This week’s races

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 | 12:28 p.m.

NASCAR Winston Cup

Cracker Barrel 500

Site: Hampton, Ga.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying (Fox Sports Net, Noon); Sunday, race (Fox, 10 a.m.)

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (quad-oval, 1.54 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 500.5 miles, 325 laps.

Last race: Jeff Gordon took the lead 20 laps from the end and drove away for an easy victory in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Last year: Dale Earnhardt held off a determined effort by Bobby Labonte to win by less than two feet, earning the last of a record nine Atlanta victories.

Fast facts: Last week was Gordon's first victory since September in Richmond. ... Bill Elliott, driving a Dodge this season, leads active drivers with four poles at and five wins at Atlanta. ... Thirteen races have been won at the track from the pole.

Next race: Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, March 18, Darlington, S.C.

BUSCH

Aaron's 312

Site: Hampton, Ga.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, (FX, 10 a.m.); Saturday, race (FX, 9:30 a.m.)

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (quad-oval, 1.54 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 312.62 miles, 203 laps.

Last race: Todd Bodine outraced rookie Greg Biffle on a late restart to win the Sam's Town 300 in Las Vegas for his second straight Busch series victory. Bodine's victory ended a string of five straight Las Vegas wins - in both the Busch and Winston Cup series - by Roush Racing drivers Jeff Burton and Mark Martin.

Last year: Mark Martin overwhelmed the field to win. Rain interrupted the event for almost six hours, and Martin overcame late-race engine trouble for his second win in three starts.

Fast facts: Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Atlanta BGN race in 1992. ... Martin, who retired from the Busch series at the end of last season, is the leader with three victories at Atlanta. ... Biffle is the only driver to lead at least one lap in each race this season. ... Seven drivers have made their Busch debuts this season. ... Jeff Green, last season's champion, and Kevin Harvick, last year's rookie of the year, are tied for first in the point standings.

Next race: Suncom 200, March 17, Darlington, S.C.

CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Tecate Telmex Grand Prix

Site: Monterrey, Mexico.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 12:45 p.m.; Sunday, race (ABC, 1 p.m.)

Track: Fundidora Park (permanent road course, 2.1 miles, 12 turns).

Race distance: 178.5 miles, 85 laps.

Fast facts: This is CART's first race in Mexico since 1981 in Mexico City. ... The site of the track was originally Mexico's first steel mill. It closed in 1983. ... Gil de Ferran, last year's champion, looks to join Rick Mears (1981-82), Bobby Rahal (1986-87) and Alex Zanardi (1997-98) as the only drivers to win consecutive titles. ... Zanardi is back in CART this season after a two-year absence.

Next race: Toyota Grand Prix, April 8, Long Beach, Calif.

NASCAR

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Last race: Ted Musgrave squeezed the last few ounces of fuel out of his dominating Dodge to win the Florida Dodge Dealers 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Musgrave, who became the event's fifth first-time series winner, led a race-high 86 laps including the final 15 circuits. He took over for good when Jack Sprague, his Chevrolet low on gas, pitted from the lead on the 153rd of 167 laps.

Next race: Chevy Silverado 150, March 17, Avondale, Ariz.

FORMULA ONE

Last race: Series champion Michael Schumacher led from start to finish to win his fifth consecutive Formula One race in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. A track marshal was killed by flying debris after an accident between Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher.

Next race: Malaysian Grand Prix, March 18, Kuala Lumpur.

NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: John Force raced to his 93rd career Funny Car victory, beating Bruce Sarver in the final round of the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in Chandler, Ariz. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) won their divisions.

Next race: Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 18, Gainesville, Fla.