AUTO RACING: NASCAR looks for drier time on Chicago streets, Formula 1 heads to Britain
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
The Grant Park 165.
Site: Chicago.
Schedule: Saturday practice, 12:30 p.m., qualifying, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday race, 4:30 p.m. (NBC).
Track: Chicago Street Course.
Race distance: 75 laps, 165 miles.
Last year: New Zealand's Shane Van Gisbergen made NASCAR history when he became the first to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 when he won a rain-shortened event at Chicago. The race went just 78 of the scheduled 100 laps because of a late start and impending darkness. Justin Haley finished second with Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five.
Last race: Joey Logano worked overtime — 31 extra laps — and withstood nearly running out of fuel to win the Ally 400 at Nashville Speedway last week. It was the two-time series champion's first victory of the season and locked him into the playoffs to try for a third title. Logano did win NASCAR's All-Star race at North Wilkesboro two months ago. Zane Smith was second, Tyler Reddick third, Ryan Preece fourth and Chris Buescher fifth.
Fast facts: The race at Nashville went five overtimes and 31 addition laps past the 300 planned. It ended more than six hours after it began. That also encompassed a lengthy rain delay. ... Larson remains on top in the driver standings, 20 points ahead of Rick Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott. Denny Hamlin is third. ... Larson, Hamlin, William Byron and Christopher Bell all have a series-best three victories this season. ... Martin Truex Jr., in his final season of full-time racing, is fifth and the first driver without a win in the playoff grid. ... Logano's win means 11 drivers have victories this season with just five spots for points qualifiers. There are seven events left in the regular season, which concludes with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1.
Next race: July 13, Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
The Loop 110
Site: Chicago.
Schedule: Saturday practice, 10 a.m., qualifying, 11 a.m., Saturday race, 3:30 p.m. (USA).
Track: Chicago Street Course.
Race distance: 50 laps, 110 miles.
Last year: Cole Custer, the eventual series champion, won the inaugural Chicago street race that went less than halfway due to a weekend of rain. Organizers stopped the race on Saturday some 25 laps in and expected to finish Sunday before the Cup Series. But more rain ended those hopes.
Last race: John Hunter Nemechek took off on a restart on Lap 142 and drove off to victory at Nashville Speedway on Saturday. It was Nemechek's second victory this season and gave powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing five wins this year with four different drivers.
Fast facts: Nemechek has two wins for JGR with Aric Almirola, Ryan Truex and Christopher Bell winning the other three in the No. 20 car. ... Custer continues leading the points standings and continues looking for his first win this season. Custer's Stewart-Haas Ford finished ninth behind Nemechek. ... Ty Gibbs started from the pole and won a stage, but dropped out of contention after connecting with Justin Allgaier. ... Chandler Smith is 15 points behind series leader Custer. Allgaier is next in third, overtaking Austin Hill, who dropped to fourth.
Next race: July 13, Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES
Last race: Christian Eckes led every lap to take the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Speedway. It was Eckes third win this season. Eckes finished ahead of Daniel Dye by more than two seconds.
Fast Facts: Eckes is the series points leader with a 40-point lead over Corey Heim. ... Eckes' dominant win was just the sixth time in series history a driver has led every lap. The last time was when Ron Hornaday did it at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1997. ... Former Cup driver Clint Bowyer finished 17th driving for Spire Motorsports. It was the current broadcaster's first NASCAR start in 2020.
Next race: July 12, Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
British Grand Prix
Site: Silverstone, England.
Schedule: Friday practice, 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m.. Saturday practice, 6:30 a.m.; qualifying, 10 a.m.; Sunday race, 10 a.m. (ESPN).
Track: Silverstone Circuit.
Race distance: 52 laps, 190.262 miles (306.198 kilometers).
Last year: Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton to win his first British Grand Prix. It was his sixth consecutive series win as he went on to the F1 championship.
Last race: George Russell clinched Mercedes’ first win of the season at the Austrian GP after taking advantage of a late clash between McLaren driver Norris and championship leader Verstappen in a Red Bull this past Sunday. Verstappen finished fifth.
Fast facts: Verstappen has won 51 of the past 77 F1 races. He increased his lead to 71 points over Norris and 87 over Charles Leclerc as he looks for his fourth series title. ... Verstappen was comfortably ahead when a four-second delay during a stop tightened things with Norris. The two eventually tangled, letting Russell up front for the victory.
Next race: July 21, Budapest, Hungary.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Site: Lexington, Ohio.
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Race distance: 80 laps, 180.64 miles.
Last year: Alex Palou won by more than five seconds over Scott Dixon for his third straight series — and fourth in the previous five races — during the 2023 season.
Last race: Two-time IndyCar champion Palou reclaimed the lead in the points standings by winning from the pole two weeks ago at Laguna Seca Raceway. Colton Herta finished second for Andretti Global and Alexander Rossi finished third to earn his first podium of the season for Arrow McLaren.
Fast facts: Palou leads the series with three victories in the nine IndyCar races run this season. He has a 23-point lead in the standings over Will Power and 32 over third-place Dixon.
Next race: July 13, Newton, Iowa.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Last event: Antron Brown won in Top Fuel and Bob Tasca III won in Funny Car at Norwalk, Ohio.
Fast facts: Drag racing champion and all-time great John Force, 75, continues to recover from his fiery wreck to end his Funny Car run two weeks ago in Virginia. The family's last update said Force opened his eyes on the fifth day and was responding to commands. He is expected to need some time to recover.
Next event: July 19-21, Kent, Washington.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Gopher 50.
Site: Spring Valley, Minnesota.
Track: Deer Creek Speedway.
Last events: Logan Schuchart won the pole in the 30-lap finale, then held off the season’s two winningest drivers in David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild, to win at Cedar Lake Speedway this past week. It was Schuchart's first win of the season and came on the track where he won his first race in 2016.
Next events: Saturday at Wilmot, Wisconsin.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars
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