987, the deepest starting spot for any winner of the race. ... Only three pole winners have won the race in its 26 years. ... The Winston leader bonus, which goes to the leader of the standings if he wins that week's race, is at $180,000 - the highest since the inception of the award in 1996.

Next race: Brickyard 400, Aug. 5, Indianapolis.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

NAPA AutoCare 250

Site: Fountain, Colo.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 11 a.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN2, 12:30 p.m.)

Track: Pikes Peak International Raceway (oval, 1 mile 10 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 250 miles, 250 laps.

Last year: Andy Santerre got his first series victory, holding off Tim Fedewa by less than a second.

Last race: Ron Hornaday raced to his first victory, beating Elton Sawyer by 1.992 seconds at the Econo Lodge 200 in Nazareth, Pa. Hornaday - a two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion who drives the No. 3 Chevrolet for Winston Cup star Dale Earnhardt - was winless in 18 starts this year.

Fast facts: Sawyer has finished in the top-10 in eight consecutive races. ... Chevrolets have won both previous races and poles at Pikes Peak. ... Kevin Harvick leads Hornaday by six points in the rookie standings.

Next race: Carquest Auto Parts 300, July 29, Madison, Ill.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Michigan 200

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, race (ESPN, 10:30 a.m.)

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

Race distance: 200 miles, 100 laps.

Last year: Greg Biffle held off several late challenges to pick up his second straight victory, third in four races and fourth in six.

Last race: Dennis Setzer, racing with a broken right shoulder blade, held off Joe Ruttman by 2.057 seconds to win the Chevy Silverado 200 in Nazareth, Pa. Setzer got his fifth series win.

Fast facts: This is the second time the series has raced at Michigan. ... Twenty of 23 finishers last year completed all 100 laps. ... Biffle's 178-point lead over Mike Wallace is the largest in-season margin in series history. ... Before last week, Michael Dokken hadn't led a series race since March, 1997.

Next race: Powerstroke 200, Aug. 3, Clermont, Ind.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Michigan 500

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying 8:30 a.m. (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m. Sunday, tape); Sunday, race (ABC, 10:30 a.m.)

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

Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Max Papis ran out of fuel a half-lap from the end, and Tony Kanaan passed him for his first CART series victory.

Last race: Michael Andretti won the Toronto Molson Indy. The victory was his sixth in Toronto and the 40th of his career.

Fast facts: Al Unser Jr. set the race record of 189.727 mph in 1990. ... In 1998, three fans were killed and six injured by a wheel and other debris that hurtled into the crowd after Adrian Fernandez's one-car crash. ... Andretti trails series leader Roberto Moreno by just two points.

Next race: Target Grand Prix, July 30, Chicago.

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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: Two-time defending champion Mika Hakkinen won his second race of the season, the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg. Hakkinen finished ahead of McLaren teammate David Coulthard, and both gained ground on Michael Schumacher, who leads the drivers' standings.

Next race: German Grand Prix, July 30, Hockenheim.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: Joe Amato raced to his first victory of the year, beating Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel final of the Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals in Denver. Whit Bazemore, Kurt Johnson and Angelle Seeling also won their divisions.

Next event: Prolong Lubricants Nationals, July 30, Seattle.