MADISON, Ill. (May 14) – After a thrilling finish at Gateway, the NASCAR Busch Series moves on as part of a busy weekend on the track.
NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES – Englishtown, N.J.
(The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to Gateway June 27-29 for the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals) It’s the annual New York area stop for the Nitro Crowd runs in the K&N Filters Supernationals. It’s the first of three straight weeks on the road for the NHRA, which goes to Topeka Memorial Day weekend and Chicago to open the month of June. Before the Mother’s Day weekend off , Larry Dixon regained the Top Fuel lead with a win in Atlanta. Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) got his 90th career win while Tony Pedregon (Funny Car) and Geno Scali (Pro Stock Bike) also made it to Victory Circle. A year ago, Kenny Bernstein won his seventh and final title at Englishtown in Top Fuel while Gary Densham (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Antron Brown (Pro Stock Bike) took home champion’s Wallys. The AMS Pro Mod Series resumes this weekend. Mitch Stott holds the points lead but the top three on the list – Stott, Fred Hahn and Missourian Tim McAmis, have all scored wins in 2003. POWERADE POINTS LEADERS: Top Fuel –_1. Larry Dixon (3 wins) 630; 2. Brandon Bernstein 595; 3. Doug Kalitta (1) 458 Funny Car –_1. Tony Pedregon (4) 659; 2. Whit Bazemore 551; 3. Del Worsham (1) 494 Pro Stock –_1. Kurt Johnson (3) 687; 2. Greg Anderson (2) 554; 3. Warren Johnson (2) _552 Pro Stock Bike –_1. Geno Scali (1) 272; 2. Angelle Savoie (2) 268; 3. Antron Brown 224 AMS Pro Mods –_1. Mitch Stott (1) 1015; 2. Fred Hahn (1) _924; 3. Tim McAmis (1) _614
TV BROADCAST: Saturday (Qualifying) ESPN2 5-7 p.m. (CDT)
Sunday (Eliminations) ESPN2 3-5 p.m. (CDT)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES – Charlotte, N.C.
(The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Gateway July 18-19 for the Missouri- Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200) The NASCAR truckers take their first turn on the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday night in the Hardee’s 200. The trucks have not raced since running at Martinsville a month ago. Dennis Setzer has put together back-to-back wins on the short tracks at Mesa Marin and Martinsville. Bobby Hamilton continues to lead a pack of 12 drivers bunched within 200 points of the top spot in the standings. The race is the warmup to The Winston Open and The Winston All-Star race for the Winston Cup Series Saturday night. CRAFTSMAN POINTS LEADERS: 1. Bobby Hamilton (1 win) 670; 2. Rick Crawford (1) 631; 3. Brendan Gaughan 594; 4. Ted Musgrave (1) 591; 3. Dennis Setzer (2) 590.
TV BROADCAST: Friday (NCTS) Speed Channel 7 p.m. (CDT)
Saturday (Cup) _____ _________FX ________________________6 p.m. (CDT)
(more)
Gateway/The Weekend Ahead/Page 2
INDY RACING LEAGUE INDYCAR SERIES____-- __Indianapolis 500
(The IRL IndyCar Series returns to Gateway Aug. 9-10 for the Gateway Indy 250) Helio Castroneves is on the MBNA Pole as he shoots for an unprecedented third straight Indy 500 title. Tony Kanaan and Robby Gordon are also on the front row. But it’s the final nine spots in the 33-car field that will be the focus of Sunday’s Bump Day action. Among those still looking to get a spot in the 87th Indy 500 are Billy Boat and Jimmy Vasser, who will step away from his CART duties to run this race in a Team Rahal car. Two-time Indy 500 champ Arie Luyendyk won’t be among those trying Sunday. Hurt in a practice crash May 9, he has formally withdrawn. Alex Barron, who finished third at Gateway and fifth in the series, will step into the Mo Nunn Racing Machine. He earlier subbed for defending Gateway champ Gil de Ferran. The weekend will also include the Inaugural Freedom 100 for the Infiniti Pro Series cars, including the one driven by St. Louisan Paul Dana. That race is set for 3 p.m. (CDT) Saturday. INDYCAR POINTS LEADERS: 1. Scott Sharp (1 win) 106; 2. Tony Kanaan (1) 102; 3. Felipe Giaffone 92; 4. Kenny Brack (1) 89; 5. Helio Castroneves 83.
TV BROADCAST: Saturday (Freedom 100)_ ____________ESPN2 3 p.m. (CDT)
_______________Sunday (Bump Day) ESPN 1-4 and 6-7 p.m.(CDT)
ABC _____________________4-6 p.m. (CDT)
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES – Nazareth, Pa.
(Scott Riggs won the Charter Pipeline 250 on May 10 at Gateway) Fresh from Scott Riggs’ stunning last-lap win at Gateway, the Busch Series heads to another very unique track, the 1-mile, 5-turn Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania for the Gould’s Pumps ITT Industries 200 Sunday. Riggs won the Charter Pipeline 250 when Mike Bliss ran out of gas on the final lap. Bliss had led 115 laps of the event. David Green finished second, and moved into first in the points standings, ahead of Todd Bodine, who finished 11th. It is the first time that Brewco Motorsports has held the points lead in its eight years in the series. Green won the points title in 1996. A year ago Jason Keller won this race, and Jeff Purvis was involved in a serious crash that put him on the sidelines – and started events in motion that would lead to Green’s getting the Timber Wolf Pontiac ride. BUSCH POINTS LEADERS: 1. David Green (1 win) 1486; 2. Todd Bodine (1) 1481; 3. Shane Hmiel 1436; 4. Scott Riggs (1) 1413; 5. Jason Keller 1387.
TV BROADCAST: Sunday FX 12 noon (CDT)
THIS WEEKEND AT GATEWAY
Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge 6 -- Friday-Sunday
Nearly 1,000 Ford race and show cars – including Pro Mod 5.0 class Mustangs that have cracked 202 mph will be at Gateway for the “Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing.” Nearly 50,000 spectators are expected over the three days, and the competitors will be vying for a share of a record $150,000 purse in more than a dozen heads-up and bracket classes. There is also a major Manufacturer’s Midway and Swap Meet with all the parts a Ford lover could ask for. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Adult admission is $25 with a multi- day $50 pass available. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult.
NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES – Englishtown, N.J.
(The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to Gateway June 27-29 for the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals) It’s the annual New York area stop for the Nitro Crowd runs in the K&N Filters Supernationals. It’s the first of three straight weeks on the road for the NHRA, which goes to Topeka Memorial Day weekend and Chicago to open the month of June. Before the Mother’s Day weekend off , Larry Dixon regained the Top Fuel lead with a win in Atlanta. Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) got his 90th career win while Tony Pedregon (Funny Car) and Geno Scali (Pro Stock Bike) also made it to Victory Circle. A year ago, Kenny Bernstein won his seventh and final title at Englishtown in Top Fuel while Gary Densham (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Antron Brown (Pro Stock Bike) took home champion’s Wallys. The AMS Pro Mod Series resumes this weekend. Mitch Stott holds the points lead but the top three on the list – Stott, Fred Hahn and Missourian Tim McAmis, have all scored wins in 2003. POWERADE POINTS LEADERS: Top Fuel –_1. Larry Dixon (3 wins) 630; 2. Brandon Bernstein 595; 3. Doug Kalitta (1) 458 Funny Car –_1. Tony Pedregon (4) 659; 2. Whit Bazemore 551; 3. Del Worsham (1) 494 Pro Stock –_1. Kurt Johnson (3) 687; 2. Greg Anderson (2) 554; 3. Warren Johnson (2) _552 Pro Stock Bike –_1. Geno Scali (1) 272; 2. Angelle Savoie (2) 268; 3. Antron Brown 224 AMS Pro Mods –_1. Mitch Stott (1) 1015; 2. Fred Hahn (1) _924; 3. Tim McAmis (1) _614
TV BROADCAST: Saturday (Qualifying) ESPN2 5-7 p.m. (CDT)
Sunday (Eliminations) ESPN2 3-5 p.m. (CDT)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES – Charlotte, N.C.
(The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Gateway July 18-19 for the Missouri- Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200) The NASCAR truckers take their first turn on the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday night in the Hardee’s 200. The trucks have not raced since running at Martinsville a month ago. Dennis Setzer has put together back-to-back wins on the short tracks at Mesa Marin and Martinsville. Bobby Hamilton continues to lead a pack of 12 drivers bunched within 200 points of the top spot in the standings. The race is the warmup to The Winston Open and The Winston All-Star race for the Winston Cup Series Saturday night. CRAFTSMAN POINTS LEADERS: 1. Bobby Hamilton (1 win) 670; 2. Rick Crawford (1) 631; 3. Brendan Gaughan 594; 4. Ted Musgrave (1) 591; 3. Dennis Setzer (2) 590.
TV BROADCAST: Friday (NCTS) Speed Channel 7 p.m. (CDT)
Saturday (Cup) _____ _________FX ________________________6 p.m. (CDT)
(more)
Gateway/The Weekend Ahead/Page 2
INDY RACING LEAGUE INDYCAR SERIES____-- __Indianapolis 500
(The IRL IndyCar Series returns to Gateway Aug. 9-10 for the Gateway Indy 250) Helio Castroneves is on the MBNA Pole as he shoots for an unprecedented third straight Indy 500 title. Tony Kanaan and Robby Gordon are also on the front row. But it’s the final nine spots in the 33-car field that will be the focus of Sunday’s Bump Day action. Among those still looking to get a spot in the 87th Indy 500 are Billy Boat and Jimmy Vasser, who will step away from his CART duties to run this race in a Team Rahal car. Two-time Indy 500 champ Arie Luyendyk won’t be among those trying Sunday. Hurt in a practice crash May 9, he has formally withdrawn. Alex Barron, who finished third at Gateway and fifth in the series, will step into the Mo Nunn Racing Machine. He earlier subbed for defending Gateway champ Gil de Ferran. The weekend will also include the Inaugural Freedom 100 for the Infiniti Pro Series cars, including the one driven by St. Louisan Paul Dana. That race is set for 3 p.m. (CDT) Saturday. INDYCAR POINTS LEADERS: 1. Scott Sharp (1 win) 106; 2. Tony Kanaan (1) 102; 3. Felipe Giaffone 92; 4. Kenny Brack (1) 89; 5. Helio Castroneves 83.
TV BROADCAST: Saturday (Freedom 100)_ ____________ESPN2 3 p.m. (CDT)
_______________Sunday (Bump Day) ESPN 1-4 and 6-7 p.m.(CDT)
ABC _____________________4-6 p.m. (CDT)
NASCAR BUSCH SERIES – Nazareth, Pa.
(Scott Riggs won the Charter Pipeline 250 on May 10 at Gateway) Fresh from Scott Riggs’ stunning last-lap win at Gateway, the Busch Series heads to another very unique track, the 1-mile, 5-turn Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania for the Gould’s Pumps ITT Industries 200 Sunday. Riggs won the Charter Pipeline 250 when Mike Bliss ran out of gas on the final lap. Bliss had led 115 laps of the event. David Green finished second, and moved into first in the points standings, ahead of Todd Bodine, who finished 11th. It is the first time that Brewco Motorsports has held the points lead in its eight years in the series. Green won the points title in 1996. A year ago Jason Keller won this race, and Jeff Purvis was involved in a serious crash that put him on the sidelines – and started events in motion that would lead to Green’s getting the Timber Wolf Pontiac ride. BUSCH POINTS LEADERS: 1. David Green (1 win) 1486; 2. Todd Bodine (1) 1481; 3. Shane Hmiel 1436; 4. Scott Riggs (1) 1413; 5. Jason Keller 1387.
TV BROADCAST: Sunday FX 12 noon (CDT)
THIS WEEKEND AT GATEWAY
Mobil 1 World Ford Challenge 6 -- Friday-Sunday
Nearly 1,000 Ford race and show cars – including Pro Mod 5.0 class Mustangs that have cracked 202 mph will be at Gateway for the “Super Bowl of Ford Drag Racing.” Nearly 50,000 spectators are expected over the three days, and the competitors will be vying for a share of a record $150,000 purse in more than a dozen heads-up and bracket classes. There is also a major Manufacturer’s Midway and Swap Meet with all the parts a Ford lover could ask for. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Adult admission is $25 with a multi- day $50 pass available. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult.
