GEARING UP

What’s new in motor sports heading into this weekend:

1 The NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the three-quarter-mile Richmond International Raceway in Virginia on Saturday night is the first of three consecutive Saturday night Cup races.

The series goes from Richmond to Darlington Raceway in South Carolina on May 12, then to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in North Carolina for the non-points All-Star Challenge on May 19.

2 Cup driver Kyle Petty, 46, will sit out five races in June and July to be a television commentator. He’ll be replaced in the No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge by John Andretti and Chad McCumbee.

3 Tracy Hines, who drives USAC midget and sprint cars for Tony Stewart’s race team, broke his pelvis and suffered other injuries after crashing his off-road motorcycle in New Castle, Ind.

4 Several safety changes will be made to top fuel and funny car dragsters following the death of Eric Medlen on March 23 of injuries sustained in a practice crash, the National Hot Rod Assn. announced.

The changes include additional padding in the driver’s cockpit and a seven-point driver-restraint system.

5 In local racing Saturday night, Nick Bartels of El Segundo takes the points lead into the late-model race at Perris Auto Speedway, while Irwindale Speedway and San Bernardino’s Orange Show Speedway -- which celebrated its 60th anniversary this week -- each have multi-race programs scheduled.

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NHRA LEADERS

*--* TOP FUEL Points 1. Brandon Bernstein 440 2. Rod Fuller 421 3. J.R. Todd 375 4. Tony Schumacher 338 5. Whit Bazemore 330 6. Larry Dixon 324 7. Bob Vandergriff 294 8. David Grubnic 293 9. Melanie Troxel 280 10. Cory Mc Clenathan 241 FUNNY CAR Points 1. Ron Capps 532 2. Robert Hight 487 3. Tony Pedregon 369 4. Jim Head 333 5. Gary Scelzi 332 PRO STOCK Points 1. Greg Anderson 602 2. Jason Line 390 3. Jeg Coughlin 371 4. Dave Connolly 363 5. Warren Johnson 298 PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Points 1. Karen Stoffer 261 2. Matt Smith 229 3. Angelle Sampey 213 4. Tom Bradford 173 5. Craig Treble 162

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THE RACES

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP

Crown Royal 400

* When: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Saturday, race (Ch. 11, 4 p.m.).

* Where: Richmond International Raceway (tri-oval, .75 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns), Richmond, Va.

* Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps.

* 2006 winner: Jeff Gordon.

* Next race: Dodge Avenger 500, May 12, Darlington, S.C.

NASCAR BUSCH

Circuit City 250

* When: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 1 p.m.), race (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).

* Where: Richmond International Raceway.

* Race distance: 250 miles, 187.5 laps.

* 2006 winner: Kevin Harvick.

* Next race: Diamond Hill Plywood 200, May 11, Darlington, S.C.

NHRA

O’Reilly Midwest Nationals

* When: Today, qualifying, 2 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN2, 2 p.m., tape); Sunday, eliminations, 9 a.m. (ESPN2, 4 p.m., tape).

* Where: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Ill.

* 2006 winners: Tony Schumacher (top fuel), Tony Pedregon (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock), Chip Ellis (pro stock motorcycle).

* Next event: Thunder Valley Nationals, May 20, Bristol, Tenn.

Associated Press

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STAT OF THE WEEK

* Hendrick drivers have won six of the first nine races, including the last two by Jeff Gordon. He struggled at Richmond last year, finishing 40th and 31st in the two events.

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LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

Tony Stewart, who was reprimanded for comments comparing NASCAR to professional wrestling, on continuing to speak his mind:

‘One of my biggest faults is, I can’t say no and I don’t know how to be politically correct. If you ask me an honest question, you deserve to have an honest answer.’

-- JIM PELTZ