Auto Racing Glance

Gil Kaminer

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001 | 8:17 a.m.

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying (CNN/SI, 3 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 7:30 p.m.)

Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, 0.75 mile, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps.

Last race: Ward Burton, who started 37th, passed Bobby Labonte with seven laps left and went on to win a wild Southern 500, ending a 53-race victory drought. Burton, who hadn't taken the checkered flag since Darlington Raceway's spring event in 2000, won the race under caution after a wreck two laps from the end. Points leader Jeff Gordon finished second.

Last year: Gordon won after passing Jeff Burton on the first lap of a restart with 15 laps remaining.

Fast Facts: Eight drivers have won the race from the pole in the 38-year history of the event. ... Richard Petty leads all drivers with seven victories in fall races in Richmond. ... Two father-son combos have wins in Richmond - Bobby and Davey Allison and Ned and Dale Jarrett. ... Rusty Wallace won the race in 1991, the first time it was run under the lights.

Next race: New Hampshire 300, Sept. 16, Loudon.

On the net: http://www.nascar.com

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BUSCH

Autolite FRAM 250

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Thursday, qualifying, 3 p.m.; Friday, race (TNT, 8 p.m.)

Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, 0.75 mile, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps.

Last race: Jeff Burton won the South Carolina 200, holding off Elton Sawyer over the final 10 laps. Kevin Harvick and Chad Little were fined and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for fighting in the garage after the race. Rich Bickle was fined and placed on probation for intentionally hitting another car during a caution, and rookie Scott Wimmer was fined for reckless driving after the race.

Last year: Jeff Burton started second and led 198 of 250 laps for his 13th career Busch series victory.

Fast Facts: Mark Martin, the Busch series career leader in wins, leads all drivers with five victories in Richmond. ... Bobby Hamilton and Harry Gant share the record for winning from the lowest starting position. Hamilton won the 1989 race from 29th position and Gant won the race in 1991. ... Ford leads with five victories at fall events in Richmond.

Next race: MBNA.com 200, Sept. 22, Dover, Del.

On the net: http://www.nascar.com

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Kroger 200

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Thursday, qualifying, 2 p.m.; race (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)

Track: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, 0.75 mile, 14 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 150 miles, 200 laps.

Last race: Greg Biffle gave Ford its first victory of the year in the series at the Chevy Silverado 200 in Nazareth, Pa. Biffle, who won the 200-mile race two years ago, erased his own record in leading the final 192 of 200 laps over the triangular, 1-mile layout at Nazareth Speedway.

Last year: Rick Carelli passed Kurt Busch for the lead with 21 laps to go, then held off late challenges by Busch and Biffle to win.

Fast Facts: Dodges have won three straight races and four of the last six. ... Every Labor Day weekend points leader has won the series championship. ... Joe Ruttman leads Scott Riggs by 13 points. Jack Sprague is 20 behind.

Next race: Silverado 350, Sept. 15, Fort Worth, Texas.

On the net: http://www.nascar.com

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Jaques Lazier got his first IRL victory, winning the Delphi Indy 300, holding off Sam Hornish Jr., whose runner-up finish earned him the season championship. At 22, Hornish became the youngest driver to win a major auto racing championship in North America.

Next race: Chevy 500, Sept. 16, Fort Worth, Texas.

On the net: http://www.indyracingleague.com

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Roberto Moreno passed Gil de Ferran with nine laps left to win the Vancouver Molson Indy. The Brazilian finished a full straightaway ahead of de Ferran, the defending series champion and new points leader.

Next race: German 500, Sept. 15, Lausitz.

On the net: http://www.cart.com

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FORMULA ONE

Last race: Michael Schumacher became the winningest driver in Formula One history, taking the Belgian Grand Prix for his 52nd career victory. The German broke the mark he shared with Alain Prost and has eight wins this year. Schumacher won nine races in 1995 and 2000, and shares the record for most in a season with Nigel Mansell, who set the mark in 1992.

Next race: Italian Grand Prix, Sept. 16, Monza.

On the net: http://www.formula1.com

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Last event: Larry Dixon won the Top Fuel division and extended his NHRA points lead at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Clermont, Ind. Whit Bazemore (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won.

Next event: Keystone Nationals, Sept. 16, Mohnton, Pa.

On the net: http://www.nhra.com

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