Auto Club 500
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup
Site: Fontana, Calif.
TV: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (FOX, 12:30 p.m.).
Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns). Race distance: 500 miles, 250 laps.
Last year: With crew chief Robbie Reiser back home in North Carolina on a NASCAR-enforced absence from the racetrack, Matt Kenseth drove the Roush Fenway Racing Ford to the front and his veteran crew gave him a series of sparkling pit stops, including a very fast one near the end of the Auto Club 500 that put him into the lead for good.
Stater Bros. 300
Series: NASCAR Nationwide
Site: Fontana, Calif.
TV: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 9:30 a.m.), race (ESPN2, 4 p.m.).
Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns). Race distance: 300 miles, 150 laps.
Last year: Matt Kenseth took control in the closing laps at California Speedway, driving off with his fourth Nationwide victory in 12 tries on the 2-mile oval.
San Bernardino County 200
Series: NASCAR Craftsman Trucks
Site: Fontana, Calif.
TV: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1:30 p.m.); Saturday, race (FOX, noon).
Track: California Speedway (D-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns). Race distance: 200 miles, 100 laps.
Last year: With less than five laps to go, Mike Skinner jumped past Ron Hornaday Jr. into the lead before the caution flag came out and stayed out front, earning his 20th truck victory.
Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals
Series: NHRA
Site: Chandler, Ariz.
TV: Friday, qualifying, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, ESPN2, 11 p.m. (taped); Sunday, eliminations, 4 p.m., ESPN2 (taped)
Track: Firebird International Raceway.
Last year: Tony Pedregon set a national elapsed time record en route to his 33rd career Funny Car victory, highlighting a record-setting weekend at Firebird International Raceway. Pedregon’s opening-round run of 4.701 seconds certified his 4.659-second qualifying time within the required 1 percent, making it an official NHRA record. He then defeated Robert Hight in the final. Rod Fuller and Kurt Johnson also raced to victories.
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