This week’s races

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 5:16 a.m.

All Times Pacific.

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500k

Site: Avondale, Ariz.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 4:15 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 11:15 a.m.; Sunday, race (TNN, 11 a.m.)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1 mile, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees banking in turns 3-4).

Race distance: 312 miles, 312 laps.

Last year: Tony Stewart became the second rookie with two victories in a season. The first was the late Davey Allison. Stewart started 11th in the 43-car field and took control of the 500-kilometer race on the 159th of 312 laps.

Last race: Dale Jarrett, after finishing second six times in his last nine starts at North Carolina Speedway, took the lead late in the Pop Secret 400 and pulled away from Jeff Gordon for his first victory in Rockingham. Jarrett had not won since the season-opening Daytona 500.

Fast Facts: No driver has won an event at Phoenix from the pole. ... If Bobby Labonte finishes 14th or better in the three remaining races, he will win the title regardless of any other driver's performance.

Next race: Pennzoil 400, Nov. 12, Homestead, Fla.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Outback Steakhouse 200

Site: Avondale, Ariz.

Schedule: Thursday, first-round qualifying, 3 p.m.; Friday, second-round qualifying, 9:30 a.m.; Saturday, race (TNN, 12:30 p.m.)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway (oval, 1 mile, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees banking in turns 3-4).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Jeff Gordon took the lead with a strong outside pass of Jimmy Spencer 20 laps from the end, then pulled away for his first Busch series victory in seven years.

Last race: Kevin Harvick rallied from a lap down to win the Sam's Town 250 in Memphis, Tenn. Harvick beat Elton Sawyer by 0.47 seconds for his third victory this season.

Fast Facts: Last year was the inaugural race. ... Jeff Green won the Busch Grand National series championship by just starting last week's race. ... Green finished second in the points race last season.

Next race: HotWheels.com 300, Nov. 11, Homestead, Fla.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

O'Reilly Fall Nationals

Site: Ennis, Texas.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 8 a.m.; Saturday, eliminations, 9 a.m.

Track: Texas Motorplex.

Last year: John Force and Warren Johnson clinched championships in their divisions en route to winning event titles.

Last event: Force wrapped up his 10th NHRA Funny Car title, despite losing in the finals to Tony Pedregon, and Angelle Seeling won her first Pro Stock Motorcycle championship at the Matco Tools SuperNationals in Baytown, Texas.

Fast Facts: Force tied Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden for the most championships in the history of the sport. ... Last week, Seeling became the second woman to win a title, joining three-time Top Fuel champ Shirley Muldowney.

Next race: Automobile Club Finals, Nov. 12, Pomona, Calif.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Kurt Busch, who will make a full-time move to the Winston Cup series next season, beat Andy Houston by 0.775 seconds to win the Motorola 200 in Fontana, Calif. Busch won for the fourth time this season. Greg Biffle had wrapped up the championship on Oct. 13 at Texas Motor Speedway.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Christian Fittipaldi won the Marlboro 500, a race delayed by rain, and Gil de Ferran finished third to win the closest points race in CART history. They were among only six drivers running at the end after blown engines and other mechanical problems reduced the field of 23 cars. The race in Fontana, Calif., was halted Sunday and completed Monday.

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Scott Goodyear won the fastest race in IRL history, and Buddy Lazier took the season championship by finishing fourth in the Excite 500 in Fort Worth, Texas. Lazier needed to finish 14th or better to win the title and $1 million but did much more. He led 38 consecutive laps near the end and was running with the front pack for all 208 trips around the 1 1/2 -mile oval.

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Already the champion, Michael Schumacher ended the Formula One season by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix to give Ferrari its first sweep of the driver's and constructor's titles since 1979. Schumacher finished with nine victories and his third championship. The German won for Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

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