This week’s races

Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

All times Pacific.

NASCAR WINSTON CUP

Checker Auto Parts 500

Site: Avondale, Ariz.

Schedule: Today, qualifying (CNN/SI, 1:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (NBC, 11:30 a.m.)

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

Race distance: 312 miles (500 kilometers), 312 laps.

Last race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his third victory of the season in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, holding off Tony Stewart as 16 cars crashed behind them on the final lap. The victory came on the same track where Earnhardt's late father got his final career win last October.

Last year: Jeff Burton took the lead from teammate Mark Martin on the 308th of 312 laps, the last of 23 changes among 13 drivers, and won by less than one second.

Fast facts: Jeff Gordon avoided the last-lap crash of 16 cars at Talladega Superspeedway and widened his lead in Winston Cup points to 395 over second-place Ricky Rudd. ... The late Davey Allison, who prevailed in 1991 and 1992, is the only driver with more than one victory in 13 years of Winston Cup racing in Phoenix.

Next race: Pop Secret Microwave 400, Rockingham, N.C., Nov. 4.

Driver standings: 1. Jeff Gordon, 4,512. 2. Ricky Rudd, 4,117. 3. Tony Stewart, 4,043. 4. Sterling Marlin, 4,040. 5. Dale Jarrett, 3,998. 6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 3,925. 7. Rusty Wallace, 3,904. 8. Kevin Harvick, 3,806. 9. Bobby Labonte, 3,799. 10. Jeff Burton, 3,689. 11. Mark Martin, 3,597. 12. Johnny Benson, 3,529. 13. Jimmy Spencer, 3,349. 14. Matt Kenseth, 3,334. 15. Bill Elliott, 3,301. 16. Ward Burton, 3,256. 17. Bobby Hamilton, 3,219. 18. Ken Schrader, 3,112. 19. Elliott Sadler, 3,061. 20. Jerry Nadeau, 3,050. Also, 25. Kurt Busch, 2,739.

BUSCH Outback Steakhouse 200

Site: Avondale, Ariz.

Schedule: Qualifying was Thursday; Saturday, race (TNT, noon)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway.

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last race: Two-time series champion Randy Lajoie got his second victory of the season, winning the Sam's Town 250 on Oct. 13 in Millington, Tenn.

Last year: Winston Cup regular Jeff Burton got the first victory of his weekend sweep in Phoenix, holding off polesitter Jason Leffler by less than a second.

Fast facts: A victory by Jeff Green would keep alive a run of Jeffs in Busch races at Phoenix. Jeff Gordon won the inaugural event in 1999, and Jeff Burton took the race last year. ... Kevin Harvick leads series champion Green in the points 4,431-4,228 with Jason Keller at 4,221.

Next race: Sam's Club 200, Rockingham, N.C., Nov. 3.

Driver standings: 1. Kevin Harvick, 4,431. 2. Jeff Green, 4,228. 3. Jason Keller, 4,221. 4. Greg Biffle, 4,032. 5. Elton Sawyer, 3,737. 6. Tony Raines, 3,642. 7. Mike McLaughlin, 3,600. 8. Jimmie Johnson, 3,565. 9. Chad Little, 3,523. 10. Kenny Wallace, 3,397.

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS Chevy Silverado 150

Site: Avondale, Ariz.

Schedule: Qualifying was Thursday; Today, race 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.)

Track: Phoenix International Raceway.

Race distance: 150 miles, 150 laps.

Last race: Ted Musgrave's crew elected to change an engine and start at the rear of the field, but he passed Jack Sprague with 17 laps remaining to win The Orleans 350 on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.

Last year: Polesitter Joe Ruttman beat Jack Sprague by less than a second when the event was run in the spring. Ruttman paced the first three and the last 27 laps in a race that had only five lead changes among three drivers.

Fast facts: Sprague leads all drivers with three Phoenix victories. Ruttman, and former truck series drivers Mike Skinner and Ron Hornaday have two wins apiece. ... Mike Bliss won the last time the race was run in the fall, in 1998.

Next race: Craftsman 200, Fontana, Calif., Nov. 3.

Driver standings: 1. Jack Sprague, 3,420. 2. Joe Ruttman, 3,323. 3. Scott Riggs, 3,312. 4. Travis Kvapil, 3,263. 5. Ted Musgrave, 3,262. 6. Ricky Hendrick, 3,199. 7. Dennis Setzer, 3,070. 8. Terry Cook, 3,031. 9. Rick Crawford, 2,970. 10. Coy Gibbs, 2,684.

CART Honda Indy 300

Site: Surfers Paradise, Australia.

Schedule: Today, qualifying, 8:45 p.m.; Saturday, race, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN 10 a.m. Sunday).

Track: Australian Street Circuit (temporary road course, 2.795 miles, 12 turns).

Race distance: 181.675 miles, 65 laps.

Last race: A perfect fuel strategy by Team Rahal gave Max Papis a victory in the Honda Grand Prix in Monterey, Calif. Papis, earning his second victory of the season and third of his career, started 25th in the 26-car field. He became the first winner on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca Raceway road course to start farther back than sixth. While the rest of the contenders made two pit stops, Papis came in five times as he worked his way toward the front.

Last year: Adrian Fernandez prevailed in the crash-filled event, beating Kenny Brack by 0.324 seconds. Fernandez came from 17th place to win a race marked by five cautions for 19 of the 59 laps completed before a two-hour time limit. The race ended six laps short of its scheduled distance.

Fast facts: There is one race remaining after this week. ... Gil de Ferran leads Brack 179-153 in the standings.

Next race: Toyota 500, Nov. 4, Fontana, Calif.

Driver standings: 1. Gil de Ferran, 179. 2. Kenny Brack, 153. 3. Helio Castroneves, 141. 4. Michael Andretti, 125. 5. Dario Franchitti, 105. 6. Cristiano da Matta, 100. 7. Scott Dixon, 98. 8. Max Papis, 86. 9. Patrick Carpentier, 86. 10. Tony Kanaan, 83. Also, 11. Paul Tracy, 76. 13. Jimmy Vasser, 68.

NHRA ACDelco Nationals

Site: Las Vegas

Schedule: Today, qualifying 1:45 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations race, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN2, 4 p.m.)

Track: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Last race: John Force won a record 11th NHRA title with a second-place finish in his Funny Car at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas. Larry Dixon (Tope Fuel), V. Gaines (Pro Stock) and Bob Panella Jr. (Pro Stock Struck) also were winners.

Last year: Kenny Bernstein beat Joe Amato to win the Top Fuel final. Jim Epler, Jeg Coughlin, Angelle Savoie and Bob Panella won their divisions.

Fast facts: There is one race remaining after this week. ... Force had been tied with former Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden for the most championships in the history of the sport. ... The track, holding its second event, features luxury suites above the grandstand covering the quarter-mile -- the first such facility in drag racing.

Next race: Automobile Club Finals, Nov. 11, Pomona, Calif.

Driver standings -- Top Fuel: 1. Kenny Bernstein, 1,887. 2. Larry Dixon, 1,872. 3. Doug Kalitta, 1,490. 4. Gary Scelzi, 1,483. 5. Mike Dunn, 1,464. 6. Darrell Russell, 1,347. 7. Doug Herbert, 1,140. 8. Tony Schumacher, 1,068. 9. David Grubnic, 843. 10. Rhonda Hartman-Smith, 759. Funny Car: 1. x-John Force, 1,916. 2. Whit Bazemore, 1,592. 3. Del Worsham, 1,346. 4. Ron Capps, 1,304. 5. Tony Pedregon, 1,294. 6. Bruce Sarver, 1,179. 7. Frank Pedregon, 1,085. 8. Gary Densham, 1,063. 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., 1,039. 10. Dean Skuza, 1,001. Pro Stock: 1. Warren Johnson, 1,473. 2. Jim Yates, 1,323. 3. Bruce Allen, 1,211. 4. Mike Edwards, 1,208. 5. Jeg Coughlin, 1,172. 6. Mark Osborne, 1,170. 7. Kurt Johnson, 1,128. 8. Ron Krisher, 1,094. 9. Mark Pawuk, 1,077. 10. Brad Jeter, 959. Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Angelle Savoie, 1,136. 2. Antron Brown, 1,047. 3. Matt Hines, 872 . 4. Craig Treble, 821. 5. GT Tonglet, 711. 6. Shawn Gann, 637. 7. Reggie Showers, 633. 8. Geno Scali, 590. 9. Steve Johnso! n, 566. 10. Mike Berry, 426. Pro Stock Truck: 1. Bob Panella Jr., 1,099. 2. Greg Stanfield, 965. 3. Randy Daniels, 950. 4. Jeff Gracia, 764. 5. Mike Coughlin, 708. 6. Todd Patterson, 694. 7. Taylor Lastor, 663. 8. Don Smith, 647. 9. Scott Perin, 583. 10. Victor Cagnazzi, 539. (x-clinched championship)