Motorsports

Nextel cup

By TIMES WIRES
Published April 28, 2006

FAST FACTS: Jeff Gordon tries to become the first driver to win this race three straight years since David Pearson from 1972-74. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr., a five-time winner at Talladega, will mark his late father's birthday by driving a replica of Dale Sr.'s famed black car. Junior's trademark red Chevy, which will still bear the No. 8, will be painted predominantly black, with white lettering and silver and red stripes. ... Dale Jarrett, driving a Ford, snapped Chevrolet's 13-race winning streak in October at Talladega.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Matt Kenseth, 1,218; 2. Jimmie Johnson, 1,209; 3. Kasey Kahne, 1,167; 4. Mark Martin, 1,152; 5. Tony Stewart, 1,141; 6. Gordon, 1,045; (tie) Earnhardt, 1,045; 8. Kevin Harvick, 1,044; 9. Kyle Busch, 1,010; 10. Casey Mears, 948

BUSCH

WHAT: Aaron's 312

WHEN/WHERE/TV: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 5 p.m.); Saturday, race (Ch. 13, 3 p.m.); Talladega, Ala.

2005 WINNER: Martin Truex.

FAST FACTS: Nextel Cup regulars remain undefeated in the lower-tier Busch Series. Cup drivers have captured all nine events this season; Kevin Harvick is the only repeat winner. ... Truex, the two-time defending Busch champion, is expected to make his return to the series this weekend. ... Ryan Newman won three straight races last season.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Harvick, 1,469; 2. Clint Bowyer, 1,180; 3. Denny Hamlin, 1,174; 4. J.J. Yeley, 1,158; 5. Carl Edwards, 1,128; 6. Paul Menard, 1,074; 7. Jon Wood, 1,037; 8. Kyle Busch, 1,032; 9. Burney Lamar, 1,007; 10. Greg Biffle, 999.

TRUCKS

WHAT: Dodge Ram Tough 200

WHEN/WHERE/TV: Saturday, qualifying, 5 p.m., race (Speed Channel, 8 p.m.); Madison, Ill.

2005 WINNER: Ted Musgrave.

FAST FACTS: Terry Cook has not won in 87 races since his last victory at Indianapolis in 2002. He won at Gateway that season. ... Musgrave is the only driver to win at Gateway during his championship season. ... Rick Crawford has four top-five finishes in his past five starts at Gateway.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Mark Martin, 720; 2. Musgrave, 665; 3. Todd Bodine, 662; 4. David Reutimann, 576; 5. David Starr, 556; 6. Erik Darnell, 552; 7. Jack Sprague, 544; (tie) Mike Bliss, 544; 9. Dennis Setzer, 531; 10. Crawford, 508.

NHRA

WHAT: O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals

WHEN/WHERE/TV: Today, qualifying, 5 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2, 10 p.m., taped); Sunday, eliminations, noon (7 p.m., ESPN2, taped); Bristol, Tenn.

2005 WINNERS: Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Gary Scelzi (Funny Car); Warren Johnson (Pro Stock)

FAST FACTS: Melanie Troxel has advanced to the Top Fuel final in six straight events, one short of the NHRA record set by Tony Shumacher in 2005. ... John Force has yet to win an event this season. ... Brandon Bernstein has been the top Top Fuel qualifier twice at Bristol.

POINTS STANDINGS: Top Fuel - 1. Troxel, 483; 2. David Grubnic, 327; 3. Larry Dixon, 297; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 289; 5. Morgan Lucas, 281. Funny Car - 1. Ron Capps, 489; 2. John Force, 384; 3. Tommy Johnson., 288; 4. Robert Hight, 286; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 284. Pro Stock - 1. Greg Anderson, 369; 2. Mike Edwards, 329; 3. Erica Enders, 317; 4. Jason Line, 297; 5. Jim Yates, 283. Pro Stock Motorcycle - 1. Angelle Sampey, 232; 2. Andrew Hines, 169; 3. Antron Brown, 154; 4. Chip Ellis, 131; 5. Ryan Schnitz, 112.

FORMULA ONE

UP NEXT: Grand Prix of Europe, May 7, Nurburgring, Germany.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Fernando Alonso, 36; 2. Michael Schumacher, 21; 3. Kimi Raikkonen, 18; 4. Giancarlo Fisichella, 15; (tie) Juan Pablo Montoya, 15; 6. Jenson Button, 13; 7. Felipe Massa, 9; 8. Ralf Schumacher, 7; 9. Mark Webber, 6; 10. Nick Heidfeld, 5; (tie) Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, BMW-Sauber 5.

INDYCARS

UP NEXT: Indianapolis 500, May 28.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Helio Castroneves, 146; 2. Dan Wheldon, 104; 3. Sam Hornish Jr., 94; 4. Scott Dixon, 92; 5. Tony Kanaan, 89; 6. Kosuke Matsuura, 80; 7. Bryan Herta, 77; 8. Vitor Meira, 64; 9. Dario Franchitti, 63; 10. Felipe Giaffone, 61.

CHAMP CARS

UP NEXT: Grand Prix of Houston, May 13.

POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Sebastien Bourdais, 35; 2. Justin Wilson, 27; 3. Alex Tagliani, 25; 4. Mario Dominguez, 23; 5. Cristiano da Matta, 21; 6. Andrew Ranger, 20; 7. Jan Heylen, 18; 8. Katherine Legge, 15; 9. Will Power, 13; 10. Antonio Pizzonia, 11

[Last modified April 28, 2006, 01:17:12]