This week's racing schedule

Courtesy of The Associated Press
All time Central

NASCAR Sprint Cup
Bank of America 500
Site: Concord, N.C., Lowe’s Motor Speedway (quad-oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns)
TV schedule: Today, qualifying (ESPN2, 6 p.m.); Saturday, race (WFAA/Ch. 8, 6 p.m.)
Race distance: 501 miles/334 laps
2007 winner: Jeff Gordon
Fast facts: AJ Allmendinger will drive the No. 00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. ... Jimmie Johnson, who has five victories at Lowe’s, holds a 72-point lead over Carl Edwards. ... Denny Hamlin was released from a hospital a day after a tire failure led to a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin was 39th in the race and fell to 12th in the Chase standings. ... Kasey Kahne won the Coca-Cola 600 on this track on May 25. He swept both races at Lowe’s in 2006.
www.nascar.com

NASCAR Nationwide
Dollar General 300
Site: Concord, N.C., Lowe’s Motor Speedway (quad-oval, 1.5 miles, 24 degrees banking in turns)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), race (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
Race distance: 300 miles/200 laps
2007 winner: Jeff Burton
Fast facts: Phoenix Racing owner James Finch will have Mike Bliss in the No. 1 Miccosukee Chevrolet for what will be Finch’s 500th start in NASCAR. ... Clint Bowyer holds a 196-point lead over Carl Edwards in the point standings. Nationwide-only drivers Brad Keselowki and Mike Bliss are third and fourth.
www.nascar.com

Formula One
Japanese Grand Prix
Site: Fuji Speedway (16 turns, 2.84 miles)
TV schedule: Friday, qualifying (Speed Channel, midnight); Saturday, race, (Speed Channel, 11 p.m.)
Race distance: 189.8 miles/67 laps
2007 winner: Lewis Hamilton
Fast facts: Fuji Speedway returned to the F1 calendar in 2007. Prior to that the track last staged a Grand Prix in 1977, since when it was bought by the Toyota Corporation and given a complete facelift. ... Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has clinched the Fastest Lap Award for the second consecutive year. He has already racked up an unbeatable 10 fastest laps this year, with no other driver having recorded more than two. ... The Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from the 2009 calendar, leaving North America without a race on the circuit. It’s the first time since 1987 that the Canadian GP won’t be on the F1 schedule.
www.formula1.com

NHRA
Virginia Nationals
Site: Richmond, Va., Virginia Motorsports Park
TV schedule: Saturday, qualifying (6 p.m., ESPN2, taped); Sunday, eliminations (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m., taped)
2007 winners: Gary Scelzi (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock)
Fast facts: The NHRA announced it is a victim of a scam. Individuals are receiving letters from “NHRA Financials” stating they are a lucky winner of an unclaimed cash prize. Enclosed with the letter is what appears to be, but is not, a check from the NHRA. ... Top Fuel racer Tony Schumacher and Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson strengthened their points leads in the last event. Schumacher has a 166-point lead over Cory McClenathan and Wilkerson is 72 points ahead of Jack Beckman. ... In Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin has the best win-loss record in the playoffs and most points. Coughlin hasn’t won in the playoffs, but is 32 points in front of Kurt Johnson. ... Eddie Krawiec kept his second-place spot in the point standings and moved to within 42 points of leader Matt Smith, who lost in the semifinals.
www.nhra.com