Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Sprint Cup
What: STP 400
When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, noon); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 1 p.m.); Kansas City, Kan.
Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is winless in 105 races and has one victory — on fuel mileage at Michigan in June 2008 — in 120 starts for Hendrick Motorsports. He had 17 victories in 291 starts for Dale Earnhardt Inc. … Kevin Harvick has led a combined nine laps in his three victories this season.
Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 445; 2. Harvick, 409; 3. Jimmie Johnson, 408; 4. Earnhardt, 402; 5. Kyle Busch, 392; 6. Kurt Busch, 377; 7. Matt Kenseth, 374; 8. Clint Bowyer, 365; 9. Tony Stewart, 356; 10. Ryan Newman, 353
Nationwide
What: STP 300
When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.), race (ESPN, 8 p.m.); Joliet, Ill.
Fast facts: Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick return to the series. Bayne has been sidelined by an illness with symptoms including nausea, fatigue and impaired vision. He last raced April 23 at Nashville.
Standings: 1. Elliott Sadler, 452; 2. Ricky Stenhouse, 451; 3. Reed Sorenson, 450; 4. Justin Allgaier, 430; 5. Aric Almirola
Trucks
What: O'Reilly Auto Parts 250
When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 11 a.m.), race (Speed, 2 p.m.); Kansas City, Kan.
Fast facts: The race is the series' 400th.
Standings: 1. Cole Whitt, 260; 2. Johnny Sauter, 259; 3. Ron Hornaday, 257; 4. Matt Crafton, 243; 5. Austin Dillon, 240
NHRA
What: Supernationals
When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.); Englishtown, N.J.
Fast facts: In 2008 at the track, Scott Kalitta was killed after his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during qualifying. As a safety measure following Kalitta's death, the NHRA cut the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet — a reduction of 320 feet.
Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 613; 2. Tony Schumacher, 534. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 593; 2. Jack Beckman, 557. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 578; 2. Greg Anderson. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Karen Stoffer, 278; 2. Andrew Hines
IndyCar
Next: Firestone Twin 275s, June 11, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth
Standings: 1. Will Power, 194; 2. Dario Franchitti, 178; 3. Oriol Servia, 150; 4. Tony Kanaan, 135; 5. Scott Dixon, 129
Formula One
Next: Canadian Grand Prix, June 12, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
News: The series' governing body plans to decide today whether to reschedule the Bahrain Grand Prix for later this season, with some drivers and team officials saying the race should be scrapped. Bahrain organizers say they're ready to host the race, which was to open the season but was postponed after antigovernment protests in February. The Bahraini government lifted emergency rule on Wednesday.
Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 143; 2. Lewis Hamilton, 85; 3. Mark Webber, 79; 4. Jenson Button, 76; 5. Fernando Alonso, 69