This week’s races

Thursday, Sept. 14, 2000 | 9:21 a.m.

All times Pacific

NASCAR

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: Joe Nemechek earned his first Winston Cup victory, taking advantage when Dale Jarrett was penalized a lap for stopping with his right side outside his box on pit road.

Last race: Jeff Gordon passed Jeff Burton on the first lap of a restart with 15 laps to go and won the Chevrolet 400 in Richmond, Va. The victory was the 52nd of Gordon's career.

Fast facts: Restrictor plates will be required on all cars in a move designed to increase safety. Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin died two months apart after crashes earlier this year at the track. ... Seven-time series champ Dale Earnhardt moved to second in the points race with a second-place finish last week.

Next race: MBNA.com 400, Sept. 24, Dover, Del.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Motorola 300

Site: Madison, Ill.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 1 p.m. (ESPN2, Saturday, 10:30 p.m., tape); Saturday, second-round qualifying, 11 ap.m.; Sunday, race (ESPN2, Noon)

Track: Gateway International Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.27 miles, 11 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 9 degrees in turns 3-4).

Race distance: 299.72 miles 236 laps.

Last year: Michael Andretti finished .329 seconds - about 1 1/2 car-lengths - ahead of Helio Castroneves.

Last race: Castroneves dominated, winning the Honda Grand Prix in Monterey, Calif. He led all but two laps. Gil de Ferran took over the series points lead as the teammates started and finished 1-2.

Fast facts: Honda-powered cars have won eight of the last 11 events. ... Andretti finished second to Alex Zanardi in 1998. ... This is the fourth year of the race, which had been held over Memorial Day weekend its first three.

Next race: Texaco-Havoline Grand Prix, Oct. 1, Houston.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Keystone Nationals

Site: Mohnton, Pa.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 11:45 a.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 8:15 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations, 8 a.m.

Track: Maple Grove Raceway.

Last year: Joe Amato won his fifth Top Fuel title of the season, beating Tony Schumacher. Tommy Johnson Jr., Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Matt Hines also won in their categories.

Last event: Cruz Pedregon won his 22nd career NHRA title at the rain-delayed Matco Tools Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J. Doug Kalitta, Jeg Coughlin and Angelle Seeling also were winners in their categories.

Fast facts: John Force is a five-time Keystone Nationals winner in the Funny Car division. ... Force leads the Funny Car standings by over 200 points. ... Records were set in five of six pro categories last year.

Next race: Advance Auto Parts Nationals, Oct. 1, Topeka, Kan.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Last race: Jeff Burton earned his 13th career Busch series victory at the Autolite/FRAM 250 in Richmond, Va. Burton started second and led 198 of the 250 laps.

Next race: MBNA.com 200, Sept. 23, Dover, Del.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Rick Carelli passed Kurt Busch for the lead with 21 laps to go, and held off late challenges by Busch and Greg Biffle to win the Kroger 200 in Richmond, Va.

Next race: MBNA Palladian Travel 200, Sept. 22, Dover, Del.

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Buddy Lazier won the inaugural Belterra Resort Indy 300 in Sparta, Ky. Lazier took the lead for good 31 laps from the end of the 200-lap event, moving to the top when rookie Sarah Fisher made her final pit stop. Polesitter Scott Goodyear finished second with Fisher third.

Next race: Mall.com 500, Oct. 15, Fort Worth, Texas.

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Michael Schumacher revived his title hopes by winning the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, a race in which a chain collision on the first lap eliminated the cars of seven drivers and killed a course worker. Title contenders Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard were among the drivers knocked out of the race. Schumacher is second in the standings with 78 points, only two behind Mika Hakkinen.

Next race: United States Grand Prix, Sept. 24, Indianapolis.