AUTO RACING PACKAGE: Auto Racing Glance
All Times Eastern
NASCAR
MONSTER CUP
BANK OF AMERICA 500
Site: Charlotte, North Carolina.
Schedule: Friday, practice, 1:30 p.m., (NBCSN), qualifying, 7:20 p.m., (NBCSN); Saturday, practice, 11 a.m., (NBCSN), practice, 1:30 p.m. (NBCSN); Sunday, race, 2 p.m., NBC
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval, 1.5 miles).
Race distance: 501 miles, 334 laps.
Last year: Jimmie Johnson won on his way to a series championship.
Last race: Kyle Busch notched his second consecutive playoff victory.
Fast facts: The Round of 12 starts this weekend in Charlotte, where six playoff drivers have won previously. Johnson leads the way with eight victories in Charlotte. ...With a win on Sunday, Busch will become the first driver to boast a checkered flag at every active Cup track. ... Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray have reached the final 12 for the first time in their careers.
Next race: Alabama 500, Oct. 15, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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NASCAR
XFINITY
DRIVE FOR THE CURE 300
Site: Charlotte
Schedule: Friday, practice, 3 p.m., (NBCSN), practice, 6 p.m., (NBCSN); Saturday, qualifying 12:05 p.m., (NBCSN), race, 3 p.m., NBCSN
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Joey Logano took first after starting third.
Last race: Ryan Blaney secured a crucial playoff win.
Fast facts: Justin Allgaier sits in first place ahead of this week's race. But William Byron is just three points back. ...Five other drivers (Elliott Sadler, Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Brennan Poole and Matt Tifft) are within 40 points of Allgaier. ...Hemric's crew chief, Danny Stockman Jr., car chief Clint Almquist and engineer Luke Mason were suspended for the next four races after officials discovered a loss of added ballast following last week's race.
Next race: Kansas Lottery 300, Oct. 14, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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NASCAR
CAMPING WORLD TRUCK
Last race: Ben Rhodes captured his first career win in Las Vegas.
Next race: Fred's 250, Oct. 14, Talladega Motor Speedway.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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FORMULA ONE
JAPAN GRAND PRIX
Site: Suzuka, Japan.
Schedule: Thursday, practice, 9 p.m., Friday, practice, 1 a.m., practice, 11 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 2 a.m., Sunday, race, 1 a.m.
Track: Suzuka International Racing Course (circuit, 3.6 miles).
Race distance: 191.1 miles, 53 laps.
Last year: Nico Rosberg won from the pole, his last victory in a championship season.
Last race: Max Verstappan took first in Malaysia.
Fast facts: Verstappen snapped Lewis Hamilton's three-event winning streak, beating him by over 12 seconds. Hamilton still leads the series by 34 points over Sebastian Vettel. ...Vettel has won just once in his last nine races after a blistering start to 2017. ...Kimi Raikkonen holds the lap record at Suzuka at 1:31.54.
Next race: United States Grand Prix, Oct. 22, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
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NHRA
Last race: Steve Torrence won in Top Fuel at Gateway.
Next race: AAA Texas Fall Nationals, Oct. 12-15, Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
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OTHER RACES
WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Saturday, Fulton Speedway, Fulton, New York.
Online: http://www.woosprint.com/