This week’s races

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

MBNA.com 400

Site: Dover, Del.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 10:30 a.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, race (TNN, 9:30 a.m.)

Track: Dover Downs International Speedway (oval, 1-mile, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 400 miles, 400 laps.

Last year: Mark Martin won for the third straight year. The victory ended a 25-race drought.

Last race: Jeff Burton won the Dura Lube 300 in Loudon, N.H., becoming the first driver in 22 years to lead every lap of a race.

Fast facts: The worst starting position for a Dover fall winner is 15th by Dale Earnhardt in 1989. ... Bobby Allison won the 1971 race, the only time the event was caution free.

Next race: NAPA AutoCare 500, Oct. 1, Martinsville, Va.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

MBNA.com 200

Site: Dover, Del.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 9:15 a.m.; Saturday, race (TNN, 10 a.m.)

Track: Dover Downs International Speedway (oval, 1-mile, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed into Matt Kenseth, and Casey Atwood made the best of it, winning the wreck-filled race.

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

Fast facts: Chevrolets have won the last seven fall races at Dover. ... Kevin Harvick leads the rookie standings by 18 points over Ron Hornaday. ... Burton is tied for 10th on the career wins list. ... Jeff Green has a 649-point lead in the standings. ... There have been 13 different winners in the last 14 fall races in Dover. Harry Gant is the only multiple winner, taking home the title in 1990-91.

Next race: All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300, Oct. 7, Concord, N.C.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

MBNA e-commerce.com 200 200

Site: Dover, Del.

Schedule: Thursday, qualifying, 11:30 a.m.; Friday, race 1:15 p.m. (ESPN2, 5 p.m., tape).

Track: Dover Downs International Speedway (oval, 1-mile, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Inaugural event.

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

Fast facts: Joe Ruttman needs to complete 36 laps to become the second driver to have at least 20,000 miles. Jack Sprague is the other. ... Biffle can lock up the title if he earns 118 points more than Mike Wallace, 38 more than Kurt Busch and 18 more than Andy Houston.

Next race: O'Reilly 300, Oct. 13, Fort Worth, Texas.

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FORMULA ONE

United States Grand Prix

Site: Indianapolis.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Fox Sports Net, 11 a.m.); Sunday, race (Fox Sports Net, 11 a.m.)

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course, 2.606-miles, 13 turns).

Race distance: 190.294 miles, 73 laps.

Last year: Inaugural race.

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 knocked out seven cars and killed a course worker. Title contenders Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard were among the drivers in the crash.

Fast facts: This is the first F1 race in the United States in nine years. ... After this week, there are two races remaining. ... Schumacher is second in the standings with 78 points, only two behind Mika Hakkinen. ... Indianapolis is the oldest track to play host to a F1 race. ... F1 drivers will race clockwise around the track, the first time in the 91-year history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway that has occurred.

Next race: Japanese Grand Prix, Oct. 8, Suzuka.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Juan Montoya, the defending series champion, jumped from 11th to eighth in the standings, winning the Motorola 300 in Madison, Ill. Montoya, who won his third CART race of the season and 10th of his career, broke the race record of 125.725 mph by Alex Zanardi in 1998, finishing with a speed of 155.519.

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

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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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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: Five-time NHRA champion Joe Amato got his 52nd career Top Fuel victory, taking the Keystone Nationals title in Mohnton, Pa. Bruce Sarver, Kurt Johnson and Matt Hines were winners in their respective categories.

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