Times wires
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sprint Cup
What: Aaron's 499
When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 2 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 1 p.m.); Talladega, Ala.
Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has five Talladega victories, taking a record four straight from 2001-2003. He's winless in 100 races and has one victory — on fuel mileage at Michigan in June 2008 — in 115 starts for Hendrick Motorsports. He had 17 victories in 291 starts in nine seasons for Dale Earnhardt Inc., winning six times in 2004. … Clint Bowyer won the October race at the track. … Michael Waltrip is attempting to make his first Sprint Cup start since the season-opening Daytona 500. He has made 49 Talladega starts, winning the 2003 fall race.
Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 256; 2. Kyle Busch, 247; 3. Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson, 243; 5. Kurt Busch, 240; 6. Earnhardt, 235; 7. Ryan Newman, 233; 8. Juan Montoya, 232; 9. Kevin Harvick, 228; 10. Tony Stewart, 213
Nationwide
What: Aaron's 312
When/where: Today, qualifying (Speed, noon); Saturday, race (ESPN2, 3 p.m.); Talladega, Ala.
Fast facts: Kyle Busch has three victories this year to push his Nationwide total to 46, three behind Mark Martin for the series record. … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making his eighth series start at Talladega. He won the 2003 race.
Standings: 1. Ricky Stenhouse, 218; 2. Jason Leffler, 204; 3. Justin Allgaier, 194; 4. Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson, 188
IndyCar
What: Grand Prix of Long Beach
When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, practice, qualifying (Versus, 6 p.m.); Sunday, race (Versus, 4:30 p.m.); Long Beach, Calif.
Fast facts: Dario Franchitti won the 2009 race. … Canadian star Paul Tracy, a four-time Long Beach winner, is making his first start of the season, driving Jay Penske-owned Dragon Racing's No. 8 car. … Four past race winners and four IndyCar series champions are among the drivers named to the 42 entries filed for the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for May 29. Eighty-three cars comprise the 42 entries, the most since 2002. The defending 500 champions trying to make the field: Franchitti (2007, 2010), Helio Castroneves (2001-02, 2009), Scott Dixon (2008) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Standings: 1. Will Power, 94; 2. Franchitti, 87; 3. Tony Kanaan, 63; 4. Dixon and Simona de Silvestro, 54
Formula One
What: Chinese Grand Prix
When/where: Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 2 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 3 a.m.); Shanghai
Fast facts: Sebastien Vettel is attempting to become the first driver since Michael Schumacher in 2004 to start the season with three straight victories. He has 12 victories in 64 career starts. … Schumacher won the 2006 race for the last of his record 91 victories.
Standings: 1. Vettel, 50; 2. Jenson Button, 26; 3. Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber, 22; 5. Fernando Alonso, 20
NHRA
What: 4-Wide Nationals
When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 6 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Concord, N.C.
Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 265; 2. Antron Brown, 257. Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, 289; 2. Cruz Pedregon, 241. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 289; 2. Greg Stanfield, 222. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 124; 2. Hector Arana, 104
Trucks
Next: Bully Hill Vineyards 200, April 22, Nashville Superspeedway, Gladeville, Tenn.
Standings: 1. Johnny Sauter, 150; 2. Matt Crafton, 145; 3. Timothy Peters, 143; 4. Cole Whitt, 143; 5. Ron Hornaday, 141