This week's races

All Times Pacific

NASCAR

WINSTON CUP

The Winston

Site: Concord, N.C.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 4 p.m.; The Winston Open No Bull 25s, twin 25-lap races, 5:45 p.m.; Saturday, The Winston Open (TNN, 4:30 p.m.), The Winston, (TNN, 6 p.m.)

Track: Lowe's Motor Speedway (tri-oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: The Winston Open, 46 green-flag laps in segments of 30 and 16; The Winston, 105 miles, 70 green-flag laps in segments of 30, 30 and 10.

Last year: Terry Labonte won, his second victory in the non-points all-star event. Last race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed his father with 31 laps to go and held on to win the Pontiac Excitement 400 in Richmond, Va. Earnhardt is the first repeat winner this season. He also set a record for the fastest ride to two career victories - 16 races.

Fast facts: The Winston does not count in the series standings. ... This is the 16th annual race. ... Those eligible for the race are: winners from last year, this year, past Winston Cup champions, any driver who has won The Winston in the last five years and the Winston Open winner.

Next race: Coca-Cola 600, May 28, Concord, N.C.

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CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Grainger.com 200

Site: Fountain, Colo.

Schedule: Sunday, race (ESPN, 11:30 a.m.)

Track: Pikes Peak International Raceway (oval, 1 mile 10 degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Mike Wallace won by .013 seconds over Jack Sprague. It was the third-closest finish in series history.

Last race: Sprague won for the second time in six days, taking the Quaker State 200 in Millington, Tenn. Sprague moved into the lead on the final lap and beat defending champion Greg Biffle by .193 seconds.

Fast facts: Andy Houston's 37-race finishing streak was snapped last week because of a final-lap accident with Wallace. ... Dennis Setzer, who finished third last week, is the 13th driver to pass the $900,000 mark is career earnings. ... Sprague has finished in the top three in his last seven races. A top-five finish this week will match Ron Hornaday's series record of eight consecutive top-fives in 1997.

Next race: Sears 200, June 3, Monroe, Wash.

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FORMULA ONE

European Grand Prix

Site: Nuerburgring, Germany.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Speedvision, 4 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speedvision, 5 a.m.)

Track: Nuerburgring (road course, 2.831 miles).

Race distance: 189.677 miles, 67 laps.

Last year: Johnny Herbert earned his third Formula One victory. The race began with a crash and ended with many top drivers already in the garage.

Last race: Mika Hakkinen went to the front during a slow pit stop by polesitter Michael Schumacher, and led a McLaren sweep of the top two spots at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. It was the first victory this season for the two-time defending F1 champion.

Fast facts: Hakkinen won the race in 1998. ... Schumacher leads Hakkinen 36-22 in the driver standings. ... Ferrari leads the constructors standing 49-42 over McLaren.

Next race: Monaco Grand Prix, June 4, Monte Carlo.

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NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Matco Tools Supernationals

Site: Englishtown, N.J.

Schedule: Friday, first-round qualifying, 12:15 p.m.; Saturday, second-round qualifying, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday, final eliminations, 8 a.m.

Track: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Last year: John Force beat Cruz Pedregon in the Funny Car division, Joe Amato won Top Fuel and Richie Stevens won in Pro Stock.

Last event: Gary Scelzi (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) won their divisions at the Advance Auto Parts Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

Fast facts: Englishtown has played host to an event since 1971. ... In 1998, Joe Amato increased the national speed record in Top Fuel to 323.50 mph during his quarterfinals victory. ... Last year, records were set in six of the seven race divisions.

Next race: Castrol Nationals, May 28, Ennis, Texas.

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BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL

Last race: Adam Petty, the fourth-generation driver of NASCAR's most famous family, died of a head injury after crashing during practice for the Busch 200 in Loudon, N.H. Tim Fedewa won the race.

Next race: Carquest Auto Parts 300, May 27, Concord, N.C.

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CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS

Last race: Michael Andretti, who used a 24-hour rain delay to improve his car, won the Firestone Firehawk 500 in Motegi, Japan. Andretti extended his record of CART victories to 39.

Next race: Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix, May 27, Nazareth, Pa.

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INDY RACING LEAGUE

Last race: Al Unser Jr. won for the first time in five years, taking the Vegas Indy 300. Unser, competing in only his third Indy Racing League event, led the last 20 laps.

Next race: Indianapolis 500, May 28.

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