OFFSHORE RACING

The 2001 International Jet Sports Boat Assn.’s National Off-Shore Championship and eighth Long Beach-2-Catalina and Back Gran Prix starts Saturday morning under the Queensway Bridge in Long Beach, and the nearly 60-mile race is getting a facelift.

For the first time, refueling is optional, and the winning rider is likely to be the one who doesn’t need a pit stop.

“That makes it a whole new ballgame,” said Mike Follmer of Fountain Valley, who has raced in the seven previous events. “Yamaha wanted me to run my two-seater [a GP 1200R], but it doesn’t have the fuel capacity, and I don’t want to take the chance of losing fuel entering the harbor. On my three-seater [an XL 1200LTD] I can make it. That’s the boat I’m going to run.”

There will be a turnaround checkpoint about 11/2 miles from Avalon, where riders will make a brief stop to have one of two wristbands removed.

Follmer, 45, has never finished higher than sixth, but this might be his year. He is leading three series this season, Gran Prix, Long Course and Team Endurance, and although he is in fourth place in absolute scoring to determine who wears the No. 1 plate next season, he is only five points out of first place. Barstow’s Tracy Malan leads Jeff Bukamier of Laughlin, Nev., and Mark Dobson of Vista.

Dobson’s 1998 race record of 1 hour 13 minutes 56 seconds is safe under the old rules. Two-time defending champion Billy Womack has won three of the last four years.

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The ninth annual Southern California Offshore Powerboat Elite Poker Run, in which about 110 powerboats will compete for $18,000 in prize money and raise more than $10,000 for the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, which hopes to find a cure for paralysis, begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday inside Long Beach Harbor.

This is the first year the event, organized by Wayne and Karen Lee of Ontario, has been dedicated to raising funds for a nonprofit organization.

Cody Unser, 14, is the daughter of race car driver Al Unser Jr., the four-time Grand Prix of Long Beach winner. Afflicted with transverse myelitis, a spinal cord disorder, she is paralyzed from the chest down.

“I’m really excited about [the event] because I love the water and I grew up going to Long Beach all the time,” said Cody, whose father won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach six times.

LAST LAPS

The latest in the NHRA’s list of its top 50 drivers is Eddie Hill, No. 14. ... Cory McClenathan makes his debut at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday, but it won’t be on the street-legal drag strip. The former NHRA top-fuel driver is entered in the Mechanix Wear Speed Truck Challenge. The field will include current Winston West drivers Steve Portenga, Mark Reed and Joe Bean, and Winston West Veterans Jeff Davis, Ron Peterson and Kenny Smith.

The last time Costa Mesa Speedway had “Harley Night,” more than 6,000 showed up. “Harley Night II” is set for Saturday at the Orange County Fairgrounds. ... Danny Ebberts of Canyon Lake scored his second victory last Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway and took over the lead from Simi Valley’s Alex Harris in the Western Midget Car series. The SCRRA Sprints take the field Saturday and Ventura’s Cory Kruseman goes for a sixth consecutive victory.

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Times Staff Writer Martin Henderson contributed to this report.

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This Week’s Races

WINSTON CUP Sharpie 500

* When: Today, qualifying (CNNSI, noon); Saturday, race (TNT, 5 p.m.)

* Where: Bristol Motor Speedway (oval, .533 of a mile, 36-degree banking in turns), Bristol, Tenn.

* Race distance: 266.5 miles, 500 laps.

* Last race: Sterling Marlin gave Dodge its first Winston Cup victory in 24 years and his first in five seasons, taking the rain-shortened Pepsi 400 in Brooklyn, Mich.

* Next race: Southern 500, Sept. 2, Darlington, S.C.

* On the net: www.nascar.com.

BUSCH

Food City 250

* When: Today, race (TNT, 5 p.m.)

* Where: Bristol Motor Speedway. Race distance: 133.25 miles, 250 laps.

* Last race: Ryan Newman led 119 of 125 laps in the NAPA 250 in Brooklyn, Mich., for his first Busch Series victory.

* 2000 winner: Kevin Harvick.

* Next race: South Carolina 200, Sept. 1, Darlington.

* On the net: www.nascar.com .

CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS

Chevy Silverado 200

* When: Saturday, qualifying, noon; Sunday, race (ESPN, 9:30 a.m.)

* Where: Nazareth Speedway (tri-oval .946 of a mile, one-degree banking in Turn 1, four degrees in Turn 2, six degrees in Turns 3 and 4), Nazareth, Pa.

* Race distance: 189.2 miles, 200 laps.

* Last race: Scott Riggs eked out a 0.281-second victory over Dennis Setzer in the Sears Craftsman 175 at Chicago Motor Speedway.

* 2000 winner: Dennis Setzer.

* Next race: Kroger 200, Sept. 6, Richmond, Va.

* On the net: www.nascar.com .

INDY RACING LEAGUE

Gateway Indy 250

* When: Saturday, qualifying, noon (ESPN2, 9 p.m. tape); Sunday, race (ESPN, noon.)

* Where: Gateway International Raceway (oval, 1.25 miles, 11-degree banking in Turns 1-2, nine degrees in Turns 3-4), Madison, Ill.

* Race distance: 250 miles, 200 laps.

* Last race: Buddy Lazier held off Robbie Buhl and won the Belterra Casino Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

* 2000 winner: Inaugural event.

* Next race: Delphi Indy 300, Sept. 2, Joliet, Ill.

* On the net: www.indyracingleague.com

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