Eastern times

NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Aaron's 499

Site: Talladega, Ala.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, (Speed, 11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (Fox, 1 p.m.).

Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval, 33 degrees in turns).

Race distance: 500 miles, 188 laps.

Last race: The 50-year-old Mark Martin became the third-oldest winner in NASCAR history, snapping a 97-race winless streak with a dominating run at Phoenix International Raceway. He started from the pole and led 157 of 312 laps. But a late caution erased his 4-second lead over Tony Stewart with 11 laps to go, sending the leaders into the pits and putting his victory on the line. But he shot past Ryan Newman, who didn't pit, on the restart, then drove away to his first win since Kansas in 2005.

Last year: Kyle Busch came back from a lap down, then survived a near wreck with Jamie McMurray for his first win at Talladega. It was won under caution when a 12-car accident brought out the yellow flag on the final lap. In six previous Cup races at the track, Busch failed to finish four times and wrecked out of both events last season.

Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears were penalized for intentionally bumping cars after the race at Phoenix International Raceway. NASCAR put both drivers on probation for the next six races, starting with Talladega, but neither was fined or lost any points. ... Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with 12 restrictor-plate wins, one ahead of Dale Earnhardt. ... Talladega is in its 40th year.

Next race: Crown Royal Presents the Russell Friedman 400, Richmond, Va.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR NATIONWIDE

Aaron's 312

Site: Talladega, Ala.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed, 11 a.m.), Saturday, race (ABC, 2:30 p.m.).

Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval, 33 degrees in turns).

Race distance: 500 miles, 188 laps.

Last race: Greg Biffle and his Roush Fenway Racing team gambled, staying out on the last stop while nearly everyone ducked in for fresh tires. But a series of late cautions prevented anyone from catching Biffle. His second victory in four races this season gave team owner Jack Roush 100 wins in the Nationwide Series.

Last year: Kyle Busch fought his way back from a lap down after missing his pit box and having to go around again, and tangled with Jamie McMurray at the end of the long backstretch, before taking the lead with five laps to go. He blocked a couple of passing attempts then coasted to the checkered flag when a massive crash took out a dozen cars behind him, bringing out the yellow.

Fast facts: Kyle Busch took the series points lead from Carl Edwards last weekend, and leads the series with 1,075 points. Edwards is third, 47 points back. ... Jason Leffler has five top-10 finishes in his last eight races, including a second last week in Phoenix. ... Joe Nemechek, who has two wins at Talladega, will make his first series start there since 2005.

Next race: Lipton Tea 250, Richmond, Va.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com

INDY RACING LEAGUE

Road Runner Turbo Indy 300

Site: Kansas City, Kan.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (Versus, 6 p.m.); Sunday, race (Versus, 4 p.m.).

Track: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval, 15-degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps.

Last race: Dario Franchitti won in only his second race back in IndyCar, and only his second race driving an open-wheel car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Helio Castroneves, who got back in his Team Penske car Saturday after being acquitted of federal tax evasion charges, started eighth and finished seventh.

Last year: Dan Wheldon won even though Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon led 145 of the first 151 laps. Wheldon caught a break when Dixon pitted shortly before a crash brought out a yellow flag. Tony Kanaan was second ahead of Dixon.

Fast facts: Helio Castroneves, recently acquitted of tax evasion charges, will be running his first oval race since winning at Chicago last September. He'll race at Indy next month and compete in as many races as he can in hopes of winning his first IRL season championship. ... Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced 40 entries for the May 24 Indianapolis 500, with a total of 77 cars eligible to compete for the 33 starting spots. Twenty-two cars have no drivers listed yet. Defending champion Scott Dixon and former winners Castroneves, Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti are listed, as are Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher, who runs her own team. Venezuelan Milka Duno, who drove the past two years, is not on the list.

Next race: Indianapolis 500, May 24, Indianapolis.

On the Net: http://www.indycar.com

FORMULA ONE

April 26 — Bahrain Grand Prix

Site: Sakhir, Bahrain.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (SPEED, 7 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 7:30 a.m.).

Track: Bahrain International Circuit (road course, 3.37 miles, 15 turns).

Race distance: 191.53 miles, 57 laps.

Last race: Sebastian Vettel gave Red Bull its first Formula One victory, leading throughout a soggy Chinese Grand Prix to end the team's drought in its fifth season and 74th race. Red Bull made it a one-two finish when Mark Webber got the top finish of his career, besting Brawn GP's Jenson Button.

Last year: Felipe Massa won his second straight Bahrain Grand Prix, edging teammate Kimi Raikkonen by 3.339 seconds. Pole-sitter Robert Kubica was passed by Massa at the start, and fell behind Raikkonen on the third lap.

Fast facts: Ferrari is off to its worst start to a Formula One season in 28 years. Star Felipe Massa was running as high as third in the Chinese Grand Prix before an electrical failure, while teammate Kimi Raikkonen finished 10th. It was the first time since 1981 that Ferrari had gone three races into a season without a single point. ... Massa has won the past two Bahrain titles. ... After a 1-2 finish in Shanghai, Red Bull is second in the constructors' standings after three races, trailing Brawn GP by 16.5 points.

Next race: Spanish Grand Prix, May 10, Cataluyna.

On the Net: http://www.formula1.com/

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS

O'Reilly Auto Parts 250

Site: Kansas City, Kan.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying; Saturday, race (Speed, 5:30 p.m.).

Track: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval, 15-degrees banking in turns).

Race distance: 250.5 miles, 167 laps.

Last race: Kevin Harvick passed Kyle Busch with just over nine laps to go and held on through an abbreviated final restart to win the rain-delayed and caution-filled race before a very sparse crowd at Martinsville Speedway.

Last year: Defending champion Ron Hornaday Jr. held off teammate Jack Sprague by 0.149 seconds, saving fuel and benefiting from timely cautions. In all, eight cars of the 36 starters were knocked out at the track known for having few yellows.

Fast facts: Kyle Busch will be in Talladega, leaving the points open, and likely to be taken over by Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. or Mike Skinner. ... Brian Ickler will take over for Busch in the No. 51 truck. ... Kansans Jennifer Jo Cobb and Chase Austin will race. Cobb has raced at Kansas twice previously, while Austin is making his debut.

On the Net: http://www.nascar.com

OTHER RACES

GRAND-AM ROLEX: Bosch Engineering 250, Alton, Va., April 26.

On the Net: http://www.grand-am.com/rolex

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES EAST: Tri-County 150, Hudson, N.C., April 25.

On the Net: http://www.nascarhometracks.com

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES WEST: Napa Auto Parts/Toyota 150, Madera, Calif., April 25.

On the Net: http://www.nascarhometracks.com

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR: Stafford Springs, Conn., Tech-Net Spring Sizzler , April 26.

On the Net: http://www.nascarhometracks.com

ARCA RE/MAX SERIES: Re/Max 250, Talladega, Ala., April 24.

On the Net: http://www.arcaracing.com