GEARING UP
What’s new in motor sports heading into this weekend:
1 NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series races Sunday on its longest and arguably wildest track, the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
The track irritates two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart -- who has finished second there six times but has never won -- because drivers must draft in packs to gain position.
“I dislike anything where you have to rely on somebody else,” he said.
2 The Los Angeles-based team Sigalsport BWM Riley heads to the Grand-Am Rolex series race at Virginia International Raceway on Sunday, hoping to repeat its surprise victory last month in Florida.
The team’s Daytona Prototype car, driven by Bill Auberlen of Rolling Hills Estates and Matthew Alhadeff of Los Angeles, scored its first win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in only the team’s eighth start.
3 History could be made at the USAC/CRA Sprint Car race Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway in Riverside County.
The series has started this year with 11 different winners in 11 races. If a 12th different winner prevails in Perris, it will be the first time that’s happened in the U.S. Auto Club’s 52-year history.
4 James Stewart can clinch his first Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross title Saturday.
The 22-year-old Kawasaki rider, who has won 11 races this year, needs to finish ninth or better at Qwest Field in Seattle to win the championship. The series finale is May 5 in Las Vegas.
5 Late-model stock cars headline multi-race programs Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway and Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.
-- JIM PELTZ
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
THE RACES
NASCAR NEXTEL CUP
Aaron’s 499
* When: Saturday, qualifying (Speed Channel, 8:15 a.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 11, 11 a.m.).
* Where: Talladega Superspeedway (tri-oval, 2.66 miles, 33 degrees banking in turns), Talladega, Ala.
* 2006 winner: Jeff Gordon.
NASCAR BUSCH
Aaron’s 312
* When: Today, qualifying, 2:05 p.m. (Speed Channel, 5 p.m.).
* Where: Talladega Superspeedway.
* 2006 winner: Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS
O’Reilly Auto Parts 250
* When: Today, qualifying, 11:30 a.m.; Saturday, race (Speed Channel, 2:30 p.m.).
* Where: Kansas Speedway (D-shaped oval, 1.5 miles, 15 degrees banking in turns), Kansas City.
* 2006 winner: Terry Cook.
INDY RACING LEAGUE
Kansas Lottery 300
* When: Saturday, qualifying, 1:15 p.m.; Sunday, race (ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.).
* Where: Kansas Speedway (tri-oval, 1.5 miles, 15 degrees banking in turns), Kansas City.
* 2006 winner: Sam Hornish Jr.
NHRA Summit Racing
Equipment Southern Nationals
* When: Today, qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN2, 4 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 8 a.m. (ESPN2, 4 p.m., tape).
* Where: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga.
* 2006 winner: Doug Kalitta.
Associated Press
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LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
Rusty Wallace, on cars still getting airborne at Talladega despite new safety measures on the cars:
‘It’s real eerie and real quiet and death-defying at the same time.’